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ClubFloyd Transcript:
The Little Match Girl 5: The Hunter's Vow by Ryan Veeder
As played on ifMUD on July 28 - August 18, 2024

The idea behind ClubFloyd is that each week at a pre-arranged time, a group of people meet online to cooperatively play a game of interactive fiction.

Below is a transcript of The Little Match Girl 5: The Hunter's Vow written by Ryan Veeder. It was released in 2024. You can learn more about the game, including how to download it, by visiting IFDB.

WARNING! Below you will find a transcript of people playing this game, and it goes without saying that the transcript is full of spoilers. So, if you've never played this game, and think you might like to at some point, I do not recommend reading any further. Instead, you might want to return to the interactive fiction page.

ToyShop & Floyditorium
#ClubFloyd Discussion

*** SESSION 1 ***
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "load sleepmask lmg5"
CF ]
CF |
CF |
CF |
CF |
CF | And sleep, that sometimes shuts up Sorrow's eye,
CF | Steal me awhile from mine own company.
CF | MND III.2.464-5
CF |
CF |
CF | Type RESTORE to resume a saved game, or START to begin a new game.
CF |
CF | If it's been a while since you played all the other Little Match Girl
CF | games, type RECAP.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "recap"
CF ]
CF | >
CF | > RECAP
CF |
CF | (When Ebenezabeth Scrooge traveled to Austria, 1999 while assembling
CF | the Crown of Pearls, she was surprised to find her future self already
CF | there—a captive of Queen Atë and her coterie of vampires,
CF | incapacitated by magical slumber! Someone else was visiting Austria,
CF | too: A young man named Linus, whom Ebenezabeth was not at all happy to
CF | encounter, as only weeks before, during their attempt to liberate Avil
CF | IX, he had spoiled the mission by killing the Prepotence. Linus tried
CF | to tell "Ebby" that he had come to Austria to help her, but she would
CF | hear none of it. Instead, she continued on her current assignment,
CF | confident that she would later manage to escape the vampires' clutches
CF | without anyone else's help.
CF |
CF | Meanwhile, in 1922, Ebenezabeth discovered a dusty journal in the
CF | Arizona desert. The author of the journal claimed to have special
CF | knowledge of Ebenezabeth's destiny. Who could this "Michael McKeever"
CF | be, and what does he know about the Xaos Maleficus?)
CF |
CF | > Jacqueline says, "Oh good. Recap."
Jacqueline says, "Quite the story."
DavidW says, "Ryan tweeted that he now uses my walkthroughs to remind himself of parts of his own games."
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ]
CF | >
CF | >
CF |
CF | I beg your pardon?
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "l"
CF ]
CF | >
CF | > L
CF |
CF | Type RESTORE to resume a saved game, or START to begin a new game.
CF |
CF | If it's been a while since you played all the other Little Match Girl
CF | games, type RECAP.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "start"
CF | >
CF | > START
CF |
CF |
CF |
CF |
CF |
CF | "I don't trust him," said Hrieman, bristling his feathers.
CF |
CF | "He's a very capable young man," answered Ebenezer Scrooge. "His
CF | accomplishments speak for themselves. I don't think we have any cause
CF | to worry."
CF |
CF | "I don't mean he's incompetent," Hrieman groused. "I'm
CF | talking about his character. None of his accomplishments can undo the
CF | slimy things he's done."
CF |
CF | "That was years ago," said Ebenezer. "Time changes people."
CF |
CF | "People do not change," said the crow. "I'll give you an example."
CF |
CF | But he could not give his example; for the fellow of whom they were
CF | speaking had just entered the dining-hall. He was a well-dressed young
CF | man, with dark hair and dark eyes; and his right arm was a swan's
CF | wing. Jacqueline exclaims (at DW), "hahaha. NICE!"
Jade says, "ok, little match girl 5, nice game"
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Dining-Hall
CF | wing.
CF |
CF | Hans Christian Andersen
CF | in association with Inform version 10.1.2 / D
CF | presents
CF | THE LITTLE MATCH GIRL 5
CF | THE HUNTER'S VOW
CF |
CF | part 1:
CF | "you're better than no one..."
CF |
CF |
CF |
CF | Dining-Hall
CF | The long table in the center of the hall was half-covered with papers,
CF | and these papers were covered with the most obscure symbols, figures,
CF | and diagrams. Ebenezer Scrooge stood a respectable distance from the
CF | display, and Hrieman was in his usual place on Scrooge's shoulder.
CF |
CF | The doorway to the east led to the kitchen; west, to the nursery; and
CF | the foyer was south.
CF |
CF | "Good morning, Sir Ebenezer," said the young man, bowing slightly.
CF | "Good morning, Hrieman."
CF |
CF | "Good morning, Linus!" cried Scrooge; Hrieman said nothing. "The
CF | invitations are ready; here they are—" and the old man handed over a
CF | sheaf of papers.
CF |
CF | "Thank you, Sir," said Linus. He confirmed all that he was carrying:
CF | He had the invitations; he had his money pouch; and he had the
CF | skeletonic key. "I suppose I'm ready to begin."
CF |
CF | > Esrom says, "I've played one of those Little Match Girl things. A bizarre literary crossover."
DavidW says, "Ebby got the key from a pirate's shed in LMG3, I think it was."
Esrom says, "Which Ryan was that? Ryan Veeder, the one behind Skuga Lake and Cragne Manor? Among my favorite recent IF works, by the way."
DavidW says, "yes, that Ryan."
Iria exclaims, "Scrooge? BAH HUMBUG!"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x me"
CF ] Dining-Hall
CF | >
CF | > X ME
CF |
CF | Linus was only in his twenties, but in his face was the sternness of
CF | an older man. From his dress it could be seen that he was not at all a
CF | poor man; and of course it must be mentioned that the right sleeve of
CF | his jacket was tailored specially to allow for his wing. Was it
CF | beautiful, this fan of white feathers at his side? Or was it a garish
CF | sight, an unseemly miscreation? You are welcome to your opinion, of
CF | course; and I am welcome to mine.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "oh, we're starting *as* Linus. I wasn't sure."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x invitations"
CF ] Dining-Hall
CF | >
CF | > X INVITATIONS
CF |
CF | Each invitation was a stiff card, covered in ebullient calligraphy. He
CF | had five to distribute.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "read them"
CF ] Dining-Hall
CF | >
CF | > READ THEM
CF |
CF | Each invitation was a stiff card, covered in ebullient calligraphy. He
CF | had five to distribute.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x key"
CF ] Dining-Hall
CF | >
CF | > X KEY
CF |
CF | The key was a piece of ivory just under two inches long, very old, and
CF | etched with indecipherable patterns. This was a very special key. It
CF | could unlock anything that could be unlocked—but it could also lock
CF | anything that could be locked; and this is the quality that most
CF | interested Linus.
CF |
CF | "Doesn't that belong to Ebenezabeth?" asked Hrieman.
CF |
CF | "She loaned it to me," said Linus. "She said I'd get more use out of
CF | it than her."
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x pouch"
CF ] Dining-Hall
CF | >
CF | > X POUCH
CF |
CF | In the small purse were various coins: broad Danish skillings,
CF | iridescent Atlantean obols, and some unremarkable Canadian currency.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "Canadian currency isn't unremarkable! Slander!"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x display"
CF ] Dining-Hall
CF | >
CF | > X DISPLAY
CF |
CF | Linus cast an eye over the plans once again, partly to confirm his
CF | work, and partly to admire it. The maps and timetables and so on had
CF | been rendered rather well, he thought; especially in consideration of
CF | how many concepts represented by the figures did not properly exist
CF | within three-dimensional space.
CF |
CF | "Do you have to draw everything out before you do anything?" asked
CF | Hrieman. "Ebenezabeth never has to do any planning. She just, you
CF | know—goes."
CF |
CF | "She's very lucky that way," said Linus.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x maps"
CF ] Dining-Hall
CF | >
CF | > X MAPS
CF |
CF | Linus cast an eye over the plans once again, partly to confirm his
CF | work, and partly to admire it. The maps and timetables and so on had
CF | been rendered rather well, he thought; especially in consideration of
CF | how many concepts represented by the figures did not properly exist
CF | within three-dimensional space.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "i"
CF ] Dining-Hall
CF | >
CF | > I
CF |
CF | He was carrying:
CF | the skeletonic key
CF | a money pouch
CF | five invitations
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "ask scrooge about ebenezabeth"
CF ] Dining-Hall
CF | >
CF | > ASK SCROOGE ABOUT EBENEZABETH
CF |
CF | (Use TALK TO to interact with characters.)
CF |
CF | > Esrom says, "Well, it seems there's some difference of opinion there. Of course one does have to keep in mind that in IF, descriptions are often filtered through the PC's viewpoint."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to scrooge"
CF ] Dining-Hall
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO SCROOGE
CF |
CF | "Thank you for allowing me the use of this building, Sir Ebenezer. It
CF | suits my purposes precisely."
CF |
CF | "I'm very glad," said Scrooge. "I hated to see it standing empty. I've
CF | been very impatient for the official opening."
CF |
CF | > Esrom says, "By PC I mean 'player character', of course."
Jacqueline nods.
DavidW says, "I wish I knew more about what Linus is expected to do. I have no idea how *he* gets around time and space."
Jacqueline says (to DW), "Belatedly, you are quite right. Love me a loonie."
DavidW says, "Out polymer bills are colourful, meaningful, have braille, transparent bits, UV only bits, and holograms."
Jacqueline says, "Yeah, but I mostly like that you have $1 & $2 coins."
DavidW says, "Those are, of course, also very nice, yes."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to scrooge"
CF ] Dining-Hall
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO SCROOGE
CF |
CF | "Is there anything else I can do to help?" asked Scrooge.
CF |
CF | "I don't think so," said Linus. "I'll just be going here and there
CF | around the house—with this." And he held up the skeletonic key.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "oh, that response was helpful. We're meant to lock things in this house and not try to get to Altair IX or wherever."
Jacqueline says, "Yeah."
DavidW asks, "Nursery first, maybe?"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to crow"
CF ] Dining-Hall
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO CROW
CF |
CF | Linus had noticed Hrieman's silence, and decided not to bother him.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Nursery
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Nursery
CF | Whether it was to be a nursery or a playroom or something else was not
CF | entirely clear from its appearance, for the place was rather bare; but
CF | someone had donated a doll's house, and someone had donated a
CF | hobby-horse, and here they were, for the time being. The cabinet in
CF | the northwest corner, then, could be taken as a toy cabinet.
CF |
CF | The dining-hall was the next room to the east.
CF |
CF | Presently there came a loud flapping of wings from the dining-hall. In
CF | came Hrieman, fluttering over to Linus in a great rush, as if he had
CF | been pursuing his quarry for weeks.
CF |
CF | "On second thought," he said, "I'm going with you."
CF |
CF | "I wish you wouldn't," said Linus. "I can handle this myself. Trust
CF | me."
CF |
CF | "I will not," Hrieman insisted. "Trust you, that is. I will
CF | accompany you, to supervise you—on behalf of Sir Ebenezer." And he
CF | hopped up onto Linus's shoulder.
CF |
CF | > Jacqueline says, "I'm suspending my disbelief on ivory being a good material from which to make keys, since it's a magical key."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x horse"
CF ] Nursery
CF | >
CF | > X HORSE
CF |
CF | A painted horse's head, carved from wood, was mounted on a stick; and
CF | this leant against the wall in readiness for some daring getaway or
CF | military campaign. The mane was real horsehair.
CF |
CF | "Your talons are very sharp," said Linus. "Do you think you could
CF | loosen your grip a bit?"
CF |
CF | "Certainly, certainly," said Hrieman. But he didn't.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x house"
CF ] Nursery
CF | >
CF | > X HOUSE
CF |
CF | The exterior of the doll's house was very fine, bristling with
CF | railings, molding, and cedar tiles; but inside, the rooms were empty,
CF | and there was no story to be told of the house or its occupants—not
CF | yet.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x cabinet"
CF ] Nursery
CF | >
CF | > X CABINET
CF |
CF | In the northwest corner of the nursery stood a cabinet with a broad
CF | glass door with a little lock. The door was closed, but its little
CF | lock was unlocked.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open cabinet"
CF ] Nursery
CF | >
CF | > OPEN CABINET
CF |
CF | He opened the toy cabinet.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "look in cabinet"
CF ] Nursery
CF | >
CF | > LOOK IN CABINET
CF |
CF | In the northwest corner of the nursery stood a cabinet with a broad
CF | glass door with a little lock. The door was unlocked and open, but
CF | there was nothing inside.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "put invitation in cabinet"
CF ] Nursery
CF | >
CF | > PUT INVITATION IN CABINET
CF |
CF | He needed to deliver those.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "close cabinet"
CF ] Nursery
CF | >
CF | > CLOSE CABINET
CF |
CF | He closed the toy cabinet.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "lock it"
CF ] Nursery
CF | >
CF | > LOCK IT
CF |
CF | He locked the toy cabinet with the skeletonic key.
CF |
CF | "What'd you do that for?" asked Hrieman.
CF |
CF | Linus did not answer; he thought this would make the next part of the
CF | trick rather more impressive.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "okay, I'm still not understanding the grand plan here."
Jade says, "strange"
DavidW asks, "continue to the kitchen?"
Jacqueline says, "sure"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Nursery
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF | (Linus was about to show Hrieman why he locked the toy cabinet.)
CF |
CF | > Jade says, "I suppose so"
DavidW says, "hm. now what."
Jade exclaims, "surprise!"
DavidW says, "I have no idea why we're locking things except the prologue said to do it."
Jacqueline says, "Oh, we are meant to do some sort of trick..."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "put crow in cabinet"
CF ] Nursery
CF | >
CF | > PUT CROW IN CABINET
CF |
CF | (Linus was about to open the toy cabinet.)
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open cabinet"
CF ] Nursery
CF | >
CF | > OPEN CABINET
CF |
CF | Then he opened the toy cabinet, revealing a passageway to a damp
CF | forest in America.
CF |
CF | "Oh," said Hrieman. "I can see how that'd come in handy."
CF |
CF | > Jacqueline says, "HUH"
Jacqueline says, "Of course."
Jacqueline tries not to look puzzled.
Jade says, "impresive"
DavidW says, "I knew he must have some sort of trick to get around the way Ebenezabeth does, and I guess it's by opening locked doors."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "in"
CF | >
CF | > IN
CF |
CF | He stepped through the toy cabinet.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Wreck
CF | He stepped through the toy cabinet.Jackson County, Indiana - 26th
CF | September, 1996
CF |
CF | Wreck
CF | There's a chill in the air, and the branches above rustle impatiently.
CF | The forest is thick, but there are a few trails (clear spaces, at
CF | least) to the north, west, and northwest.
CF |
CF | The rusted skeleton of a 1989 Corolla rests in the southeast corner of
CF | this clearing, surrounded by broken glass and other debris.
CF |
CF | Hrieman surveys the scene. "Not very human-friendly. You'd better
CF | stick close to me," he says, although he's still perched on your
CF | shoulder.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x car"
CF ] Wreck
CF | >
CF | > X CAR
CF |
CF | Most of the car has fallen off or disintegrated outright, but the
CF | driver's side door remains basically intact. It is locked, but open,
CF | and inside is a passage back to 1851.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Hill
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Hill
CF | From up here you can just barely see part of the interstate, way over
CF | to the northeast.
CF |
CF | Paths down into the trees lead north, south, and west.
CF |
CF | > Jacqueline says, "huh"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Lookout
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Lookout
CF | A beaver sees you approaching and falls off a log, squeaking in
CF | terror. "It's okay, it's okay!" Hrieman croaks, and then he squawks
CF | something you don't understand.
CF |
CF | The beaver stops whining, climbs back onto the log, and grunts
CF | something in beaver language.
CF |
CF | Hrieman whispers in your ear: "I told him you were with me. He says I
CF | better keep you in line; he's not supposed to let any humans past
CF | here."
CF |
CF | Paths lead south, west, and northwest.
CF |
CF | You hear a car rushing down the interstate.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x beaver"
CF ] Lookout
CF | >
CF | > X BEAVER
CF |
CF | He's a big snub-nosed rodent with tiny little eyes—eyes that he won't
CF | take off you for a second.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to crow"
CF ] Lookout
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO CROW
CF |
CF | There's no point trying to convince him of anything.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "nw"
CF ] Dam
CF | >
CF | > NW
CF |
CF |
CF | Dam
CF | An impressive wall of mud and branches spans the creek bed, forming a
CF | substantial reservoir to the north. Beavers are scrambling over the
CF | dam, judging its integrity and making small repairs under the watchful
CF | eye of a large forebeaver.
CF |
CF | A relatively small current trickles under the dam and flows off to the
CF | southwest. Dry paths lead southeast and west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Logging Operation
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Logging Operation
CF | A dozen beavers are hard at work here, felling trees, stripping logs,
CF | and lining them up to be dragged away. A channel of cleared earth
CF | leads east, and fainter trails head southeast and south.
CF |
CF | One lone beaver stands off to the side, looking bored.
CF |
CF | > Jacqueline says, "Dang. I've never seen that many beavers together before, except on an in-dam cam."
DavidW says, "I've never seen any real beavers, just the ones on our impressive nickels."
Jade says, "talk to beaver"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x beaver"
CF ] Logging Operation
CF | >
CF | > X BEAVER
CF |
CF | You watch him watching his fellow beavers, as they work and chatter
CF | with each other.
CF |
CF | Then he looks up at you and shrugs.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to beaver"
CF ] Logging Operation
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO BEAVER
CF |
CF | "What's the matter?" you ask. The beaver stares at you blankly.
CF |
CF | Hrieman translates for you, and the two of them get into a
CF | conversation. You look around for a tree to lean against.
CF |
CF | "Yeah, that makes sense," Hrieman says, slipping out of animal speech
CF | for a second. "Did you try—" He switches back, and you're lost again.
CF |
CF | Finally, Hrieman turns back to you. "Well, long story short, he's
CF | bummed because he specializes in digging. And now that he's dug the
CF | channel, there's nothing left for him to do. And his name's Lem."
CF |
CF | "You and I could probably find some work for him, somewhere."
CF |
CF | "I was thinking the same thing!" says Hrieman, who immediately squawks
CF | the suggestion to Lem. Lem grunts in assent, and you pick him up.
CF |
CF | > Jacqueline says, "I am fortunate to have seen many beavers in the Yukon and Alaska."
Jacqueline says, "But always solo."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Outpost
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Outpost
CF | A turtle stands guard at the top of a large rock.
CF |
CF | He slowly turns his head toward you.
CF |
CF | Concluding you are not a threat, he turns back toward the north
CF | pathway.
CF |
CF | Paths lead north, southeast, and south.
CF |
CF | >
Jacqueline says (to ClubFloyd), "x turtle"
CF ] Outpost
CF | >
CF | > X TURTLE
CF |
CF | (the turtle sentry)
CF | The sentry is completely motionless as he watches the north trail.
CF |
CF | His expression betrays nothing.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "I need to sketch out a map. This is getting confusing."
Jacqueline nods.
Jade says, "I am mapping and yes, it is confusing"
Jade says, "with only 4 rooms"
Jacqueline says, "I saw a meme recently about a turtle that kept trying to fall down stairs so its owners had to put up a child gate and it still tried to get through it. The turtle's name was Jennifer Slopez."
DavidW says, "There's a turtle on a miniature skateboard on YouTube that I enjoy watching. It's *not* slow."
Jacqueline says, "Oh yeah. I've seen that. It's great."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to turtle"
CF ] Outpost
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO TURTLE
CF |
CF | (the turtle sentry)
CF | "Hello?" you call to the turtle.
CF |
CF | He doesn't even move his head.
CF |
CF | "He says he's very busy," Hrieman tells you.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Palace
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Palace
CF | The creek flowing from the east widens here as it empties into a small
CF | pond. In the middle of the stream, upon her throne of shiny rocks,
CF | sits the Turtle Queen, surrounded by a handful of turtle courtiers and
CF | a little orange newt.
CF |
CF | A wire mesh cage stands at the edge of the creek. Paths into the woods
CF | lead north, northeast, and southeast.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x queen"
CF ] Palace
CF | >
CF | > X QUEEN
CF |
CF | A midland painted turtle of majestic aspect sits on the throne,
CF | casting a satisfied eye over the waterways that are her domain. Regal
CF | stripes of red and yellow adorn her lissom neck. Somehow you feel
CF | small in her presence, even though she's the size of a dinner plate.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x newt"
CF ] Palace
CF | >
CF | > X NEWT
CF |
CF | Unlike the rest of the court, the newt is moving constantly—looking
CF | upstream, looking across the pond, looking at you, darting up to the
CF | throne to whisper in the Queen's ear, darting back to the circle of
CF | courtiers. Behind her glittering black eyes lies a mind that's racing
CF | just as fast.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x pond"
CF ] Palace
CF | >
CF | > X POND
CF |
CF | Wind ripples over the surface of the pond, and cattails wave fitfully.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to queen"
CF ] Palace
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO QUEEN
CF |
CF | You spread your wing and make a theatrical bow to the Queen of
CF | Turtles. Hrieman alights from your shoulder and executes his own
CF | little genuflection.
CF |
CF | The Queen stares at you for a long moment.
CF |
CF | Hrieman translates: "We stand in the presence of Garradine III, the
CF | Turtle Queen. Humans are forbidden from her watery dominion—but she
CF | makes an exception in this instance, as she sees from your feathers
CF | that you are an animal-friend. Plus I'm here, to legitimize you. She
CF | regrets that she has but little attention to spare for visitors, as
CF | she is distracted by the kidnapping of her son, Prince Wardlow, by the
CF | craven Beaverlord Ernst and his insurrectionists. At the moment she's
CF | making preparations to torture one of the conspirators, who's locked
CF | up in that cage over there."
CF |
CF | > Jacqueline says, "Well, I guess that's our goal."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x cage"
CF ] Palace
CF | >
CF | > X CAGE
CF |
CF | The steel wire is tightly knit. It might be some sort of crawdad trap.
CF |
CF | Inside the cage is a tiny flaxen-furred mouse.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "That's our girl. The mouse."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to mouse"
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO MOUSE
CF |
CF | Hrieman beats you to it: "Ebenezabeth! Are you okay?"
CF |
CF | She squeaks in response.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | She squeaks in response."What are you doing here? Who put you in
CF | there?"
CF |
CF | Squeak, squeak.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | Squeak, squeak."Why didn't you just turn back into a human?"
CF |
CF | "She can't," you say. Ebenezabeth squeaks in the affirmative.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | "She can't," you say. Ebenezabeth squeaks in the affirmative."But why
CF | don't you just break out?"
CF |
CF | Squeak, squeak, squeak.
CF |
CF | "Well, that's stupid."
CF |
CF | She shrugs.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Palace
CF | She shrugs.Hrieman turns to you: "We have to clear her name. Bring
CF | Prince Wardlow back here, and the Queen will set her free."
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to newt"
CF ] Palace
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO NEWT
CF |
CF | Hrieman hops down to chat with the newt for a moment; then he returns
CF | to your shoulder and whispers:
CF |
CF | "That's Kit. She's doing a classic evil advisor thing, telling the
CF | Queen not to trust anybody, advising her against anything that'd lead
CF | to better relations with the beavers."
CF |
CF | "Who is she working for?"
CF |
CF | "Hard to say. I don't know who stands to gain from a war. She might
CF | just be in it for herself."
CF |
CF | You nod.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "se"
CF ] Construction Site
CF | >
CF | > SE
CF |
CF |
CF | Construction Site
CF | There's a concrete foundation here, surrounded by a fallen fence of
CF | orange netting. Weeds are growing all over everything.
CF |
CF | Paths lead northwest and northeast.
CF |
CF | A mildewy backpack lies at the edge of the cement.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x pack"
CF ] Construction Site
CF | >
CF | > X PACK
CF |
CF | It's been lying here all summer, at the very least. The zipper is
CF | zipped shut.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "take it"
CF ] Construction Site
CF | >
CF | > TAKE IT
CF |
CF | You really don't want to carry it around.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open it"
CF ] Construction Site
CF | >
CF | > OPEN IT
CF |
CF | You open the mildewy backpack, revealing a Talkboy.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x talkboy"
CF ] Construction Site
CF | >
CF | > X TALKBOY
CF |
CF | A futuristic gadget made from gray plastic. It has a microphone and a
CF | speaker, and a play button.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "take it"
CF ] Construction Site
CF | >
CF | > TAKE IT
CF |
CF | You take the Talkboy.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "ne"
CF ] Culvert
CF | >
CF | > NE
CF |
CF |
CF | Culvert
CF | A creek flowing from the north passes through a culvert here and
CF | continues to the west. On top of the culvert is a rusty sign.
CF |
CF | Paths into the trees lead east, southwest, and northwest.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "read sign"
CF ] Culvert
CF | >
CF | > READ SIGN
CF |
CF | "NO　　SPASSING," say the big letters that remain legible. Any
CF | further
CF | explanation has flaked away. It's not clear which side of the culvert
CF | is the forbidden one.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Wreck
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Wreck
CF | There's a chill in the air, and the branches above rustle impatiently.
CF | The forest is thick, but there are a few trails (clear spaces, at
CF | least) to the north, west, and northwest.
CF |
CF | The rusted skeleton of a 1989 Corolla rests in the southeast corner of
CF | this clearing, surrounded by broken glass and other debris.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "okay, I made a mistake on my map and need to redraw it. Gimme a minute."
Jacqueline says, "Sure."
Jade says, "easy to make a mistake"
Jade says, "it is a non linear map"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "nw"
CF | >
CF | > NW
CF |
CF |
CF | Headquarters
CF | A pack of squirrels notices your arrival and scatters into the trees.
CF | Only one squirrel stands his ground. He stalks forward, baring his
CF | teeth, uttering a tiny sciurine snarl.
CF |
CF | Hrieman hops off of your shoulder and flutters in front of the
CF | squirrel, croaking menacingly. The two beasts step toward each other,
CF | snapping, growling.
CF |
CF | Then their posture slackens. Each takes a step back. Hrieman flaps up
CF | to your shoulder.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | to your shoulder."I'll give you the short version," he says. "That's
CF | Ollie. He says this is a real delicate situation we've wandered into,
CF | and the squirrels stand to gain a lot when the balance of power
CF | shifts. I told him we don't have any political interest here. He
CF | trusts us, but only because you're so—because you're obviously not a
CF | spy. So he'll let us through."
CF |
CF | "Thanks for handling all that," you tell him, as Ollie's comrades
CF | cautiously emerge from their hiding places.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Headquarters
CF | cautiously emerge from their hiding places.The creek running from the
CF | northwest turns to the south here, narrowing to a point where it's
CF | possible to hop right across. Dry paths through the forest lead east,
CF | southeast, and west.
CF |
CF | Ollie and his gang of squirrels are poring over some scratches in a
CF | big piece of bark.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x ollie"
CF ] Headquarters
CF | >
CF | > X OLLIE
CF |
CF | Ollie is delivering some sort of pep talk or battle plan to his
CF | cohort. It's easy to pick him out; he's the one who's had all the fur
CF | pulled off his tail. He looks a bit like a rat, only...
CF |
CF | "Cuter" is not the word.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Hill
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Hill
CF | From up here you can just barely see part of the interstate, way over
CF | to the northeast.
CF |
CF | Paths down into the trees lead north, south, and west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x trees"
CF ] Hill
CF | >
CF | > X TREES
CF |
CF | The leaves of white ash, white oak, and sugar maple cover the sky,
CF | starting to turn red and brown and yellow. The grass and bushes below
CF | remain green, for the time being.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x interstate"
CF ] Hill
CF | >
CF | > X INTERSTATE
CF |
CF | You can discern the basic shape of an overpass, but that's all.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Lookout
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Lookout
CF | A beaver sentinel sits on his log, scanning the woods for intruders.
CF | Paths lead south, west, and northwest.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Log Bridge
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Log Bridge
CF | The creek curves from northeast to southeast here, where a fallen log
CF | makes it easy to cross without stepping through any mud. When she sees
CF | you coming, a little squirrel quickly scurries to the other side.
CF |
CF | Paths lead east, south, and northwest.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x log"
CF ] Log Bridge
CF | >
CF | > X LOG
CF |
CF | A great big log, in just the right place.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "nw"
CF ] Logging Operation
CF | >
CF | > NW
CF |
CF |
CF | Logging Operation
CF | A dozen beavers are hard at work here, felling trees, stripping logs,
CF | and lining them up to be dragged away. A channel of cleared earth
CF | leads east, and fainter trails head southeast and south.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Dam
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Dam
CF | An impressive wall of mud and branches spans the creek bed, forming a
CF | substantial reservoir to the north. Beavers are scrambling over the
CF | dam, judging its integrity and making small repairs under the watchful
CF | eye of a large forebeaver.
CF |
CF | A relatively small current trickles under the dam and flows off to the
CF | southwest. Dry paths lead southeast and west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "sw"
CF ] Dam
CF | >
CF | > SW
CF |
CF | The creek is fairly deep. Its sides are steep and muddy. You'd just as
CF | soon stick to dry land, if you can help it.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "se"
CF ] Lookout
CF | >
CF | > SE
CF |
CF |
CF | Lookout
CF | A beaver sentinel sits on his log, scanning the woods for intruders.
CF | Paths lead south, west, and northwest.
CF |
CF | The sound of highway traffic carries through the trees.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Log Bridge
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Log Bridge
CF | The creek curves from northeast to southeast here, where a fallen log
CF | makes it easy to cross without stepping through any mud. That squirrel
CF | is still here, trying to remain unnoticed.
CF |
CF | Paths lead east, south, and northwest.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Clearing
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Clearing
CF | A pile of plastic barrels, surrounded by a greasy patch of bare earth.
CF |
CF | Paths lead north, east, southeast, southwest, northwest.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Headquarters
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Headquarters
CF | The creek running from the northwest turns to the south here,
CF | narrowing to a point where it's possible to hop right across. Dry
CF | paths through the forest lead east, southeast, and west.
CF |
CF | Ollie and his gang of squirrels are poring over some scratches in a
CF | big piece of bark.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Clearing
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Clearing
CF | A pile of plastic barrels, surrounded by a greasy patch of bare earth.
CF |
CF | Paths lead north, east, southeast, southwest, northwest.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "se"
CF ] Culvert
CF | >
CF | > SE
CF |
CF |
CF | Culvert
CF | The creek flowing from the north passes through a culvert here and
CF | continues to the west. On top of the culvert is a rusty sign.
CF |
CF | Paths into the trees lead east, southwest, and northwest.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "nw"
CF ] Clearing
CF | >
CF | > NW
CF |
CF |
CF | Clearing
CF | A pile of plastic barrels, surrounded by a greasy patch of bare earth.
CF |
CF | Paths lead north, east, southeast, southwest, northwest.
CF |
CF | An eerie feeling tickles the back of your neck.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "sw"
CF ] Palace
CF | >
CF | > SW
CF |
CF |
CF | Palace
CF | The creek flowing from the east widens here as it empties into a small
CF | pond. In the middle of the stream, upon her throne of shiny rocks,
CF | sits the Turtle Queen, surrounded by a handful of turtle courtiers and
CF | a little orange newt.
CF |
CF | A wire mesh cage stands at the edge of the creek. Paths into the woods
CF | lead north, northeast, and southeast.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "ne"
CF ] Clearing
CF | >
CF | > NE
CF |
CF |
CF | Clearing
CF | A pile of plastic barrels, surrounded by a greasy patch of bare earth.
CF |
CF | Paths lead north, east, southeast, southwest, northwest.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "nw"
CF ] Outpost
CF | >
CF | > NW
CF |
CF |
CF | Outpost
CF | A turtle stands guard at the top of a large rock.
CF |
CF | Paths lead north, southeast, and south.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "hm. I think we've been everywhere that's obvious."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Logging Operation
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Logging Operation
CF | A dozen beavers are hard at work here, felling trees, stripping logs,
CF | and lining them up to be dragged away. A channel of cleared earth
CF | leads east, and fainter trails head southeast and south.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to lem"
CF ] Logging Operation
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO LEM
CF |
CF | Lem looks up at you and bleats something you can't understand.
CF |
CF | "He's fine," says Hrieman. "He's just telling you to be careful."
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to beavers"
CF ] Logging Operation
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO BEAVERS
CF |
CF | Hrieman shushes you: "Can't you see they're busy?"
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Dam
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Dam
CF | An impressive wall of mud and branches spans the creek bed, forming a
CF | substantial reservoir to the north. Beavers are scrambling over the
CF | dam, judging its integrity and making small repairs under the watchful
CF | eye of a large forebeaver.
CF |
CF | A relatively small current trickles under the dam and flows off to the
CF | southwest. Dry paths lead southeast and west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to forebeaver"
CF ] Dam
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO FOREBEAVER
CF |
CF | You let Hrieman do the talking. He and the forebeaver gab at each
CF | other for a bit, and then Hrieman returns to your shoulder.
CF |
CF | "So, that's Ernst, and these guys are very upset with the turtles that
CF | live downstream, because somehow they destroyed a statue of Veronica,
CF | the legendary engineer. Have you heard of her?"
CF |
CF | "I don't think so."
CF |
CF | "She was a beaver. Anyway, to retaliate, the beavers kidnapped Wardlow
CF | the Turtle Prince, and they're not letting him go until the turtles
CF | repair or replace the statue. But the turtles won't negotiate, they
CF | won't even admit fault—and actually..."
CF |
CF | Hrieman glances at Ernst. Then he leans toward you: "I don't know for
CF | sure if they know for sure that it was the turtles who broke the
CF | statue in the first place. It sounds like there's a lot of assumptions
CF | going around."
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x statue"
CF ] Dam
CF | >
CF | > X STATUE
CF |
CF | (You can't see that, or it's not implemented.)
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to crow"
CF ] Dam
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO CROW
CF |
CF | There's no point trying to convince him of anything.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to ernst"
CF ] Dam
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO ERNST
CF |
CF | You direct your question to Hrieman: "So, the only way the beavers
CF | will return Prince Wardlow is if the turtles replace the statue of
CF | their famous beaver engineer?"
CF |
CF | "Veronica. It's slightly more complicated than that," Hrieman tells
CF | you. "I left out a few animal-political details that humans aren't
CF | really equipped to understand."
CF |
CF | "Oh, thanks."
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "se"
CF ] Lookout
CF | >
CF | > SE
CF |
CF |
CF | Lookout
CF | A beaver sentinel sits on his log, scanning the woods for intruders.
CF | Paths lead south, west, and northwest.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to beaver"
CF ] Lookout
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO BEAVER
CF |
CF | (the beaver sentinel)
CF | You turn to Hrieman. "Tell him he can trust me not to cause any
CF | trouble."
CF |
CF | Hrieman blinks. "I'm not gonna lie to the poor guy." Then he
CF | chirps to the beaver, who squeaks something in return, and then they
CF | both chortle about something for a bit.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Hill
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Hill
CF | From up here you can just barely see part of the interstate, way over
CF | to the northeast.
CF |
CF | Paths down into the trees lead north, south, and west.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "I suppose there could be something in the car. We'd need to close and unlock it."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Wreck
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Wreck
CF | There's a chill in the air, and the branches above rustle impatiently.
CF | The forest is thick, but there are a few trails (clear spaces, at
CF | least) to the north, west, and northwest.
CF |
CF | The rusted skeleton of a 1989 Corolla rests in the southeast corner of
CF | this clearing, surrounded by broken glass and other debris.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "close door"
CF ] Wreck
CF | >
CF | > CLOSE DOOR
CF |
CF | You close the 1989 Corolla.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "unlock door"
CF ] Wreck
CF | >
CF | > UNLOCK DOOR
CF |
CF | You unlock the 1989 Corolla with the skeletonic key.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open door"
CF ] Wreck
CF | >
CF | > OPEN DOOR
CF |
CF | You open the 1989 Corolla.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "enter door"
CF ] Wreck
CF | >
CF | > ENTER DOOR
CF |
CF | You can climb "inside" the wrecked car, but it's not that much
CF | different from being "outside." Just a little less comfortable.
CF |
CF | So you climb back out.
CF |
CF | You hear a very loud motorcycle, somewhere far to the east.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "look in car"
CF ] Wreck
CF | >
CF | > LOOK IN CAR
CF |
CF | Most of the car has fallen off or disintegrated outright, but the
CF | driver's side door remains basically intact. It is unlocked and open.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "close door"
CF ] Wreck
CF | >
CF | > CLOSE DOOR
CF |
CF | You close the 1989 Corolla.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "lock it"
CF ] Wreck
CF | >
CF | > LOCK IT
CF |
CF | You lock the 1989 Corolla with the skeletonic key.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x trunk"
CF ] Wreck
CF | >
CF | > X TRUNK
CF |
CF | (You can't see that, or it's not implemented.)
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "nw"
CF ] Headquarters
CF | >
CF | > NW
CF |
CF |
CF | Headquarters
CF | The creek running from the northwest turns to the south here,
CF | narrowing to a point where it's possible to hop right across. Dry
CF | paths through the forest lead east, southeast, and west.
CF |
CF | Ollie and his gang of squirrels are poring over some scratches in a
CF | big piece of bark.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to ollie"
CF ] Headquarters
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO OLLIE
CF |
CF | "What's he telling them?" you ask Hrieman.
CF |
CF | "They have to wait until the moment when chaos strikes, and then seize
CF | that opportunity. And until then, they have to watch out for the signs
CF | that chaos is about to strike." Hrieman clicks his beak. "He's being
CF | really vague."
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Headquarters
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | "What's he telling them?" you ask Hrieman.
CF |
CF | "They have to wait until the moment when chaos strikes, and then seize
CF | that opportunity. And until then, they have to watch out for the signs
CF | that chaos is about to strike." Hrieman clicks his beak. "He's being
CF | really vague."
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "The squirrels likely started this mess."
Jacqueline says, "Freakin' squirrels."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "i"
CF ] Headquarters
CF | >
CF | > I
CF |
CF | You are carrying:
CF | a Talkboy
CF | Lem the beaver
CF | the skeletonic key
CF | a money pouch
CF | five invitations
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "use talkboy"
CF ] Headquarters
CF | >
CF | > USE TALKBOY
CF |
CF | What do you want to use the Talkboy on?
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "ollie"
CF ] Headquarters
CF | >
CF | > OLLIE
CF |
CF | The squirrel backs slowly away from the microphone.
CF |
CF | "He's not saying anything," Hrieman tells you.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Hill
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Hill
CF | From up here you can just barely see part of the interstate, way over
CF | to the northeast.
CF |
CF | Paths down into the trees lead north, south, and west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Lookout
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Lookout
CF | A beaver sentinel sits on his log, scanning the woods for intruders.
CF | Paths lead south, west, and northwest.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "nw"
CF ] Dam
CF | >
CF | > NW
CF |
CF |
CF | Dam
CF | An impressive wall of mud and branches spans the creek bed, forming a
CF | substantial reservoir to the north. Beavers are scrambling over the
CF | dam, judging its integrity and making small repairs under the watchful
CF | eye of a large forebeaver.
CF |
CF | A relatively small current trickles under the dam and flows off to the
CF | southwest. Dry paths lead southeast and west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "use talkboy on ernst"
CF ] Dam
CF | >
CF | > USE TALKBOY ON ERNST
CF |
CF | The beaver sniffs your Talkboy.
CF |
CF | "He says he's not making any statement to any human news outlets,"
CF | Hrieman translates.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Logging Operation
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Logging Operation
CF | A dozen beavers are hard at work here, felling trees, stripping logs,
CF | and lining them up to be dragged away. A channel of cleared earth
CF | leads east, and fainter trails head southeast and south.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Outpost
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Outpost
CF | A turtle stands guard at the top of a large rock.
CF |
CF | Paths lead north, southeast, and south.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Palace
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Palace
CF | The creek flowing from the east widens here as it empties into a small
CF | pond. In the middle of the stream, upon her throne of shiny rocks,
CF | sits the Turtle Queen, surrounded by a handful of turtle courtiers and
CF | a little orange newt.
CF |
CF | A wire mesh cage stands at the edge of the creek. Paths into the woods
CF | lead north, northeast, and southeast.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "use talkboy on mouse"
CF ] Palace
CF | >
CF | > USE TALKBOY ON MOUSE
CF |
CF | You can't pass much of anything through the mesh cage.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "use talkboy on queen"
CF ] Palace
CF | >
CF | > USE TALKBOY ON QUEEN
CF |
CF | The Turtle Queen stares down the barrel of the microphone.
CF |
CF | Hrieman translates: "She wants to emphasize that she's doing
CF | everything she can to avoid unnecessary hostilities."
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "use talkboy on newt"
CF ] Palace
CF | >
CF | > USE TALKBOY ON NEWT
CF |
CF | Perhaps you should deal directly with the Queen.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "hm"
DavidW says, "It may be that we can't do much here yet and need something from elsewhere entirely."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "give invitation to queen"
CF ] Palace
CF | >
CF | > GIVE INVITATION TO QUEEN
CF |
CF | The Turtle Queen is not one of the people to whom you need to give an
CF | invitation.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "se"
CF ] Construction Site
CF | >
CF | > SE
CF |
CF |
CF | Construction Site
CF | There's a concrete foundation here, surrounded by a fallen fence of
CF | orange netting. Weeds are growing all over everything.
CF |
CF | Paths lead northwest and northeast.
CF |
CF | A mildewy backpack lies at the edge of the cement.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "ne"
CF ] Culvert
CF | >
CF | > NE
CF |
CF |
CF | Culvert
CF | The creek flowing from the north passes through a culvert here and
CF | continues to the west. On top of the culvert is a rusty sign.
CF |
CF | Paths into the trees lead east, southwest, and northwest.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Wreck
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Wreck
CF | There's a chill in the air, and the branches above rustle impatiently.
CF | The forest is thick, but there are a few trails (clear spaces, at
CF | least) to the north, west, and northwest.
CF |
CF | The rusted skeleton of a 1989 Corolla rests in the southeast corner of
CF | this clearing, surrounded by broken glass and other debris.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "se"
CF ] Wreck
CF | >
CF | > SE
CF |
CF | The 1989 Corolla is closed.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open car"
CF ] Wreck
CF | >
CF | > OPEN CAR
CF |
CF | You open the 1989 Corolla, revealing a passageway to a mostly empty
CF | Victorian nursery.
CF |
CF | The sound of highway traffic carries through the trees.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "se"
CF | >
CF | > SE
CF |
CF | You step through the 1989 Corolla.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Nursery
CF | You step through the 1989 Corolla.Manchester, England - 14th June,
CF | 1851
CF |
CF | Nursery
CF | Whether it was to be a nursery or a playroom or something else was not
CF | entirely clear from its appearance, for the place was rather bare; but
CF | someone had donated a doll's house, and someone had donated a
CF | hobby-horse, and here they were, for the time being. The cabinet in
CF | the northwest corner, then, could be taken as a toy cabinet.
CF |
CF | The dining-hall was the next room to the east.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Dining-Hall
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Dining-Hall
CF | The long table in the center of the hall was half-covered with papers,
CF | and these papers were covered with the most obscure symbols, figures,
CF | and diagrams. Ebenezer Scrooge stood a respectable distance from the
CF | display.
CF |
CF | The doorway to the east led to the kitchen; west, to the nursery; and
CF | the foyer was south.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Kitchen
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Kitchen
CF | A pair of large cast-iron stoves spoke to the great number of people
CF | Scrooge hoped would be fed here. The ovens, sinks, and benches were
CF | all newly built for the house, and the kitchen was an immaculate,
CF | unspoiled Eden, for the moment; yet it was easy to envision the bedlam
CF | that would reign in this room when the Home was opened at last.
CF |
CF | The pantry door stood to the southeast; the way back to the
CF | dining-hall was west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x stoves"
CF ] Kitchen
CF | >
CF | > X STOVES
CF |
CF | The two stoves were identical, but not symmetrical; Linus would have
CF | preferred for one to have its chimney on the left, and the other to
CF | have its chimney on the right.
CF |
CF | He tried not to trouble himself too much over this detail.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open pantry"
CF ] Kitchen
CF | >
CF | > OPEN PANTRY
CF |
CF | He opened the pantry door.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "look in it"
CF ] Kitchen
CF | >
CF | > LOOK IN IT
CF |
CF | The door to the pantry had a lock on it. It was unlocked and open; and
CF | beyond was the pantry itself.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "close it"
CF ] Kitchen
CF | >
CF | > CLOSE IT
CF |
CF | He closed the pantry door.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "lock it"
CF ] Kitchen
CF | >
CF | > LOCK IT
CF |
CF | He locked the pantry door with the skeletonic key.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open it"
CF ] Kitchen
CF | >
CF | > OPEN IT
CF |
CF | He opened the pantry door, revealing a passageway to the inside of a
CF | chilly log cabin.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "enter it"
CF | >
CF | > ENTER IT
CF |
CF | He stepped through the pantry door.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Cabin
CF | He stepped through the pantry door.Dawson City, Yukon Territory - 17th
CF | December, 1902
CF |
CF | Cabin
CF | Two beds, both covered in quilts—one more bed than this cabin can
CF | comfortably accommodate. Between them is a little stove.
CF |
CF | A tightly-folded piece of notepaper sits on top.
CF |
CF | Hrieman glances around, worried. "It's just a cabin? We can't get
CF | outside?"
CF |
CF | "Sure we can get outside," you tell him. "If I unlock the door, it'll
CF | go back to acting like a regular door."
CF |
CF | "Phew. What's out there, do you think?"
CF |
CF | "Dawson City, in the Yukon Territory. I think."
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "take notepaper"
CF ] Cabin
CF | >
CF | > TAKE NOTEPAPER
CF |
CF | You take the folded notepaper.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "unfold it"
CF ] Cabin
CF | >
CF | > UNFOLD IT
CF |
CF | You unfold the various folds of the notepaper until it is reasonably
CF | flat.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "read it"
CF ] Cabin
CF | >
CF | > READ IT
CF |
CF | The note reads:
CF |
CF | Linus,
CF |
CF | Lobo is a bit of a handful, but he means well. The fastest way to win
CF | him over is with salty candy. If I had any on hand, I'd hide it
CF | somewhere in the cabin—and then Lobo would find it, so it wouldn't be
CF | any help anyway.
CF |
CF | I've left something useful (maybe) with Benny. Show this note to him,
CF | and he'll know I sent you. Don't show it to Lobo, though; he might
CF | take it the wrong way.
CF |
CF | — E
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "There is a type of licorise that's reputed to be extremely salty. I wonder if that's the candy we'll get."
Jacqueline says, "I don't understand the point of 'treats' like that."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x stove"
CF ] Cabin
CF | >
CF | > X STOVE
CF |
CF | Everything seems a little too close to the stove to be really safe,
CF | but there isn't room to be really safe in this overcrowded cabin.
CF |
CF | "Can we try looking outside the cabin now?" Hrieman asks.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x beds"
CF ] Cabin
CF | >
CF | > X BEDS
CF |
CF | It's so cold during the "day" here, you're not sure even this many
CF | quilts will be enough at night.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "look under beds"
CF ] Cabin
CF | >
CF | > LOOK UNDER BEDS
CF |
CF | There's nothing interesting under either of the beds.
CF |
CF | "That's a shame," Hrieman mutters.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "look under quilts"
CF ] Cabin
CF | >
CF | > LOOK UNDER QUILTS
CF |
CF | There's nothing interesting under either of the beds.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open stove"
CF ] Cabin
CF | >
CF | > OPEN STOVE
CF |
CF | Only ashes inside the stove.
CF |
CF | "I still think we should try going outside the cabin," mutters
CF | Hrieman.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "close door"
CF ] Cabin
CF | >
CF | > CLOSE DOOR
CF |
CF | You close the narrow wooden door.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "unlock door"
CF ] Cabin
CF | >
CF | > UNLOCK DOOR
CF |
CF | You unlock the narrow wooden door with the skeletonic key.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open door"
CF ] Cabin
CF | >
CF | > OPEN DOOR
CF |
CF | You open the narrow wooden door.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "out"
CF ] Outside the Cabin
CF | >
CF | > OUT
CF |
CF | Outside the Cabin
CF | A modest wooden cabin sits on a snowy hillside to the southeast,
CF | surrounded by alder trees. The sky is cloudy and dim; the cold is
CF | malicious.
CF |
CF | At the bottom of the hill, Eighth Avenue runs northeast and southwest.
CF | Church Street leads northwest.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "close door"
CF ] Outside the Cabin
CF | >
CF | > CLOSE DOOR
CF |
CF | You close the narrow wooden door.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "ne"
CF ] Cemetery
CF | >
CF | > NE
CF |
CF |
CF | Cemetery
CF | Wooden markers stick out of the snow in slightly irregular rows. The
CF | sign over the gate reserves this graveyard for the Yukon Order of
CF | Pioneers.
CF |
CF | Eighth Avenue leads southwest. Someone else's tracks continue
CF | northeast across the snow.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x tracks"
CF ] Cemetery
CF | >
CF | > X TRACKS
CF |
CF | The footprints head toward the trees to the northeast.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x markers"
CF ] Cemetery
CF | >
CF | > X MARKERS
CF |
CF | Almost all the graves are from 1897 or 1898.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "ne"
CF ] Woods
CF | >
CF | > NE
CF |
CF |
CF | Woods
CF | The snow isn't as thick on the ground here, and the trail of
CF | footprints from the southwest disappears.
CF |
CF | Thick bushes hem you in on all other sides.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "listen"
CF ] Woods
CF | >
CF | > LISTEN
CF |
CF | You don't hear anything interesting.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x footprints"
CF ] Woods
CF | >
CF | > X FOOTPRINTS
CF |
CF | You can't see where the footprints went next.
CF |
CF | From here, the only way to keep walking would be through these bushes.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "go through bushes"
CF ] Thicket
CF | >
CF | > GO THROUGH BUSHES
CF |
CF | You steel yourself and begin tramping through the foliage.
CF |
CF | Thicket
CF | Surrounded by half-dead vegetation, with barely enough room to stand
CF | next to it, is a low, flat rock.
CF |
CF | On the rock is a carved ivory beaver.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x ivory beaver"
CF ] Thicket
CF | >
CF | > X IVORY BEAVER
CF |
CF | A beaver carved from yellowed ivory, three or four inches tall. Its
CF | tail is finely textured, its eyes painted with some sort of black
CF | lacquer.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "take it"
CF ] Thicket
CF | >
CF | > TAKE IT
CF |
CF | You take the carved ivory beaver.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x rock"
CF ] Thicket
CF | >
CF | > X ROCK
CF |
CF | There should be snow or dirt or dead vines all over this rock. Someone
CF | has kept it clean.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Thicket
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF | To exit the thicket, type "EXIT" or "LEAVE" or "OUT" or something like
CF | that.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "out"
CF ] Woods
CF | >
CF | > OUT
CF |
CF |
CF | Woods
CF | The snow isn't as thick on the ground here, and the trail of
CF | footprints from the southwest disappears.
CF |
CF | Thick bushes hem you in on all other sides.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "sw"
CF ] Cemetery
CF | >
CF | > SW
CF |
CF |
CF | Cemetery
CF | Wooden markers stick out of the snow in slightly irregular rows. The
CF | sign over the gate reserves this graveyard for the Yukon Order of
CF | Pioneers.
CF |
CF | Eighth Avenue leads southwest. Someone else's tracks continue
CF | northeast across the snow.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "sw"
CF ] Outside the Cabin
CF | >
CF | > SW
CF |
CF |
CF | Outside the Cabin
CF | A modest wooden cabin sits on a snowy hillside to the southeast,
CF | surrounded by alder trees. The sky is cloudy and dim; the cold is
CF | malicious.
CF |
CF | At the bottom of the hill, Eighth Avenue runs northeast and southwest.
CF | Church Street leads northwest.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "sw"
CF ] Edge of Town
CF | >
CF | > SW
CF |
CF |
CF | Edge of Town
CF | "CITY," the top of the sign reads. The bottom of the sign is covered
CF | in snow.
CF |
CF | Eighth Avenue leads northeast. Craig Street follows the Klondike to
CF | the northwest. The road out of town heads up the river to the
CF | southeast—Not much to see out that way.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "clean sign"
CF ] Edge of Town
CF | >
CF | > CLEAN SIGN
CF |
CF | You wipe the snow off the bottom of the sign: "of DAWSON," it says.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "nw"
CF ] Bridge
CF | >
CF | > NW
CF |
CF |
CF | Bridge
CF | A wooden bridge leads southwest to an island in the middle of the
CF | Klondike, apparently given over entirely to one lumber mill operation.
CF |
CF | Craig Street follows the river southeast and northwest.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x bridge"
CF ] Bridge
CF | >
CF | > X BRIDGE
CF |
CF | The massive bridge was evidently intended as a permanent installation,
CF | but it's very splintery and rickety-looking.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "sw"
CF ] Bridge
CF | >
CF | > SW
CF |
CF | If all your research was correct, you shouldn't have any cause to go
CF | trespassing at the lumber mill.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "nw"
CF ] Confluence
CF | >
CF | > NW
CF |
CF |
CF | Confluence
CF | Two rivers merge here, forming one great field of ice. On the far side
CF | are snow-covered cliffs, topped with snow-covered pines.
CF |
CF | First Avenue follows the Yukon northeast. Craig Street follows the
CF | Klondike to the southeast.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "ne"
CF ] Government House
CF | >
CF | > NE
CF |
CF |
CF | Government House
CF | The Commissioner's residence stands facing the Yukon River, surrounded
CF | by a spacious lawn and tall fence. There are lights on inside, but no
CF | evidence that anyone has gone in or out since it snowed last.
CF |
CF | First Avenue runs northeast and southwest. Church Street begins here
CF | and leads southeast.
CF |
CF | A boy in an anachronistic bomber jacket is watching you from down the
CF | street.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x boy"
CF ] Government House
CF | >
CF | > X BOY
CF |
CF | He's not quite a teenager, and the rest of his face hasn't caught up
CF | to his peach fuzz mustache. His focused expression of distrust is
CF | clearly the product of rigorous practice.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to boy"
CF ] Government House
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO BOY
CF |
CF | You wave to the kid. "Hey! Are you Lobo?"
CF |
CF | "Maybe," he calls down the street. "Who's asking?"
CF |
CF | "We're looking for Ebenezabeth Scrooge. Do you know where she is?"
CF |
CF | He stiffens. "I won't let you hurt Madam Scrooge, scumbags!" he yelps,
CF | and he runs away.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x house"
CF ] Government House
CF | >
CF | > X HOUSE
CF |
CF | The veranda, with its excess of ornamental columns, is surmounted by a
CF | broad balcony, also with too many columns; and above this are two
CF | extraneous cupolas. It's all a bit hard to look at.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "in"
CF ] Government House
CF | >
CF | > IN
CF |
CF | There's no obvious way inside.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "climb column"
CF ] Government House
CF | >
CF | > CLIMB COLUMN
CF |
CF | You can't do much more than look from over here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "ne"
CF ] Bank of Commerce
CF | >
CF | > NE
CF |
CF |
CF | Bank of Commerce
CF | No commerce is occurring at the moment; the bank is closed, and snow
CF | has piled up in the windows.
CF |
CF | Queen Street begins here and leads southeast. First Avenue runs
CF | northeast and southwest.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "clean windows"
CF ] Bank of Commerce
CF | >
CF | > CLEAN WINDOWS
CF |
CF | No time for that.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x windows"
CF ] Bank of Commerce
CF | >
CF | > X WINDOWS
CF |
CF | The cubic building is covered in imitation brickwork, false pilasters,
CF | and pediments of pressed metal, painted to look like stone.
CF |
CF | Hrieman leans in for a closer look. "How can you tell?"
CF |
CF | "Well, look at it," you say. But that isn't very helpful.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "ne"
CF ] Ferry Landing
CF | >
CF | > NE
CF |
CF |
CF | Ferry Landing
CF | Some signs and fenceposts stick out of the snow near the river's edge.
CF | The Yukon is frozen over.
CF |
CF | King Street leads southeast; First Avenue leads southwest.
CF |
CF | > Jacqueline asks, "Huh. I wqs tuned out for a minute, but are we in Dawson City?"
DavidW says, "yes"
Jacqueline says, "Very cool. Been there a few times."
Jacqueline says, "I've been to the Commissioner's Residence. Very nice."
DavidW says, "I'm feeling a bit lost. I need to make yet another map soon, I think."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x ferry"
CF ] Ferry Landing
CF | >
CF | > X FERRY
CF |
CF | It's only clear that this is where the ferry would be because one of
CF | the signs says so.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "read signs"
CF ] Ferry Landing
CF | >
CF | > READ SIGNS
CF |
CF | It's only clear that this is where the ferry would be because one of
CF | the signs says so.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "se"
CF ] Palace Grand Theatre
CF | >
CF | > SE
CF |
CF |
CF | Palace Grand Theatre
CF | A singularly ostentatious facade towers over you, dwarfing its
CF | neighbors in size and in architectural flamboyance.
CF |
CF | From this corner, Third Avenue continues southwest, and King Street
CF | leads northwest.
CF |
CF | > Jacqueline says, "One wonders how much of the town is here."
Jacqueline | [LINK]
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x theatre"
CF ] Palace Grand Theatre
CF | >
CF | > X THEATRE
CF |
CF | Bulbous bay windows hang over the sidewalk, topped with railings that
CF | suggest narrow, precarious balconies. All the lines of the building
CF | seem at odds with each other. The wood siding is applied in a bizarre
CF | herringbone pattern that you've never seen anywhere else before, and
CF | hope never to see again.
CF |
CF | "You're awful snooty about architecture, huh?" Hrieman grouses.
CF |
CF | "It doesn't take a whole lot of snoot to be put off by something this
CF | awful," you tell him.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "in"
CF ] Inside the Theatre
CF | >
CF | > IN
CF |
CF | (first opening the door)
CF |
CF | Inside the Theatre
CF | The curtain has fallen; the show is over. A solitary pair shuffles
CF | across the dance floor: a custodian and his broom.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x custodian"
CF ] Inside the Theatre
CF | >
CF | > X CUSTODIAN
CF |
CF | It'll be a while before he runs out of floor to sweep, but he doesn't
CF | seem to mind.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to him"
CF ] Inside the Theatre
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO HIM
CF |
CF | "Is there a show tonight?" you ask the custodian.
CF |
CF | "Not that I know of," he says.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x broom"
CF ] Inside the Theatre
CF | >
CF | > X BROOM
CF |
CF | The custodian is doing most of the work—his dance partner is just
CF | along for the ride.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "out"
CF ] Palace Grand Theatre
CF | >
CF | > OUT
CF |
CF |
CF | Palace Grand Theatre
CF | A singularly ostentatious facade towers over you, dwarfing its
CF | neighbors in size and in architectural flamboyance.
CF |
CF | From this corner, Third Avenue continues southwest, and King Street
CF | leads northwest.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "lock theatre"
CF ] Palace Grand Theatre
CF | >
CF | > LOCK THEATRE
CF |
CF | That isn't something you can lock.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "nw"
CF ] Ferry Landing
CF | >
CF | > NW
CF |
CF |
CF | Ferry Landing
CF | Some signs and fenceposts stick out of the snow near the river's edge.
CF | The Yukon is frozen over.
CF |
CF | King Street leads southeast; First Avenue leads southwest.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "sw"
CF ] Bank of Commerce
CF | >
CF | > SW
CF |
CF |
CF | Bank of Commerce
CF | No commerce is occurring at the moment; the bank is closed, and snow
CF | has piled up in the windows.
CF |
CF | Queen Street begins here and leads southeast. First Avenue runs
CF | northeast and southwest.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "in"
CF ] Bank of Commerce
CF | >
CF | > IN
CF |
CF | The door is closed.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open door"
CF ] Bank of Commerce
CF | >
CF | > OPEN DOOR
CF |
CF | You open the door, revealing a passageway to some sort of observatory.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "in"
CF | >
CF | > IN
CF |
CF | You step through the door.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Observatory
CF | You step through the door.Somewhere Warm
CF |
CF | Observatory
CF | The arced ceiling is entirely open to the air on one side, where a
CF | balcony looks over the sea and the starry sky. A mounting for a small
CF | telescope is worked into the tiled floor.
CF |
CF | A bearded gentleman with four spider legs looks up from the telescope
CF | as you appear.
CF |
CF | "Oh!" Hrieman perks up. "I know where this is! We're in Jardinver!"
CF |
CF | The astronomer shakes his head. "Jardinver is on the other side of
CF | that ocean," he says, pointing. "You're in Atlachnach, whoever you
CF | are."
CF |
CF | The door is southeast.
CF |
CF | > Jacqueline says, "Bye bye, Dawson City."
DavidW says, "Jardinver was a land of sentient insects and bees."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x astronomer"
CF ] Observatory
CF | >
CF | > X ASTRONOMER
CF |
CF | He carries a little notebook. He wears a dark brown robe, and
CF | spectacles pushed high on his forehead. His beard is thick and black.
CF |
CF | And he has only four spider legs, but added to his human arms and
CF | legs, you get eight.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to him"
CF ] Observatory
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO HIM
CF |
CF | Hrieman isn't afraid to interrupt the man's work. "So, do you know
CF | Nuci? The butterfly knight?"
CF |
CF | "No."
CF |
CF | "Oh. Do you know... Majali, the bee lady?"
CF |
CF | "The queen of Jardinver? I know of her."
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Observatory
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | "Would you mind telling me what year this is?" you ask.
CF |
CF | He rubs his forehead. "This here, now, is the year 1474. The eighth
CF | day of Sheovis. The hour is..." He glances at the stars. "Just past
CF | midnight. So make that the ninth day of Sheovis."
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Observatory
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | "I'm very sorry to have interrupted you," you tell the astronomer.
CF |
CF | "Oh, I don't mind at all," he lies, staring pointedly into the
CF | telescope's eyepiece.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x telescope"
CF ] Observatory
CF | >
CF | > X TELESCOPE
CF |
CF | Various gears and flanges in the mount keep the telescope from
CF | shifting by accident.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "l"
CF ] Observatory
CF | >
CF | > L
CF |
CF | Observatory
CF | The arced ceiling is entirely open to the air on one side, where a
CF | balcony looks over the sea and the starry sky. A mounting for a small
CF | telescope is worked into the tiled floor.
CF |
CF | The spider astronomer alternates between peering into his telescope
CF | and scribbling in his notebook, waiting for you to leave.
CF |
CF | The door is southeast.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x mounting"
CF ] Observatory
CF | >
CF | > X MOUNTING
CF |
CF | Various gears and flanges in the mount keep the telescope from
CF | shifting by accident.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "close door"
CF ] Observatory
CF | >
CF | > CLOSE DOOR
CF |
CF | You close the door.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "unlock it"
CF ] Observatory
CF | >
CF | > UNLOCK IT
CF |
CF | That's unlocked at the moment.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "out"
CF ] Observatory
CF | >
CF | > OUT
CF |
CF | The door is closed.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open door"
CF ] Observatory
CF | >
CF | > OPEN DOOR
CF |
CF | You open the door.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "out"
CF | >
CF | > OUT
CF |
CF | You step through the door.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Bank of Commerce
CF | You step through the door.Dawson City, Yukon Territory - 17th
CF | December, 1902
CF |
CF | Bank of Commerce
CF | No commerce is occurring at the moment; the bank is closed, and snow
CF | has piled up in the windows.
CF |
CF | Queen Street begins here and leads southeast. First Avenue runs
CF | northeast and southwest.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "in"
CF | >
CF | > IN
CF |
CF | You step through the door.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Observatory
CF | You step through the door.Atlachnach - 9th Sheovis, 1474
CF |
CF | Observatory
CF | The arced ceiling is entirely open to the air on one side, where a
CF | balcony looks over the sea and the starry sky. A mounting for a small
CF | telescope is worked into the tiled floor.
CF |
CF | The spider astronomer alternates between peering into his telescope
CF | and scribbling in his notebook, waiting for you to leave.
CF |
CF | The door is southeast.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "close door"
CF ] Observatory
CF | >
CF | > CLOSE DOOR
CF |
CF | You close the door.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "unlock door"
CF ] Observatory
CF | >
CF | > UNLOCK DOOR
CF |
CF | That's unlocked at the moment.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "lock door"
CF ] Observatory
CF | >
CF | > LOCK DOOR
CF |
CF | You lock the door with the skeletonic key.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open door"
CF ] Observatory
CF | >
CF | > OPEN DOOR
CF |
CF | You open the door, revealing a passageway to a starry night.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "out"
CF ] Hilltop
CF | >
CF | > OUT
CF |
CF | Hilltop
CF | The middle of a cloudless, star-filled night. The curved walls of the
CF | observatory rise to the northwest; in all other directions are thick
CF | trees. If there's a path down the hill, it's invisible in the
CF | darkness.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "trees"
CF ] Hilltop
CF | >
CF | > TREES
CF |
CF | That's not a verb I recognize.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Hilltop
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF | The only safe route is the door to the northwest.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x stars"
CF ] Hilltop
CF | >
CF | > X STARS
CF |
CF | You don't recognize these stars at all. They're arranged with a
CF | regularity that you've never encountered in the regular universe.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "read stars"
CF ] Hilltop
CF | >
CF | > READ STARS
CF |
CF | You don't recognize these stars at all. They're arranged with a
CF | regularity that you've never encountered in the regular universe.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "in"
CF ] Observatory
CF | >
CF | > IN
CF |
CF | Observatory
CF | The arced ceiling is entirely open to the air on one side, where a
CF | balcony looks over the sea and the starry sky. A mounting for a small
CF | telescope is worked into the tiled floor.
CF |
CF | The spider astronomer alternates between peering into his telescope
CF | and scribbling in his notebook, waiting for you to leave.
CF |
CF | The door is southeast.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "close door"
CF ] Observatory
CF | >
CF | > CLOSE DOOR
CF |
CF | You close the door.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "unlock door"
CF ] Observatory
CF | >
CF | > UNLOCK DOOR
CF |
CF | You unlock the door with the skeletonic key.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open door"
CF ] Observatory
CF | >
CF | > OPEN DOOR
CF |
CF | You open the door.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "se"
CF | >
CF | > SE
CF |
CF | You step through the door.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Bank of Commerce
CF | You step through the door.Dawson City, Yukon Territory - 17th
CF | December, 1902
CF |
CF | Bank of Commerce
CF | No commerce is occurring at the moment; the bank is closed, and snow
CF | has piled up in the windows.
CF |
CF | Queen Street begins here and leads southeast. First Avenue runs
CF | northeast and southwest.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "se"
CF ] Middle of Town
CF | >
CF | > SE
CF |
CF |
CF | Middle of Town
CF | The streets are crowded with storefronts, but no business is being
CF | conducted that you can see, and the ruts in the road are all frozen
CF | over.
CF |
CF | Third Avenue runs northeast to southwest; Queen Street leads
CF | northwest.
CF |
CF | > Jacqueline says, "Hello again, Dawson City."
Jacqueline says, "I don't think the directions are true to the actual town, fwiw. So ignore my map that I posted."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "ne"
CF ] Palace Grand Theatre
CF | >
CF | > NE
CF |
CF |
CF | Palace Grand Theatre
CF | A singularly ostentatious facade towers over you, dwarfing its
CF | neighbors in size and in architectural flamboyance.
CF |
CF | From this corner, Third Avenue continues southwest, and King Street
CF | leads northwest.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "sw"
CF ] Middle of Town
CF | >
CF | > SW
CF |
CF |
CF | Middle of Town
CF | The streets are crowded with storefronts, but no business is being
CF | conducted that you can see, and the ruts in the road are all frozen
CF | over.
CF |
CF | Third Avenue runs northeast to southwest; Queen Street leads
CF | northwest.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "sw"
CF ] Fort Herchmer
CF | >
CF | > SW
CF |
CF |
CF | Fort Herchmer
CF | A snow-filled creek bed wends past the stables and barracks. All the
CF | buildings are dead silent.
CF |
CF | Church Street runs southeast and northwest. Third Avenue leads
CF | northeast.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x stables"
CF ] Fort Herchmer
CF | >
CF | > X STABLES
CF |
CF | Trails have been cut through the snow between buildings; clearly there
CF | has been some activity here fairly recently. At the moment, though,
CF | all the soldiers are hidden away somewhere.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "se"
CF ] Outside the Cabin
CF | >
CF | > SE
CF |
CF |
CF | Outside the Cabin
CF | A modest wooden cabin sits on a snowy hillside to the southeast,
CF | surrounded by alder trees. The sky is cloudy and dim; the cold is
CF | malicious.
CF |
CF | At the bottom of the hill, Eighth Avenue runs northeast and southwest.
CF | Church Street leads northwest.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "nw"
CF ] Fort Herchmer
CF | >
CF | > NW
CF |
CF |
CF | Fort Herchmer
CF | A snow-filled creek bed wends past the stables and barracks. All the
CF | buildings are dead silent.
CF |
CF | Church Street runs southeast and northwest. Third Avenue leads
CF | northeast.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "sw"
CF ] Fort Herchmer
CF | >
CF | > SW
CF |
CF | It wouldn't be prudent to go traipsing across the parade grounds.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "nw"
CF ] Government House
CF | >
CF | > NW
CF |
CF |
CF | Government House
CF | The Commissioner's residence stands facing the Yukon River, surrounded
CF | by a spacious lawn and tall fence. There are lights on inside, but no
CF | evidence that anyone has gone in or out since it snowed last.
CF |
CF | First Avenue runs northeast and southwest. Church Street begins here
CF | and leads southeast.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x door"
CF ] Government House
CF | >
CF | > X DOOR
CF |
CF | (You can't see that, or it's not implemented.)
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "sw"
CF ] Confluence
CF | >
CF | > SW
CF |
CF |
CF | Confluence
CF | Two rivers merge here, forming one great field of ice. On the far side
CF | are snow-covered cliffs, topped with snow-covered pines.
CF |
CF | First Avenue follows the Yukon northeast. Craig Street follows the
CF | Klondike to the southeast.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x rivers"
CF ] Confluence
CF | >
CF | > X RIVERS
CF |
CF | (You can't see that, or it's not implemented.)
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "sw"
CF ] Confluence
CF | >
CF | > SW
CF |
CF | The navigable roads lead northeast and southeast.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "se"
CF ] Bridge
CF | >
CF | > SE
CF |
CF |
CF | Bridge
CF | A wooden bridge leads southwest to an island in the middle of the
CF | Klondike, apparently given over entirely to one lumber mill operation.
CF |
CF | Craig Street follows the river southeast and northwest.
CF |
CF | Lobo is watching you from down the street.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "se"
CF ] Edge of Town
CF | >
CF | > SE
CF |
CF |
CF | Edge of Town
CF | "CITY of DAWSON," the sign reads.
CF |
CF | Eighth Avenue leads northeast. Craig Street follows the Klondike to
CF | the northwest. The road out of town heads up the river to the
CF | southeast—Not much to see out that way.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "ne"
CF ] Outside the Cabin
CF | >
CF | > NE
CF |
CF |
CF | Outside the Cabin
CF | A modest wooden cabin sits on a snowy hillside to the southeast,
CF | surrounded by alder trees. The sky is cloudy and dim; the cold is
CF | malicious.
CF |
CF | At the bottom of the hill, Eighth Avenue runs northeast and southwest.
CF | Church Street leads northwest.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "in"
CF ] Outside the Cabin
CF | >
CF | > IN
CF |
CF | The narrow wooden door is closed.
CF |
CF | >
Iria goes home.
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open door"
CF ] Outside the Cabin
CF | >
CF | > OPEN DOOR
CF |
CF | You open the narrow wooden door.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "in"
CF ] Cabin
CF | >
CF | > IN
CF |
CF | Cabin
CF | Two beds, both covered in quilts—one more bed than this cabin can
CF | comfortably accommodate. Between them is a little stove.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "close door"
CF ] Cabin
CF | >
CF | > CLOSE DOOR
CF |
CF | You close the narrow wooden door.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "lock it"
CF ] Cabin
CF | >
CF | > LOCK IT
CF |
CF | You lock the narrow wooden door with the skeletonic key.
CF |
CF | > Jacqueline asks, "Would it have been better to lock the door first?"
Jacqueline says, "Timing"
DavidW says, "I wanted back inside the cabin. I'm not sure where we'd go if we locked the outside half of the door."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open door"
CF ] Cabin
CF | >
CF | > OPEN DOOR
CF |
CF | You open the narrow wooden door, revealing a passageway to a spotless
CF | Victorian kitchen.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "out"
CF | >
CF | > OUT
CF |
CF | You step through the narrow wooden door.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Kitchen
CF | You step through the narrow wooden door.Manchester, England - 14th
CF | June, 1851
CF |
CF | Kitchen
CF | A pair of large cast-iron stoves spoke to the great number of people
CF | Scrooge hoped would be fed here. The ovens, sinks, and benches were
CF | all newly built for the house, and the kitchen was an immaculate,
CF | unspoiled Eden, for the moment; yet it was easy to envision the bedlam
CF | that would reign in this room when the Home was opened at last.
CF |
CF | The pantry door stood to the southeast; the way back to the
CF | dining-hall was west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Dining-Hall
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Dining-Hall
CF | The long table in the center of the hall was half-covered with papers,
CF | and these papers were covered with the most obscure symbols, figures,
CF | and diagrams. Ebenezer Scrooge stood a respectable distance from the
CF | display.
CF |
CF | The doorway to the east led to the kitchen; west, to the nursery; and
CF | the foyer was south.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Foyer
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Foyer
CF | A statue of Athena stood in the foyer, greeting visitors to the
CF | Scrooge Orphans' and Widows' Home, Manchester Extension with a
CF | dispassionate half-smile. A framed copy of the Home's charter hung
CF | near the front door. The way into the dining-hall was past the stairs
CF | to the north; the orphans' and widows' dormitories were at the top of
CF | the front stair.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x statue"
CF ] Foyer
CF | >
CF | > X STATUE
CF |
CF | The goddess wore a long robe, and a helmet, pushed back on her
CF | forehead; and perched on her wrist was a little owl.
CF |
CF | "She's here to bless the Home with wisdom," Hrieman explained.
CF |
CF | "Chastity," said Linus.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x charter"
CF ] Foyer
CF | >
CF | > X CHARTER
CF |
CF | The charter, in Ebenezer Scrooge's own hand, laid out the mission of
CF | his Orphans' and Widows' Home and the standards by which it must be
CF | administered, in flowery idealistic terms at first, and then in a
CF | lawyer's soulless prose, swinging suddenly to and fro between these
CF | registers, sometimes in mid-sentence, and never managing to say
CF | anything of substance—or at least this was the general effect on
CF | Linus, who could not bring himself to read past the first few lines.
CF |
CF | > DavidW asks, "This seems to be a large game, doesn't it?"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x owl"
CF ] Foyer
CF | >
CF | > X OWL
CF |
CF | The goddess wore a long robe, and a helmet, pushed back on her
CF | forehead; and perched on her wrist was a little owl.
CF |
CF | > Jacqueline says, "yes."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Foyer
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF | The front door was closed.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open door"
CF ] Foyer
CF | >
CF | > OPEN DOOR
CF |
CF | He opened the front door.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Foyer
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF | Linus had no business anywhere else in Manchester at the moment, and
CF | there was no reason for him to leave the Home through the front door
CF | (at least, not while the front door was unlocked).
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "close door"
CF ] Foyer
CF | >
CF | > CLOSE DOOR
CF |
CF | He closed the front door.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "lock door"
CF ] Foyer
CF | >
CF | > LOCK DOOR
CF |
CF | He locked the front door with the skeletonic key.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open door"
CF ] Foyer
CF | >
CF | > OPEN DOOR
CF |
CF | He opened the front door, revealing a passageway to a city square in
CF | Copenhagen.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF | He stepped through the front door.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Kongens Nytorv
CF | He stepped through the front door.Copenhagen, Denmark - 9th July, 1833
CF |
CF | Kongens Nytorv
CF | All at once the air is hot and muggy. The effect is stifling.
CF |
CF | "And it stinks," Hrieman notices.
CF |
CF | It's the middle of the day, and people are hurrying in every
CF | direction, in carriages and on foot—some gawking at you, some
CF | pointedly averting their eyes. The King's Square is an uninspiring
CF | field of grass, worn down to bare dirt by pedestrians cutting across.
CF | It all manages to make Christian V's statue look more impotent than
CF | heroic.
CF |
CF | The imposing doorway north of you is that of the Thott Mansion. Nyhavn
CF | is across the street to the east.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x statue"
CF ] Kongens Nytorv
CF | >
CF | > X STATUE
CF |
CF | Which do you mean, the equestrian statue or the allegorical statues?
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "equestrian"
CF ] Kongens Nytorv
CF | >
CF | > EQUESTRIAN
CF |
CF | King Christian V is a knight in gilded armor, bearing the baton of
CF | Authority, trampling a naked man with his horse.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "I've never been to a nytorv before."
Jacqueline says, "Nor have I."
DavidW says, "I suppose the place just means King Street."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x allegorical"
CF ] Kongens Nytorv
CF | >
CF | > X ALLEGORICAL
CF |
CF | They look allegorical from down here. They might be more literal up
CF | close.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Bredgade
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Bredgade
CF | A busy street: carriages, pedestrians, couriers on horseback—You seem
CF | to be in everybody's way. The King's Square is on the west side of the
CF | road, and Nyhavn is on the east.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "oh. King's Square, not Street."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Nyhavn
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Nyhavn
CF | There seems to be some disagreement about the disposition of the boat
CF | being unloaded here, at the end of the canal. The road along the canal
CF | continues to the east; the King's Square is across the street to the
CF | west.
CF |
CF | A man with a pointy mustache is trying to make eye contact with you.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x man"
CF ] Nyhavn
CF | >
CF | > X MAN
CF |
CF | (the mustachioed man)
CF | As soon as you give him an opening, he ripples toward you. "Not from
CF | around here, are we? Looking for excitement in the big city?"
CF |
CF | "Sure," you tell him. "I'm positively starved for excitement."
CF |
CF | "My good man, I have just the thing to sate your appetite." He
CF | produces a polished wooden case, just like the ones being hauled off
CF | the nearby boat in such numbers. "There is excitement in here to last
CF | you a lifetime—guaranteed."
CF |
CF | He pulls back the lid, revealing a polished cylinder with brass
CF | fittings. "I'm afraid I'll be on my way soon, though, so it behooves
CF | the young gentleman not to delay taking advantage of this offer. Are
CF | we interested?"
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Nyhavn
CF | we interested?"
CF | >
CF |
CF | Please answer yes or no.>
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "yes"
CF ] Nyhavn
CF | Please answer yes or no.>
CF | > YES
CF |
CF | "Maybe," you tell him. "Am I right to assume that the item in question
CF | is of dubious legal status?"
CF |
CF | "'Dubious' only in the sense of 'unclear,' I assure you." He leans in
CF | and whispers: "We're at much greater risk discussing the matter here
CF | than you will be as you carry your souvenir home."
CF |
CF | "Then I suppose it behooves the criminal with the mustache not to
CF | quibble about prices," you say, pressing a few coins into his hand. He
CF | looks at them, rolls his eyes, then tosses you the box before stalking
CF | away.
CF |
CF | > Jacqueline says, "Haha"
Jacqueline says, "I love a lot of the writing in this."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x box"
CF ] Nyhavn
CF | >
CF | > X BOX
CF |
CF | (the wooden case)
CF | A longish box made from dark wood. It is closed.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open it"
CF ] Nyhavn
CF | >
CF | > OPEN IT
CF |
CF | You open the wooden case, revealing a kaleidoscope.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x kaleidoscope"
CF ] Nyhavn
CF | >
CF | > X KALEIDOSCOPE
CF |
CF | It looks like a telescope to the untrained eye, but you know the
CF | difference.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "look in it"
CF ] Nyhavn
CF | >
CF | > LOOK IN IT
CF |
CF | You aren't holding the kaleidoscope.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "take it"
CF ] Nyhavn
CF | >
CF | > TAKE IT
CF |
CF | You take the kaleidoscope.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "look in it"
CF ] Nyhavn
CF | >
CF | > LOOK IN IT
CF |
CF | You press your eye up to the end of the tube.
CF |
CF | Inside are gorgeous shifting patterns, multiplied into infinity. The
CF | effect is overwhelming—inspiring—hypnotic.
CF |
CF | You lower the kaleidoscope. You have work to do.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "put it in box"
CF ] Nyhavn
CF | >
CF | > PUT IT IN BOX
CF |
CF | (the wooden case)
CF | You don't want to lose the kaleidoscope.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "I assumed the box was a safe place for it. Silly of me."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Market
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Market
CF | "Nuts!" yells the nut vendor. "Tasty, invigorating nuts!"
CF |
CF | Nyhavn is crowded with people buying, selling, and gawking. The
CF | buildings are squeezed together, too: To the north is a sweetshop;
CF | next door is a brothel supplier. The road along the canal continues
CF | east and west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Sweetshop
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Sweetshop
CF | In the middle of the dusty room are five barrels. The proprietor,
CF | shirtless and hirsute, leans over his counter to stare at you
CF | impatiently.
CF |
CF | On the counter is a dark bottle.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x bottle"
CF ] Sweetshop
CF | >
CF | > X BOTTLE
CF |
CF | There's no label on the bottle.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to proprietor"
CF ] Sweetshop
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO PROPRIETOR
CF |
CF | "You got a weird arm," says the man.
CF |
CF | "Are you sure?" you ask. "I've been told it's very inconspicuous.
CF | Barely noticeable. You must be—no offense—uncommonly observant."
CF |
CF | The candy man stops caring.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Sweetshop
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | "You got money?"
CF |
CF | "Yes. A lot."
CF |
CF | "Then buy something, and get out."
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "buy candy"
CF ] Sweetshop
CF | >
CF | > BUY CANDY
CF |
CF | Which do you mean, the barrel of Turkish delight, the barrel of
CF | humbugs, the barrel of black licorice, the barrel of sugar plums, or
CF | the barrel of anise comfits?
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x black"
CF ] Sweetshop
CF | >
CF | > X BLACK
CF |
CF | The little black lozenges in this barrel are pieces of licorice.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "taste black"
CF ] Sweetshop
CF | >
CF | > TASTE BLACK
CF |
CF | Unwise.
CF |
CF | > Jacqueline says, "Unwise"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "buy licorice"
CF ] Sweetshop
CF | >
CF | > BUY LICORICE
CF |
CF | You toss the man a coin and take a piece of black licorice from the
CF | barrel.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "take bottle"
CF ] Sweetshop
CF | >
CF | > TAKE BOTTLE
CF |
CF | "Not for sale," says the man. "Rat poison."
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Market
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Market
CF | "Too late to get 'em while they're hot—so get 'em while they're
CF | warm!"
CF | the nut vendor wails.
CF |
CF | Nyhavn is crowded with people buying, selling, and gawking. The
CF | buildings are squeezed together, too: To the north is a sweetshop;
CF | next door is a brothel supplier. The road along the canal continues
CF | east and west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x brothel"
CF ] Market
CF | >
CF | > X BROTHEL
CF |
CF | One of the signs in the front window says "DISCREET." The other one
CF | says "WHOLESALE ONLY."
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "enter brothel"
CF ] Market
CF | >
CF | > ENTER BROTHEL
CF |
CF | The sign says "WHOLESALE ONLY."
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Nyhavn No. 34
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Nyhavn No. 34
CF | The crowd has thinned out. There's an acrid scent on the air here.
CF |
CF | A man sits on an upturned crate in front of Nyhavn 34, puffing on a
CF | cigar. A rickety ladder has been hooked over the edge of the canal.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x man"
CF ] Nyhavn No. 34
CF | >
CF | > X MAN
CF |
CF | This has got to be the guy. He wears a thick beard and a wool cap,
CF | both discolored by smoke. His smile is distinctly unfriendly.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to man"
CF ] Nyhavn No. 34
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO MAN
CF |
CF | You steel yourself.
CF |
CF | "I beg your pardon, my good man. I have something to give to your
CF | daughter."
CF |
CF | The man squints at you. "Lemme see it," he barks.
CF |
CF | So you show him the invitation. He acts like he's reading it.
CF |
CF | "You from the government?"
CF |
CF | "No."
CF |
CF | "Well, the little girl is doing her chores at the moment." He nods at
CF | the ladder. "She's not allowed to take any piece of paper from any
CF | half-bird-man and his pet crow until her chores are done."
CF |
CF | "Of course," you say.
CF |
CF | > Jacqueline says, "haha"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "i"
CF ] Nyhavn No. 34
CF | >
CF | > I
CF |
CF | You are carrying:
CF | a piece of black licorice
CF | a kaleidoscope
CF | a wooden case (open but empty)
CF | a carved ivory beaver
CF | a notepaper
CF | a Talkboy
CF | Lem the beaver
CF | the skeletonic key
CF | a money pouch
CF | five invitations
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x ladder"
CF ] Nyhavn No. 34
CF | >
CF | > X LADDER
CF |
CF | This ladder has been cobbled together from loose bits of wood. It will
CF | probably bear your weight, as long as you're quick about it.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "d"
CF ] Waterline
CF | >
CF | > D
CF |
CF |
CF | Waterline
CF | You thought that smell was that man's cigar, but it's coming from down
CF | here. The bottom of the ladder rests on a stone walkway, under an inch
CF | or two of water. (This is why you're not wearing anything you don't
CF | mind getting wet.) A tendril of smoke carries from within a very
CF | cramped tunnel carved into the side of the canal.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "in"
CF ] Hole
CF | >
CF | > IN
CF |
CF |
CF | Hole
CF | A little girl is hunched over inside a drainpipe, clearing muck out
CF | with her bare hands by the light of a sooty lantern.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x girl"
CF ] Hole
CF | >
CF | > X GIRL
CF |
CF | Her flaxen hair is matted with filth. She's about five years old, just
CF | barely small enough to fit in that pipe. It will take her hours or
CF | days to unclog it herself, but she goes on working regardless,
CF | betraying neither melancholy nor bitterness.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to girl"
CF ] Hole
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO GIRL
CF |
CF | She noticed you arriving, but she went right back to her work. You
CF | feel guilty about interrupting.
CF |
CF | "Uh, little girl, I'd like to extend to you this invitation—if you
CF | feel like taking a little break, I mean."
CF |
CF | "My daddy says I have to clear this drain before I do anything else,"
CF | she tells you, without looking up. "I'm very sorry, sir, but I can't
CF | accept your invitation at this time."
CF |
CF | "I understand."
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x drain"
CF ] Hole
CF | >
CF | > X DRAIN
CF |
CF | There's some sort of very serious blockage in the pipe, and this child
CF | is not at all equipped to deal with it.
CF |
CF | > Jacqueline asks, "Can we help with her chore?"
Jacqueline asks, "Lem?"
DavidW says, "Probably, if we provide a suitable tool."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "give lem to girl"
CF | >
CF | > GIVE LEM TO GIRL
CF |
CF | "Maybe this little fellow could take over for a bit," you say,
CF | presenting the beaver to the little girl. "His name's Lem."
CF |
CF | She searches the creature's eyes. "I would hate to impose," she says.
CF | "It is my daddy's right to force grueling, dangerous chores upon me,
CF | but I don't have any such authority over this small animal."
CF |
CF | "He'd be delighted," Hrieman assures her, and the beaver nods eagerly.
CF |
CF | "All right," says the little girl, and she extricates herself from the
CF | pipe. You lift the beaver inside, and he gets straight to work.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Hole
CF | pipe. You lift the beaver inside, and he gets straight to work."Can I
CF | give you this now?" You hold out an invitation.
CF |
CF | "Certainly," says the little girl. She only glances at the text. "I'm
CF | afraid I can't read it, though."
CF |
CF | "That's no problem. Everything will be taken care of."
CF |
CF | "Then I think I'll stay here for a while, to supervise Lem. I wouldn't
CF | want to bother my daddy with boring details."
CF |
CF | "Certainly," you say.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "This must be Ebenezabeth before she first adventure."
DavidW says, "er her first"
DavidW asks, "also, perhaps we can stop here?"
Jacqueline says, "Sure."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "save"
CF | >
CF | > SAVE
CF | %% Enter a save filename to write: Jacqueline says, "I'm so happy that Lem finally has something to do."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "cflmg5invite1"
CF ] Hole
CF | > SAVEOk.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "yes. Thank you for suggesting him."
Jacqueline says, "Welcome. Glad to have contributed, um, precisely one time."
DavidW says, "I wonder if all the invites are for Ebenezabeth in different eras."
Jacqueline says, "Oh, that's interesting."
DavidW says, "I can't even guess what the point of the invites are for yet."
*** SESSION 2 ***
Lancelot asks, "I missed last weeks session, how did that go?"
DavidW says, "We started The Little Match Girl 5: The Hunter's Vow."
Lancelot says, "last thing I remember were the two games we tried but thats 2 weeks ago ah cool"
Jade has arrived. DavidW says, "We did a lot but there's still much to do."
Jade says, "hello"
DavidW says, "hi Jade"
Lancelot says, "hi Jade"
Lancelot says, "dang how can he find the time to make all those games"
Roger has arrived. DavidW says, "I don't know"
Jade asks, "little match gir 5?"
DavidW says, "yes"
Roger says, "There was some new person who got Pass 4 but I don't see they at the moment"
Jade says, "ok, thx"
DavidW says, "now, I must confess, when I made my notes, I couldn't resist playing more of the game. I got up to the end of part 1."
Lancelot says, "lol that sounds familiar :D"
Jade says, "well done"
DavidW says, "I'm hoping that I'll be permitted to still drive us quickly through the rest of part 1 so we can get to part 2 which may be more interesting yet."
Lancelot asks, "do you have a nice page showing where we stand?"
Jacqueline says, "I am here but am deep in some IFComp stuff, so will likely be pretty checked out."
DavidW says, "I have a page showing where I am, which is more than we did here."
Lancelot asks, "no army of IFComp helpers?"
DavidW says, "[LINK]"
DavidW says, "I haven't seen Pinkunz here in weeks."
Lancelot says, "thx oh this game is not part of any comp"
DavidW says, "correct. It's not."
DavidW says, "It was originally released as a Patreon exclusive, but is not available for unwashed heathens like myself."
DavidW says, "er, is now available."
Roger says, "ransom model, that's sometimes called"
Lancelot says, "I guess I also count as an unwashed heathen then... oooh using TEXT-O-VISION :D"
Lancelot asks, "oh you mean like advertising you are working on sth cool but na na na na na you cannot play unless you pay?"
Jacqueline says (to Lancelot), "I do have a small army, but today"
Jacqueline says (to Lancelot), "er... I do have a small army, but today's stuff is mine alone."
DavidW asks, "anyway, are we ready to continue LMG5?"
Lancelot asks, "thx for the page ... take it away?"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "l"
CF ] Hole
CF | >
CF | > L
CF |
CF | Hole
CF | The little girl is here, watching Lem the beaver clear out the
CF | drainpipe by the light of a sooty lantern.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "i"
CF ] Hole
CF | >
CF | > I
CF |
CF | You are carrying:
CF | a piece of black licorice
CF | a kaleidoscope
CF | a wooden case (open but empty)
CF | a carved ivory beaver
CF | a notepaper
CF | a Talkboy
CF | the skeletonic key
CF | a money pouch
CF | four invitations
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "We bought the licorice and kaleidoscope (and its case) in Copenhagen."
Lancelot says, "check found hole on map"
DavidW says, "We found the carved beaver in a forest thicket."
DavidW says, "The Talkboy is a toy tape recorder."
DavidW says, "The skeletonic key unlocks anything that uses a key"
Lancelot asks, "and the invitations? places we need to go? people we need to meet?"
DavidW says, "We're playing as Prince Linus, and instead of looking at flames to travel with, he is able open locked doors to new places."
Lancelot says, "ooh cool"
DavidW says, "We're delivering the invitations to Ebenezabeth Scrooge in five different points in her lifetime."
DavidW says, "The little girl just got hers here."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "l"
CF ] Hole
CF | >
CF | > L
CF |
CF | Hole
CF | The little girl is here, watching Lem the beaver clear out the
CF | drainpipe by the light of a sooty lantern.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x girl"
CF ] Hole
CF | >
CF | > X GIRL
CF |
CF | Her flaxen hair is matted with filth. She's about five years old. She
CF | seems satisfied, for the moment—but her expression is difficult to
CF | read.
CF |
CF | > Lancelot says, "so also time travel"
DavidW says, "Yes."
DavidW says, "This is the match girl BEFORE her first known adventure."
DavidW says, "She's still with her original father and doesn't know any of her powers yet."
DavidW says, "oh, and we have Hrieman the talking crow with us. He doesn't trust us, so he's keeping an eye on us."
DavidW says, "He also gives Linus someone to talk to at plot points."
Lancelot says, "gotcha"
DavidW says, "Anyway, since we have the beaver and licorise, we can deal with the Jackson County and Dawson City sections."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Hole
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF | The only way to go is outside.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "out"
CF ] Waterline
CF | >
CF | > OUT
CF |
CF |
CF | Waterline
CF | The bottom of the ladder rests on a stone walkway, under an inch or
CF | two of water. A tendril of smoke carries from within a very cramped
CF | tunnel carved into the side of the canal.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "u"
CF ] Nyhavn No. 34
CF | >
CF | > U
CF |
CF |
CF | Nyhavn No. 34
CF | There's an acrid scent on the air here.
CF |
CF | A man sits on an upturned crate in front of Nyhavn 34, puffing on a
CF | cigar. A rickety ladder has been hooked over the edge of the canal.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "I guess that's Danish for Square or something similar."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Market
CF | "Still plenty of nuts!" the nut vendor calls. "Get your nuts here!"
CF |
CF | Nyhavn is crowded with people buying, selling, and gawking. The
CF | buildings are squeezed together, too: To the north is a sweetshop;
CF | next door is a brothel supplier. The road along the canal continues
CF | east and west.
CF |
CF | "What are you groaning about?" Hrieman asks. You didn't realize you
CF | were sighing so loudly.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | were sighing so loudly."It just occurred to me," you tell him. "I've
CF | spent a lot of time thinking about punching that man in the mouth. And
CF | that there was probably the only chance I'll ever get."
CF |
CF | "We could go back, if you like."
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Market
CF | "We could go back, if you like."You shake your head. "Better not."
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "i"
CF ] Market
CF | >
CF | > I
CF |
CF | You are carrying:
CF | a piece of black licorice
CF | a kaleidoscope
CF | a wooden case (open but empty)
CF | a carved ivory beaver
CF | a notepaper
CF | a Talkboy
CF | the skeletonic key
CF | a money pouch
CF | four invitations
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "buy nuts"
CF ] Market
CF | >
CF | > BUY NUTS
CF |
CF | You step up to the vendor. He glances at your wing, then eagerly
CF | pretends not to have noticed it. "Could I possibly convince you to
CF | avail yourself of some nuts—any nuts at all?" Lancelot says, "nyhavn sounds more like new harbor (haven is harbor in Dutch)"
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Market
CF | avail yourself of some nuts—any nuts at all?"
CF | >
CF |
CF | Please answer yes or no.>
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "yes"
CF ] Market
CF | Please answer yes or no.>
CF | > YES
CF |
CF | "I usually don't think it's worth the bother trying to convince anyone
CF | of anything," you say, tossing the man a coin, "but, then, I'm not in
CF | sales."
CF |
CF | He hands you a bag of nuts.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "eat nuts"
CF ] Market
CF | >
CF | > EAT NUTS
CF |
CF | You enjoy a nice crunchy nut. Energizing.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "oh, ok"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Nyhavn
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Nyhavn
CF | The difficulty surrounding the vessel moored here has yet to be
CF | resolved, yet her dutiful crew continues to unload it regardless. The
CF | road along the canal continues to the east; the King's Square is
CF | across the street to the west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Bredgade
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Bredgade
CF | A busy street: carriages, pedestrians, couriers on horseback—You seem
CF | to be in everybody's way. The King's Square is on the west side of the
CF | road, and Nyhavn is on the east.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Kongens Nytorv
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Kongens Nytorv
CF | It's the middle of the day, and people are hurrying in every
CF | direction, in carriages and on foot—some gawking at you, some
CF | pointedly averting their eyes. The King's Square is an uninspiring
CF | field of grass, worn down to bare dirt by pedestrians cutting across.
CF | It all manages to make Christian V's statue look more impotent than
CF | heroic.
CF |
CF | The imposing doorway north of you is that of the Thott Mansion. Nyhavn
CF | is across the street to the east.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF | You step through the front door.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Foyer
CF | You step through the front door.Manchester, England - 14th June, 1851
CF |
CF | Foyer
CF | A statue of Athena stood in the foyer, greeting visitors to the
CF | Scrooge Orphans' and Widows' Home, Manchester Extension with a
CF | dispassionate half-smile. A framed copy of the Home's charter hung
CF | near the front door. The way into the dining-hall was past the stairs
CF | to the north; the orphans' and widows' dormitories were at the top of
CF | the front stair.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Dining-Hall
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Dining-Hall
CF | The long table in the center of the hall was half-covered with papers,
CF | and these papers were covered with the most obscure symbols, figures,
CF | and diagrams. Ebenezer Scrooge stood a respectable distance from the
CF | display.
CF |
CF | The doorway to the east led to the kitchen; west, to the nursery; and
CF | the foyer was south.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Nursery
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Nursery
CF | Whether it was to be a nursery or a playroom or something else was not
CF | entirely clear from its appearance, for the place was rather bare; but
CF | someone had donated a doll's house, and someone had donated a
CF | hobby-horse, and here they were, for the time being. The cabinet in
CF | the northwest corner, then, could be taken as a toy cabinet.
CF |
CF | The dining-hall was the next room to the east.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "nw"
CF | >
CF | > NW
CF |
CF | He stepped through the toy cabinet.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Wreck
CF | He stepped through the toy cabinet.Jackson County, Indiana - 26th
CF | September, 1996
CF |
CF | Wreck
CF | There's a chill in the air, and the branches above rustle impatiently.
CF | The forest is thick, but there are a few trails (clear spaces, at
CF | least) to the north, west, and northwest.
CF |
CF | The rusted skeleton of a 1989 Corolla rests in the southeast corner of
CF | this clearing, surrounded by broken glass and other debris.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Hill
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Hill
CF | From up here you can just barely see part of the interstate, way over
CF | to the northeast.
CF |
CF | Paths down into the trees lead north, south, and west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Lookout
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Lookout
CF | A beaver sentinel sits on his log, scanning the woods for intruders.
CF | Paths lead south, west, and northwest.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "nw"
CF ] Dam
CF | >
CF | > NW
CF |
CF |
CF | Dam
CF | An impressive wall of mud and branches spans the creek bed, forming a
CF | substantial reservoir to the north. Beavers are scrambling over the
CF | dam, judging its integrity and making small repairs under the watchful
CF | eye of a large forebeaver.
CF |
CF | A relatively small current trickles under the dam and flows off to the
CF | southwest. Dry paths lead southeast and west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "give ivory beaver to Ernst"
CF | >
CF | > GIVE IVORY BEAVER TO ERNST
CF |
CF | You present the statue to the forebeaver. He starts chittering in
CF | amazement.
CF |
CF | "Finally the craven turtles meet our demands," Hrieman translates. "At
CF | long last, we have justice. And now he's telling his guards to release
CF | the prisoner..."
CF |
CF | A couple of beavers disappear into the pond. While you wait, the head
CF | beaver paces around the statue, admiring it from every angle.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Dam
CF | beaver paces around the statue, admiring it from every angle.The
CF | guards return with a turtle in tow.
CF |
CF | "The boss is saying, I grant you your freedom, Prince Wardlow; return
CF | to your mother, and tell her how well we beavers treat our captives.
CF | And now the Prince is saying, we turtles are proud folk, we will not
CF | forget the indignity we've been made to suffer, there will never be
CF | true peace in the forest when animals treat each other so shamefully."
CF |
CF | The Turtle Prince raises his head haughtily and begins walking down
CF | the creek bed to the southwest. While he's doing that, the beaver
CF | guards bear the statue into the pond, to be displayed in their lodge.
CF |
CF | Hrieman fixes you with his beady eye. "How would you have accomplished
CF | any of this without my help?"
CF |
CF | So you tell him the original plan: "I would have figured it out from
CF | context clues."
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "The Turtle Prince is really slow to get back home. It's annoying."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Logging Operation
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Logging Operation
CF | A dozen beavers are hard at work here, felling trees, stripping logs,
CF | and lining them up to be dragged away. A channel of cleared earth
CF | leads east, and fainter trails head southeast and south.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Outpost
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Outpost
CF | A turtle stands guard at the top of a large rock.
CF |
CF | Paths lead north, southeast, and south.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Palace
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Palace
CF | The creek flowing from the east widens here as it empties into a small
CF | pond. In the middle of the stream, upon her throne of shiny rocks,
CF | sits the Turtle Queen, surrounded by a handful of turtle courtiers and
CF | a little orange newt.
CF |
CF | A wire mesh cage stands at the edge of the creek. Paths into the woods
CF | lead north, northeast, and southeast.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "z"
CF ] Palace
CF | >
CF | > Z
CF |
CF | Time passes.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "z"
CF ] Palace
CF | >
CF | > Z
CF |
CF | Time passes.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "z"
CF ] Palace
CF | >
CF | > Z
CF |
CF | Time passes.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "z"
CF ] Palace
CF | >
CF | > Z
CF |
CF | Time passes.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "z"
CF ] Palace
CF | >
CF | > Z
CF |
CF | Time passes.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "z"
CF ] Palace
CF | >
CF | > Z
CF |
CF | Time passes.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "z"
CF ] Palace
CF | >
CF | > Z
CF |
CF | Time passes.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "z"
CF ] Palace
CF | >
CF | > Z
CF |
CF | Time passes.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "z"
CF ] Palace
CF | >
CF | > Z
CF |
CF | Time passes.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "z"
CF ] Palace
CF | >
CF | > Z
CF |
CF | Time passes.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Outpost
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Outpost
CF | A turtle stands guard at the top of a large rock.
CF |
CF | Paths lead north, southeast, and south.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Palace
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Palace
CF | The creek flowing from the east widens here as it empties into a small
CF | pond. In the middle of the stream, upon her throne of shiny rocks,
CF | sits the Turtle Queen, surrounded by a handful of turtle courtiers and
CF | a little orange newt.
CF |
CF | A wire mesh cage stands at the edge of the creek. Paths into the woods
CF | lead north, northeast, and southeast.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Outpost
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Outpost
CF | A turtle stands guard at the top of a large rock.
CF |
CF | Paths lead north, southeast, and south.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Palace
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Palace
CF | The creek flowing from the east widens here as it empties into a small
CF | pond. In the middle of the stream, upon her throne of shiny rocks,
CF | sits the Turtle Queen, surrounded by a handful of turtle courtiers and
CF | a little orange newt.
CF |
CF | A wire mesh cage stands at the edge of the creek. Paths into the woods
CF | lead north, northeast, and southeast.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Outpost
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Outpost
CF | A turtle stands guard at the top of a large rock.
CF |
CF | Paths lead north, southeast, and south.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Palace
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Palace
CF | The creek flowing from the east widens here as it empties into a small
CF | pond. In the middle of the stream, upon her throne of shiny rocks,
CF | sits the Turtle Queen, surrounded by a handful of turtle courtiers and
CF | a little orange newt.
CF |
CF | A wire mesh cage stands at the edge of the creek. Paths into the woods
CF | lead north, northeast, and southeast.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Outpost
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Outpost
CF | A turtle stands guard at the top of a large rock.
CF |
CF | Paths lead north, southeast, and south.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Palace
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Palace
CF | The creek flowing from the east widens here as it empties into a small
CF | pond. In the middle of the stream, upon her throne of shiny rocks,
CF | sits the Turtle Queen, surrounded by a handful of turtle courtiers and
CF | a little orange newt.
CF |
CF | A wire mesh cage stands at the edge of the creek. Paths into the woods
CF | lead north, northeast, and southeast.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Outpost
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Outpost
CF | A turtle stands guard at the top of a large rock.
CF |
CF | Paths lead north, southeast, and south.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Palace
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Palace
CF | The creek flowing from the east widens here as it empties into a small
CF | pond. In the middle of the stream, upon her throne of shiny rocks,
CF | sits the Turtle Queen, surrounded by a handful of turtle courtiers and
CF | a little orange newt.
CF |
CF | A wire mesh cage stands at the edge of the creek. Paths into the woods
CF | lead north, northeast, and southeast.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Outpost
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Outpost
CF | A turtle stands guard at the top of a large rock.
CF |
CF | Paths lead north, southeast, and south.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Palace
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Palace
CF | The creek flowing from the east widens here as it empties into a small
CF | pond. In the middle of the stream, upon her throne of shiny rocks,
CF | sits the Turtle Queen, surrounded by a handful of turtle courtiers and
CF | a little orange newt.
CF |
CF | A wire mesh cage stands at the edge of the creek. Paths into the woods
CF | lead north, northeast, and southeast.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Outpost
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Outpost
CF | A turtle stands guard at the top of a large rock.
CF |
CF | Paths lead north, southeast, and south.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Palace
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Palace
CF | The creek flowing from the east widens here as it empties into a small
CF | pond. In the middle of the stream, upon her throne of shiny rocks,
CF | sits the Turtle Queen, surrounded by a handful of turtle courtiers and
CF | a little orange newt.
CF |
CF | A wire mesh cage stands at the edge of the creek. Paths into the woods
CF | lead north, northeast, and southeast.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Outpost
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Outpost
CF | A turtle stands guard at the top of a large rock.
CF |
CF | Paths lead north, southeast, and south.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Palace
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Palace
CF | The creek flowing from the east widens here as it empties into a small
CF | pond. In the middle of the stream, upon her throne of shiny rocks,
CF | sits the Turtle Queen, surrounded by a handful of turtle courtiers and
CF | a little orange newt.
CF |
CF | A wire mesh cage stands at the edge of the creek. Paths into the woods
CF | lead north, northeast, and southeast.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "I don't know how to speed this up"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Outpost
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Outpost
CF | A turtle stands guard at the top of a large rock.
CF |
CF | Paths lead north, southeast, and south.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Palace
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Palace
CF | The creek flowing from the east widens here as it empties into a small
CF | pond. In the middle of the stream, upon her throne of shiny rocks,
CF | sits the Turtle Queen, surrounded by a handful of turtle courtiers and
CF | a little orange newt.
CF |
CF | A wire mesh cage stands at the edge of the creek. Paths into the woods
CF | lead north, northeast, and southeast.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Palace
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF | The creek is fairly deep. Its sides are steep and muddy. You'd just as
CF | soon stick to dry land, if you can help it.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to mouse"
CF ] Palace
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO MOUSE
CF |
CF | "Are they treating you okay?" Hrieman asks the mouse. "Is there
CF | anything we can get you?"
CF |
CF | Squeak, squeak.
CF |
CF | Hrieman cocks his head. "That's not funny, Ebenezabeth."
CF |
CF | Squeak, squeak squeak—Hrieman rolls his eyes.
CF |
CF | The Prince finally waddles into view.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "oh THERE he is."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to prince"
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO PRINCE
CF |
CF | "He's thanking you for your assistance," says Hrieman, "but he's being
CF | awfully hoity-toity about it."
CF |
CF | The Queen notices that her son has returned.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | The Queen notices that her son has returned.The two turtles stare at
CF | each other.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | each other."Okay, so, it doesn't look like it, but this is a very
CF | emotional reunion," Hrieman tells you. "Queen Garradine is asking how
CF | Wardlow escaped. Wardlow says they released him in exchange for the
CF | statue—Queen Garradine says she doesn't know anything about any
CF | statue, blah, blah—
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | statue, blah, blah—"Oh! Wardlow is accusing Kit, the advisor! He says
CF | she was playing the turtles against the beavers all along! Kit denies
CF | it—Oh, wait. She's confessing."
CF |
CF | The newt makes a small clicking sound, turning her gaze rapidly from
CF | turtle to turtle.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | turtle to turtle."She's doing her whole villain speech. They're
CF | gullible fools, her master plan is only beginning to unfold, they
CF | haven't seen the last of her..."
CF |
CF | Suddenly the newt darts between your legs, into the pond. In an
CF | instant she's disappeared.
CF |
CF | "You were supposed to seize her," Hrieman mutters.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Palace
CF | "You were supposed to seize her," Hrieman mutters."What about the
CF | prisoner?" you ask.
CF |
CF | Hrieman squawks the question to the Turtle Queen, who responds with a
CF | silent blink.
CF |
CF | "She's free to go," he says.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open cage"
CF | >
CF | > OPEN CAGE
CF |
CF | You open the box, and Ebenezabeth tumbles out, squeaking gratefully.
CF |
CF | "You're welcome! So, how'd you get stuck in mouse form?" asks Hrieman.
CF |
CF | Squeak, squeak, squeak, says the mouse.
CF |
CF | Hrieman looks up at you skeptically.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | Hrieman looks up at you skeptically.You shake your head. "The last
CF | surviving geneshaman didn't appreciate us 'interfering' during the
CF | Repton evacuation," you explain. "He tried to fix me into swan form.
CF | But Ebenezabeth sort of took the bullet for me."
CF |
CF | Hrieman gawks at her. "Why would you do that?"
CF |
CF | Squeak, squeak, squeak.
CF |
CF | "What?" Lancelot says, "oh my this is getting complex"
DavidW says, "geneshaman = gene shaman. A dinosaur specialist in DNA magic."
Lancelot says, "okay...."
DavidW says, "There's a lot of storybuilding in this series, and this game pulls a LOT of those threads."
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | "What?""She knew that I'd been trapped in swan shape for a
CF | long time before. She didn't want me to go through that again."
CF |
CF | "And how long will she be trapped in mouse shape?"
CF |
CF | Deep breath. "I shouldn't say. But not much longer." This comes as a
CF | great relief to the mouse. "In the meantime, she has places to be, so
CF | we'd better let her be on her way."
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | we'd better let her be on her way.""You forgot the invitation,"
CF | Hrieman grumbles.
CF |
CF | "I didn't forget," you tell him. You hand Ebenezabeth the special
CF | invitation, the one that you asked Ebenezer to have reduced to
CF | one-sixteenth scale. She accepts it with a little nod.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Palace
CF | one-sixteenth scale. She accepts it with a little nod.And then she
CF | scampers into the woods.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "So that's the second invite done."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Palace
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF | The creek is fairly deep. Its sides are steep and muddy. You'd just as
CF | soon stick to dry land, if you can help it.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Palace
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF | You can go north, northeast, or southeast.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "se"
CF ] Construction Site
CF | >
CF | > SE
CF |
CF |
CF | Construction Site
CF | There's a concrete foundation here, surrounded by a fallen fence of
CF | orange netting. Weeds are growing all over everything.
CF |
CF | Paths lead northwest and northeast.
CF |
CF | A mildewy backpack lies at the edge of the cement.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Construction Site
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF | The paths go northwest and northeast.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "ne"
CF ] Culvert
CF | >
CF | > NE
CF |
CF |
CF | Culvert
CF | The creek flowing from the north passes through a culvert here and
CF | continues to the west. On top of the culvert is a rusty sign.
CF |
CF | Paths into the trees lead east, southwest, and northwest.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Wreck
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Wreck
CF | There's a chill in the air, and the branches above rustle impatiently.
CF | The forest is thick, but there are a few trails (clear spaces, at
CF | least) to the north, west, and northwest.
CF |
CF | The rusted skeleton of a 1989 Corolla rests in the southeast corner of
CF | this clearing, surrounded by broken glass and other debris.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "se"
CF | >
CF | > SE
CF |
CF | You step through the 1989 Corolla.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Nursery
CF | You step through the 1989 Corolla.Manchester, England - 14th June,
CF | 1851
CF |
CF | Nursery
CF | Whether it was to be a nursery or a playroom or something else was not
CF | entirely clear from its appearance, for the place was rather bare; but
CF | someone had donated a doll's house, and someone had donated a
CF | hobby-horse, and here they were, for the time being. The cabinet in
CF | the northwest corner, then, could be taken as a toy cabinet.
CF |
CF | The dining-hall was the next room to the east.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Dining-Hall
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Dining-Hall
CF | The long table in the center of the hall was half-covered with papers,
CF | and these papers were covered with the most obscure symbols, figures,
CF | and diagrams. Ebenezer Scrooge stood a respectable distance from the
CF | display.
CF |
CF | The doorway to the east led to the kitchen; west, to the nursery; and
CF | the foyer was south.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Kitchen
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Kitchen
CF | A pair of large cast-iron stoves spoke to the great number of people
CF | Scrooge hoped would be fed here. The ovens, sinks, and benches were
CF | all newly built for the house, and the kitchen was an immaculate,
CF | unspoiled Eden, for the moment; yet it was easy to envision the bedlam
CF | that would reign in this room when the Home was opened at last.
CF |
CF | The pantry door stood to the southeast; the way back to the
CF | dining-hall was west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "se"
CF | >
CF | > SE
CF |
CF | He stepped through the pantry door.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Cabin
CF | He stepped through the pantry door.Dawson City, Yukon Territory - 17th
CF | December, 1902
CF |
CF | Cabin
CF | Two beds, both covered in quilts—one more bed than this cabin can
CF | comfortably accommodate. Between them is a little stove.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "close door"
CF ] Cabin
CF | >
CF | > CLOSE DOOR
CF |
CF | You close the narrow wooden door.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "unlock door"
CF ] Cabin
CF | >
CF | > UNLOCK DOOR
CF |
CF | You unlock the narrow wooden door with the skeletonic key.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open door"
CF ] Cabin
CF | >
CF | > OPEN DOOR
CF |
CF | You open the narrow wooden door.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "nw"
CF ] Outside the Cabin
CF | >
CF | > NW
CF |
CF | Outside the Cabin
CF | A modest wooden cabin sits on a snowy hillside to the southeast,
CF | surrounded by alder trees. The sky is cloudy and dim; the cold is
CF | malicious.
CF |
CF | At the bottom of the hill, Eighth Avenue runs northeast and southwest.
CF | Church Street leads northwest.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "nw"
CF ] Fort Herchmer
CF | >
CF | > NW
CF |
CF |
CF | Fort Herchmer
CF | A snow-filled creek bed wends past the stables and barracks. All the
CF | buildings are dead silent.
CF |
CF | Church Street runs southeast and northwest. Third Avenue leads
CF | northeast.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "nw"
CF ] Government House
CF | >
CF | > NW
CF |
CF |
CF | Government House
CF | The Commissioner's residence stands facing the Yukon River, surrounded
CF | by a spacious lawn and tall fence. There are lights on inside, but no
CF | evidence that anyone has gone in or out since it snowed last.
CF |
CF | First Avenue runs northeast and southwest. Church Street begins here
CF | and leads southeast.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "I'm looking for the boy called Lobo."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "read note"
CF ] Government House
CF | >
CF | > READ NOTE
CF |
CF | The note reads:
CF |
CF | Linus,
CF |
CF | Lobo is a bit of a handful, but he means well. The fastest way to win
CF | him over is with salty candy. If I had any on hand, I'd hide it
CF | somewhere in the cabin—and then Lobo would find it, so it wouldn't be
CF | any help anyway.
CF |
CF | I've left something useful (maybe) with Benny. Show this note to him,
CF | and he'll know I sent you. Don't show it to Lobo, though; he might
CF | take it the wrong way.
CF |
CF | — E
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "i"
CF ] Government House
CF | >
CF | > I
CF |
CF | You are carrying:
CF | a bag of nuts
CF | a piece of black licorice
CF | a kaleidoscope
CF | a wooden case (open but empty)
CF | a notepaper
CF | a Talkboy
CF | the skeletonic key
CF | a money pouch
CF | three invitations
CF |
CF | > Lancelot says, "so we need to go to Benny"
DavidW says, "oh, I guess we need to see Benny too."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "ne"
CF ] Bank of Commerce
CF | >
CF | > NE
CF |
CF |
CF | Bank of Commerce
CF | No commerce is occurring at the moment; the bank is closed, and snow
CF | has piled up in the windows.
CF |
CF | Queen Street begins here and leads southeast. First Avenue runs
CF | northeast and southwest.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "se"
CF ] Middle of Town
CF | >
CF | > SE
CF |
CF |
CF | Middle of Town
CF | The streets are crowded with storefronts, but no business is being
CF | conducted that you can see, and the ruts in the road are all frozen
CF | over.
CF |
CF | Third Avenue runs northeast to southwest; Queen Street leads
CF | northwest.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "ne"
CF ] Palace Grand Theatre
CF | >
CF | > NE
CF |
CF |
CF | Palace Grand Theatre
CF | A singularly ostentatious facade towers over you, dwarfing its
CF | neighbors in size and in architectural flamboyance.
CF |
CF | From this corner, Third Avenue continues southwest, and King Street
CF | leads northwest.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "in"
CF ] Inside the Theatre
CF | >
CF | > IN
CF |
CF |
CF | Inside the Theatre
CF | The curtain has fallen; the show is over. A solitary pair shuffles
CF | across the dance floor: a custodian and his broom.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to custodian"
CF ] Inside the Theatre
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO CUSTODIAN
CF |
CF | All he's doing is sweeping, but somehow you don't want to interrupt.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "show note to him"
CF ] Inside the Theatre
CF | >
CF | > SHOW NOTE TO HIM
CF |
CF | You raise the notepaper. "Pardon me, but are you Benny?"
CF |
CF | "Sure am. What've you got for me?" He looks the paper over. "Oh, sure!
CF | Always happy to do a favor for the lovely Madam Scrooge. I've got it
CF | right here..."
CF |
CF | He pulls a crisp paper from a pocket. "She wanted me to stress to you,
CF | Mister Linus, that this might turn out to be useful, or it might not.
CF | She couldn't be sure. Don't ask me to tell you any more than that,
CF | though, because I really don't know."
CF |
CF | "Thanks," you say, as he hands over the crisp paper and the original
CF | notecard.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x crisp paper"
CF ] Inside the Theatre
CF | >
CF | > X CRISP PAPER
CF |
CF | You look the paper over:
CF |
CF | To Mr. Climacus.
CF |
CF | In re. your correspondence of 11 November, I must respectfully decline
CF | to pay the requested ransom of 500,000£, the reasons being
CF |
CF | Firstly, that your kidnapping of my daughter is an act of villainy,
CF | and acquiescence on my part would be an act of cowardice;
CF |
CF | Secondly, that the funds you have so modestly demanded are at present
CF | required in the construction of the Liverpool Extension of my Home for
CF | Widows and Orphans, which persons will recoup far more from the
CF | investment than would yourself;
CF |
CF | Thirdly, that my daughter requires no assistance in eluding your
CF | detention (if she has not already so succeeded), and would rightly
CF | resent my intercession as betraying a lack of trust in her abilities.
CF | New paragraph. You are no doubt aware that I love my daughter with a
CF | devotion that most rational men would deem excessive; yet even such
CF | dazzling adoration does not blind me to the knowledge that she is more
CF | than capable of defending herself and countless others without my
CF | help, and will continue to do so long after I am gone.
CF |
CF | With all the regret that is due this unpleasantness I am
CF | Your very humble et cetera,
CF | Sir Ebenezer Scrooge, Bt
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "out"
CF ] Palace Grand Theatre
CF | >
CF | > OUT
CF |
CF |
CF | Palace Grand Theatre
CF | A singularly ostentatious facade towers over you, dwarfing its
CF | neighbors in size and in architectural flamboyance.
CF |
CF | From this corner, Third Avenue continues southwest, and King Street
CF | leads northwest.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "sw"
CF ] Middle of Town
CF | >
CF | > SW
CF |
CF |
CF | Middle of Town
CF | The streets are crowded with storefronts, but no business is being
CF | conducted that you can see, and the ruts in the road are all frozen
CF | over.
CF |
CF | Third Avenue runs northeast to southwest; Queen Street leads
CF | northwest.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "se"
CF ] Middle of Town
CF | >
CF | > SE
CF |
CF | You can go northeast or southwest or northwest from here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "sw"
CF ] Fort Herchmer
CF | >
CF | > SW
CF |
CF |
CF | Fort Herchmer
CF | A snow-filled creek bed wends past the stables and barracks. All the
CF | buildings are dead silent.
CF |
CF | Church Street runs southeast and northwest. Third Avenue leads
CF | northeast.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "nw"
CF ] Government House
CF | >
CF | > NW
CF |
CF |
CF | Government House
CF | The Commissioner's residence stands facing the Yukon River, surrounded
CF | by a spacious lawn and tall fence. There are lights on inside, but no
CF | evidence that anyone has gone in or out since it snowed last.
CF |
CF | First Avenue runs northeast and southwest. Church Street begins here
CF | and leads southeast.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "sw"
CF ] Confluence
CF | >
CF | > SW
CF |
CF |
CF | Confluence
CF | Two rivers merge here, forming one great field of ice. On the far side
CF | are snow-covered cliffs, topped with snow-covered pines.
CF |
CF | First Avenue follows the Yukon northeast. Craig Street follows the
CF | Klondike to the southeast.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "se"
CF ] Bridge
CF | >
CF | > SE
CF |
CF |
CF | Bridge
CF | A wooden bridge leads southwest to an island in the middle of the
CF | Klondike, apparently given over entirely to one lumber mill operation.
CF |
CF | Craig Street follows the river southeast and northwest.
CF |
CF | Lobo is watching you from down the street.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "give licorice to Lobo"
CF | >
CF | > GIVE LICORICE TO LOBO
CF |
CF | "Hey, Lobo! You want some black licorice?"
CF |
CF | "No way!" he yells.
CF |
CF | "It's super salty," you yell back. "It's the saltiest stuff I've ever
CF | tasted. Ebenezabeth told me you love salty!"
CF |
CF | He takes a step forward. "You're really friends with Madam Scrooge?"
CF |
CF | "I'm friends with Madam Scrooge," Hrieman specifies, "and Linus is
CF | arguably friends with Madam Scrooge, but he and I are not friends with
CF | each other."
CF |
CF | "I'm just here to deliver an invitation," you tell Lobo, as he trudges
CF | toward you. "I don't want to hurt anybody."
CF |
CF | Now he's right in front of you, looking you up and down. He's even
CF | shorter than he looks.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Bridge
CF | shorter than he looks.He snatches the licorice out of your hand. "All
CF | right, I'll take you to Madam Scrooge. Meet me at the corner of Third
CF | and Queen." And he runs off.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "nw"
CF ] Confluence
CF | >
CF | > NW
CF |
CF |
CF | Confluence
CF | Two rivers merge here, forming one great field of ice. On the far side
CF | are snow-covered cliffs, topped with snow-covered pines.
CF |
CF | First Avenue follows the Yukon northeast. Craig Street follows the
CF | Klondike to the southeast.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "ne"
CF ] Government House
CF | >
CF | > NE
CF |
CF |
CF | Government House
CF | The Commissioner's residence stands facing the Yukon River, surrounded
CF | by a spacious lawn and tall fence. There are lights on inside, but no
CF | evidence that anyone has gone in or out since it snowed last.
CF |
CF | First Avenue runs northeast and southwest. Church Street begins here
CF | and leads southeast.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "se"
CF ] Fort Herchmer
CF | >
CF | > SE
CF |
CF |
CF | Fort Herchmer
CF | A snow-filled creek bed wends past the stables and barracks. All the
CF | buildings are dead silent.
CF |
CF | Church Street runs southeast and northwest. Third Avenue leads
CF | northeast.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "ne"
CF ] Middle of Town
CF | >
CF | > NE
CF |
CF |
CF | Middle of Town
CF | The streets are crowded with storefronts, but no business is being
CF | conducted that you can see, and the ruts in the road are all frozen
CF | over.
CF |
CF | Third Avenue runs northeast to southwest; Queen Street leads
CF | northwest.
CF |
CF | Lobo is standing on the sidewalk, tapping his foot demonstratively.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to Lobo"
CF ] Middle of Town
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO LOBO
CF |
CF | Lobo points stiffly to a storefront that looks like all the others.
CF | "Gertie's," he says. "Madam Scrooge will see you in there. Use the
CF | back door." Then he stuffs his hands in his pockets.
CF |
CF | You can hear him sucking on the licorice.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "enter Gertie's"
CF ] Back Room
CF | >
CF | > ENTER GERTIE'S
CF |
CF |
CF | Back Room
CF | A tiny emerald catches the lamplight, pinched between a bony thumb and
CF | forefinger.
CF |
CF | On the far side of the desk, a much younger woman counts her money.
CF | "From the collection of some Russian empress or other. A witch, if you
CF | believe that sort of thing."
CF |
CF | "I believe a good many things." The white-haired woman tucks the gem
CF | away in her wrinkled gray coat. "For example, I believe that a man
CF | with a swan's wing has just walked in behind me. Yes!" she cries,
CF | turning to face you. "And you brought Hrieman! Are the two of you
CF | getting along?"
CF |
CF | "No!" says Hrieman.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x Gertie"
CF ] Back Room
CF | >
CF | > X GERTIE
CF |
CF | Gertie is an elegantly-dressed woman, not much older than you. Though
CF | she's a bit surprised at your appearance, her natural demeanor is one
CF | of easy confidence. She smiles: A tiny diamond, even smaller than that
CF | emerald, is lodged in the gap between her front teeth.
CF |
CF | > Lancelot says, "lol I def should try this game one time"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x madam"
CF ] Back Room
CF | >
CF | > X MADAM
CF |
CF | Ebenezabeth's gentle brown eyes, set in the face of a seventy-year-old
CF | woman, are looking you up and down, over and over, taking you all in.
CF | She's very happy to see you, and somehow this isn't a surprise.
CF |
CF | The emerald is hidden somewhere in her coat.
CF |
CF | > Lancelot says, "but maybe I better start with the preceding games of the series"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to her"
CF ] Back Room
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO HER
CF |
CF | "I came to deliver this," you say, handing over the invitation.
CF |
CF | "Yes, of course. I've been looking forward to this." She slips it into
CF | her coat without reading it and turns back to the young woman: "Thank
CF | you so much for your assistance, Gertie."
CF |
CF | She smiles again: That really is a diamond. "Thank you for your
CF | business, Madam Scrooge."
CF |
CF | Ebenezabeth looks back at you. "I suppose we should be going."
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "out"
CF | >
CF | > OUT
CF |
CF | You help Madam Scrooge to her feet, and the three of you leave the
CF | office.
CF |
CF | Middle of Town
CF | The streets are crowded with storefronts, but no business is being
CF | conducted that you can see, and the ruts in the road are all frozen
CF | over.
CF |
CF | Third Avenue runs northeast to southwest; Queen Street leads
CF | northwest. You can also remember which door is the back door of
CF | Gertie's.
CF |
CF | Lobo straightens up as soon as Madam Scrooge appears.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | Lobo straightens up as soon as Madam Scrooge appears."Thank you for
CF | keeping watch all this time," she says, steadying herself on his
CF | shoulder. "Have you been warm enough?"
CF |
CF | "No problem," he tells her. "Did everything go okay with Gertie and
CF | these strangers?"
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | these strangers?""These aren't strangers, Lobo—They're old friends of
CF | mine. I hope you didn't give them too much trouble."
CF |
CF | "Just slightly too much," you tell her.
CF |
CF | "No, no!" says Hrieman. "Just slightly not enough."
CF |
CF | Madam Scrooge smiles at him, then at you. There's something she wants
CF | to say.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | to say.But you give her a nod, so she doesn't have to say it.
CF |
CF | "It's been so nice to see you both," she announces instead, patting
CF | her coat to make sure she has everything. "I wish we could chat
CF | longer, but before I follow the instructions of your invitation, I
CF | must attend to a few more details. Lobo?"
CF |
CF | Lobo pulls a Zippo out of his bomber jacket; he puts his other arm
CF | around Ebenezabeth's shoulders. He flicks the lighter, and a tiny
CF | flame begins to burn.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | flame begins to burn."Oh, I almost forgot!" she cries. "I left
CF | something for you two in the cabin—underneath the stove."
CF |
CF | Then Ebenezabeth's eyes turn from yours to the fire.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Middle of Town
CF | Then Ebenezabeth's eyes turn from yours to the fire.You and Hrieman
CF | are alone in the street.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "se"
CF ] Middle of Town
CF | >
CF | > SE
CF |
CF | You can go northeast or southwest or northwest from here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "sw"
CF ] Fort Herchmer
CF | >
CF | > SW
CF |
CF |
CF | Fort Herchmer
CF | A snow-filled creek bed wends past the stables and barracks. All the
CF | buildings are dead silent.
CF |
CF | Church Street runs southeast and northwest. Third Avenue leads
CF | northeast.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "se"
CF ] Outside the Cabin
CF | >
CF | > SE
CF |
CF |
CF | Outside the Cabin
CF | A modest wooden cabin sits on a snowy hillside to the southeast,
CF | surrounded by alder trees. The sky is cloudy and dim; the cold is
CF | malicious.
CF |
CF | At the bottom of the hill, Eighth Avenue runs northeast and southwest.
CF | Church Street leads northwest.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "se"
CF ] Cabin
CF | >
CF | > SE
CF |
CF | Cabin
CF | Two beds, both covered in quilts—one more bed than this cabin can
CF | comfortably accommodate. Between them is a little stove.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "close door"
CF ] Cabin
CF | >
CF | > CLOSE DOOR
CF |
CF | You close the narrow wooden door.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "look under stove"
CF ] Cabin
CF | >
CF | > LOOK UNDER STOVE
CF |
CF | There doesn't seem to be enough space to hide anything under the
CF | stove, but when you get down on your knees, you see something that you
CF | didn't see before: a rusty lockbox.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "take lockbox"
CF ] Cabin
CF | >
CF | > TAKE LOCKBOX
CF |
CF | You take the rusty lockbox.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open it"
CF ] Cabin
CF | >
CF | > OPEN IT
CF |
CF | The rusty lockbox is locked.
CF |
CF | "And you're gonna let that stop you?" Hrieman asks.
CF |
CF | "It's not a door," you tell him.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "unlock it with key"
CF ] Cabin
CF | >
CF | > UNLOCK IT WITH KEY
CF |
CF | You unlock the rusty lockbox with the skeletonic key.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open it"
CF ] Cabin
CF | >
CF | > OPEN IT
CF |
CF | You open the rusty lockbox, revealing a manuscript.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x manuscript"
CF ] Cabin
CF | >
CF | > X MANUSCRIPT
CF |
CF | Hrieman peers over your shoulder as you read:
CF |
CF | The Little Match-Girl in the Tower of Sand
CF |
CF | . . . Then did the sheyd take the shape of the Vampyre-Queene, Atë,
CF | knowing that Ebenezabeth dreaded this Form above all others; yet she
CF | did not turn her face, nor falter in her Course, but raised her Blade
CF | again to halt that vile thing's advance.
CF |
CF | Prince Linus looked back, worrying for Ebenezabeth's safety; and the
CF | sheyd saw that worry in his Heart, and doffed the semblance of Atë,
CF | wearing now the hateful face of Giorgia, the Prince's step-mother. And
CF | Linus, seeing his Companion endangered as once had been his dear
CF | little sister, did stay his steps, and Fear spoke to him, saying, Go
CF | to her, protect her; for though you could not save Elisa, yet you can
CF | save this girl.
CF |
CF | But the Prince would not be beguiled, and ignored the advisings of
CF | Fear, and ascended the sandswept stair whilst Ebenezabeth faced the
CF | sheyd alone. And now the monster wore another shape . . .
CF |
CF | The fragment ends there.
CF |
CF | "Is that exactly how it happened?" Hrieman asks.
CF |
CF | You frown. "There's no way she could have known it was Giorgia," you
CF | tell him. "She must have found out later, somehow."
CF |
CF | "But you did ditch her, make her fight the sheyd on her own?"
CF |
CF | "Yes, I ditched her. I abandoned her—That was the plan we agreed on.
CF | We might not have escaped otherwise."
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "Ate (with an umlaut on the e) is the Queen of Vampires."
DavidW says, "All the vampires hate Ebenezabeth since she's killed so many of them."
Lancelot says, "I can imagine"
DavidW says, "For a time, Eb had a Colt pistol from Samuel Colt himself that was blessed by one of the popes so that a bullet fired from that gun insta-killed a vampire."
DavidW says, "Then, in an adventure that hasn't happened yet, the vampires captured her, put her into suspended animation, and melted her gun."
Lancelot asks, "did sth like that happen in the previous game? I remember a castle where they kept her captive?"
DavidW says, "This manuscript has the first details about Linus's backstory, as far as I know."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "lock door"
CF ] Cabin
CF | >
CF | > LOCK DOOR
CF |
CF | You lock the narrow wooden door with the skeletonic key.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open door"
CF ] Cabin
CF | >
CF | > OPEN DOOR
CF |
CF | You open the narrow wooden door, revealing a passageway to a spotless
CF | Victorian kitchen.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "out"
CF | >
CF | > OUT
CF |
CF | You step through the narrow wooden door.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Kitchen
CF | You step through the narrow wooden door.Manchester, England - 14th
CF | June, 1851
CF |
CF | Kitchen
CF | A pair of large cast-iron stoves spoke to the great number of people
CF | Scrooge hoped would be fed here. The ovens, sinks, and benches were
CF | all newly built for the house, and the kitchen was an immaculate,
CF | unspoiled Eden, for the moment; yet it was easy to envision the bedlam
CF | that would reign in this room when the Home was opened at last.
CF |
CF | The pantry door stood to the southeast; the way back to the
CF | dining-hall was west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Dining-Hall
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Dining-Hall
CF | The long table in the center of the hall was half-covered with papers,
CF | and these papers were covered with the most obscure symbols, figures,
CF | and diagrams. Ebenezer Scrooge stood a respectable distance from the
CF | display.
CF |
CF | The doorway to the east led to the kitchen; west, to the nursery; and
CF | the foyer was south.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Foyer
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Foyer
CF | A statue of Athena stood in the foyer, greeting visitors to the
CF | Scrooge Orphans' and Widows' Home, Manchester Extension with a
CF | dispassionate half-smile. A framed copy of the Home's charter hung
CF | near the front door. The way into the dining-hall was past the stairs
CF | to the north; the orphans' and widows' dormitories were at the top of
CF | the front stair.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x charter"
CF ] Foyer
CF | >
CF | > X CHARTER
CF |
CF | The charter, in Ebenezer Scrooge's own hand, laid out the mission of
CF | his Orphans' and Widows' Home and the standards by which it must be
CF | administered, in flowery idealistic terms at first, and then in a
CF | lawyer's soulless prose, swinging suddenly to and fro between these
CF | registers, sometimes in mid-sentence, and never managing to say
CF | anything of substance—or at least this was the general effect on
CF | Linus, who could not bring himself to read past the first few lines.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "The crisp letter refered to an extension of this place in Liverpool. This building here is in Manchester."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "u"
CF ] Hallway
CF | >
CF | > U
CF |
CF |
CF | Hallway
CF | At the top of the stairs, in the middle of a rather narrow hallway,
CF | was posted a tall sign bearing all the rules that would govern guests
CF | of the Scrooge Orphans' and Widows' Home, Manchester Extension.
CF | Smaller placards flanked the sign, indicating that the door to the
CF | east led to the orphans' dormitory, and the door to the west was for
CF | the widows'.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x sign"
CF ] Hallway
CF | >
CF | > X SIGN
CF |
CF | The rules of the Orphans' and Widows' Home were as follows:
CF |
CF | i. No Running.
CF | ii. No Rough-Housing.
CF | iii. No Pick-Pocketing.
CF | iv. Any Orphan who finds employment in a Coal-Mine or Textile-Factory
CF | shall be dismissed from the Home.
CF | v. Any Orphan who joins a Pick-Pocketing Gang shall be dismissed from
CF | the Home.
CF | vi. Any Orphan or Widow who damages the Home by Arson or Vandalism
CF | shall be dismissed from the Home.
CF | vii. Any Widow who, by virtue of Marriage, becomes no longer
CF | Unmarried, shall be dismissed from the Home.
CF | viii. No Spitting.
CF | ix. Any Widow who, by virtue of establishing Independence, becomes no
CF | longer Helpless, shall be dismissed from the Home.
CF | x. Any Widow who invites a Man into the Home for Illicit Purposes, of
CF | the particular Sort that the canny Reader may infer as unbecoming to
CF | this charitable Context, but which to preserve the innocence of our
CF | Orphans shall not here be explicated, shall be dismissed from the
CF | Home.
CF | xi. Any Orphan who, by virtue of Adoption, becomes no longer
CF | Parentless, shall be dismissed from the Home.
CF | xii. Any Orphan who survives to the Age of twenty-one Years shall be
CF | dismissed from the Home.
CF | xiii. Any Widow who attempts to adopt or succeeds in adopting an
CF | Orphan prior to establishing her own Independence shall be dismissed
CF | from the Home.
CF | xiv. Any Widow who attempts to convene or succeeds in convening a
CF | Pick-Pocketing Gang of Orphans shall be dismissed from the Home.
CF | xv. & cetera.
CF |
CF | > Lancelot says, "a lot of hosue rules"
Lancelot says, "house rules even"
DavidW says, "l"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "l"
CF ] Hallway
CF | >
CF | > L
CF |
CF | Hallway
CF | At the top of the stairs, in the middle of a rather narrow hallway,
CF | was posted a tall sign bearing all the rules that would govern guests
CF | of the Scrooge Orphans' and Widows' Home, Manchester Extension.
CF | Smaller placards flanked the sign, indicating that the door to the
CF | east led to the orphans' dormitory, and the door to the west was for
CF | the widows'.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Hallway
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF | The orphans' dormitory door was closed.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open east door"
CF ] Hallway
CF | >
CF | > OPEN EAST DOOR
CF |
CF | He opened the orphans' dormitory door.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Orphans' Dormitory
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF | Orphans' Dormitory
CF | A great many child-sized beds lined the walls of this room, and at the
CF | foot of each bed hung a slate upon which the resident orphan might
CF | scrawl a name or a nickname. For now, though, every bed was
CF | unoccupied, and every slate was quite blank.
CF |
CF | Mrs. Prunetree puttered between the beds, her shoes clacking loudly on
CF | the floor; with each moment she found another coverlet to straighten
CF | or another speck of dust to brush away.
CF |
CF | The door to the hallway was west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x mrs"
CF ] Orphans' Dormitory
CF | >
CF | > X MRS
CF |
CF | Sir Ebenezer was an expert in the field of amassing wealth, but not in
CF | the field of caring for large quantities of widows or orphans; to
CF | compensate for this deficiency, he had enlisted a matron. Mrs.
CF | Prunetree was possessed of supreme compassion; of infinite, almost
CF | grandmotherly patience for the antics of small children—and yet she
CF | was capable, when necessary, of compelling the most noisome urchin
CF | into a state of composed obedience. If she had any faults, they were
CF | more than outweighed by her aptitude for her chosen profession. (In
CF | fact, she did have faults; among these were deficit of imagination,
CF | clumsiness, total lack of mathematical ability, total faith in her
CF | mathematical ability, and scatterbrainedness—but we will not dwell on
CF | the subject.)
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to her"
CF ] Orphans' Dormitory
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO HER
CF |
CF | Mrs. Prunetree smiled warmly as he approached. "Master Linus! How good
CF | to see you again! And you've brought Ebenezabeth's tame crow."
CF |
CF | "Talking crow!" Hrieman pointed out.
CF |
CF | But Prunetree pretended not to hear. "Sir Ebenezer took pains to
CF | inform me that you'll be very busy today," she said to Linus. "Is
CF | there anything I can do to help?"
CF |
CF | "I don't think so," said Linus; so she smiled and went back to her
CF | puttering.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Hallway
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF | Hallway
CF | At the top of the stairs, in the middle of a rather narrow hallway,
CF | was posted a tall sign bearing all the rules that would govern guests
CF | of the Scrooge Orphans' and Widows' Home, Manchester Extension.
CF | Smaller placards flanked the sign, indicating that the door to the
CF | east led to the orphans' dormitory, and the door to the west was for
CF | the widows'.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "close door"
CF ] Hallway
CF | >
CF | > CLOSE DOOR
CF |
CF | Which do you mean, the widows' dormitory door or the orphans'
CF | dormitory door?
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "east"
CF ] Hallway
CF | >
CF | > EAST
CF |
CF | He closed the orphans' dormitory door.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open west door"
CF ] Hallway
CF | >
CF | > OPEN WEST DOOR
CF |
CF | He opened the widows' dormitory door.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Widows' Dormitory
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF | Widows' Dormitory
CF | Here was a very long room, containing more than a dozen bedframes; but
CF | there were no mattresses nor bedclothes, nor any other appointments,
CF | and the place—which would be quite homely and warm, as soon as it was
CF | completely furnished—had at the moment the chilly atmosphere of a
CF | prison about it.
CF |
CF | The hallway door stood to the east.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "There's not much in this building. Only the doors are really of much interest."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Hallway
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF | Hallway
CF | At the top of the stairs, in the middle of a rather narrow hallway,
CF | was posted a tall sign bearing all the rules that would govern guests
CF | of the Scrooge Orphans' and Widows' Home, Manchester Extension.
CF | Smaller placards flanked the sign, indicating that the door to the
CF | east led to the orphans' dormitory, and the door to the west was for
CF | the widows'.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "close door"
CF ] Hallway
CF | >
CF | > CLOSE DOOR
CF |
CF | Which do you mean, the widows' dormitory door or the orphans'
CF | dormitory door?
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "west"
CF ] Hallway
CF | >
CF | > WEST
CF |
CF | He closed the widows' dormitory door.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "lock west door"
CF ] Hallway
CF | >
CF | > LOCK WEST DOOR
CF |
CF | He locked the widows' dormitory door with the skeletonic key.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open west door"
CF ] Hallway
CF | >
CF | > OPEN WEST DOOR
CF |
CF | He opened the widows' dormitory door, revealing a passageway to street
CF | in Atlantis.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF | He stepped through the widows' dormitory door.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Street
CF | He stepped through the widows' dormitory door.The Undersea Kingdom of
CF | Atlantis
CF |
CF | Street
CF | A quiet evening on the royal esplanade. Most merfolk are at home by
CF | this time of night, and the road is empty, except for you and
CF | Hrieman—but the confectioner here is still open.
CF |
CF | A row of streetlamps hung with luminous pearls leads west toward the
CF | palace. To the east is an unassuming open door in the side of a
CF | warehouse.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x lamps"
CF ] Street
CF | >
CF | > X LAMPS
CF |
CF | The pearls cover the street in soft, cool light.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "I have no idea -- NONE -- how Linus and Hrieman are breathing underwater."
DavidW says, "The game doesn't even remark on it."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x warehouse"
CF ] Street
CF | >
CF | > X WAREHOUSE
CF |
CF | This utilitarian building was designed to fade into the background.
CF | The side door is open.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Street
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF | You may go west, or inside the confectioner's, or east into the
CF | warehouse.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "in"
CF ] Confectioner's
CF | >
CF | > IN
CF |
CF |
CF | Confectioner's
CF | "Ho, landwalker!" the mercandyman cries as you enter. "Ho, landflyer!"
CF |
CF | "Not 'skyflyer'?" Hrieman asks.
CF |
CF | "Whatever you like. Speaking of which, have a look around! We have
CF | treats to suit any taste."
CF |
CF | The gaudy colors in here are a jarring contrast with the peaceful
CF | evening outside. Hanging out in here too long will give you a
CF | headache.
CF |
CF | The cashier floats in the middle of a circular counter, surrounded by
CF | five huge ceramic jars full of candy.
CF |
CF | > Lancelot says, "maybe Atlantis is in a giant bubble underwater lol"
DavidW says, "That would be awkward for fish-tailed people."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x cashier"
CF ] Confectioner's
CF | >
CF | > X CASHIER
CF |
CF | A teenaged merman in a ridiculous vest. His enthusiasm for this job is
CF | paper-thin.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x jars"
CF ] Confectioner's
CF | >
CF | > X JARS
CF |
CF | There's a jar of candied kelp, a jar of yellowish spheres, a jar of
CF | black licorice, a jar of red-hot slugs, a jar of sour fish—all them
CF | nearly overflowing.
CF |
CF | > Lancelot says, "true and the shopkeeper floats so indeed underwater"
DavidW says, "This is a second place one can buy licorice. We don't actually need anything here."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to cashier"
CF ] Confectioner's
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO CASHIER
CF |
CF | "Why do they have you working so late? It looks like everywhere else
CF | is closed."
CF |
CF | "Oh, it's completely voluntary!" says the cashier, but that's all he
CF | says.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "out"
CF ] Street
CF | >
CF | > OUT
CF |
CF |
CF | Street
CF | A quiet evening on the royal esplanade. Most merfolk are at home by
CF | this time of night, and the road is empty, except for you and
CF | Hrieman—but the confectioner here is still open.
CF |
CF | A row of streetlamps hung with luminous pearls leads west toward the
CF | palace. To the east is an unassuming open door in the side of a
CF | warehouse.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Palace Gates
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Palace Gates
CF | The palatial gates stand open; the great palace of Atlantis is just a
CF | few steps to the north. The royal esplanade stretches east and west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x gates"
CF ] Palace Gates
CF | >
CF | > X GATES
CF |
CF | "Why's the gate wide open so late at night?"
CF |
CF | "I don't know," you tell Hrieman.
CF |
CF | "Kinda suspicious."
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Gallery
CF | At the center of the palace is a cathedraline statuary hall, lined
CF | with busts of dignitaries.
CF |
CF | The main aisle of the gallery runs north and south. A narrower
CF | corridor leads west, and through another side passage is the bottom of
CF | a spiral staircase.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x busts"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > X BUSTS
CF |
CF | The busts depict generous and attractive patrons of the arts, arranged
CF | in chronological order of their patreonage. This one is a bust of
CF | Jenni Polodna.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | The next bust depicts Rich Cheng.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | The next bust depicts Carolyn VanEseltine.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | The next bust depicts Carl Muckenhoupt.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | The next bust depicts Derek Sotak.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | The next bust depicts Matthew Zimmermann.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | The next bust depicts Doug Orleans.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | The next bust depicts Emily Short.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | The next bust depicts Jacques Frechet.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | The next bust depicts Maiko Ziegler.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | The next bust depicts Janice M. Eisen.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | The next bust depicts Sammy El-Bahrawy.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | The next bust depicts Matt Schneider.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | The next bust depicts Allen Tan.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | The next bust depicts Sarah.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | The next bust depicts Yerrik.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | The next bust depicts Robin Johnson.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | The next bust depicts Karl Ove Hufthammer.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | The next bust depicts Q. Pheevr.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | The next bust depicts Robert Paloutzian.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | The next bust depicts Harrison Gerard.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | The next bust depicts Michael Knowles.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | The next bust depicts Mark.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | The next bust depicts Jordan Eash.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | The next bust depicts Nils Fagerburg.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | The next bust depicts Catherine O'Sullivan.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | The next bust depicts Sarah W.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | The next bust depicts Rus Whang.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | The next bust depicts Jeremy Wright.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | The next bust depicts Benjamin Slade.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | The next bust depicts Jason Farrell.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | The next bust depicts Dominia.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | The next bust depicts Magnus Buchanan.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | The next bust depicts Jason Love.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | The next bust depicts John Leen.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | The next bust depicts Julia Ramsey.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | The next bust depicts Stephen Norris.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | The next bust depicts Jessica Seidl.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | The next bust depicts Robert eggleston [sic].
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | The next bust depicts Tobias V. Langhoff.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | The next bust depicts BrettW.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | The next bust depicts Josh Lawrence.
CF |
CF | That's the last one! Let's loop back to the beginning.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Throne Room
CF | "Absolutely not! Your Majesty, I have tolerated these vacillations for
CF | entirely too long. Your citizens are entitled to a resolution after
CF | all this uncertainty, and as a servant of the people of Atlantis it
CF | falls to me to demand your decision on their behalf. If you do not
CF | comply, I will be forced to pursue measures—on behalf of the people
CF | of
CF | Atlantis—to pursue measures such as will rectify this—uncertainty."
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | Atlantis—to pursue measures such as will rectify
CF | this—uncertainty.""What sort of measures do you have in mind?"
CF |
CF | "The constitution is very clear—and attendant documents
CF | stipulate—provisions are laid out—" The spectacled merman sputters
CF | to
CF | a stop. "I'll find something," he fumes, and he turns around to
CF | discover you.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | discover you.The look on his face says who the Hades are you
CF | supposed to be, but he's too busy storming out to do anything
CF | about it.
CF |
CF | You step forward. "Good evening, Your Majesty," you say, bowing
CF | deeply.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | deeply."Linus, do not start with me," Ebenezabeth groans, leaning
CF | heavily on her trident. "You have picked the absolute worst time to
CF | show up."
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | show up.""No, no! We showed up at the perfect time!" jeers
CF | Hrieman. "He did all the calculations!" So you bat him off of
CF | your shoulder. He flaps his way over to the scaly lap of the Queen of
CF | Atlantis, and asks: "What was that guy going on about?"
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | Atlantis, and asks: "What was that guy going on about?""That was
CF | Dexagoras, official pain-in-the-tail to the Coral Throne. The terms of
CF | Poseidon's abdication make me Queen Regent until I choose an heir from
CF | between his daughters. But I can't choose, because neither Eunoia nor
CF | Eirene actually wants to be queen."
CF |
CF | "Well, while you're thinking it over," you say, and you hand
CF | Ebenezabeth an invitation.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | Ebenezabeth an invitation.She throws it back without looking at it. "I
CF | can't take that now! Dexagoras is already trying to find a legal
CF | precedent for storming the palace with pitchforks. If I run off, it'll
CF | be chaos. Or worse, Dexagoras could put himself in charge. If you want
CF | to invite me to anything, you have to get this uncertainty rectified
CF | first." Lancelot says, "ah another invite dispatched"
DavidW says, "not yet!"
Lancelot says, "aww"
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Throne Room
CF | first.""I can do that," you say. "Just help me out with one thing: How
CF | do I know which one's Eirene and which one's Eunoia?"
CF |
CF | "Eunoia," says the Queen, pointing down the passage to the northwest.
CF | "Eirene." Northeast.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x queen"
CF ] Throne Room
CF | >
CF | > X QUEEN
CF |
CF | Her cheeks and lips are drawn out with age and exasperation; much of
CF | the luster has faded from her flaxen curls. The weariness she used to
CF | hide away has risen to the surface. Also, she has a fish tail.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x tail"
CF ] Throne Room
CF | >
CF | > X TAIL
CF |
CF | Her cheeks and lips are drawn out with age and exasperation; much of
CF | the luster has faded from her flaxen curls. The weariness she used to
CF | hide away has risen to the surface. Also, she has a fish tail.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x throne"
CF ] Throne Room
CF | >
CF | > X THRONE
CF |
CF | The Queen Regent sits on a tower of green coral, grown over centuries
CF | into a mighty throne.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x trident"
CF ] Throne Room
CF | >
CF | > X TRIDENT
CF |
CF | This is Poseidon's silver trident, a weapon of the gods, forged by
CF | Hephaestus in an age long past.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to queen"
CF ] Throne Room
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO QUEEN
CF |
CF | "How do you suppose I should go about picking between Eirene and
CF | Eunoia?"
CF |
CF | "Go snoop on them," Ebenezabeth says flatly. "I can't get close to
CF | either of them lately, but they'll have to let you in. To be polite."
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "nw"
CF ] Eunoia's Chamber
CF | >
CF | > NW
CF |
CF |
CF | Eunoia's Chamber
CF | Dark drapery gives the space a sense of shapelessness. The ceiling is
CF | studded with twinkling gems; a table is covered in arcane diagrams.
CF |
CF | Princess Eunoia rises from her clamshell to greet you. "Linus! I
CF | haven't seen you in a while. And you're quite a bit younger than I
CF | remember, I think."
CF |
CF | Eunoia is quite a bit older than the last time you saw her. "I'm sorry
CF | for any confusion," you say.
CF |
CF | "And I'm here, too," adds Hrieman.
CF |
CF | "You may have noticed a lot of negativity in the palace at the
CF | moment," says Eunoia. "I'm waiting it out in here." And she slides
CF | back into her clamshell.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x eunoia"
CF ] Eunoia's Chamber
CF | >
CF | > X EUNOIA
CF |
CF | It's easy enough to tell Eunoia and Eirene apart: The one in front of
CF | you is the one with dark hair. It's just that the names are so
CF | similar, you can never remember which is which.
CF |
CF | The last time you saw the princesses, it was to celebrate their and
CF | Ebenezabeth's twenty-first birthday. Now Eunoia is at least twice that
CF | age, and her youthful bubbliness has transitioned into a slow simmer.
CF | She notices you noticing her, and purses her lips.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x shell"
CF ] Eunoia's Chamber
CF | >
CF | > X SHELL
CF |
CF | Is this bed really the remains of a behemoth clam, or is it just
CF | sculpted to look like that?
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x table"
CF ] Eunoia's Chamber
CF | >
CF | > X TABLE
CF |
CF | The diagrams are horoscopes. All of them look vague or unfinished; you
CF | can infer that they're based on incomplete information.
CF |
CF | On the stone table is a purple journal.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x journal"
CF ] Eunoia's Chamber
CF | >
CF | > X JOURNAL
CF |
CF | "That's private," says the princess, noticing the direction of your
CF | gaze.
CF |
CF | "Of course, Your Highness." Now you know what you're looking for.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x diagrams"
CF ] Eunoia's Chamber
CF | >
CF | > X DIAGRAMS
CF |
CF | The diagrams are horoscopes. All of them look vague or unfinished; you
CF | can infer that they're based on incomplete information.
CF |
CF | On the stone table is a purple journal.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to eunoia"
CF ] Eunoia's Chamber
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO EUNOIA
CF |
CF | Eunoia rises slightly as you approach. "How interesting that you
CF | should visit us now. The astrology of the landwalkers has become very
CF | popular in Atlantis recently."
CF |
CF | "I wonder why that is," you say, careful not to sound too interested.
CF |
CF | "Your conception of time is so exotic to us," she explains. "So rigid.
CF | Most merfolk can only imagine what it's like to see stars and planets
CF | with our own eyes. Of course, I myself have visited the landwalkers
CF | many times. I have a pair of legs I can put on whenever I like."
CF |
CF | "Of course."
CF |
CF | > Lancelot says, "'put on' hmmm"
DavidW says, "The legs were obtained from a witch in one game via a potion."
Lancelot says, "ok ..."
DavidW says, "Now the legs and fish tails can be swapped amongst all three girls."
Lancelot says, "I definitely have to play the others to get more context but thats for later"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Eunoia's Chamber
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | "Would you please let me draw up your horoscope?" Eunoia asks. "I
CF | could really use the practice."
CF |
CF | You can't think of a reason why not, so she gets out a bunch of
CF | notebooks. "What's your date of birth?"
CF |
CF | "July 26, 1099 AD."
CF |
CF | "Is that Julian, or Gregorian?"
CF |
CF | "I forget."
CF |
CF | She starts flipping back and forth between tables and charts. "I'm
CF | supposed to ask the time and place," she says, "but I don't really
CF | know what to do with them. Oh, look at this!"
CF |
CF | She shows you her handiwork. "Saturn opposing Pluto! I wonder what
CF | that means. And your Moon conjoins the Sun and Venus—and almost
CF | Neptune..."
CF |
CF | > Lancelot says, "thx for providing the bits of lore"
DavidW says, "Well, there is a lot of it."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to her"
CF ] Eunoia's Chamber
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO HER
CF |
CF | Eunoia's gaze has only gotten hungrier since she drew up that
CF | horoscope. You don't want to give her any more encouragement.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "give kaleidoscope to her"
CF ] Eunoia's Chamber
CF | >
CF | > GIVE KALEIDOSCOPE TO HER
CF |
CF | You hold up the kaleidoscope. "What in the world is that?" asks
CF | Eunoia.
CF |
CF | "They call it a kaleidoscope. You put your eye up to this end," you
CF | explain, handing it over.
CF |
CF | "What could there be to look at inside a little tube like that?" she
CF | wonders. Then she sees.
CF |
CF | She gasps in amazement.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x journal"
CF ] Eunoia's Chamber
CF | >
CF | > X JOURNAL
CF |
CF | The purple cover bears no title.
CF |
CF | "So many colors!" Eunoia whispers. "A descent into chaos!"
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open it"
CF ] Eunoia's Chamber
CF | >
CF | > OPEN IT
CF |
CF | You open the purple journal.
CF |
CF | Eunoia shakes her head in disbelief.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "read it"
CF ] Eunoia's Chamber
CF | >
CF | > READ IT
CF |
CF | You read the first entry:
CF |
CF | Father intends to abdicate. The reason is quite clear to me: He is
CF | old. He has always been old, and will go on being old forever, without
CF | aging. But Atlantis is changing; it is growing younger.
CF |
CF | I suspect that Father had envisioned Atlantis as an immortal,
CF | immutable institution, like himself. The hazy, yearless current of
CF | time down here must have been part of his design. Whenever Ebenezabeth
CF | visits, no matter how long she has been gone, she and Eirene and I are
CF | the same age...
CF |
CF | We change, unlike Father. And Atlantis changes, against his will.
CF |
CF | Where will he go? Who will replace him? The issue is sure to cast a
CF | pall over the ball tomorrow night. But Pariphares will be there.
CF |
CF | There is more on the next page.
CF |
CF | Eunoia turns the kaleidoscope slightly, and giggles at the new
CF | masterpiece she's created.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Eunoia's Chamber
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | You go on reading:
CF |
CF | I found Pariphares at the ball, as planned. I snuck up behind him and
CF | whispered in his ear:
CF |
CF | The rest of this entry cannot be reproduced in a game that's supposed
CF | to be rated T for Teen.
CF |
CF | There is more on the next page.
CF |
CF | Eunoia whimpers softly.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Eunoia's Chamber
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | You go on reading:
CF |
CF | Ebenezabeth has returned, at Father's request. She will serve as Queen
CF | Regent and choose one of her sisters to take the throne.
CF |
CF | Eirene is mystified, but I understand it well enough: He trusts
CF | Ebenezabeth more than he trusts himself. He would have made her Queen
CF | Regnant, if the constitution allowed it.
CF |
CF | He couldn't choose Eirene; I would resent her. He couldn't choose me,
CF | for fear that Eirene would resent me. He knows how petty his daughters
CF | are.
CF |
CF | No, he remembers how petty we used to be. I would have supported
CF | Eirene if he chose her. And if he had chosen me, Eirene would
CF |
CF | I'm not really sure.
CF |
CF | Father left soon after Ebenezabeth arrived.
CF |
CF | There is more on the next page.
CF |
CF | Eunoia heaves a desperate sigh.
CF |
CF | > Lancelot says, "lol is that breaking 4th wall"
DavidW says, "Not entirely. The narrator is Hans Christian Andersen, and he spoke at the very start of the game."
DavidW says, "So the narrator knows this is a game."
Lancelot says, "check"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Eunoia's Chamber
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | You go on reading:
CF |
CF | Pariphares paid an unexpected visit to the palace tonight.
CF |
CF | The description of this encounter goes on for a page and a half. You
CF | scan the text for any details that might be relevant. At the very end:
CF |
CF | But not as quiet as we thought, if I interpret Eirene's dirty looks
CF | over breakfast correctly. She's jealous—She misses Naïs.
CF |
CF | I have my answer: If she's so upset over something like that, how much
CF | worse would it be if I were Queen! She would shatter into pieces. I
CF | won't do that to her.
CF |
CF | There is more on the next page.
CF |
CF | Eunoia shakes her head in disbelief.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "That's Nais with a diaresis over the i."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Eunoia's Chamber
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | You go on reading:
CF |
CF | I am so bored.
CF |
CF | That is the last entry.
CF |
CF | Eunoia whimpers softly.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "close journal"
CF ] Eunoia's Chamber
CF | >
CF | > CLOSE JOURNAL
CF |
CF | You close the purple journal.
CF |
CF | Eunoia turns the kaleidoscope slightly, and giggles at the new
CF | masterpiece she's created.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "se"
CF ] Throne Room
CF | >
CF | > SE
CF |
CF |
CF | Throne Room
CF | You stand before Ebenezabeth, Queen Regent of Atlantis. She slouches
CF | on her throne of coral, trident in hand, tail flicking restlessly.
CF |
CF | Eunoia's and Eirene's chambers lie to the northwest and northeast. The
CF | statuary hall is south.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to queen"
CF ] Throne Room
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO QUEEN
CF |
CF | "How's the snooping going?" asks Ebenezabeth.
CF |
CF | "It's going," you say. "I have something like fifty percent of the
CF | information I need. I think."
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "ne"
CF ] Eirene's Chamber
CF | >
CF | > NE
CF |
CF |
CF | Eirene's Chamber
CF | Fluted columns stand in each corner: The room is a perfect octagon.
CF | Your footsteps echo conspicuously. On the marble table before you, the
CF | palace and its environs are laid out in all their splendor, at what
CF | looks like 1:72 scale.
CF |
CF | "It's a pleasure to see you again, Your Highness," you say.
CF |
CF | Princess Eirene stares at you for a second before answering. "How
CF | interesting that you should visit us now," she says at last.
CF | Apparently you are interrupting.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x eirene"
CF ] Eirene's Chamber
CF | >
CF | > X EIRENE
CF |
CF | It's easy enough to tell Eunoia and Eirene apart: The one in front of
CF | you is the blonde one. It's just that the names are so similar, you
CF | can never remember which is which.
CF |
CF | She's ignoring you as hard as she can. You recall now that Eirene was
CF | the one who didn't like you very much.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x table"
CF ] Eirene's Chamber
CF | >
CF | > X TABLE
CF |
CF | The walls and towers of the marble palace are carved soapstone. The
CF | little merfolk crowding the miniature esplanade might be plain old
CF | plastic.
CF |
CF | On the marble table is a green journal.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x journal"
CF ] Eirene's Chamber
CF | >
CF | > X JOURNAL
CF |
CF | Eirene swishes her way between you and the book without a word,
CF | without even making eye contact. She's tipped her hand, though—there
CF | must be something worth reading in there.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to her"
CF ] Eirene's Chamber
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO HER
CF |
CF | "That's a very impressive model."
CF |
CF | "Thank you. It's taken a lot of work. Still not finished." She runs
CF | her hand over the edge of the table, away from the green book that she
CF | doesn't want you to notice.
CF |
CF | "Projects like this are never really finished, huh?" you say by way of
CF | commiseration, but she doesn't want to open up to you.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "We can't do more here yet. We need something else like the kaleidoscope."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "sw"
CF ] Throne Room
CF | >
CF | > SW
CF |
CF |
CF | Throne Room
CF | You stand before Ebenezabeth, Queen Regent of Atlantis. She slouches
CF | on her throne of coral, trident in hand, tail flicking restlessly.
CF |
CF | Eunoia's and Eirene's chambers lie to the northwest and northeast. The
CF | statuary hall is south.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Gallery
CF | At the center of the palace is a cathedraline statuary hall, lined
CF | with busts of dignitaries.
CF |
CF | The main aisle of the gallery runs north and south. A narrower
CF | corridor leads west, and through another side passage is the bottom of
CF | a spiral staircase.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Office
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Office
CF | A huge oak desk takes up most of the office, which wasn't a very big
CF | room to begin with. A large clock-like object hangs on the far wall.
CF |
CF | Dexagoras sits behind the desk, regarding his paperwork with dismay.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x dexagoras"
CF ] Office
CF | >
CF | > X DEXAGORAS
CF |
CF | The merman's expression indicates that he is in no mood for the antics
CF | of interloping landwalkers.
CF |
CF | The combination of glasses and shirtlessness is very striking.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x clock"
CF ] Office
CF | >
CF | > X CLOCK
CF |
CF | It's an astronomical clock, indicating the passage of the sidereal
CF | month and positions of the planets. But it's not ticking.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x desk"
CF ] Office
CF | >
CF | > X DESK
CF |
CF | The desk is beautiful, but it clearly has been through a lot. Most
CF | "antiques" in Atlantis are dragged out of shipwrecks.
CF |
CF | The paperwork on the desk is neatly stacked and color-coded. There are
CF | binders with little tabs. Underneath it all is a paper desk blotter,
CF | and it is spotless.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to him"
CF ] Office
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO HIM
CF |
CF | Dexagoras takes you in over the frames of his spectacles. "Some
CF | associate of Her Majesty's, I infer."
CF |
CF | "Exactly," you say. "I have an urgent invitation to deliver to her,
CF | but she seems very busy at the moment."
CF |
CF | "Your landwalker fairy-tales may have given you the erroneous
CF | impression that life in a royal palace consists only of idle
CF | intrigues, extravagant parties, and romantic entanglements," says the
CF | chamberlain. "In actual fact, we are all of us very busy—with vital
CF | official business—all day, every day. Sometimes late into the
CF | evening,
CF | as I am at this moment."
CF |
CF | "Then we'll get out of your hair," says Hrieman.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Gallery
CF | At the center of the palace is a cathedraline statuary hall, lined
CF | with busts of dignitaries.
CF |
CF | The main aisle of the gallery runs north and south. A narrower
CF | corridor leads west, and through another side passage is the bottom of
CF | a spiral staircase.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Palace Gates
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Palace Gates
CF | The palatial gates stand open; the great palace of Atlantis is just a
CF | few steps to the north. The royal esplanade stretches east and west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Plaza
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Plaza
CF | The esplanade widens into a sort of oval here, ringed by twelve marble
CF | statues. This would be a perfect place to stage an open-water music
CF | festival, or a duel—but there's nobody here.
CF |
CF | Streetlights twinkle over the esplanade to the east and west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x statues"
CF ] Plaza
CF | >
CF | > X STATUES
CF |
CF | Complementing the mosaic in the center, the statues encircling the
CF | plaza depict the Twelve: the Poet, the Physician, the Farmer, the
CF | Scientist, the Magician, the Hunchback, the Seer, the Madman, the
CF | Infant, the Carver, the Warrior, and the Senator. All the statues face
CF | away from the center of the plaza, striding toward the outside world.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "Each of these statues are examinable, but not revelant, at least, not yet."
Lancelot says, "this very much looks like a puzzle lol"
DavidW says, "They don't turn either, as far as I know, but yes, it looks like a puzzle setup."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Overlook
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Overlook
CF | At the western end of the esplanade, a balcony provides a stunning
CF | view of the ocean floor. Of all the shops and attractions in the
CF | neighborhood, only one studio is open this late.
CF |
CF | The esplanade continues to the east.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x floor"
CF ] Overlook
CF | >
CF | > X FLOOR
CF |
CF | Now you see that the city sits on top of an underwater mountain.
CF | Stretching out below you is a vast jungle of coral: The colors are
CF | muted in the evening light, but the breadth of the vista is
CF | magnificent.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x shops"
CF ] Overlook
CF | >
CF | > X SHOPS
CF |
CF | The shadow of the palace is enviable real estate. There are boutiques,
CF | galleries, cafés—but not much in the way of nightlife.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x studio"
CF ] Overlook
CF | >
CF | > X STUDIO
CF |
CF | A single studio has left a light on to encourage visitors:
CF | "Imaginations by Mandrocles."
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "in"
CF ] Studio
CF | >
CF | > IN
CF |
CF |
CF | Studio
CF | A collection of marble figures lines the walls: Orca, squid,
CF | bottlenose dolphin, hammerhead shark, seahorse, angelfish, seal... The
CF | sculptor is hard at work on the next in the series, glaring at his
CF | block of stone with a gaze of menacing intensity.
CF |
CF | Outside, the esplanade is empty and quiet.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x figures"
CF ] Studio
CF | >
CF | > X FIGURES
CF |
CF | The figurines combine meticulous realism with the slightest touch of
CF | stylization—to remind you that what you're seeing didn't happen by
CF | accident. Every piece on display is marked with a red sticker: Spoken
CF | for.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x sculptor"
CF ] Studio
CF | >
CF | > X SCULPTOR
CF |
CF | His beard is wild; his eyes are red. He has not been sleeping well.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to him"
CF ] Studio
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO HIM
CF |
CF | "You got a request?" asks the sculptor, without looking up from his
CF | work.
CF |
CF | "How about a portrait of my supervisor?" you reply. Hrieman digs a
CF | talon into your neck.
CF |
CF | The artist shakes his head. "I do aquatic animals exclusively. If you
CF | want a bird, you can ask me for a penguin."
CF |
CF | "What about a goose?" asks Hrieman.
CF |
CF | He tilts his head. "A goose is fine."
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "I think this is a second place we could have got a beaver statue from."
DavidW says, "Beavers seem aquatic enough by his examples."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "out"
CF ] Overlook
CF | >
CF | > OUT
CF |
CF |
CF | Overlook
CF | At the western end of the esplanade, a balcony provides a stunning
CF | view of the ocean floor. Of all the shops and attractions in the
CF | neighborhood, only one studio is open this late.
CF |
CF | The esplanade continues to the east.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Plaza
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Plaza
CF | The esplanade widens into a sort of oval here, ringed by twelve marble
CF | statues. This would be a perfect place to stage an open-water music
CF | festival, or a duel—but there's nobody here.
CF |
CF | Streetlights twinkle over the esplanade to the east and west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Palace Gates
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Palace Gates
CF | The palatial gates stand open; the great palace of Atlantis is just a
CF | few steps to the north. The royal esplanade stretches east and west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Street
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Street
CF | A quiet evening on the royal esplanade. Most merfolk are at home by
CF | this time of night, and the road is empty, except for you and
CF | Hrieman—but the confectioner here is still open.
CF |
CF | A row of streetlamps hung with luminous pearls leads west toward the
CF | palace. To the east is an unassuming open door in the side of a
CF | warehouse.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF | You step through the warehouse door. Lancelot says, "well it kinda makes sense with all the dam building in rivers etc"
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Hallway
CF | You step through the warehouse door.Manchester, England - 14th June,
CF | 1851
CF |
CF | Hallway
CF | At the top of the stairs, in the middle of a rather narrow hallway,
CF | was posted a tall sign bearing all the rules that would govern guests
CF | of the Scrooge Orphans' and Widows' Home, Manchester Extension.
CF | Smaller placards flanked the sign, indicating that the door to the
CF | east led to the orphans' dormitory, and the door to the west was for
CF | the widows'.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "lock east door"
CF ] Hallway
CF | >
CF | > LOCK EAST DOOR
CF |
CF | He locked the orphans' dormitory door with the skeletonic key.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open it"
CF ] Hallway
CF | >
CF | > OPEN IT
CF |
CF | He opened the orphans' dormitory door, revealing a passageway to a
CF | locker room with walls of orange stone.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF | He stepped through the orphans' dormitory door.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Locker Room
CF | He stepped through the orphans' dormitory door.Emi Koussi - 5th
CF | October, 2851
CF |
CF | Locker Room
CF | Seven lockers are set into the stone walls: white, black, blue,
CF | orange, green, purple, red. A narrow bench runs along the center of
CF | the room.
CF |
CF | One archway leads north, deeper into the complex; another leads
CF | outside. In the west wall, the green locker stands open, providing
CF | access to the Scrooge Orphans' and Widows' Home.
CF |
CF | Hrieman sniffs the air. "Smells like volcano," he mutters.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "Note the far future date"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x white locker"
CF ] Locker Room
CF | >
CF | > X WHITE LOCKER
CF |
CF | An intricate engraving of a stylized sword or knife covers the door of
CF | the white locker. The locker is closed and locked.
CF |
CF | > Lancelot says, "2851"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x black locker"
CF ] Locker Room
CF | >
CF | > X BLACK LOCKER
CF |
CF | The black locker's door is engraved with a design that resembles a
CF | picture frame or mirror. The locker is closed and locked.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x blue locker"
CF ] Locker Room
CF | >
CF | > X BLUE LOCKER
CF |
CF | An open book is engraved on the blue locker's door, surrounded by
CF | ornate curlicues and floral patterns. The locker is closed and locked.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x orange locker"
CF ] Locker Room
CF | >
CF | > X ORANGE LOCKER
CF |
CF | The design engraved on the orange locker distantly resembles a hammer,
CF | but it's so elaborate—you might be seeing things. The locker is
CF | closed
CF | and locked.
CF |
CF | > Lancelot says, "and color coded lockers too"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x green locker"
CF ] Locker Room
CF | >
CF | > X GREEN LOCKER
CF |
CF | The green locker's door is engraved with a stylized mask (or perhaps
CF | an even more stylized face). The door is open, and inside is a
CF | passageway to the Scrooge Orphans' and Widows' Home, Manchester
CF | Extension.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x purple locker"
CF ] Locker Room
CF | >
CF | > X PURPLE LOCKER
CF |
CF | You have to stare at the design on the purple locker for a bit before
CF | you understand it, but eventually it resolves into a vaguely humanoid
CF | shape—a skeleton. The locker is closed and locked.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x red locker"
CF ] Locker Room
CF | >
CF | > X RED LOCKER
CF |
CF | The design engraved on the red locker is a tall lantern with a flame
CF | burning inside. The locker is closed and locked.
CF |
CF | > Lancelot asks, "each locker leads to a differenmt place?"
DavidW says, "There's nothing we need in these lockers, and almost all the other place reachable through them are all too dangerous."
DavidW says, "But yes"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open red locker"
CF ] Locker Room
CF | >
CF | > OPEN RED LOCKER
CF |
CF | You open the red locker. Inside is a huge atrium, hundreds of
CF | people—an airport? Spaceport?
CF |
CF | A shape in the distance comes into focus: Roller coaster track. "Close
CF | it!" Hrieman shrieks.
CF |
CF | You slam the door shut. Hrieman stares at you, eyes wide. You can hear
CF | his heart beating, even above your own.
CF |
CF | "Mall of America," you mutter to each other.
CF |
CF | > Lancelot says, "lol"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "unlock red locker"
CF ] Locker Room
CF | >
CF | > UNLOCK RED LOCKER
CF |
CF | You unlock the red locker with the skeletonic key.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open it"
CF ] Locker Room
CF | >
CF | > OPEN IT
CF |
CF | You open the red locker. Inside are a pair of pirate boots and a
CF | cream-colored sombrero.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x boots"
CF ] Locker Room
CF | >
CF | > X BOOTS
CF |
CF | You've seen these boots before.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x sombrero"
CF ] Locker Room
CF | >
CF | > X SOMBRERO
CF |
CF | A broad felt hat, ideal for the desert. Very dusty.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "take it"
CF ] Locker Room
CF | >
CF | > TAKE IT
CF |
CF | That's not yours.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "close locker"
CF ] Locker Room
CF | >
CF | > CLOSE LOCKER
CF |
CF | Which do you mean, the green locker, the white locker, the black
CF | locker, the blue locker, the orange locker, the purple locker, or the
CF | red locker?
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "red"
CF ] Locker Room
CF | >
CF | > RED
CF |
CF | You close the red locker.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "lock it"
CF ] Locker Room
CF | >
CF | > LOCK IT
CF |
CF | You lock the red locker with the skeletonic key.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Gym
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Gym
CF | The gym is large enough to have several personalities: Some of the
CF | training equipment is tidily arranged; some of it has been abandoned
CF | in a huge mess. A runic circle is scribed on the hardwood floor.
CF |
CF | A sparring droid rocks on its heels, waiting for an opponent.
CF |
CF | Archways lead east and south.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x circle"
CF ] Gym
CF | >
CF | > X CIRCLE
CF |
CF | Hrieman looks askance at the magic circle. "What does it do?"
CF |
CF | "Outside my wheelhouse," you say, "but it looks nasty."
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x droid"
CF ] Gym
CF | >
CF | > X DROID
CF |
CF | Some of its limbs are blunt, some are spiked, some are
CF | sharpened—depending on the difficulty level.
CF |
CF | When it notices your attention, it swaps in its padded arms.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to it"
CF ] Gym
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO IT
CF |
CF | The droid waves. "Hello, unregistered user! Would you like to beat me
CF | up?"
CF |
CF | "No, thanks," you say.
CF |
CF | "What are you, chicken?" asks Hrieman.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Lounge
CF | The walls and all the furnishings in here are pale pink.
CF |
CF | "It's not a sexist thing, though," Captain Lily Cassidy explains,
CF | stretched out on a couch. "Michael just wants us to relax effectively
CF | in here. Although if you want it to be sexist, I can't stop you."
CF |
CF | "Hi," you say.
CF |
CF | "Hi yourself," says Lily. She sits up and opens her eyes. "Michael
CF | also wants us to use codenames all the time, so you're only allowed to
CF | call me Sister Knife."
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | call me Sister Knife.""Have we met?"
CF |
CF | "I doubt it. But you're Prince Linus, and you're Hrieman the Talking
CF | Crow. I have the advantage of you! And a third thing Michael wants is
CF | for everybody to figure everything out on their own. So, I shouldn't
CF | tell you my real name."
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | tell you my real name.""Is it Captain Lily Cassidy?"
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Lounge
CF | tell you my real name.""Is it Captain Lily Cassidy?""Yes! Well, so
CF | much for my advantage of you."
CF |
CF | Hrieman shudders.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "In another game, we found Lily's diary in the whale that swallowed Pinnochio."
DavidW says, "This is the first time actually meeting her."
Lancelot says, "another fairy tale"
Lancelot asks, "if he's tying all ends together, does that imply no more coming?"
DavidW says, "oh, I don't know about that."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to lily"
CF ] Lounge
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO LILY
CF |
CF | To you it seems unwise to strike up a conversation with this woman,
CF | but Hrieman doesn't see it that way: "So, what exactly is going on
CF | here?"
CF |
CF | "Well, I'm not supposed to tell you anything—but who cares. This
CF | right
CF | here is the lounge of the headquarters of the Seven Sisters, which is
CF | the team of extraordinary female women that Michael McKeever assembled
CF | to save the universe from the Xaos Maleficus, which will arrive in...
CF | July, I think. But you'll be long gone by then."
CF |
CF | > Lancelot says, "with the breath of imagination on display it looks like he can go on for quite some time"
DavidW says, "We found Michael's journal in yet another game."
DavidW says, "This Xaos thing is a future menace, although at this date, it's not that far into the future."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "l"
CF ] Lounge
CF | >
CF | > L
CF |
CF | Lounge
CF | The walls and all the furnishings in here are pale pink. Captain Lily
CF | reclines in a pink suede couch, reading from a leather journal. A
CF | monochrome video of a Latin jazz band is playing on the big screen.
CF | One archway leads outside; the other leads to the west.
CF |
CF | A VR pad rests on one of the other couches.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x vr pad"
CF ] Lounge
CF | >
CF | > X VR PAD
CF |
CF | This pale disk is designed to be worn on one's neck. It transmits a
CF | detailed simulation into the user's brainstem.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "take it"
CF ] Lounge
CF | >
CF | > TAKE IT
CF |
CF | You take the VR pad.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "wear it"
CF ] Lounge
CF | >
CF | > WEAR IT
CF |
CF | You press the pad against your neck, and biomagnets lock it into
CF | place.
CF |
CF | You hold tight as Lostfeather gallops through the dark trees.
CF | Behind you you can hear the bandits' jeers. They are gaining on
CF | you.
CF |
CF | "Faster, Lostfeather! Faster!" you whisper in your steed's ear. A
CF | diamond-tipped arrow grazes your cheek.
CF |
CF | You pull the pad off your neck. You don't have time for this.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x screen"
CF ] Lounge
CF | >
CF | > X SCREEN
CF |
CF | The screen takes up most of the wall. The centerpiece of the band is
CF | the fellow on the marimba—"Cal Tjader," Lily tells you. The music is
CF | lively but nonchalant, easy to ignore.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "out"
CF ] Bottom of the Hourglass
CF | >
CF | > OUT
CF |
CF |
CF | Bottom of the Hourglass
CF | Walls of weathered rock tower over you on all sides, but there's no
CF | shade anywhere—and the sun is merciless. Rivulets of sand fill the
CF | cracks between lava flows, drawing faint paths toward the center of
CF | the crater.
CF |
CF | An archway cut into the rock leads inside. Nearby, an incredibly tall
CF | hourglass is mounted in the crater wall, a metal staircase spiraling
CF | over its surface.
CF |
CF | Lava flows lead south, toward the center of the crater.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x hourglass"
CF ] Bottom of the Hourglass
CF | >
CF | > X HOURGLASS
CF |
CF | An immense column of blue-green glass, embellished with an equally
CF | improbable spiral staircase. The hourglass is almost empty, but it's
CF | impossible to guess how long it's been running or how long it has
CF | left.
CF |
CF | You don't want to think about how tall it is, because then you'd have
CF | to think about how many stairs you're going to have to climb.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x lava"
CF ] Bottom of the Hourglass
CF | >
CF | > X LAVA
CF |
CF | Lava has hardened into graceful, sinuous lines of rock, running like
CF | rivers or snowdrifts across the crater.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Crater
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Crater
CF | This is roughly the center of the crater, but the deepest point is
CF | further to the southeast, where a field of white rock has accumulated.
CF |
CF | Paths out of the volcano lead north and west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "se"
CF ] Natron Field
CF | >
CF | > SE
CF |
CF |
CF | Natron Field
CF | A layer of white salt covers the lowest part of the crater. The
CF | complex is back to the northwest.
CF |
CF | A man in a silver robe is pacing across the rock. "Hello, Prince
CF | Linus. Hello, Hrieman the crow." He turns to face you. "I am Michael
CF | McKeever, the Omniscient. You are here to deliver an invitation to
CF | Sister Lantern." He raises his hand to the northwest. "She cannot
CF | accept it at the moment. You will assist her with her training first."
CF |
CF | He lowers his hand. "I can tell you no more."
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "Michael knows the future to a frightening degree."
Lancelot says, "Omniscient indeed"
DavidW says, "This is his first true appearance in the games."
DavidW says, "The red locker door had a lantern on it, so those pirate boots and sombrero are Ebenezabeth's."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to him"
CF ] Natron Field
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO HIM
CF |
CF | "I've heard a lot about you, Mister McKeever."
CF |
CF | "I know exactly what you've heard about me, Prince Linus. I wish there
CF | were time to explain to you exactly how much of it is true, but your
CF | task is urgent, and you will learn as much as you need without my
CF | intervention."
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "Michael is one annoying f."
Lancelot says, "no time to tell us huh"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "nw"
CF ] Crater
CF | >
CF | > NW
CF |
CF |
CF | Crater
CF | This is roughly the center of the crater, but the deepest point is
CF | further to the southeast, where a field of white rock has accumulated.
CF |
CF | Paths out of the volcano lead north and west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Bottom of the Stone Stairway
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Bottom of the Stone Stairway
CF | A stairway is carved into the side of the volcano here, and underneath
CF | is an archway providing access to the (much more comfortable) complex
CF | inside. The lava flows run east, deeper into the crater.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "u"
CF ] Top of the Stone Steps
CF | >
CF | > U
CF |
CF |
CF | Top of the Stone Steps
CF | Here, a trail from the north becomes a very long stairway into the
CF | crater.
CF |
CF | A faceless specter wearing a dusty cloak rests in the shade of a
CF | nearby outcropping.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x specter"
CF ] Top of the Stone Steps
CF | >
CF | > X SPECTER
CF |
CF | The surface of her body has a glassy sheen, but the substance (or
CF | nothingness) within is inky black.
CF |
CF | She notices you looking, and her eyes appear: pale, distant
CF | glittering.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to her"
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO HER
CF |
CF | "Hello," you say. "I'm Linus, and this is Hrieman."
CF |
CF | "Aha! Then you are expected." There's a ringing echo to her voice. "I
CF | am Sister Mirror, at the moment. Mister McKeever prefers for us to use
CF | our codenames, even while we're out of uniform. Speaking of which—"
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | our codenames, even while we're out of uniform. Speaking of
CF | which—"She
CF | stands up and raises her arms. "Could I get your opinion on this
CF | outfit? Would you call it at all inappropriate?"
CF |
CF | The robe swathes her body in some sort of knot that you can't quite
CF | understand, though you try to follow it up and down, back and around.
CF | "I don't think it's—too revealing," you stutter.
CF |
CF | "You can cut out the ogling," grumbles Hrieman. He turns to Sister
CF | Mirror: "My friend is trying to say that you're dressed quite
CF | appropriately for the weather. I just wish he and I had thought that
CF | far ahead."
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | far ahead.""Thank you," says the woman. "I haven't had a physical form
CF | for very long. I came here straight from 2635, and I'm just getting
CF | used to things like clothing, conversation..."
CF |
CF | You lose track of her words as you realize who it is that's standing
CF | in front of you.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Top of the Stone Steps
CF | in front of you."It was really nice meeting you," Hrieman tells her,
CF | digging a talon into your clavicle, "but we need to get going."
CF |
CF | "Yes! Nice meeting you," you say.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Cliff
CF | The immense crater stretches out below you to the southeast—but
CF | further in the distance rise higher walls of rock, the edges of an
CF | even larger crater.
CF |
CF | Paths around the crater lead east and south, and a very faint trail
CF | leads northwest.
CF |
CF | A small excavation droid sits on the cliff's edge.
CF |
CF | The woman is out of earshot now, but you whisper to Hrieman just in
CF | case: "Do you know who that was?"
CF |
CF | "The ghost of a bottle of iodine?"
CF |
CF | "That was Delphic Math!"
CF |
CF | "Okay!" says Hrieman. "I don't know what that means." Lancelot asks, "another version of the girl?"
Lancelot says, "oh someone else"
DavidW says, "Sister Mirror is Delphic Math."
DavidW says, "This is a completely new character."
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | "Okay!" says Hrieman. "I don't know what that means.""In the early
CF | 2600s, Notion Radamance discovered an incredibly powerful branch of
CF | mathematics. They said, 'Delphic Math is to calculus what nuclear
CF | science was to carbonation.' And it turned out to be just as
CF | dangerous. So it was banned—after it had already done a lot of
CF | damage."
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Cliff
CF | damage."Hrieman nods. "But before they could completely get rid of it,
CF | the concept of Delphic Math turned into a sexy void-glass-woman and
CF | escaped?"
CF |
CF | "Yes."
CF |
CF | > Lancelot says, "mentat vibes"
DavidW asks, "what's a mentat?"
Lancelot says, "human computer from the dune tranchise"
DavidW says, "This isn't a computer, though. It's a branch of mathematics that became sentient."
Lancelot says, "right something even more outrageous lol"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Cliff
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF | You can go east, south, or northwest.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "nw"
CF ] Bare Rock
CF | >
CF | > NW
CF |
CF |
CF | Bare Rock
CF | The dry lava shimmers in the heat.
CF |
CF | Your legs are incredibly sore after all those stairs.
CF |
CF | The installation is back to the southeast.
CF |
CF | A white shape looms to the northwest.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "nw"
CF ] Skull
CF | >
CF | > NW
CF |
CF |
CF | Skull
CF | The skull is at least twenty feet tall. Several of its traffic
CF | cone-sized teeth have fallen into the sand at your feet. More bones
CF | are scattered further across the crater.
CF |
CF | Sister Lantern sits on top of the skull, her legs dangling in an eye
CF | socket.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x lantern"
CF ] Skull
CF | >
CF | > X LANTERN
CF |
CF | (Sister Lantern)
CF | A breeze over the crest of the skull tousles Ebenezabeth's flaxen
CF | curls. Her hands are folded over the helmet in her lap. From her face,
CF | you think she must be in her thirties.
CF |
CF | She looks so strange in the battlesuit—or the battlesuit looks
CF | strange
CF | on her.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x skull"
CF ] Skull
CF | >
CF | > X SKULL
CF |
CF | The skull of something with a lot of horns and a lot of teeth. The
CF | surface is unnaturally white—sand and dust haven't yet coated its
CF | surface and filled all its crevices.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x bones"
CF ] Skull
CF | >
CF | > X BONES
CF |
CF | Which do you mean, the giant skull or the skeleton?
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "skeleton"
CF ] Skull
CF | >
CF | > SKELETON
CF |
CF | This skeleton was disassembled with extreme prejudice. A couple of
CF | bones have formed craters of their own, after falling from a great
CF | height.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to her"
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO HER
CF |
CF | (Sister Lantern)
CF | You wave up to her. "Hey, Ebenezabeth."
CF |
CF | "Hey, Linus." She waves back weakly.
CF |
CF | "What's wrong?"
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | "What's wrong?""My training. McKeever wants me to pass a meditation
CF | evaluation before I go on, but I can't focus."
CF |
CF | "Well, I've got this invitation that might cheer you up."
CF |
CF | She throws up her hands. "McKeever won't let me accept any invitations
CF | while I'm falling behind. He probably doesn't even want me hanging out
CF | here."
CF |
CF | "Is there anything I can do?"
CF |
CF | She sighs. She has to say something, and she wishes she didn't.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | She sighs. She has to say something, and she wishes she didn't."Papa
CF | died. Just before I got here."
CF |
CF | The wind is knocked out of you. "Ebby, I'm so sorry—"
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | The wind is knocked out of you. "Ebby, I'm so sorry—""And I can do
CF | anything else. I can spar, I can survive in the desert, I can kill
CF | this thing—" She kicks the side of the skull. "—I can solve
CF | McKeever's
CF | riddles, I can put up with all his Sisters. But I can't calm down. I
CF | can't stop thinking."
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Skull
CF | can't stop thinking."Hrieman flies up to her lap. She pets him softly,
CF | and smiles a little. But you're stuck down on the ground.
CF |
CF | "If there's any way I can help..."
CF |
CF | "We have to talk about something else," she says.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to her"
CF ] Skull
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO HER
CF |
CF | (Sister Lantern)
CF | "So," you say. "Sister Mirror is Delphic Math?"
CF |
CF | Ebenezabeth chuckles. "You think that's bad? Sister Mask is Nacctis."
CF |
CF | "You're kidding!" you cry, but she shakes her head, rolling her eyes.
CF |
CF | "She's the most powerful witch McKeever could find, according to him."
CF |
CF | "I assume he's compelling her somehow to be less of a sociopath while
CF | she's on his team, though."
CF |
CF | "Not really, no."
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "This is the first I've heard of Nacotis."
DavidW says, "So, Ryan is still adding to the lore here."
Lancelot says, "right no doubt prepping up for sequel material then"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Skull
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | (Sister Lantern)
CF | "We ran into Sister Knife," you tell her. "She seemed to know we were
CF | coming."
CF |
CF | "Oh, I told her about you. I thought the two of you would get along."
CF |
CF | What? "Why would you think that?"
CF |
CF | "Didn't you like her?"
CF |
CF | "I thought she was very..."
CF |
CF | Ebenezabeth sees what you mean. "Well, yes."
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Skull
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | (Sister Lantern)
CF | "Do I want to know what this is the skull of?"
CF |
CF | "Something Sister Mask summoned for us to practice on. I don't know if
CF | it's the skull 'of' anything, though. It was a skeleton already when
CF | she summoned it."
CF |
CF | "Was it tough?"
CF |
CF | "It was big. But, with the seven of us together, it wasn't that
CF | tough."
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Skull
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | (Sister Lantern)
CF | "I really want to give you this invitation," you tell her.
CF |
CF | "I can take it from you after I finish my meditation evaluation. And
CF | I'll try the evaluation again..." She sighs. "When I don't feel
CF | awful."
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "give crisp paper to her"
CF | >
CF | > GIVE CRISP PAPER TO HER
CF |
CF | (Sister Lantern)
CF | You wave the paper over your head. "Hey, I've got a message for you."
CF | Ebenezabeth can't tell what you're holding.
CF |
CF | So Hrieman grabs it in his talons and flies up to her. She takes the
CF | letter, squints at the cramped handwriting.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | letter, squints at the cramped handwriting.Hrieman slowly glides back
CF | down to your shoulder.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Skull
CF | down to your shoulder."Okay, okay," Ebenezabeth says. Her voice is
CF | very slightly choked. "I'm coming down." And she leaps nimbly off of
CF | the skull, landing without a sound on the sand in front of you.
CF |
CF | "There's something else I'm worried about," she says. "But we can talk
CF | about it on the way."
CF |
CF | "Where are we going?"
CF |
CF | "McKeever."
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "se"
CF ] Bare Rock
CF | >
CF | > SE
CF |
CF |
CF | Bare Rock
CF | The dry lava shimmers in the heat.
CF |
CF | The installation is back to the southeast.
CF |
CF | To the northwest is that giant skull.
CF |
CF | Ebenezabeth takes a deep breath before she looks at you. "Do you
CF | remember how we met?"
CF |
CF | "Of course."
CF |
CF | Hrieman ruffles a bit. "Well, maybe you could go over it again. Just
CF | to be polite."
CF |
CF | "It was at Tehom, before there was such a thing as time," Ebenezabeth
CF | explains.
CF |
CF | "Oh! You mean after the whole thing with the Snow Queen?"
CF |
CF | "No, before that."
CF |
CF | > Lancelot says, "right"
DavidW says, "We saw Tehom in one game, but not the original time that they're discussing now."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "se"
CF ] Cliff
CF | >
CF | > SE
CF |
CF |
CF | Cliff
CF | The immense crater stretches out below you to the southeast—but
CF | further in the distance rise higher walls of rock, the edges of an
CF | even larger crater.
CF |
CF | Paths around the crater lead east and south, and a very faint trail
CF | leads northwest.
CF |
CF | A small excavation droid sits on the cliff's edge.
CF |
CF | "I was in the middle of hunting down the whole Velvet Shrieking Clan,"
CF | Ebenezabeth continues. "It was really getting to me. I lost my
CF | concentration, and that's how I ended up in non-space."
CF |
CF | "I was just beginning to learn how I could use doors," you say, "and I
CF | tried a dumb experiment. I was this close to ceasing to exist—but I
CF | got lucky and ended up at Tehom instead."
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "I assume the Velvet Shrieking Clan are a group of vampires."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to droid"
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO DROID
CF |
CF | "Hey, are you okay?"
CF |
CF | The droid turns to you slowly. "I have done my duty," it drones.
CF | "Master McKeever requires nothing more of me. Come, take a look at
CF | this component."
CF |
CF | You step forward as the droid opens one of its panels to reveal a
CF | sophisticated chemicircuit. "This synthesizes endorphins—serotonin
CF | and
CF | so on. It allows even a soulless robot such as myself to feel true
CF | emotions, the qualia of joy and contentment, just like a human." It
CF | clicks the panel shut. "But the Emotion Component will only release
CF | these feelings of satisfaction into my circuitry when I perform my
CF | duty as an excavation droid. I have received no such orders for weeks,
CF | and so I can feel only emptiness—unfulfilledness—despair." Lancelot says, "does sound like it yep"
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | and so I can feel only emptiness—unfulfilledness—despair.""Because
CF | the
CF | Emotion Component does release those chemicals?" asks Hrieman.
CF |
CF | The droid's voice crackles in disgust. "That's not how it works."
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Cliff
CF | The droid's voice crackles in disgust. "That's not how it works.""I
CF | bet I can find someone to order you around," you say. "Would you like
CF | to join us?"
CF |
CF | "I am unable to care," answers the droid, so you pick it up.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Top of the Hourglass
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Top of the Hourglass
CF | You stand near the top of an impossibly tall hourglass, nestled in a
CF | cylindrical hollow cut from the rock wall. Spiral stairs lead down to
CF | the crater's interior.
CF |
CF | A path around the crater leads west.
CF |
CF | "So we both happened to be floating in nothingness at the same
CF | 'time,'" says Ebenezabeth. "I started talking about—about the nature
CF | of suffering, because that's how horrible I felt. And I said something
CF | really stupid—I said there was no point trying to save anybody. I
CF | said
CF | people deserve to suffer, if they keep heaping suffering on each
CF | other."
CF |
CF | Hrieman coughs violently in disbelief.
CF |
CF | "You said maybe there's no point. Maybe people
CF | deserve to suffer," you recall.
CF |
CF | "And what did you say in response?"
CF |
CF | "I don't remember."
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "d"
CF ] Bottom of the Hourglass
CF | >
CF | > D
CF |
CF |
CF | Bottom of the Hourglass
CF | An archway cut into the rock leads inside. Nearby, an incredibly tall
CF | hourglass is mounted in the crater wall, a metal staircase spiraling
CF | over its surface.
CF |
CF | Lava flows lead south, toward the center of the crater.
CF |
CF | "Well, I remember what you said." Ebenezabeth looks up at the
CF | hourglass, almost empty. "You said that suffering might be inevitable,
CF | but when we take on the suffering of others—for the right
CF | reasons—we
CF | feel that pain less, and in that way we diminish the total suffering
CF | in the universe."
CF |
CF | Hrieman stares at you. "That really doesn't sound like something you'd
CF | say."
CF |
CF | "It certainly doesn't sound like something I'd admit to having said."
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Crater
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Crater
CF | This is roughly the center of the crater, but the deepest point is
CF | further to the southeast, where a field of white rock has accumulated.
CF |
CF | Paths out of the volcano lead north and west.
CF |
CF | "But there's a part you don't know about." She stops, and leans
CF | heavily on your shoulder. You pull her close.
CF |
CF | "Before you got there, I was talking to the Xaos. It heard me say all
CF | those things about people deserving to suffer. I think that might be
CF | why it decided to come here—I gave it the idea—and then I left the
CF | Snow Queen there—"
CF |
CF | You squeeze her hand through her gauntlet. She squeezes back, weakly.
CF | "What happened to the Snow Queen wasn't your fault," you tell her,
CF | "and I really don't think the Xaos Maleficus is your fault either. But
CF | the reason it's coming doesn't matter. The important thing is, you're
CF | going to fix it."
CF |
CF | > Lancelot says, "Xaos is the enemy or entity we need to take care of I guess"
Lancelot says, "or is that from another game"
DavidW says, "The Seven Sisters will. In a future game, I assume."
Lancelot says, "pfff ok"
DavidW says, "well, I haven't finished this game yet."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "se"
CF | >
CF | > SE
CF |
CF |
CF | Natron Field
CF | A layer of white salt covers the lowest part of the crater. The
CF | complex is back to the northwest.
CF |
CF | Michael McKeever is waiting for you.
CF |
CF | "Prince Linus is correct," he announces. "The arrival of the Xaos
CF | Maleficus culminates an enormous lattice of causation, within which
CF | Sister Lantern's impolitic utterances in Tehom constitute only one
CF | very small determinant."
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | very small determinant.""I'm ready to give the meditation evaluation
CF | another shot," Ebenezabeth says. "And then Linus needs to give me an
CF | invitation."
CF |
CF | "I know," says McKeever, handing her a scrap of paper. "Your
CF | evaluation is prepared at these coordinates. Prince Linus will give me
CF | the invitation, and I will pass it along to you when you return from
CF | the evaluation—if you pass."
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | the evaluation—if you pass.""What if she doesn't pass?" asks Hrieman.
CF |
CF | "He obviously knows she's going to pass," you say, and you hand over
CF | the invitation.
CF |
CF | Hrieman huffs. "I was trying to get him to admit it." Lancelot says, "right lol"
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Natron Field
CF | Hrieman huffs. "I was trying to get him to admit it."Ebenezabeth
CF | sticks the paper in her battlesuit's breast pocket. "Thank you, sir.
CF | I'll get going right away." Then she turns to you: "Thanks, guys. I'll
CF | see you soon, I hope."
CF |
CF | She gives you a little wave, and then she dashes away.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to michael"
CF ] Natron Field
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO MICHAEL
CF |
CF | "So, Mister the Omniscient." Hrieman clicks his beak. "If I'm allowed
CF | to ask, what the heck is the 'Xaos Maleficus'?"
CF |
CF | "A difficult question," says Michael, "for the Xaos has no nature of
CF | its own."
CF |
CF | Hrieman stares at him.
CF |
CF | "If you know absolutely everything," he says, "then you know what I'm
CF | really asking you, and you know how you could give a helpful answer—a
CF | real answer. But you're being vague on purpose."
CF |
CF | "Yes," says Michael.
CF |
CF | > Lancelot says, "honest he is at least"
DavidW says, "yeah, okay, we can give him that."
DavidW says, "But I bet the Seven Sisters fry him as soon as the Xaos is gone."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "i"
CF ] Natron Field
CF | >
CF | > I
CF |
CF | You are carrying:
CF | one last invitation
CF | an excavation droid
CF | a VR pad
CF | a rusty lockbox (open)
CF | a manuscript
CF | a bag of nuts
CF | a wooden case (open but empty)
CF | a notepaper
CF | a Talkboy
CF | the skeletonic key
CF | a money pouch
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "let's get back to Atlantis"
Lancelot says, "he would be aware of that if he is truly omniscient"
DavidW says, "of course"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "nw"
CF ] Crater
CF | >
CF | > NW
CF |
CF |
CF | Crater
CF | This is roughly the center of the crater, but the deepest point is
CF | further to the southeast, where a field of white rock has accumulated.
CF |
CF | Paths out of the volcano lead north and west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Bottom of the Stone Stairway
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Bottom of the Stone Stairway
CF | A stairway is carved into the side of the volcano here, and underneath
CF | is an archway providing access to the (much more comfortable) complex
CF | inside. The lava flows run east, deeper into the crater.
CF |
CF | > Lancelot says, "["
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "in"
CF ] Locker Room
CF | >
CF | > IN
CF |
CF |
CF | Locker Room
CF | Seven lockers are set into the stone walls: white, black, blue,
CF | orange, green, purple, red. A narrow bench runs along the center of
CF | the room.
CF |
CF | One archway leads north, deeper into the complex; another leads
CF | outside. In the west wall, the green locker stands open, providing
CF | access to the Scrooge Orphans' and Widows' Home.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF | You step through the green locker.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Hallway
CF | You step through the green locker.Manchester, England - 14th June,
CF | 1851
CF |
CF | Hallway
CF | At the top of the stairs, in the middle of a rather narrow hallway,
CF | was posted a tall sign bearing all the rules that would govern guests
CF | of the Scrooge Orphans' and Widows' Home, Manchester Extension.
CF | Smaller placards flanked the sign, indicating that the door to the
CF | east led to the orphans' dormitory, and the door to the west was for
CF | the widows'.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF | He stepped through the widows' dormitory door.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Street
CF | He stepped through the widows' dormitory door.The Undersea Kingdom of
CF | Atlantis
CF |
CF | Street
CF | A quiet evening on the royal esplanade. Most merfolk are at home by
CF | this time of night, and the road is empty, except for you and
CF | Hrieman—but the confectioner here is still open.
CF |
CF | A row of streetlamps hung with luminous pearls leads west toward the
CF | palace. To the east is an unassuming open door in the side of a
CF | warehouse.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Palace Gates
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Palace Gates
CF | The palatial gates stand open; the great palace of Atlantis is just a
CF | few steps to the north. The royal esplanade stretches east and west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Gallery
CF | At the center of the palace is a cathedraline statuary hall, lined
CF | with busts of dignitaries.
CF |
CF | The main aisle of the gallery runs north and south. A narrower
CF | corridor leads west, and through another side passage is the bottom of
CF | a spiral staircase.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Throne Room
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Throne Room
CF | You stand before Ebenezabeth, Queen Regent of Atlantis. She slouches
CF | on her throne of coral, trident in hand, tail flicking restlessly.
CF |
CF | Eunoia's and Eirene's chambers lie to the northwest and northeast. The
CF | statuary hall is south.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "ne"
CF ] Eirene's Chamber
CF | >
CF | > NE
CF |
CF |
CF | Eirene's Chamber
CF | Fluted columns stand in each corner: The room is a perfect octagon. On
CF | the marble table before you, the palace and its environs are laid out
CF | in all their splendor, at what looks like 1:72 scale.
CF |
CF | Princess Eirene is waiting for you to leave.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "give vr pad to Eirene"
CF ] Eirene's Chamber
CF | >
CF | > GIVE VR PAD TO EIRENE
CF |
CF | "I don't know if this is the sort of thing you'd be interested in."
CF | You present the disk to the princess. "It's a sort of story machine.
CF | You put it on your neck."
CF |
CF | "I suppose I can try it for a moment," Eirene says, and she presses it
CF | against her skin.
CF |
CF | Immediately her eyes glaze over.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open journal"
CF ] Eirene's Chamber
CF | >
CF | > OPEN JOURNAL
CF |
CF | You open the green journal.
CF |
CF | "Ah—" Eirene's hand twitches.
CF |
CF | > Lancelot says, "ah distraction"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "read it"
CF ] Eirene's Chamber
CF | >
CF | > READ IT
CF |
CF | You read the first entry:
CF |
CF | Dear diary.
CF |
CF | I have found that I despise the idea of small talk. I used to be so
CF | adept at talking about nothing. I loved the sound of conversation for
CF | its own sake, and I loved especially the sound of my own voice.
CF |
CF | But lately I see how empty it all is. At the close of a conversation,
CF | I have learned nothing; I have imparted no information. My
CF | interlocutor and I have succeeded only in relieving the pressure
CF | valves of our individual inanities.
CF |
CF | When I return to my chamber, when I am alone, I realize what virtues
CF | silence possesses. I did not know my own thoughts, before; I had no
CF | time to think. Now, I am thinking. I am pulling the idea apart. I am
CF | seeing what is inside.
CF |
CF | There is more on the next page.
CF |
CF | Eirene whispers: "Faster, Lostfeather! Faster!"
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Eirene's Chamber
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | You go on reading:
CF |
CF | Diary,
CF |
CF | I am beginning to crave silence. The sound of conversation makes my
CF | neck twinge. When I hear someone swimming around the corner of a
CF | palace corridor, I turn around to avoid them. I shut myself in my
CF | chamber, and I listen to nothing.
CF |
CF | Father plans to abdicate. In the time it takes to think a single
CF | thought, I can imagine every possible reason he has for doing so. Now
CF | I can evaluate each possibility: No, no, no, no. None of them make
CF | sense. I have not solved the mystery, but I have reached my conclusion
CF | in a matter of moments. I could have discussed the situation with
CF | Lidia for half an hour and had the same result.
CF |
CF | There must be an answer, but I will not get it from conversation. I
CF | will go on thinking.
CF |
CF | There is more on the next page.
CF |
CF | Eirene raises a hand to her cheek, gasping weakly.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "I don't know who Lidia is."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Eirene's Chamber
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | You go on reading:
CF |
CF | Diary,
CF |
CF | After considering my mystery for
CF |
CF | No, no. I have tricked myself. I forswore idle conversation, but I
CF | replaced it with idle journaling. I still am pleasuring myself with
CF | the sound of my own voice—only now it is the voice in my head, the
CF | scratching of my pen in my diary.
CF |
CF | Perhaps it is not small talk that I despise, but people. This palace
CF | is full of people, and I dread to speak with any of them—even to
CF | share
CF | a room in silence! All I want is to be alone.
CF |
CF | This is why I have been dreading the prospect of succeeding Father to
CF | the Coral Throne. The crown of the Queen of Atlantis would be an awful
CF | burden—all that talking. All that planning and diplomacy. All those
CF | people. But Eunoia cannot be convinced.
CF |
CF | I should not write in this diary any longer. It is as bad as small
CF | talk.
CF |
CF | There is more on the next page.
CF |
CF | Eirene mutters something you can't understand.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Eirene's Chamber
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | You go on reading:
CF |
CF | Dear Diary,
CF |
CF | I need to connect with another person. But who can I talk to? With
CF | whom have I ever had a meaningful conversation?
CF |
CF | Ebenezabeth. But she is unreliable—and anyway, her loyalties are
CF | divided. Untrustworthy.
CF |
CF | Naïs. Oh, sweet, gorgeous Naïs. Why did I turn her away? She was the
CF | wisest mermaid I ever knew. She was as brilliant as a diamond, and in
CF | her arms I felt myself illuminated by her radiance.
CF |
CF | If Naïs were here, she could tell me why Father abdicated. She could
CF | convince Eunoia to take his place. She would understand everything,
CF | and help me to understand, and I wouldn't be tortured by confusion.
CF | But she won't come back.
CF |
CF | There is more on the next page.
CF |
CF | Eirene's tail twitches, and her ears perk up—then she relaxes again.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Eirene's Chamber
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | You go on reading:
CF |
CF | Dear Diary,
CF |
CF | I am building a detailed model of the palace. If I put all my energy
CF | into this undertaking, it will be clear to Ebenezabeth that I have no
CF | time to spare for rulership, and she will be forced to choose Eunoia
CF | as Father's successor. I am still a little bit clever.
CF |
CF | That is the last entry.
CF |
CF | Eirene reaches out for something you can't see.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "close journal"
CF ] Eirene's Chamber
CF | >
CF | > CLOSE JOURNAL
CF |
CF | You close the green journal.
CF |
CF | "Lostfeather..." Eirene whispers.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "sw"
CF ] Throne Room
CF | >
CF | > SW
CF |
CF |
CF | Throne Room
CF | You stand before Ebenezabeth, Queen Regent of Atlantis. She slouches
CF | on her throne of coral, trident in hand, tail flicking restlessly.
CF |
CF | Eunoia's and Eirene's chambers lie to the northwest and northeast. The
CF | statuary hall is south.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Gallery
CF | At the center of the palace is a cathedraline statuary hall, lined
CF | with busts of dignitaries.
CF |
CF | The main aisle of the gallery runs north and south. A narrower
CF | corridor leads west, and through another side passage is the bottom of
CF | a spiral staircase.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "u"
CF ] Spiral Stairs
CF | >
CF | > U
CF |
CF |
CF | Spiral Stairs
CF | A long stairway stretches through the great palace of Atlantis.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "u"
CF ] Bedroom
CF | >
CF | > U
CF |
CF |
CF | Bedroom
CF | A tall, arched window looks out on a sky of aqua blue and bathes the
CF | room in shimmering light. Across from the canopied bed stands an
CF | ornate vanity.
CF |
CF | The top of the staircase lies beyond an archway.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x bed"
CF ] Bedroom
CF | >
CF | > X BED
CF |
CF | The bed is unmade. You can guess that its tenant has been feeling a
CF | lot of stress lately.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x window"
CF ] Bedroom
CF | >
CF | > X WINDOW
CF |
CF | You lean out the window and look over the city of Atlantis, its coral
CF | spires glittering like jewels. None of its towers rise higher than
CF | this one.
CF |
CF | It's pretty quiet this evening.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x vanity"
CF ] Bedroom
CF | >
CF | > X VANITY
CF |
CF | Reflected in the mirror you see the bed, the archway, yourself,
CF | Hrieman.
CF |
CF | The vanity has a single shallow drawer.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open drawer"
CF ] Bedroom
CF | >
CF | > OPEN DRAWER
CF |
CF | You open the shallow drawer, revealing a spiral notebook.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "take notebook"
CF ] Bedroom
CF | >
CF | > TAKE NOTEBOOK
CF |
CF | You take the spiral notebook.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x it"
CF ] Bedroom
CF | >
CF | > X IT
CF |
CF | The title "Dream Journal" is penciled on the cover.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "read it"
CF ] Bedroom
CF | >
CF | > READ IT
CF |
CF | The title "Dream Journal" is penciled on the cover.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open it"
CF ] Bedroom
CF | >
CF | > OPEN IT
CF |
CF | You open the spiral notebook.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "read it"
CF ] Bedroom
CF | >
CF | > READ IT
CF |
CF | You read the first entry:
CF |
CF | Eunoia and Eirene and I were little girls. Younger than when I first
CF | met them. We were riding a train; the conductor was Poseidon, and he
CF | was Papa, too. He pointed out the window at an island on the horizon:
CF | "There it is!" People on the island were waving to us. There was a
CF | picnic waiting on the beach. The three of us girls were so excited. We
CF | were shrieking and tugging at Papa's clothes. We wanted him to pick us
CF | up so we could wave to the people.
CF |
CF | "Well, that's not where WE'RE going!" And he turned the train in the
CF | opposite direction.
CF |
CF | There is more on the next page.
CF |
CF | > Lancelot asks, "diary of the queen?"
DavidW says, "yes"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Bedroom
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | You go on reading:
CF |
CF | It seems like whenever I go to sleep wearing the tail, I have flying
CF | dreams.
CF |
CF | I was flying over the mountains, fluttering the mermaid tail like I
CF | was swimming. I flew over the castle, and I could see the entire
CF | layout, like a cross-section.
CF |
CF | Actually, it was a cross-section, in a museum exhibit. There were
CF | little labels. I was flying through the museum, flapping my tail.
CF |
CF | There is more on the next page.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Bedroom
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | You go on reading:
CF |
CF | The Prepotence dream again. Linus was there, but he didn't recognize
CF | me. I could see myself from his perspective. I had dead eyes.
CF |
CF | "I remember the Prepotence," Hrieman says. "You killed it, and made
CF | all those zombies. And Ebenezabeth is permanently traumatized because
CF | of you."
CF |
CF | You close your eyes. "That's not exactly what happened."
CF |
CF | "Yeah? Well, what exactly did happen?"
CF |
CF | You take a deep breath. "Maybe you should ask her."
CF |
CF | "Okay, I will! Next time I see her, I'll show her this dream, and
CF | she'll tell us all about it."
CF |
CF | There is more on the next page.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "The Prepotence was a giant brain dictator on another planet."
Lancelot says, "ok"
DavidW says, "One game begins with Eb crying that Linus killed the Prepotence and she had to deal with the fallout from that."
Lancelot asks, "I take it you played all of them?"
DavidW says, "Hrieman was with her during that."
DavidW says, "oh yes"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Bedroom
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | You go on reading:
CF |
CF | Nightmare. I was on the Comet. I was handcuffed to something, so I
CF | couldn't get away. Freezing to death. Woke up shivering.
CF |
CF | There is more on the next page.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "I don't know what the Comet is."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Bedroom
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | You go on reading:
CF |
CF | Walking down a sidewalk in the middle of nowhere. Corn fields? Or
CF | grass? No road. Just a sidewalk.
CF |
CF | I was on a bicycle, some of the time. Then I was floating, with my
CF | mermaid tail. Mostly walking, I think.
CF |
CF | Somehow I got the idea that something was behind me, so I needed to
CF | walk faster. I heard it behind me. Faster. Pretty soon I was running.
CF |
CF | Then I stumbled and fell, skidded across the cement, probably should
CF | have skinned my knee.
CF |
CF | The thing that was following me helped me up, helped me get going
CF | again. And we went on walking together until I woke up.
CF |
CF | That is the last entry.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "d"
CF ] Spiral Stairs
CF | >
CF | > D
CF |
CF |
CF | Spiral Stairs
CF | A long stairway stretches through the great palace of Atlantis.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "d"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > D
CF |
CF |
CF | Gallery
CF | At the center of the palace is a cathedraline statuary hall, lined
CF | with busts of dignitaries.
CF |
CF | The main aisle of the gallery runs north and south. A narrower
CF | corridor leads west, and through another side passage is the bottom of
CF | a spiral staircase.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Throne Room
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Throne Room
CF | You stand before Ebenezabeth, Queen Regent of Atlantis. She slouches
CF | on her throne of coral, trident in hand, tail flicking restlessly.
CF |
CF | Eunoia's and Eirene's chambers lie to the northwest and northeast. The
CF | statuary hall is south.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to queen"
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO QUEEN
CF |
CF | "Well?" asks Ebenezabeth.
CF |
CF | "Well," you say, and you explain the situation.
CF |
CF | "Of course," she groans. "Same old story. Okay, round everyone up."
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | "Of course," she groans. "Same old story. Okay, round everyone
CF | up."Soon the princesses and Dexagoras are assembled in the throne
CF | room. Before anyone can ask what's going on, Ebenezabeth announces: "I
CF | pick Eunoia."
CF |
CF | Eunoia gasps. Eirene slumps over in a sigh of relief.
CF |
CF | "That's not how these things are done," Dexagoras complains. "We
CF | expect some sort of formal declaration."
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | expect some sort of formal declaration.""Quite right," says
CF | Ebenezabeth. "I hereby declare, with all due formality, that I pick
CF | Eunoia. She can assume the throne immediately. Forthwith."
CF |
CF | "Hardly." Dexagoras begins swimming in agitated circles. Eirene and
CF | Eunoia are embracing, laughing and weeping and stroking each other's
CF | hair. "A bevy of arrangements stand between your belated decision and
CF | the coronation ceremony. Paperwork, invitations, menus. You will
CF | remain our Queen for some time, Your Majesty. And you, Your
CF | Highness—"
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | remain our Queen for some time, Your Majesty. And you, Your
CF | Highness—"Dexagoras pulls Eunoia away from Eirene. "You and I will be
CF | working together very closely to make all the required preparations.
CF | We should begin at once."
CF |
CF | Eunoia gapes at you desperately (or accusingly) as Dexagoras drags her
CF | out of the room.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | out of the room.Eirene stares at the floor. "I suppose I should return
CF | to my models."
CF |
CF | "Go find Naïs," Ebenezabeth barks. "Talk to her."
CF |
CF | "I can't! She could never forgive me."
CF |
CF | "She can, and she will. Because she's nice. Now get going."
CF |
CF | Eirene swims off, still crying a little. Ebenezabeth motions for you
CF | to approach.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | to approach."Do you know why I like you so much, Linus?"
CF |
CF | "I never stop wondering."
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Throne Room
CF | "I never stop wondering.""It's because you're the only sensible person
CF | I've ever met. Give me that invitation," she hisses.
CF |
CF | She looks the paper over. "Yes, I should be able to attend," she says
CF | at last. "Dexagoras will be busy torturing Eunoia for a good long
CF | while."
CF |
CF | Then she looks down at herself. "I suppose I should put some clothes
CF | on first."
CF |
CF | "That's the last one," Hrieman says. "Better go update the boss."
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "show notebook to queen"
CF | >
CF | > SHOW NOTEBOOK TO QUEEN
CF |
CF | You raise the notebook; Hrieman plucks it out of your hand to deliver
CF | it to Ebenezabeth. "So, Linus was reading your dream journal without
CF | your permission," he explains, "and he was telling me how it's not his
CF | fault that you still have nightmares about the Prepotence."
CF |
CF | "Sure," you say. Lancelot says, "okay all invites delivered"
DavidW says, "yes"
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | "Sure," you say.Ebenezabeth flips through the notebook. "That's not
CF | exactly what happened," she says. "I had this plan that I would submit
CF | to the Prepotence's control, so I could disconnect the hive mind from
CF | the inside. Gently. And I told Linus what I was trying to do, but—"
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | the inside. Gently. And I told Linus what I was trying to do,
CF | but—"You
CF | cut her off. "I was scared. I thought you were going to be lost in
CF | there forever. Destroying the Prepotence seemed like the only way I
CF | could—"
CF |
CF | Your voice catches.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Throne Room
CF | Your voice catches."And I was really upset about it, at the time. But
CF | I can't exactly say I blame you." Ebenezabeth turns to Hrieman.
CF | "Nothing Linus did was anywhere near as traumatizing as surrendering
CF | my brain to the Prepotence for five minutes." She tosses the book back
CF | to you.
CF |
CF | "Oh," says Hrieman.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to queen"
CF ] Throne Room
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO QUEEN
CF |
CF | "Don't worry," says the Queen Regent, tapping her invitation on the
CF | arm of her throne. "I'll be ready."
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "okay. Back to Papa Scrooge."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Gallery
CF | At the center of the palace is a cathedraline statuary hall, lined
CF | with busts of dignitaries.
CF |
CF | The main aisle of the gallery runs north and south. A narrower
CF | corridor leads west, and through another side passage is the bottom of
CF | a spiral staircase.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Palace Gates
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Palace Gates
CF | The palatial gates stand open; the great palace of Atlantis is just a
CF | few steps to the north. The royal esplanade stretches east and west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Street
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Street
CF | A quiet evening on the royal esplanade. Most merfolk are at home by
CF | this time of night, and the road is empty, except for you and
CF | Hrieman—but the confectioner here is still open.
CF |
CF | A row of streetlamps hung with luminous pearls leads west toward the
CF | palace. To the east is an unassuming open door in the side of a
CF | warehouse.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF | You step through the warehouse door.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Hallway
CF | You step through the warehouse door.Manchester, England - 14th June,
CF | 1851
CF |
CF | Hallway
CF | At the top of the stairs, in the middle of a rather narrow hallway,
CF | was posted a tall sign bearing all the rules that would govern guests
CF | of the Scrooge Orphans' and Widows' Home, Manchester Extension.
CF | Smaller placards flanked the sign, indicating that the door to the
CF | east led to the orphans' dormitory, and the door to the west was for
CF | the widows'.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "d"
CF ] Foyer
CF | >
CF | > D
CF |
CF |
CF | Foyer
CF | A statue of Athena stood in the foyer, greeting visitors to the
CF | Scrooge Orphans' and Widows' Home, Manchester Extension with a
CF | dispassionate half-smile. A framed copy of the Home's charter hung
CF | near the front door. The way into the dining-hall was past the stairs
CF | to the north; the orphans' and widows' dormitories were at the top of
CF | the front stair.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Dining-Hall
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Dining-Hall
CF | The long table in the center of the hall was half-covered with papers,
CF | and these papers were covered with the most obscure symbols, figures,
CF | and diagrams. Ebenezer Scrooge stood a respectable distance from the
CF | display.
CF |
CF | The doorway to the east led to the kitchen; west, to the nursery; and
CF | the foyer was south.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to scrooge"
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO SCROOGE
CF |
CF | Ebenezer's eyes lit up as he saw Linus approaching, and he must have
CF | foreseen that he had some good news coming—but it was Hrieman who
CF | announced it.
CF |
CF | "It took a while, but we delivered them all," the crow proclaimed, and
CF | old Ebenezer shot up as if a bolt of lightning had struck him.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | old Ebenezer shot up as if a bolt of lightning had struck him."Well
CF | done, you two, well done! Oh, I'm so glad I could be of assistance.
CF | How I wish I could meet them all! How old did you say they were?"
CF |
CF | Linus had not said, in fact, and he wondered whether it would be
CF | wise—but he couldn't bring himself to deny the old man. "About five;
CF | twenty-one; thirty-something; about fifty; and seventy-something."
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | twenty-one; thirty-something; about fifty; and
CF | seventy-something.""Seventy-something!" Scrooge began pacing across
CF | the room. "Oh, it warms my heart to hear it." Now he was skipping.
CF | "I'm so very pleased! I'm as a gleeful as a kitten! I feel as though
CF | I'm buzzing all over!"
CF |
CF | Linus thought faintly that the old man might jump up onto the table
CF | next, to do a jig—but rationality got its claws into Ebenezer's
CF | shoulders at last, and it pushed him back down into his chair. He
CF | folded his hands. "Then that business is finished at last," he said.
CF | "What do we do next?"
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | "What do we do next?"Linus sat down across from him, and Hrieman alit
CF | on the table between them. It was as if a very solemn meeting were
CF | about to commence between the three men.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | about to commence between the three men.Yet all Linus had to say was
CF | this: "I'm afraid there's nothing left for us to do at the moment. The
CF | next step is up to them."
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ]
CF |
CF |
CF |
CF |
CF | part 2:
CF | "...and no one is better than you."
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | "...and no one is better than you."
CF |
CF |
CF |
CF |
CF | Hello. My name is Hans Christian Andersen. Perhaps you are familiar
CF | with the little match girl, a character that I made up out of my own
CF | head, and with her many adventures. If you aren't familiar, let me
CF | explain:
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | explain:
CF |
CF | She is a nameless little girl, only five years old.
CF | She is a tiny mouse, trapped in that shape for her best friend's sake.
CF | She is Sister Lantern, training to save the universe from the Xaos
CF | Maleficus.
CF | She is the Queen Regent of Atlantis, preparatory to her sister's
CF | coronation.
CF | And she is Madam Scrooge, an old woman in a wrinkled gray coat. Lancelot says, "okay now we got as far as end of part 1"
DavidW says, "yes. I should've saved just before talking to Papa."
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | And she is Madam Scrooge, an old woman in a wrinkled gray coat.
CF |
CF | No particular member of this procession is the "real" little match
CF | girl; The eldest is no more authentic for her experience than the
CF | youngest is for her originality. All of them are very real, in the
CF | context of my little story, and we may find each of their individual
CF | perspectives enlightening.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Dining-Hall
CF | perspectives enlightening.
CF |
CF | To see things from one of their perspectives, use the command BE
CF | [SOMEONE]. You may BE LITTLE GIRL, or BE TINY MOUSE, and so on. Choose
CF | whichever one appeals to you at the moment.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "SAVE"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "cf11"
CF | >
CF | > SAVE
CF | %% Enter a save filename to write:
CF ] Dining-Hall
CF | > SAVEOk.
CF |
CF | > Lancelot says, "oh so now we can switch to any one of them"
DavidW says, "yeah, and we must pick one to start with."
DavidW asks, "Who should we be?"
Lancelot asks, "well if we go for chronology the lil girl?"
Lancelot says, "I am not familiar with the surrounding lore"
DavidW says, "okay. That would be my pick too, but for a slightly different reason. I'd like to know what especial qualities her inexperience will bring to the table."
Lancelot says, "(I only know the original tale by Andersen)"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "be girl"
CF | >
CF | > BE GIRL
CF |
CF | An excellent choice. Feel free to be someone else whenever the mood
CF | strikes you. DavidW asks, "oh, we can change at will?"
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | strikes you.## NOVEMBER 23, 1999 A.D. - THE AUSTRIAN ALPS
CF |
CF | Snowy Woods
CF | Moonlight filters through the branches, mottling every face with
CF | shadows.
CF |
CF | "Maybe we could go over it again," Madam Scrooge suggests. "Just to be
CF | polite."
CF |
CF | "Certainly," the Queen Regent says. "A young vampire slayer,
CF | twenty-two years old, has been abducted by vampires. They call her the
CF | Hunter. When they caught her, they destroyed her blessed revolver and
CF | cast a sleeping spell over her. They're holding her in a nearby
CF | castle, which belongs to Atë, the Queen of Vampires."
CF |
CF | She pauses to make sure everybody is following along. Lancelot says, "thats what it sounded like yep"
Lancelot says, "so no worries if we want to change to someone else"
DavidW says, "oh, we're going to rescue our then future self!"
Lancelot says, "finally lol... I remember the comatose girl we saw in the previous game"
DavidW says, "I wonder if we'll be captured AFTER we rescue us."
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | She pauses to make sure everybody is following along."The vampires
CF | would have loved to kill the Hunter right away, but Poseidon
CF | communicated that he would punish them mercilessly if any harm came to
CF | his champion." The trident glitters in her fist. "So Atë convened
CF | representatives from all the vampire clans, to puzzle out what they
CF | could safely do with the Hunter's comatose body without incurring
CF | Poseidon's wrath. And they couldn't think of anything.
CF |
CF | "That was about a week ago. By now, most of the vampires have given up
CF | and left. From what Linus has been able to see, the only ones still in
CF | the castle are Atë herself and a few of her favorite bodyguards.
CF | Including Sceptyre."
CF |
CF | Sister Lantern stiffens. Lancelot says, "time travel can get messy lessee how he handles it"
DavidW says, "This is like the Five Doctors or something."
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Snowy Woods
CF | Sister Lantern stiffens."In other words, this is the best chance we're
CF | going to get. But..." The Queen Regent turns from face to face,
CF | frowning at you in particular. "We don't know for sure how far
CF | Poseidon's protection extends, and neither do they. We all have to be
CF | careful. Stick together as much as we can."
CF |
CF | Madam Scrooge nods. "Easy enough."
CF |
CF | A path leads north out of the trees.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "i"
CF ] Snowy Woods
CF | >
CF | > I
CF |
CF | You are carrying nothing.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x queen"
CF ] Snowy Woods
CF | >
CF | > X QUEEN
CF |
CF | She has the look of someone who's been called away from one
CF | inconvenience just to deal with another. Some people see their whole
CF | lives that way.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x lantern"
CF ] Snowy Woods
CF | >
CF | > X LANTERN
CF |
CF | (Sister Lantern)
CF | She looks so powerful, in her gleaming red armor. She looks like a
CF | knight, a slayer of demons.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x mouse"
CF ] Snowy Woods
CF | >
CF | > X MOUSE
CF |
CF | What a friendly little mouse this is. You've never seen a mouse with
CF | fur this color—the color of your own flaxen curls.
CF |
CF | It might be fun if you could be as small as a mouse. Briefly.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x madam"
CF ] Snowy Woods
CF | >
CF | > X MADAM
CF |
CF | She's a very friendly old lady, and the others clearly have a great
CF | respect for her. But they don't seem to notice how sad she is.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Gate
CF | The wall is twenty feet tall, its stones dusted with snow. Through the
CF | portcullis to the northwest are the castle grounds.
CF |
CF | A gatehouse is situated on the wall above.
CF |
CF | As the group comes to a halt, a thought occurs to Sister Lantern.
CF |
CF | "Maybe we should take this chance to discuss how we all feel about..."
CF | She puts her hands over your ears. Lancelot says, "erm now we got the all versions of ourselves together? madness lol"
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | She puts her hands over your ears.The women (and the mouse) converse
CF | briefly, and then Sister Lantern takes her hands away from your head. Lancelot says, "we should switch to hear the plan :D"
DavidW says, "too late, and I doubt it was the plan. It must be something else."
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Gate
CF | briefly, and then Sister Lantern takes her hands away from your
CF | head."...Just so you know," she concludes.
CF |
CF | > Lancelot says, "something a small girl is not supposed to hear"
DavidW says, "I doubt it was sex, but something."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x portcullis"
CF ] Gate
CF | >
CF | > X PORTCULLIS
CF |
CF | The portcullis is lowered.
CF |
CF | You can't quite see the castle itself from here; it's around the
CF | corner up ahead.
CF |
CF | > Lancelot says, "maybe related to her fire skills"
DavidW asks, "If we're the mouse, we could probably slip through the portcullis?"
Lancelot says, "yeah"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "be mouse"
CF ] Gate
CF | >
CF | > BE MOUSE
CF |
CF | The tiny mouse
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "ne"
CF ] Gate
CF | >
CF | > NE
CF |
CF | You can go northwest, south, and up.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "nw"
CF ] Gate
CF | >
CF | > NW
CF |
CF | You could fit through the bars of the portcullis easily, but you don't
CF | want to leave everyone else behind.
CF |
CF | > Lancelot says, "aww"
Roger says, "I hope we make the Transformers sound every time we change"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "u"
CF ] Gate
CF | >
CF | > U
CF |
CF | You don't see any way of getting up into the gatehouse.
CF |
CF | If you had a powered battlesuit like Sister Lantern's, it'd be a
CF | different story.
CF |
CF | > Lancelot says, "lol"
Lancelot says, "ah is that a hint"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "be lantern"
CF ] Gate
CF | >
CF | > BE LANTERN
CF |
CF | Sister Lantern
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x battlesuit"
CF ] Gate
CF | >
CF | > X BATTLESUIT
CF |
CF | It's incredibly strong, ridiculously lightweight, and more comfortable
CF | than a suit of armor has any right to be. Just the same, you can't
CF | wait to get out of it and into your pajamas.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "i"
CF ] Gate
CF | >
CF | > I
CF |
CF | You are carrying:
CF | a battlesuit (being worn)
CF | a khopesh
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x khopesh"
CF ] Gate
CF | >
CF | > X KHOPESH
CF |
CF | Sister Book crafted this sword specifically for slaying vampires: "The
CF | edge is electrum—lunar-solar amalgam," she explained, "and the
CF | display
CF | in the hilt is a vampire-sensitive radar. The curve of the blade is
CF | tailored to your ergonomics—but your people call it a 'khopesh,'
CF | yes?"
CF |
CF | She also made it red, to match your battlesuit.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "good grief"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "u"
CF ] Gatehouse
CF | >
CF | > U
CF |
CF | You leap to the top of the wall, into the gatehouse.
CF |
CF | Gatehouse
CF | Wind whistles through the windows of this tiny room.
CF |
CF | There's nothing up here but an old winch.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "turn winch"
CF ] Gatehouse
CF | >
CF | > TURN WINCH
CF |
CF | You turn the crank easily; the battlesuit does most of the work. Soon
CF | you hear the portcullis clang into an open position, and the crank
CF | stops turning.
CF |
CF | > Lancelot says, "okay yet another vampire slaying device lol"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "d"
CF ] Gate
CF | >
CF | > D
CF |
CF | You hop out of the window and descend to the ground below.
CF |
CF | Gate
CF | The wall is twenty feet tall, its stones dusted with snow. Through the
CF | open gate to the northwest are the grounds of Schloss Tuxenstein.
CF |
CF | A gatehouse is situated on the wall above.
CF |
CF | The tiny mouse, the Queen Regent, Madam Scrooge, and the little girl
CF | are here.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "hm, I didn't know that was the name of this place."
Lancelot says, "isnt it the same castle we came across in another game"
DavidW says, "uh, I hate to say it, but we're really close to 4pm."
Lancelot says, "this does sound familiar"
Lancelot says, "oh rioght we can stop here"
DavidW says, "yes, same castle, but I never heard a name for it."
DavidW says, "I wonder what Sister Book's deal is. Sister Mask is the mega-witch, so Sister Book must do something else."
*** SESSION 3 ***
DavidW asks, "can I assume we're continuing with LMG5?"
Jacqueline says, "Yep."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "l"
CF ] Gate
CF | >
CF | > L
CF |
CF | Gate
CF | The wall is twenty feet tall, its stones dusted with snow. Through the
CF | open gate to the northwest are the grounds of Schloss Tuxenstein.
CF |
CF | A gatehouse is situated on the wall above.
CF |
CF | The tiny mouse, the Queen Regent, Madam Scrooge, and the little girl
CF | are here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x me"
CF ] Gate
CF | >
CF | > X ME
CF |
CF | The battlesuit makes everyone else think you're stronger, faster,
CF | taller than you really are. It feels dishonest, sometimes. Most of the
CF | time.
CF |
CF | But tonight you need all the help you can get.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x suit"
CF ] Gate
CF | >
CF | > X SUIT
CF |
CF | It's incredibly strong, ridiculously lightweight, and more comfortable
CF | than a suit of armor has any right to be. Just the same, you can't
CF | wait to get out of it and into your pajamas.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "i"
CF ] Gate
CF | >
CF | > I
CF |
CF | You are carrying:
CF | a battlesuit (being worn)
CF | a khopesh
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x khopesh"
CF ] Gate
CF | >
CF | > X KHOPESH
CF |
CF | Sister Book crafted this sword specifically for slaying vampires: "The
CF | edge is electrum—lunar-solar amalgam," she explained, "and the
CF | display
CF | in the hilt is a vampire-sensitive radar. The curve of the blade is
CF | tailored to your ergonomics—but your people call it a 'khopesh,'
CF | yes?"
CF |
CF | She also made it red, to match your battlesuit.
CF |
CF | > DavidW asks, "Do we need a recap?"
Knight_Otu says, "I gather Sister Book might not have correct intel on our time period."
DavidW says, "We're currently playing as a group of Ebenezabeth Scrooges from across time, five of us, to rescue a sixth."
DavidW says, "It's a castle in the Austrian Alps and there's gonna be vampires."
Jacqueline says, "Excellent."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "nw"
CF | >
CF | > NW
CF |
CF |
CF | Corner
CF | The castle is still out of sight; it's around the corner to the west.
CF |
CF | Your khopesh pulses. You take a look at your radar: "Vampires up
CF | ahead," you mutter.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | ahead," you mutter.The Queen Regent carefully peers around the corner.
CF | "Two of them," she whispers. "Guarding the side door. I can't see any
CF | way around them."
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Corner
CF | way around them.""I remember this part," Madam Scrooge says. "Let me
CF | try talking to them."
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "oh right. Madam Scrooge is the oldest of us and can remember doing some of this already from another viewpoint."
Knight_Otu says, "Madam, this is not a Doctor Who story."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "be madam"
CF ] Corner
CF | >
CF | > BE MADAM
CF |
CF | Madam Scrooge
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "i"
CF ] Corner
CF | >
CF | > I
CF |
CF | You are carrying:
CF | a wrinkled gray coat (being worn)
CF | the Goroshinka
CF |
CF | > Knight_Otu says, "(Well, maybe it is.)"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x coat"
CF ] Corner
CF | >
CF | > X COAT
CF |
CF | The coat keeps you very warm, which is the main thing. But it also has
CF | lots and lots of pockets.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x emerald"
CF ] Corner
CF | >
CF | > X EMERALD
CF |
CF | A tiny emerald, only a quarter of an inch across. It took a long, long
CF | time to track down.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "We saw Madam Scrooge obtain this 'Goroshinka' in Denver City or wherever it was."
DavidW says, "I have no idea why it's important."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF | You give the others a reassuring smile before you step around the
CF | corner.
CF |
CF | Side Entrance
CF | The towers of Schloss Tuxenstein glow bone-white in the moonlight. The
CF | doorway to the west is the most modest element of this imposing
CF | edifice; it must be a servants' entrance.
CF |
CF | A couple of vampiresses stand between you and the door. You think you
CF | can remember their names.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | can remember their names."You wandered into a great big whoopsie,
CF | Nana," purrs the one in the leather duster.
CF |
CF | "Shoulda stayed at home and watched TV," says the one in the leather
CF | bikini. "Coulda got through the night with all your blood still inside
CF | your body."
CF |
CF | You snap your fingers. "I remember now. One of you is pale_jasm1ne,
CF | and the other is faded_aur0ra. Which is which, again?"
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | and the other is faded_aur0ra. Which is which, again?""I'm—faded_—"
CF | the first one sputters. "Who are you, lady?"
CF |
CF | "I'm Ebenezabeth Scrooge, from the future," you explain. "If you lay a
CF | finger on me, Poseidon will have both your heads on pikes. Would you
CF | please take me to see Queen Atë?" DavidW says, "Remember that Ebenezabeth Scrooge has some sort of general protection from Poseidon."
DavidW says, "This happened off screen between LMG1 and LMG2."
Knight_Otu says, "Why do these vampires have forum handles for names, he idly wonders."
DavidW says, "Because they're modern ones, I think."
Jade says, "clubhouse"
Jade says, "Sorry, afk by now"
DavidW says, "In LMG4, there were several groups of vampires represented and from all sorts of ideologies."
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | please take me to see Queen Atë?"The girls gawp at you for a while;
CF | then they collect their wits and usher you inside.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Corner
CF | then they collect their wits and usher you inside.
CF | The Queen Regent
CF |
CF | Corner
CF | The castle is still out of sight; it's around the corner to the west.
CF |
CF | The little girl, the tiny mouse, and Sister Lantern are here.
CF |
CF | "Well, she got rid of the guards," you say, turning back to the
CF | others. "I guess the coast is clear." But the plan is falling apart
CF | already.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x me"
CF ] Corner
CF | >
CF | > X ME
CF |
CF | There's no time for self-reflection. You have a job to do.
CF |
CF | But yes, you look fantastic.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "i"
CF ] Corner
CF | >
CF | > I
CF |
CF | You are carrying:
CF | a chiton (being worn)
CF | Poseidon's mighty trident
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x chiton"
CF ] Corner
CF | >
CF | > X CHITON
CF |
CF | It took forever to decide what to wear. You don't want to start
CF | second-guessing yourself.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x trident"
CF ] Corner
CF | >
CF | > X TRIDENT
CF |
CF | This is Poseidon's silver trident, a weapon of the gods, forged by
CF | Hephaestus in an age long past.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "Eb killed her first vampire in LMG1 with this trident."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Side Entrance
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Side Entrance
CF | The towers of Schloss Tuxenstein glow bone-white in the moonlight. The
CF | doorway to the west is the most modest element of this imposing
CF | edifice; it must be a servants' entrance.
CF |
CF | The little girl, the tiny mouse, and Sister Lantern are here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Kitchen
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Kitchen
CF | Congealed evidence for the preparation of some gigantic feast is
CF | spattered all over the floor and countertops. Heaps of unwashed dishes
CF | are pushed against the walls to make room for half-eaten puddings and
CF | other piles of dishes. You are very lucky that it's too cold for
CF | flies.
CF |
CF | The servants' entrance is east; a passage to the west leads deeper
CF | into the castle.
CF |
CF | The little girl, the tiny mouse, and Sister Lantern are here.
CF |
CF | "Are they still close?" you ask. Sister Lantern looks at her khopesh
CF | and bites her lip.
CF |
CF | "Not in the next room, at least. I can't get a clear read any further
CF | out."
CF |
CF | "Um," the little girl says. "I don't really want us to split up again,
CF | but maybe our mouse friend could go take a look. Covertly."
CF |
CF | The tiny mouse nods, as if to say "That's a great idea—I'll be right
CF | back."
CF |
CF | > Knight_Otu says, "Such a wild series."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "be mouse"
CF ] Kitchen
CF | >
CF | > BE MOUSE
CF |
CF | The tiny mouse
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Foyer
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF | You give the others a little wave before you embark on your
CF | reconnaissance mission.
CF |
CF | Foyer
CF | Schloss Tuxenstein's grand entryway is as spacious and as dark as a
CF | cavern. You feel smaller than ever. The carpet stretching from the
CF | ornate double doors to the north toward the great hall to the south is
CF | unconscionably dirty.
CF |
CF | Other passages lead east and west.
CF |
CF | > Knight_Otu says, ""You feel smaller than ever" says the mouse."
DavidW asks, "so, which way?"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x carpet"
CF ] Foyer
CF | >
CF | > X CARPET
CF |
CF | Muddy shoeprints, bootprints, clawed footprints, stiletto heelprints,
CF | and a few more obscure tracks cover the fine carpet.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x doors"
CF ] Foyer
CF | >
CF | > X DOORS
CF |
CF | The doors are carved with wooden spirals, trimmed with wrought iron.
CF | They look very heavy, very difficult to get open without making a lot
CF | of noise. It's a good thing you found another way in.
CF |
CF | > Jacqueline says, "Wish the shoeprints led a direction."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x shoeprints" Knight_Otu says, "Yeah."
CF ] Foyer
CF | >
CF | > X SHOEPRINTS
CF |
CF | (You can't see that, or it's not implemented.)
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "smell"
CF ] Foyer
CF | >
CF | > SMELL
CF |
CF | It would be rather uncouth to smell.
CF |
CF | > Jacqueline says, "Really, I don't think it would be."
DavidW says, "well, let's continue west if there's no objection."
DavidW says, "I don't think Ryan wanted to code up smells, honestly."
Knight_Otu says, "Seems as good a direction as any."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Gallery
CF | Tall windows line the north wall, framed with sumptuous curtains of
CF | improbable length. Hanging on the south wall are dozens of paintings
CF | of various sizes and vintages.
CF |
CF | The exits are east and west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x paintings"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > X PAINTINGS
CF |
CF | You don't have time to take in all the paintings here. Your gaze is
CF | drawn to a miniature still life: an oozing wedge of brie, a fly
CF | lounging inconspicuously on a hunk of bread.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x fly"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > X FLY
CF |
CF | You don't have time to take in all the paintings here. Your gaze is
CF | drawn to a miniature still life: an oozing wedge of brie, a fly
CF | lounging inconspicuously on a hunk of bread.
CF |
CF | > Knight_Otu exclaims, "Stay focused, mousey!"
DavidW says, "oh, not a real fly, I guess. As an animal we can talk to flies."
DavidW says, "Being small and animal-speak are our advantages here."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x curtains"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > X CURTAINS
CF |
CF | Somehow the grand scale of the curtains is harder to believe than that
CF | of anything else in this building.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Billiard Room
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Billiard Room
CF | All the hallmarks of a small, cozy space have been spread out across
CF | this spacious chamber, so that the snooker table can be situated at a
CF | safe distance from the hi-fi system, the wet bar, and the liquor
CF | shelf. Exits lead east and south.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x hi-fi"
CF ] Billiard Room
CF | >
CF | > X HI-FI
CF |
CF | The record player, the tall speakers, and their attendant buttons,
CF | dials, and sliders are more than you can really process at the moment.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x bar"
CF ] Billiard Room
CF | >
CF | > X BAR
CF |
CF | The bar is rather modest compared to its surroundings, and comprises
CF | little more than a countertop, a sink, and a cupboard.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x cupboard"
CF ] Billiard Room
CF | >
CF | > X CUPBOARD
CF |
CF | The cupboard beneath the sink is closed.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open it"
CF ] Billiard Room
CF | >
CF | > OPEN IT
CF |
CF | Your paws aren't dextrous enough to do that.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x shelf"
CF ] Billiard Room
CF | >
CF | > X SHELF
CF |
CF | Maybe two hundred bottles are displayed here, including perhaps a
CF | dozen different brands of absinthe.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Display Hall
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Display Hall
CF | The array of taxidermy exhibited here represents the passion of one
CF | for whom an avid collection has grown into a compulsive mania. Mounted
CF | on walls and in display cases, standing on shelves or on the floor,
CF | and hanging from the ceiling are stuffed and varnished swordfish,
CF | owls, frogs, scorpions, polecats, iguanas, herons, spiders, newts,
CF | raccoons, wallabies, eagles, moths, puffins, turtles, wolves, and a
CF | pygmy crocodile.
CF |
CF | The ways out of the hall are north, east, and south.
CF |
CF | > Knight_Otu says, "So these vampires do drink... wine. And other alcohols."
DavidW says, "I guess. The rules about vampires in this series has never been explicitly laid out."
DavidW asks, "Do we want to examine the stuffies or go east or south?"
Knight_Otu says, "Part of me wants to protest against stuffed spiders and moths, but who knows. Maybe we should examine a few stuffed beasts."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x wallabies"
CF ] Display Hall
CF | >
CF | > X WALLABIES
CF |
CF | You could find all these dead animal bodies upsetting, but your
CF | feelings have more productive things to do.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Chapel
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Chapel
CF | Pews are smashed and overturned; crumpled papers litter the floor. The
CF | head of a gigantic hammer is lodged in the wooden altar. A huge hole
CF | has been punched through the stained glass in the south wall, and cold
CF | air whistles through the room.
CF |
CF | The taxidermy hall is north, and a narrow passage leads east.
CF |
CF | faded_aur0ra sits on the altar, hunched over her iBook.
CF |
CF | > Knight_Otu says, "That's a turn of phrase."
Knight_Otu says, "(regarding "your feelings have more productive things to do")"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x hammer"
CF ] Chapel
CF | >
CF | > X HAMMER
CF |
CF | This hammer would be too heavy for any normal human to lift, much less
CF | swing it into an antique altar—but you know a few vampires who
CF | wouldn't have any trouble.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x hole"
CF ] Chapel
CF | >
CF | > X HOLE
CF |
CF | Something was thrown out of this window with a great deal of force.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x altar"
CF ] Chapel
CF | >
CF | > X ALTAR
CF |
CF | This altar is at least two hundred years old, and beautifully
CF | constructed, and completely beyond repair.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x papers"
CF ] Chapel
CF | >
CF | > X PAPERS
CF |
CF | Pages ripped out of a Bible are strewn around the room.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x vampire"
CF ] Chapel
CF | >
CF | > X VAMPIRE
CF |
CF | Her combat boots dangle over the side of the altar; her leather duster
CF | drapes down to the floor. Her black lips are slightly parted;
CF | reflected in her glasses is a game of Spider Solitaire.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Closet
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Closet
CF | The walls of this chilly closet are bare brick.
CF |
CF | A rope hanging from a tiny winch descends into a narrow gap in the
CF | floor.
CF |
CF | The way out is west.
CF |
CF | > Jacqueline says, "I kinda want to be friends with this vampire."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x gap"
CF ] Closet
CF | >
CF | > X GAP
CF |
CF | The hole in the floor is only about eight inches across.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "enter gap"
CF ] Closet
CF | >
CF | > ENTER GAP
CF |
CF | You don't want to jump straight down this hole.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "climb rope"
CF ] Closet
CF | >
CF | > CLIMB ROPE
CF |
CF | The rope looks too slick to climb safely.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x rope"
CF ] Closet
CF | >
CF | > X ROPE
CF |
CF | This winch and its crank are involved with raising and lowering
CF | whatever is on the end of that rope up and down through that hole.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Chapel
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Chapel
CF | Pews are smashed and overturned; crumpled papers litter the floor. The
CF | head of a gigantic hammer is lodged in the wooden altar. A huge hole
CF | has been punched through the stained glass in the south wall, and cold
CF | air whistles through the room.
CF |
CF | The taxidermy hall is north, and a narrow passage leads east.
CF |
CF | faded_aur0ra sits on the altar, hunched over her iBook.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "look through hole"
CF ] Chapel
CF | >
CF | > LOOK THROUGH HOLE
CF |
CF | The hole in the window is too high up to see much of anything through
CF | it.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Display Hall
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Display Hall
CF | The array of taxidermy exhibited here represents the passion of one
CF | for whom an avid collection has grown into a compulsive mania. Mounted
CF | on walls and in display cases, standing on shelves or on the floor,
CF | and hanging from the ceiling are stuffed and varnished swordfish,
CF | owls, frogs, scorpions, polecats, iguanas, herons, spiders, newts,
CF | raccoons, wallabies, eagles, moths, puffins, turtles, wolves, and a
CF | pygmy crocodile.
CF |
CF | The ways out of the hall are north, east, and south.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Grand Stair
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Grand Stair
CF | A majestic staircase curls around the circular room, climbing to the
CF | railing of the rotunda above—drawing your gaze vertiginously to the
CF | great dome overhead. High archways open to the east and west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Great Hall
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Great Hall
CF | A few folding tables and conference chairs are scattered around the
CF | hall, not arranged in any particular way. A fair amount of litter has
CF | been swept into the corners.
CF |
CF | At the south end of the room is an empty stage; behind it, a wide
CF | glass door. Other passages lead north, east, and west.
CF |
CF | pale_jasm1ne paces between the tables, nursing an eyebrow-twitch.
CF |
CF | > Knight_Otu says, "So we found both forum handles."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x pale"
CF ] Great Hall
CF | >
CF | > X PALE
CF |
CF | Her studded leather bikini reveals a multitude of tattoos over her
CF | arms, legs, and torso. The one that sticks out to you is the butterfly
CF | on her thigh, fluttering through a scroll that reads "CULL THE HERD."
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x glass door"
CF ] Great Hall
CF | >
CF | > X GLASS DOOR
CF |
CF | You can see through the door to the courtyard on the other side.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x stage"
CF ] Great Hall
CF | >
CF | > X STAGE
CF |
CF | The stage is empty except for a podium.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x podium"
CF ] Great Hall
CF | >
CF | > X PODIUM
CF |
CF | The wooden lectern looks quite a bit older than the tables and chairs.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Lounge
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Lounge
CF | Mahogany panels line the walls; a lush purple carpet covers the floor.
CF | Several overstuffed couches are ready to receive any weary travelers
CF | who happen to pass through. The great hall lies to the west; in the
CF | passage to the south is a stone staircase.
CF |
CF | Ashes and half-burned logs sit in the hearth; the fire is long dead.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "In a previous game, there was a fire in this hearth and Eb used it to arrive and leave this castle."
Knight_Otu says, "Still wondering about sun-gazing a bit."
DavidW says, "So, the stairs down to the dungeons should be south of here, and the stairs up should be north of the Grand Hall, I think."
DavidW says, "I'd like to see if our Hunter self is still in the tower."
Knight_Otu says, "The question being whether we as a mouse can go up stairs easily. I'd think so, but who knows."
Jacqueline says, "Probably."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Great Hall
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Great Hall
CF | A few folding tables and conference chairs are scattered around the
CF | hall, not arranged in any particular way. A fair amount of litter has
CF | been swept into the corners.
CF |
CF | At the south end of the room is an empty stage; behind it, a wide
CF | glass door. Other passages lead north, east, and west.
CF |
CF | pale_jasm1ne paces between the tables, nursing an eyebrow-twitch.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Foyer
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Foyer
CF | Schloss Tuxenstein's grand entryway is as spacious and as dark as a
CF | cavern. You feel smaller than ever. The carpet stretching from the
CF | ornate double doors to the north toward the great hall to the south is
CF | unconscionably dirty.
CF |
CF | Other passages lead east and west.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "oh. Maybe I'm misremembering."
DavidW says, "There's more rooms in this version of the castle than last time."
DavidW says, "hm. The 'Grand Stair' might be where I want to go, then."
DavidW says, "sorry, I needed to sketch out a rough map."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Great Hall
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Great Hall
CF | A few folding tables and conference chairs are scattered around the
CF | hall, not arranged in any particular way. A fair amount of litter has
CF | been swept into the corners.
CF |
CF | At the south end of the room is an empty stage; behind it, a wide
CF | glass door. Other passages lead north, east, and west.
CF |
CF | pale_jasm1ne paces between the tables, nursing an eyebrow-twitch.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Grand Stair
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Grand Stair
CF | A majestic staircase curls around the circular room, climbing to the
CF | railing of the rotunda above—drawing your gaze vertiginously to the
CF | great dome overhead. High archways open to the east and west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "u"
CF ] Rotunda
CF | >
CF | > U
CF |
CF |
CF | Rotunda
CF | Doors stand on the east and west ends of this grand circular walkway.
CF | An immense stairway curves downward, drawing your eye to the mosaic
CF | floor below.
CF |
CF | The dome above somehow seems both incredibly high and uncomfortably
CF | low.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x mosaic"
CF ] Rotunda
CF | >
CF | > X MOSAIC
CF |
CF | The tiled floor of the grand stairway simply matches the circular
CF | shape of the hall, at a glance—but now you see the shape, or the
CF | suggestion of the shape, of some horned creature.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Bedchamber
CF | A canopied bed fit for a princess seems to take up most of the room.
CF | Beneath its rosy veil, a flaxen-haired girl lies sleeping in absolute
CF | peace (you assume, although you can't see her from down here).
CF |
CF | An unspeakably decrepit man is seated next to the bed—the ancient
CF | vampire Cadac.
CF |
CF | Something interesting is happening to Madam Scrooge. Knight_Otu asks, "Interesting-good, or interesting-bad?"
DavidW says, "Interesting enough to change focus, it seems"
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | Something interesting is happening to Madam Scrooge.Madam Scrooge
CF |
CF | A small room in the basement. A bank of security monitors. They shoved
CF | you into a folding chair in the far corner.
CF |
CF | Atë sits before you, her pink dress overflowing her office chair, her
CF | pink eyes fixed on yours.
CF |
CF | "But you see it, don't you? We've been a pair since the beginning.
CF | Chasing each other across the centuries, bound up in the same ribbon
CF | of fate: The ultimate force of good, and the ultimate force of evil."
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | of fate: The ultimate force of good, and the ultimate force of
CF | evil."Deep breath. "You're very good at being evil, Atë. But neither
CF | of us are the ultimate force of anything."
CF |
CF | "Don't play dumb, you filthy skinbag. You and I are important. We make
CF | things happen."
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | things happen.""I'm important to myself, I suppose, and to my loved
CF | ones. But in the grand scheme of things, I'm only as important as
CF | everybody else—and so are you."
CF |
CF | Atë stares at you for a moment. Her long, sharp fingernails tap
CF | against the console.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | against the console."I get it now," she says. "You're from some future
CF | where I'm already dead."
CF |
CF | You stare back at her, with your watery old lady eyes. It's a cheap
CF | trick; they make every look seem significant.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | trick; they make every look seem significant.She leans forward. "What
CF | happens to me?"
CF |
CF | You look down at your hands. "I have a guess."
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Bedchamber
CF | You look down at your hands. "I have a guess." the little mouse
CF |
CF | Bedchamber
CF | A canopied bed fit for a princess seems to take up most of the room.
CF | Beneath its rosy veil, a flaxen-haired girl lies sleeping in absolute
CF | peace (you assume, although you can't see her from down here).
CF |
CF | An unspeakably decrepit man is seated next to the bed—the ancient
CF | vampire Cadac.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "Back as the mouse."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x cadac"
CF ] Bedchamber
CF | >
CF | > X CADAC
CF |
CF | Cadac might be the oldest vampire in the world, at the moment, and he
CF | might be the most powerful magician among vampires, at the moment.
CF | It's hard to keep track.
CF |
CF | He's about five hundred years older than Atë. You're pretty sure about
CF | that.
CF |
CF | > Knight_Otu says, "For an egomaniac, Ate took that rebuff well."
DavidW asks, "geez, a magician as well as a vampire?"
DavidW says, "I guess he cast the sleep spell on the Hunter."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x hunter"
CF ] Bedchamber
CF | >
CF | > X HUNTER
CF |
CF | You can't get a good look from down here.
CF |
CF | > Knight_Otu says, "He had a long time to learn."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "go under bed"
CF ] Bedchamber
CF | >
CF | > GO UNDER BED
CF |
CF | You don't want to do anything Cadac might regard as suspicious.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "l"
CF ] Bedchamber
CF | >
CF | > L
CF |
CF | Bedchamber
CF | A canopied bed fit for a princess seems to take up most of the room.
CF | Beneath its rosy veil, a flaxen-haired girl lies sleeping in absolute
CF | peace (you assume, although you can't see her from down here).
CF |
CF | An unspeakably decrepit man is seated next to the bed—the ancient
CF | vampire Cadac.
CF |
CF | > Knight_Otu asks, "So a mouse staring at him is okay, but said mouse scurrying around isn't?"
DavidW says, "hm. I seem to remember I could climb onto the canopy as a mouse in the other game. But the vampires that were here then were idiots."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "climb bed"
CF ] Bedchamber
CF | >
CF | > CLIMB BED
CF |
CF | You don't want to do anything Cadac might regard as suspicious.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Rotunda
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Rotunda
CF | Doors stand on the east and west ends of this grand circular walkway.
CF | An immense stairway curves downward, drawing your eye to the mosaic
CF | floor below.
CF |
CF | The dome above somehow seems both incredibly high and uncomfortably
CF | low.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Statue Hall
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF | You slip under the door.
CF |
CF | Statue Hall
CF | The broad corridor is full of shadows.
CF |
CF | You can see doors to the north, east, south, and west.
CF |
CF | In the center of the hallway stands a marble statue of a centauress.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "oh, this is new."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x statue"
CF ] Statue Hall
CF | >
CF | > X STATUE
CF |
CF | The little centauress has a quiver slung over her shoulder, and a
CF | little bow in her hands, but you can tell that she's the one being
CF | hunted.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Library
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF | You slip under the door.
CF |
CF | Library
CF | Huge arched windows span the north wall. The other walls are covered
CF | in bookshelves—most of them empty. Exits lead east, south, and west.
CF |
CF | In the center of the library, within a tall enclosure of reinforced
CF | glass, is an enormous rosebush.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "how very Beauty and the Beast"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x rosebush"
CF ] Library
CF | >
CF | > X ROSEBUSH
CF |
CF | You can make out brilliant pink blossoms on the other side of the
CF | glass.
CF |
CF | It also looks like the plant is moving.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW has disconnected.
DavidW has connected.
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to rosebush"
CF ] Library
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO ROSEBUSH
CF |
CF | You can only get an oblique view of the rosebush through the thick
CF | glass.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "l"
CF ] Library
CF | >
CF | > L
CF |
CF | Library
CF | Huge arched windows span the north wall. The other walls are covered
CF | in bookshelves—most of them empty. Exits lead east, south, and west.
CF |
CF | In the center of the library, within a tall enclosure of reinforced
CF | glass, is an enormous rosebush.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x books"
CF ] Library
CF | >
CF | > X BOOKS
CF |
CF | Either the castle's book collection has dwindled over the years, or it
CF | was never that impressive to begin with.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Master Bedroom
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Master Bedroom
CF | The opulent four-poster bed isn't square with the wall, and its sheets
CF | are in a horrible mess. At the foot of the bed, a finely crafted
CF | coffin lies open.
CF |
CF | The library is to the east, and a small passage leads west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x coffin"
CF ] Master Bedroom
CF | >
CF | > X COFFIN
CF |
CF | The sinuous woodwork is painted with black lacquer. The interior is
CF | lined with pillows of pink silk. You recognize her perfume: This is
CF | Atë's coffin.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "look under bed"
CF ] Master Bedroom
CF | >
CF | > LOOK UNDER BED
CF |
CF | There doesn't seem to be anything under the bed.
CF |
CF | It might be time to report back to the others.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Stair
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Stair
CF | The bottom of a narrow spiral staircase. The master bedroom is east
CF | from here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "u"
CF ] Tower
CF | >
CF | > U
CF |
CF |
CF | Tower
CF | A bank of computers has been installed haphazardly in the top of this
CF | chilly tower. Tangled cables run past your feet and disappear between
CF | the floorboards.
CF |
CF | The spiral staircase leads back down to the master bedroom.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x computers"
CF ] Tower
CF | >
CF | > X COMPUTERS
CF |
CF | When you feel the heat radiating from the machines, you understand why
CF | they were set up in this chilly tower and not somewhere more
CF | convenient.
CF |
CF | You can't really interface with it, what with your little mouse paws.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "d"
CF ] Stair
CF | >
CF | > D
CF |
CF |
CF | Stair
CF | The bottom of a narrow spiral staircase. The master bedroom is east
CF | from here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Master Bedroom
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Master Bedroom
CF | The opulent four-poster bed isn't square with the wall, and its sheets
CF | are in a horrible mess. At the foot of the bed, a finely crafted
CF | coffin lies open.
CF |
CF | The library is to the east, and a small passage leads west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Library
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Library
CF | Huge arched windows span the north wall. The other walls are covered
CF | in bookshelves—most of them empty. Exits lead east, south, and west.
CF |
CF | In the center of the library, within a tall enclosure of reinforced
CF | glass, is an enormous rosebush.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Stair
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Stair
CF | Spiral stairs lead to the top of the tower. The way out is west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "u"
CF ] Tower
CF | >
CF | > U
CF |
CF |
CF | Tower
CF | In the little room at the top of the spiral staircase is a pile of
CF | junk.
CF |
CF | Wind whistles through a narrow hole in the south wall.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x hole"
CF ] Tower
CF | >
CF | > X HOLE
CF |
CF | Much too small for a human to pass through, but no problem for most
CF | rodents.
CF |
CF | It might be time to report back to the others.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Roof
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF | You slip through the hole easily.
CF |
CF | Roof
CF | A crumbling chimney rises at the eastern edge of the roof. The tower
CF | just south of you looks very solid, but you can see a narrow hole in
CF | the tower to the north where it meets the roof.
CF |
CF | The moon is ascending slowly in the eastern sky.
CF |
CF | The rest of the roof is west from here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Roof
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Roof
CF | The roof extends in all directions from here, except to the northeast
CF | and southeast, where there are towers.
CF |
CF | The castle's central dome is west from here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Dome
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Dome
CF | Depending on what side of the dome you're on, you can see smaller
CF | towers at the northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest corners
CF | of the castle. The roof extends to the north, east, south, and west.
CF |
CF | The pinnacle of the dome is a bit of a climb from here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "u"
CF ] Top of the Dome
CF | >
CF | > U
CF |
CF |
CF | Top of the Dome
CF | The view from up here is amazing.
CF |
CF | Walther Richter van Rauch's ghost sits near the summit, staring at the
CF | moon.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "Who had Walther Richter van Rauch's ghost on their bingo card? Not me!"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x ghost"
CF ] Top of the Dome
CF | >
CF | > X GHOST
CF |
CF | He wears the hunting garb and the facial hair of an eighteenth-century
CF | nobleman. The years have worn the regret in his eyes down to
CF | nothingness.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to ghost"
CF ] Top of the Dome
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO GHOST
CF |
CF | You're pretty sure Walther does not understand mouse-speech.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "d"
CF ] Dome
CF | >
CF | > D
CF |
CF |
CF | Dome
CF | Depending on what side of the dome you're on, you can see smaller
CF | towers at the northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest corners
CF | of the castle. The roof extends to the north, east, south, and west.
CF |
CF | The pinnacle of the dome is a bit of a climb from here.
CF |
CF | > Knight_Otu says, "That guy seems like a couple of references rolled into one."
DavidW says, "I don't remember a character with that name in the series."
Jacqueline says, "The years have worn the regret in his eyes down to nothingness. I'm having trouble imagining what that's meant to mean."
DavidW says, "I haven't really finished exploring, but I guess I should return to the others."
Knight_Otu says, "van Helsing, van Richten I think (D&D), Richter Belmont (Castlevania) are some I'm reasonably certain are intented."
DavidW says, "He's accepted he did a bad thing, but he's also given up on trying to atone for it."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Roof
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Roof
CF | The roof extends in all directions from here, except to the northeast
CF | and southeast, where there are towers.
CF |
CF | The castle's central dome is west from here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Roof
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Roof
CF | The northern edge of the castle's roof continues to the west. To the
CF | east is one of the castle's towers. There's more roof to the south.
CF |
CF | The castle's central dome is southwest from here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Roof
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF | You can't leave the castle now! You're in the middle of something!
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Roof
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF | The roof extends to the southeast, south, southwest, and west.
CF |
CF | It might be time to report back to the others.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "se"
CF ] Roof
CF | >
CF | > SE
CF |
CF |
CF | Roof
CF | A crumbling chimney rises at the eastern edge of the roof. The tower
CF | just south of you looks very solid, but you can see a narrow hole in
CF | the tower to the north where it meets the roof.
CF |
CF | The moon is ascending slowly in the eastern sky.
CF |
CF | The rest of the roof is west from here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Tower
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF | You slip through the hole easily.
CF |
CF | Tower
CF | In the little room at the top of the spiral staircase is a pile of
CF | junk.
CF |
CF | Wind whistles through a narrow hole in the south wall.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "d"
CF ] Stair
CF | >
CF | > D
CF |
CF |
CF | Stair
CF | Spiral stairs lead to the top of the tower. The way out is west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Library
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Library
CF | Huge arched windows span the north wall. The other walls are covered
CF | in bookshelves—most of them empty. Exits lead east, south, and west.
CF |
CF | In the center of the library, within a tall enclosure of reinforced
CF | glass, is an enormous rosebush.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Statue Hall
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF | You slip under the door.
CF |
CF | Statue Hall
CF | The broad corridor is full of shadows.
CF |
CF | You can see doors to the north, east, south, and west.
CF |
CF | In the center of the hallway stands a marble statue of a centauress.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Rotunda
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF | You slip under the door.
CF |
CF | Rotunda
CF | Doors stand on the east and west ends of this grand circular walkway.
CF | An immense stairway curves downward, drawing your eye to the mosaic
CF | floor below.
CF |
CF | The dome above somehow seems both incredibly high and uncomfortably
CF | low.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Bedchamber
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Bedchamber
CF | A canopied bed fit for a princess seems to take up most of the room.
CF | Beneath its rosy veil, a flaxen-haired girl lies sleeping in absolute
CF | peace (you assume, although you can't see her from down here).
CF |
CF | An unspeakably decrepit man is seated next to the bed—the ancient
CF | vampire Cadac.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Bedchamber
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF | The ways out of here are east and south.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Rotunda
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Rotunda
CF | Doors stand on the east and west ends of this grand circular walkway.
CF | An immense stairway curves downward, drawing your eye to the mosaic
CF | floor below.
CF |
CF | The dome above somehow seems both incredibly high and uncomfortably
CF | low.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "d"
CF ] Grand Stair
CF | >
CF | > D
CF |
CF |
CF | Grand Stair
CF | A majestic staircase curls around the circular room, climbing to the
CF | railing of the rotunda above—drawing your gaze vertiginously to the
CF | great dome overhead. High archways open to the east and west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Great Hall
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Great Hall
CF | A few folding tables and conference chairs are scattered around the
CF | hall, not arranged in any particular way. A fair amount of litter has
CF | been swept into the corners.
CF |
CF | At the south end of the room is an empty stage; behind it, a wide
CF | glass door. Other passages lead north, east, and west.
CF |
CF | pale_jasm1ne paces between the tables, nursing an eyebrow-twitch.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Foyer
CF | Schloss Tuxenstein's grand entryway is as spacious and as dark as a
CF | cavern. You feel smaller than ever. The carpet stretching from the
CF | ornate double doors to the north toward the great hall to the south is
CF | unconscionably dirty.
CF |
CF | Other passages lead east and west.
CF |
CF | Red eyes glow in a dark corner. DavidW says, "uh-oh"
Knight_Otu says, "Oh dear."
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | Red eyes glow in a dark corner."It's a pleasure to see you again,
CF | little girl." A white ferret slithers into the half-light. Rask. "And
CF | back in the form I remember so well. How very elegant," he sneers,
CF | baring his fangs as he pads across the floor.
CF |
CF | His eyes pin you to the spot. DavidW asks, "A vampire ferret?"
Jacqueline says, "Oh dear."
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | His eyes pin you to the spot."A bit clever of you, to come to your own
CF | rescue. Maybe 'cute' is the word." He circles you slowly, coming
CF | closer and closer. "But how stupid of you—very, very stupid, little
CF | girl—to come alone."
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | girl—to come alone."That brings you to your senses: "I'm not alone,"
CF | you explain. "There are three more of me in the next room."
CF |
CF | Rask flinches. He sniffs the air, realizes you're right.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Foyer
CF | Rask flinches. He sniffs the air, realizes you're right."Then I'll
CF | just have to—I'll—" He growls in exasperation.
CF |
CF | And he dashes back into the darkness.
CF |
CF | > Jacqueline says, "Phwq"
Jacqueline says, "er, Phew"
Knight_Otu says, "That went surprisingly well."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Kitchen
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Kitchen
CF | Congealed evidence for the preparation of some gigantic feast is
CF | spattered all over the floor and countertops. Heaps of unwashed dishes
CF | are pushed against the walls to make room for half-eaten puddings and
CF | other piles of dishes. You are very lucky that it's too cold for
CF | flies.
CF |
CF | The servants' entrance is east; a passage to the west leads deeper
CF | into the castle.
CF |
CF | The little girl, Sister Lantern, and the Queen Regent are here.
CF |
CF | "How does it look out there?" the Queen Regent asks.
CF |
CF | You stand on your hind paws and deliver your findings: "I count four
CF | vampires: faded_aur0ra, pale_jasm1ne, Rask the ferret, and Cadac.
CF | That's not counting Atë; I'm not sure where she is. Cadac is guarding
CF | the Hunter in a bedroom at the west end of the second floor. I think I
CF | can get us there without alerting anybody else, if we're careful."
CF |
CF | Sister Lantern and the Queen Regent nod in acknowledgement, even
CF | though all they heard was a bunch of squeaking. Only the little girl
CF | seems worried.
CF |
CF | > Knight_Otu says, "I was about to ask how they understood mouse-us."
DavidW says, "I have NO idea why the little girl is here."
DavidW says (to Knight_Otu), "uh, I don't know."
Knight_Otu says, "I took the last paragraph to say "They didn't, but they got the gist of things.""
Jacqueline says, "Everyone speaks mouse."
DavidW says, "Normally Hrieman does animal translations for us."
DavidW says, "I guess I'm leading the way to the bedchamber now."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Foyer
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Foyer
CF | Schloss Tuxenstein's grand entryway is as spacious and as dark as a
CF | cavern. You feel smaller than ever. The carpet stretching from the
CF | ornate double doors to the north toward the great hall to the south is
CF | unconscionably dirty.
CF |
CF | Other passages lead east and west.
CF |
CF | The little girl, Sister Lantern, and the Queen Regent are here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW has disconnected.
DavidW has connected.
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Gallery
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Gallery
CF | Tall windows line the north wall, framed with sumptuous curtains of
CF | improbable length. Hanging on the south wall are dozens of paintings
CF | of various sizes and vintages.
CF |
CF | The exits are east and west.
CF |
CF | The little girl, Sister Lantern, and the Queen Regent are here.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "I keep disconnecting!"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Billiard Room
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Billiard Room
CF | All the hallmarks of a small, cozy space have been spread out across
CF | this spacious chamber, so that the snooker table can be situated at a
CF | safe distance from the hi-fi system, the wet bar, and the liquor
CF | shelf. Exits lead east and south.
CF |
CF | The little girl, Sister Lantern, and the Queen Regent are here.
CF |
CF | Sister Lantern's khopesh pulses. Twice.
CF |
CF | "Oh dear."
CF |
CF | "What now?" the Queen Regent asks.
CF |
CF | Sister Lantern points at the exits. "We're surrounded," Sister Lantern
CF | hisses. "Hide the girl."
CF |
CF | The little girl glances around the room.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "be girl"
CF ] Billiard Room
CF | >
CF | > BE GIRL
CF |
CF | The little girl
CF |
CF | Sister Lantern's khopesh pulses insistently.
CF |
CF | "They're getting closer," she whispers, not very quietly.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open cupboard"
CF ] Billiard Room
CF | >
CF | > OPEN CUPBOARD
CF |
CF | You open the cupboard.
CF |
CF | The khopesh buzzes.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "enter it"
CF | >
CF | > ENTER IT
CF |
CF | You get into the cupboard.
CF |
CF | As you curl up inside the narrow compartment, you hear a soft click,
CF | and the bottom of the cupboard falls away.
CF |
CF | You plummet into a black void.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | You plummet into a black void.You land with a tremendous splash.
CF |
CF | Pit
CF | The black water is up to your waist, and you can feel your feet
CF | sinking into the muck below.
CF |
CF | A rusty chain is hammered into the far wall.
CF |
CF | The water trickles in through stone archways to the southeast and
CF | south.
CF |
CF | Something interesting is happening to Sister Lantern and the Queen
CF | Regent.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | Regent.Sister Lantern
CF |
CF | faded_aur0ra stalks through the south exit, hammer slung over her
CF | shoulder, as pale_jasm1ne appears in the east doorway. Knight_Otu exclaims, "More interesting than our drowning?!"
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | shoulder, as pale_jasm1ne appears in the east doorway."Two more! I
CF | knew I smelled something." She grins hungrily. "Should we tell Atë?"
CF |
CF | "Neutralize them first," faded_aur0ra mutters.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Billiard Room
CF | "Neutralize them first," faded_aur0ra mutters.The Queen Regent raises
CF | her trident. "Don't come any closer," she warns. "We're still under
CF | Poseidon's protection."
CF |
CF | "Poseidon won't mind if we only knock you out a little," pale_jasm1ne
CF | says, and she rushes toward the Queen, nunchaku spinning—as
CF | faded_aur0ra heaves her hammer at your head.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "kill faded"
CF ] Billiard Room
CF | >
CF | > KILL FADED
CF |
CF | "I want it on the record that you're not giving us any choice," the
CF | Queen Regent says.
CF |
CF | "What are you, our mom?" faded_aur0ra scoffs. "'This is gonna hurt you
CF | more than it hurts me?' Well, actually it will."
CF |
CF | You take a swing while she's focusing on the Queen, and your khopesh
CF | tears a rent in her duster.
CF |
CF | She turns to face you, furious.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "kill faded"
CF ] Billiard Room
CF | >
CF | > KILL FADED
CF |
CF | You time your thrust until just after faded_aur0ra swings at you—but
CF | she's too fast. She swings right back, and you have to get out of the
CF | way. The Queen Regent looks like she sees an opportunity.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "be queen"
CF ] Billiard Room
CF | >
CF | > BE QUEEN
CF |
CF | The Queen Regent
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "kill faded"
CF ] Billiard Room
CF | >
CF | > KILL FADED
CF |
CF | faded_aur0ra shakes her head at you. "Just because you're old doesn't
CF | mean you get to be our mom," she says. "You gotta figure out something
CF | else to do with that empty nest syndrome of yours."
CF |
CF | You move around her, faster than she can follow. You thrust your
CF | trident into her side—not hard enough to pierce her duster, but
CF | enough
CF | to put her off her balance.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "kill faded"
CF ] Billiard Room
CF | >
CF | > KILL FADED
CF |
CF | You stab at faded_aur0ra—but she swings back, faster than you thought
CF | possible—you back off. Sister Lantern looks like she sees an
CF | opportunity.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "be lantern"
CF ] Billiard Room
CF | >
CF | > BE LANTERN
CF |
CF | Sister Lantern
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "kill faded"
CF ] Billiard Room
CF | >
CF | > KILL FADED
CF |
CF | You twist your way around her hammer and plunge your khopesh into
CF | faded_aur0ra's stomach. Her mouth is about to open in shock.
CF |
CF | But she has no time to react; she erupts in flames and disappears.
CF |
CF | "Idiot," pale_jasm1ne hisses—as she sets her nunchaku
CF | spinning at your neck.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "kill pale"
CF ] Billiard Room
CF | >
CF | > KILL PALE
CF |
CF | You slice at pale_jasm1ne—her nunchaku bats the blade away. You see
CF | the Queen Regent finding a way behind her.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "be queen"
CF ] Billiard Room
CF | >
CF | > BE QUEEN
CF |
CF | The Queen Regent
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "kill pale"
CF ] Billiard Room
CF | >
CF | > KILL PALE
CF |
CF | "I can see why Geezer Ebenezabeth would bring Cyber Warrior
CF | Ebenezabeth along," pale_jasm1ne mutters, nodding toward Sister
CF | Lantern, "but what's the point of putting Middle-Aged Ebenezabeth in a
CF | Dress on the team?"
CF |
CF | You thrust the trident—she catches one tine in her nunchaku—but you
CF | pull back, and she loses her footing, almost loses her grip.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Billiard Room
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | You thrust the trident at pale_jasm1ne. She catches the points in her
CF | nunchaku, almost pulls the weapon out of your hands—but you pull it
CF | back. You turn to see Sister Lantern is almost behind her.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "be lantern"
CF ] Billiard Room
CF | >
CF | > BE LANTERN
CF |
CF | Sister Lantern
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "kill pale"
CF ] Billiard Room
CF | >
CF | > KILL PALE
CF |
CF | "Is it just because of the trident?" pale_jasm1ne asks the Queen
CF | Regent. "Did they really need a holy trident, and you insisted on
CF | being the one to wield it, so they had to put you on the team?"
CF |
CF | You slice—and graze her arm. She hisses as she grabs at the smoking
CF | wound.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "kill pale"
CF ] Billiard Room
CF | >
CF | > KILL PALE
CF |
CF | pale_jasm1ne sees you coming, draws back, pulls you forward—off your
CF | footing. You feel her nunchaku slam into your armor. The Queen Regent
CF | sees an opening.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "be queen"
CF ] Billiard Room
CF | >
CF | > BE QUEEN
CF |
CF | The Queen Regent
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "kill pale"
CF ] Billiard Room
CF | >
CF | > KILL PALE
CF |
CF | You aim carefully, and Poseidon's trident finds its mark in
CF | pale_jasm1ne's chest.
CF |
CF | Her scream is cut short as she bursts into flame and disintegrates.
CF |
CF | You give Sister Lantern a look. She nods. "She must be downstairs
CF | somewhere," she says.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "SAVE"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "cf12"
CF | >
CF | > SAVE
CF | %% Enter a save filename to write:
CF ] Billiard Room
CF | > SAVEOk.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "well, that was fun"
Knight_Otu says, "pale_jasmine and faded_aur0ra have been banned from this board."
DavidW asks, "do we continue to the bedchamber or to the basement now?"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "look in cupboard"
CF ] Billiard Room
CF | >
CF | > LOOK IN CUPBOARD
CF |
CF | A trapdoor has opened in the bottom of the cupboard. It's too small
CF | for an adult to squeeze through.
CF |
CF | > Knight_Otu says, "My feeling is that we want to look for kid-us."
DavidW says, "or we could switch to kid-us and see if we can escape on our own."
Knight_Otu says, "That's also an option, yes."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to trapdoor"
CF ] Billiard Room
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO TRAPDOOR
CF |
CF | That's not something you can talk to.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "be girl"
CF ] Pit
CF | >
CF | > BE GIRL
CF |
CF | The little girl
CF |
CF | Pit
CF | The black water is up to your waist, and you can feel your feet
CF | sinking into the muck below.
CF |
CF | A rusty chain is hammered into the far wall.
CF |
CF | The water trickles in through stone archways to the southeast and
CF | south.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x chain"
CF ] Pit
CF | >
CF | > X CHAIN
CF |
CF | A heavy spike secures one end of the chain to the rock wall. The other
CF | end isn't shackling anything at the moment.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "climb chain"
CF ] Pit
CF | >
CF | > CLIMB CHAIN
CF |
CF | Little is to be achieved by that.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Spring
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Spring
CF | Dark water slowly bubbles from a gash in the rock wall. The fluid
CF | collects first in an ancient stone basin; then it flows over the sides
CF | and runs down channels to the north, east, and south.
CF |
CF | A plaque is mounted on the wall nearby.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x plaque"
CF ] Spring
CF | >
CF | > X PLAQUE
CF |
CF | You can't read this plaque.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x basin"
CF ] Spring
CF | >
CF | > X BASIN
CF |
CF | Lichen is growing on the sides of the bowl that aren't permanently
CF | dripping with black water.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "I guess the girl is illiterate at this age."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Temple
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Temple
CF | Low stone benches encircle a huge statue of tarnished brass: a
CF | corpulent humanoid with a leering goat's head. A plastic stand next to
CF | the idol displays an informative plaque.
CF |
CF | The trickle of black water flows in from the north and out to the
CF | northeast. A narrower passage leads east.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x statue"
CF ] Temple
CF | >
CF | > X STATUE
CF |
CF | The creature's tongue dangles out of its bestial mouth, and its eyes
CF | seem to roll back in their sightless sockets. The metal is dull and
CF | blackened—except around the statue's midsection, where hundreds of
CF | curious hands have rubbed away the tarnish. In the middle of its
CF | considerable stomach is a hinged door.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open it"
CF ] Temple
CF | >
CF | > OPEN IT
CF |
CF | It isn't something you can open.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open door"
CF ] Temple
CF | >
CF | > OPEN DOOR
CF |
CF | You open the hinged door.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "look in it"
CF ] Temple
CF | >
CF | > LOOK IN IT
CF |
CF | The chamber inside the statue is five or six feet deep.
CF |
CF | > Knight_Otu says, "That seems ominous."
DavidW says, "I think this is that torture device where you put someone inside and heat it up with a fire underneath, and the victim's screams make the statue moan like a bull."
Jacqueline says, "dang"
DavidW says, "I forget its name."
Knight_Otu says, "I was thinking iron maiden variant. I didn't want think too hard on how it might work."
Knight_Otu says, "*want to think"
DavidW says, "[LINK]"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x plaque"
CF ] Temple
CF | >
CF | > X PLAQUE
CF |
CF | You can't read the plaque.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x stand"
CF ] Temple
CF | >
CF | > X STAND
CF |
CF | You can't read the plaque.
CF |
CF | > DavidW asks, "East or northeast?"
Knight_Otu says, "I'd say northeast first."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "ne"
CF ] Long Table
CF | >
CF | > NE
CF |
CF |
CF | Long Table
CF | Water flows slowly through the passages to the southwest, west, and
CF | northwest. The entire chamber is flooded up to your ankles. The way
CF | out to the north is dry, at least.
CF |
CF | In the center of the room is a slanted stone table. At the end of a
CF | chain mounted in the ceiling, an object dangles over the slab.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x object"
CF ] Long Table
CF | >
CF | > X OBJECT
CF |
CF | The thing at the end of the chain is shaped a bit like a nose, or a
CF | misshapen egg.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x egg"
CF ] Long Table
CF | >
CF | > X EGG
CF |
CF | (You can't see that, or it's not implemented.)
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x chain"
CF ] Long Table
CF | >
CF | > X CHAIN
CF |
CF | The thing at the end of the chain is shaped a bit like a nose, or a
CF | misshapen egg.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x table"
CF ] Long Table
CF | >
CF | > X TABLE
CF |
CF | The stone is smooth from years of use.
CF |
CF | A plaque is mounted on one side.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "I guess these are all torture devices that have been collected. The pit is probably an 'oubliette'."
DavidW says, "I don't recognize what this one is unless it's a pit and pendulum and the pendulum has a misshapen dust cover on it."
Jacqueline says, "yeah"
DavidW says, "It sorta makes sense that the queen of vampires might have a hobby of collecting these things, whether she uses them or not."
DavidW says, "heck, they could be gifts from other vampires wanting to be in her good graces."
Jacqueline says, "Hard to find the torture device for the vampire who has everything."
DavidW says, "You get one torture device and suddenly all your friends buy more for your unbirthdays."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "look under table"
CF ] Long Table
CF | >
CF | > LOOK UNDER TABLE
CF |
CF | You find nothing of interest.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Chamber
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Chamber
CF | Three dirty skeletons hang by their feet from the ceiling, jaws
CF | gaping.
CF |
CF | To the east is a massive door of black iron. An open passage leads
CF | south.
CF |
CF | A plaque is mounted on one wall.
CF |
CF | > Knight_Otu says, "You'd think they'd prefer the ones that don't waste blood, though."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x skeletons"
CF ] Chamber
CF | >
CF | > X SKELETONS
CF |
CF | You gather your courage and tilt your head up to inspect the skeletons
CF | more closely.
CF |
CF | Streaks of rust run down the bones from the bits of wire that hold
CF | them together. Their helpless posture and silent screams are carefully
CF | posed.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x wire"
CF ] Chamber
CF | >
CF | > X WIRE
CF |
CF | Streaks of rust run down the bones from the bits of wire that hold
CF | them together. Their helpless posture and silent screams are carefully
CF | posed.
CF |
CF | > Jacqueline says, "It might just be the Amazon algorithm. One time I bought a sawzall and then Amazon kept recommending me more, as if I'd need one sawzall in every room."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x plaque"
CF ] Chamber
CF | >
CF | > X PLAQUE
CF |
CF | You can't read this plaque.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x door"
CF ] Chamber
CF | >
CF | > X DOOR
CF |
CF | The door is the only thing in this room that wasn't made out of human
CF | remains. It is a monolith of immovable black metal. It is closed.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open it"
CF ] Chamber
CF | >
CF | > OPEN IT
CF |
CF | The heavy iron door seems to be locked.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "okay, back to the room we skipped."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Long Table
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Long Table
CF | Water flows slowly through the passages to the southwest, west, and
CF | northwest. The entire chamber is flooded up to your ankles. The way
CF | out to the north is dry, at least.
CF |
CF | In the center of the room is a slanted stone table. At the end of a
CF | chain mounted in the ceiling, an object dangles over the slab.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "sw"
CF ] Temple
CF | >
CF | > SW
CF |
CF |
CF | Temple
CF | Low stone benches encircle a huge statue of tarnished brass: a
CF | corpulent humanoid with a leering goat's head. A plastic stand next to
CF | the idol displays an informative plaque.
CF |
CF | The trickle of black water flows in from the north and out to the
CF | northeast. A narrower passage leads east.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Oubliette
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Oubliette
CF | The walls of this narrow shaft are slick with condensation.
CF |
CF | A wheel attached to a pulley mechanism is built into a crooked stone
CF | platform. A small wooden bucket sits on the platform.
CF |
CF | The way out is west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x wheel"
CF ] Oubliette
CF | >
CF | > X WHEEL
CF |
CF | The wheel down here is connected by frayed ropes to something high
CF | overhead. A similar rope is tied to the bucket. Every part of the
CF | mechanism looks like it should have fallen to pieces years ago.
CF |
CF | > Knight_Otu says (to Jacq), "Might just be an algorithm thing. I keep getting Youtube recommendations for playlists I just finished. "Sure you don't want to watch again?""
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x rope"
CF ] Oubliette
CF | >
CF | > X ROPE
CF |
CF | The wheel down here is connected by frayed ropes to something high
CF | overhead. A similar rope is tied to the bucket. Every part of the
CF | mechanism looks like it should have fallen to pieces years ago.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x bucket"
CF ] Oubliette
CF | >
CF | > X BUCKET
CF |
CF | This modest bucket is incredibly old. The shriveled wood is stained
CF | with rust and who knows what else.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x platform"
CF ] Oubliette
CF | >
CF | > X PLATFORM
CF |
CF | The platform is cobbled together as a housing for the pulley
CF | mechanism. A plaque is mounted in the side facing you.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x plaque"
CF ] Oubliette
CF | >
CF | > X PLAQUE
CF |
CF | You can't read this plaque.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "take bucket"
CF ] Oubliette
CF | >
CF | > TAKE BUCKET
CF |
CF | The bucket is stuck here, because of the rope.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "climb bucket"
CF ] Oubliette
CF | >
CF | > CLIMB BUCKET
CF |
CF | Little is to be achieved by that.
CF |
CF | > Jacqueline says, "Yeah. I guess I mean, 'You liked that iron maiden? Well, how about these other types of torture devices for your castle?'"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "climb rope"
CF ] Oubliette
CF | >
CF | > CLIMB ROPE
CF |
CF | This ancient rope couldn't bear your weight.
CF |
CF | > Jacqueline asks, "Could we mouse it?"
Knight_Otu asks, "Where did mouse-us end up anyway?"
DavidW says, "We can become the mouse again. I think the mouse was watching Queen and Sister kill jaded and faded."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "look in bucket"
CF ] Oubliette
CF | >
CF | > LOOK IN BUCKET
CF |
CF | The bucket is empty.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x platform"
CF ] Oubliette
CF | >
CF | > X PLATFORM
CF |
CF | The platform is cobbled together as a housing for the pulley
CF | mechanism. A plaque is mounted in the side facing you.
CF |
CF | > Knight_Otu says, "I'd think so, but I didn't see the mouse mentioned again."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "be mouse"
CF ] Billiard Room
CF | >
CF | > BE MOUSE
CF |
CF | The tiny mouse
CF |
CF | Billiard Room
CF | All the hallmarks of a small, cozy space have been spread out across
CF | this spacious chamber, so that the snooker table can be situated at a
CF | safe distance from the hi-fi system, the wet bar, and the liquor
CF | shelf. Exits lead east and south.
CF |
CF | Sister Lantern and the Queen Regent are here.
CF |
CF | > Knight_Otu says, "I guess mousey is with the rest after all."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Display Hall
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Display Hall
CF | The array of taxidermy exhibited here represents the passion of one
CF | for whom an avid collection has grown into a compulsive mania. Mounted
CF | on walls and in display cases, standing on shelves or on the floor,
CF | and hanging from the ceiling are stuffed and varnished swordfish,
CF | owls, frogs, scorpions, polecats, iguanas, herons, spiders, newts,
CF | raccoons, wallabies, eagles, moths, puffins, turtles, wolves, and a
CF | pygmy crocodile.
CF |
CF | The ways out of the hall are north, east, and south.
CF |
CF | Sister Lantern and the Queen Regent are here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Chapel
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Chapel
CF | Pews are smashed and overturned; crumpled papers litter the floor. The
CF | antique altar has been smashed beyond repair. A huge hole has been
CF | punched through the stained glass in the south wall, and cold air
CF | whistles through the room.
CF |
CF | The taxidermy hall is north, and a narrow passage leads east.
CF |
CF | faded_aur0ra's iBook sits open on the altar.
CF |
CF | Sister Lantern and the Queen Regent are here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x iBook"
CF ] Chapel
CF | >
CF | > X IBOOK
CF |
CF | The translucent plastic clamshell is covered in rude stickers. You
CF | can't see the screen from your position.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "be queen"
CF ] Chapel
CF | >
CF | > BE QUEEN
CF |
CF | The Queen Regent
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x ibook"
CF ] Chapel
CF | >
CF | > X IBOOK
CF |
CF | The translucent plastic clamshell is covered in rude stickers. You paw
CF | through Finder windows until you see what you need.
CF |
CF | "There's a way into the basement at the bottom of the southeast
CF | tower," you say, pointing to the schematic. "The old security office
CF | is down there—but all of Atë's fun modifications are controlled from
CF | a
CF | unit at the top of the northwest tower. Can we disable any of it from
CF | down here?"
CF |
CF | Sister Lantern shakes her head. "We'd need at least a Wi-Fi
CF | connection. Or an Ethernet cable, I guess. But maybe I can find a way
CF | up there."
CF |
CF | You rub your forehead and nod.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "take ibook"
CF ] Chapel
CF | >
CF | > TAKE IBOOK
CF |
CF | You take the iBook.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Closet
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Closet
CF | The walls of this chilly closet are bare brick.
CF |
CF | A rope hanging from a tiny winch descends into a narrow gap in the
CF | floor.
CF |
CF | The way out is west.
CF |
CF | The tiny mouse and Sister Lantern are here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "turn winch"
CF ] Closet
CF | >
CF | > TURN WINCH
CF |
CF | You turn the crank, and the rope retracts.
CF |
CF | A bucket rises out of the hole.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "turn winch"
CF ] Closet
CF | >
CF | > TURN WINCH
CF |
CF | You turn the crank, and the wooden bucket slowly descends into the
CF | darkness below.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "be girl"
CF ] Oubliette
CF | >
CF | > BE GIRL
CF |
CF | The little girl
CF |
CF | Oubliette
CF | The walls of this narrow shaft are slick with condensation.
CF |
CF | A wheel attached to a pulley mechanism is built into a crooked stone
CF | platform. A small wooden bucket sits on the platform.
CF |
CF | The way out is west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "enter bucket"
CF ] Oubliette
CF | >
CF | > ENTER BUCKET
CF |
CF | You wouldn't fit in there.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "oh, the mouse could get down in the bucket"
Jacqueline says, "Yeah"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "be queen"
CF ] Closet
CF | >
CF | > BE QUEEN
CF |
CF | The Queen Regent
CF |
CF | Closet
CF | The walls of this chilly closet are bare brick.
CF |
CF | A rope hanging from a tiny winch descends into a narrow gap in the
CF | floor.
CF |
CF | The way out is west.
CF |
CF | The tiny mouse and Sister Lantern are here.
CF |
CF | > Knight_Otu nods.
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "turn winch"
CF ] Closet
CF | >
CF | > TURN WINCH
CF |
CF | You turn the crank, and the rope retracts.
CF |
CF | A bucket rises out of the hole.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "be mouse"
CF ] Closet
CF | >
CF | > BE MOUSE
CF |
CF | The tiny mouse
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "enter bucket"
CF ] Closet
CF | >
CF | > ENTER BUCKET
CF |
CF | You get into the bucket.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "be queen"
CF ] Closet
CF | >
CF | > BE QUEEN
CF |
CF | The Queen Regent
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "turn winch"
CF ] Closet
CF | >
CF | > TURN WINCH
CF |
CF | You turn the crank, and the wooden bucket slowly descends into the
CF | darkness below.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "be mouse"
CF ] Oubliette
CF | >
CF | > BE MOUSE
CF |
CF | The tiny mouse
CF |
CF | Oubliette (in the bucket)
CF | The walls of this narrow shaft are slick with condensation.
CF |
CF | A wheel attached to a pulley mechanism is built into a crooked stone
CF | platform. A small wooden bucket sits on the platform.
CF |
CF | The way out is west.
CF |
CF | The little girl is here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "out"
CF ] Oubliette
CF | >
CF | > OUT
CF |
CF | You get out of the bucket.
CF |
CF | Oubliette
CF | The walls of this narrow shaft are slick with condensation.
CF |
CF | A wheel attached to a pulley mechanism is built into a crooked stone
CF | platform. A small wooden bucket sits on the platform.
CF |
CF | The way out is west.
CF |
CF | The little girl is here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to girl"
CF ] Oubliette
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO GIRL
CF |
CF | You're pretty sure the little girl does not understand mouse-speech.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x plaque"
CF ] Oubliette
CF | >
CF | > X PLAQUE
CF |
CF | "The ingenious Walther Richter van Rauch engineered this
CF | eighteenth-century 'dumbwaiter' system for the purpose of conveying
CF | snacks into his basement."
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Temple
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Temple
CF | Low stone benches encircle a huge statue of tarnished brass: a
CF | corpulent humanoid with a leering goat's head. A plastic stand next to
CF | the idol displays an informative plaque.
CF |
CF | The trickle of black water flows in from the north and out to the
CF | northeast. A narrower passage leads east.
CF |
CF | The little girl is here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x plaque"
CF ] Temple
CF | >
CF | > X PLAQUE
CF |
CF | The plaque explains: "The 'Adrammelech worship' supposedly practiced
CF | by Walther Richter van Rauch and his friends was in fact a highly
CF | symbolic series of ceremonies that amounted to little more than a
CF | complicated drinking game. Absolutely no human sacrifice has ever
CF | taken place in or around Schloss Tuxenstein."
CF |
CF | > Knight_Otu doubts.
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Spring
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Spring
CF | Dark water slowly bubbles from a gash in the rock wall. The fluid
CF | collects first in an ancient stone basin; then it flows over the sides
CF | and runs down channels to the north, east, and south.
CF |
CF | A plaque is mounted on the wall nearby.
CF |
CF | The little girl is here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x plaque"
CF ] Spring
CF | >
CF | > X PLAQUE
CF |
CF | "The natural spring over which Schloss Tuxenstein stands was
CF | considered a sacred place by ancient peoples, centuries before the
CF | castle was built," the plaque explains. "The unusual texture and
CF | coloration are completely natural, but care should be taken not to
CF | drink any of the water."
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Pit
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Pit
CF | The room is so flooded, you can't really get around in here.
CF |
CF | A rusty chain is hammered into the far wall.
CF |
CF | The water trickles in through stone archways to the southeast and
CF | south.
CF |
CF | The little girl is here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x plaque"
CF ] Pit
CF | >
CF | > X PLAQUE
CF |
CF | (You can't see that, or it's not implemented.)
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "se"
CF ] Long Table
CF | >
CF | > SE
CF |
CF |
CF | Long Table
CF | Water flows slowly through the passages to the southwest, west, and
CF | northwest. The chamber is flooded—you have to scurry around the edges
CF | to keep from falling in. The way out to the north is dry, at least.
CF |
CF | In the center of the room is a slanted stone table. At the end of a
CF | chain mounted in the ceiling, an object dangles over the slab.
CF |
CF | The little girl is here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x plaque"
CF ] Long Table
CF | >
CF | > X PLAQUE
CF |
CF | The plaque explains: "Walther Richter van Rauch was a man ahead of his
CF | time in many ways, and his concepts of 'art' would challenge even the
CF | most radical theorists of the twentieth century. 'All human behavior
CF | carries the germ of aesthetic impulse,' he wrote. 'To do good or evil,
CF | to love or to harm, to build or to destroy—every action has its own
CF | artistic value, entirely apart from its practical or moral worth. The
CF | culture that ignores or subordinates this value resigns itself to
CF | being merely a practical or a moral culture.' Some have made the case
CF | that certain activities that took place in Schloss Tuxenstein would be
CF | best interpreted as an eighteenth-century anticipation of the
CF | 'performance art' movement."
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x object"
CF ] Long Table
CF | >
CF | > X OBJECT
CF |
CF | The thing at the end of the chain is shaped a bit like a nose, or a
CF | misshapen egg.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Chamber
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Chamber
CF | Three dirty skeletons hang by their feet from the ceiling, jaws
CF | gaping.
CF |
CF | To the east is a massive door of black iron. An open passage leads
CF | south.
CF |
CF | A plaque is mounted on one wall.
CF |
CF | The little girl is here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x plaque"
CF ] Chamber
CF | >
CF | > X PLAQUE
CF |
CF | "Two of these skeletons are plaster models, commissioned by Walther
CF | Richter van Rauch for the purpose of frightening his guests. The third
CF | was donated by van Rauch's friend and mentor Georg Lenz. Can you guess
CF | which is the real one?"
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x skeletons"
CF ] Chamber
CF | >
CF | > X SKELETONS
CF |
CF | Streaks of rust run down the bones from the bits of wire that hold
CF | them together. Their helpless posture and silent screams are carefully
CF | posed.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "left skeleton"
CF ] Chamber
CF | >
CF | > LEFT SKELETON
CF |
CF | That's not a verb I recognize.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x left skeleton"
CF ] Chamber
CF | >
CF | > X LEFT SKELETON
CF |
CF | (You can't see that, or it's not implemented.)
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x door"
CF ] Chamber
CF | >
CF | > X DOOR
CF |
CF | The door is the only thing in this room that wasn't made out of human
CF | remains. It is a monolith of immovable black metal. It is closed.
CF |
CF | > Knight_Otu asks, "Rauch -> Smoke. Is this torture museum really smoke and mirrors?"
Knight_Otu says, "Metaphorically speaking."
DavidW asks, "I guess it's not torture stuff?"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Long Table
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Long Table
CF | Water flows slowly through the passages to the southwest, west, and
CF | northwest. The chamber is flooded—you have to scurry around the edges
CF | to keep from falling in. The way out to the north is dry, at least.
CF |
CF | In the center of the room is a slanted stone table. At the end of a
CF | chain mounted in the ceiling, an object dangles over the slab.
CF |
CF | The little girl is here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "wsw"
CF ] Long Table
CF | >
CF | > WSW
CF |
CF | That's not a verb I recognize.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "sw"
CF ] Temple
CF | >
CF | > SW
CF |
CF |
CF | Temple
CF | Low stone benches encircle a huge statue of tarnished brass: a
CF | corpulent humanoid with a leering goat's head. A plastic stand next to
CF | the idol displays an informative plaque.
CF |
CF | The trickle of black water flows in from the north and out to the
CF | northeast. A narrower passage leads east.
CF |
CF | The little girl is here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "enter statue"
CF ] Temple
CF | >
CF | > ENTER STATUE
CF |
CF | You are close enough to the brass statue already.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x statue"
CF ] Temple
CF | >
CF | > X STATUE
CF |
CF | The creature's tongue dangles out of its bestial mouth, and its eyes
CF | seem to roll back in their sightless sockets. The metal is dull and
CF | blackened—except around the statue's midsection, where hundreds of
CF | curious hands have rubbed away the tarnish. In the middle of its
CF | considerable stomach is a hinged door.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x tongue"
CF ] Temple
CF | >
CF | > X TONGUE
CF |
CF | (You can't see that, or it's not implemented.)
CF |
CF | > Knight_Otu says, "For all we know, Ate may have rigged the museum to be actual torture devices."
DavidW says, "oh, maybe"
DavidW says, "In any case, it seems all we can do as a mouse here is read the plaques."
DavidW says, "And we've done that. Unless you think the two of them can do something with the nose/egg."
Knight_Otu asks, "Yeah. Looks like we need to reach that tower control room?"
DavidW says, "yeah, the room with the computers."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Oubliette
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Oubliette
CF | The walls of this narrow shaft are slick with condensation.
CF |
CF | A wheel attached to a pulley mechanism is built into a crooked stone
CF | platform. A small wooden bucket sits on the platform.
CF |
CF | The way out is west.
CF |
CF | The little girl is here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "enter bucket"
CF ] Oubliette
CF | >
CF | > ENTER BUCKET
CF |
CF | You get into the bucket.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "be queen"
CF ] Closet
CF | >
CF | > BE QUEEN
CF |
CF | The Queen Regent
CF |
CF | Closet
CF | The walls of this chilly closet are bare brick.
CF |
CF | A rope hanging from a tiny winch descends into a narrow gap in the
CF | floor.
CF |
CF | The way out is west.
CF |
CF | Sister Lantern is here.
CF |
CF | > Knight_Otu says, "But we are reaching the two hour mark as well."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "turn winch"
CF ] Closet
CF | >
CF | > TURN WINCH
CF |
CF | You turn the crank, and the rope retracts.
CF |
CF | A bucket rises out of the hole.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "be mouse"
CF ] Closet
CF | >
CF | > BE MOUSE
CF |
CF | The tiny mouse
CF |
CF | Closet (in the bucket)
CF | The walls of this chilly closet are bare brick.
CF |
CF | A bucket hangs from a tiny winch over a narrow gap in the floor.
CF |
CF | The way out is west.
CF |
CF | Sister Lantern and the Queen Regent are here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "out"
CF ] Closet
CF | >
CF | > OUT
CF |
CF | You get out of the bucket.
CF |
CF | Closet
CF | The walls of this chilly closet are bare brick.
CF |
CF | A bucket hangs from a tiny winch over a narrow gap in the floor.
CF |
CF | The way out is west.
CF |
CF | Sister Lantern and the Queen Regent are here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Chapel
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Chapel
CF | Pews are smashed and overturned; crumpled papers litter the floor. The
CF | antique altar has been smashed beyond repair. A huge hole has been
CF | punched through the stained glass in the south wall, and cold air
CF | whistles through the room.
CF |
CF | The taxidermy hall is north, and a narrow passage leads east.
CF |
CF | Sister Lantern and the Queen Regent are here.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "oh wait, we got there as a mouse by slipping under a door."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Display Hall
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Display Hall
CF | The array of taxidermy exhibited here represents the passion of one
CF | for whom an avid collection has grown into a compulsive mania. Mounted
CF | on walls and in display cases, standing on shelves or on the floor,
CF | and hanging from the ceiling are stuffed and varnished swordfish,
CF | owls, frogs, scorpions, polecats, iguanas, herons, spiders, newts,
CF | raccoons, wallabies, eagles, moths, puffins, turtles, wolves, and a
CF | pygmy crocodile.
CF |
CF | The ways out of the hall are north, east, and south.
CF |
CF | Sister Lantern and the Queen Regent are here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Grand Stair
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Grand Stair
CF | A majestic staircase curls around the circular room, climbing to the
CF | railing of the rotunda above—drawing your gaze vertiginously to the
CF | great dome overhead. High archways open to the east and west.
CF |
CF | Sister Lantern and the Queen Regent are here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "u"
CF ] Rotunda
CF | >
CF | > U
CF |
CF |
CF | Rotunda
CF | Doors stand on the east and west ends of this grand circular walkway.
CF | An immense stairway curves downward, drawing your eye to the mosaic
CF | floor below.
CF |
CF | The dome above somehow seems both incredibly high and uncomfortably
CF | low.
CF |
CF | Sister Lantern and the Queen Regent are here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x dome"
CF ] Rotunda
CF | >
CF | > X DOME
CF |
CF | An enormous night-sky mural covers the dome's interior: At the apex is
CF | Diana, drawing the string of her lunar bow; at the periphery are the
CF | twelve creatures of the Zodiac, all fleeing in terror from the mighty
CF | Huntress (including the centaur, the twins, and the virgin).
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x door"
CF ] Rotunda
CF | >
CF | > X DOOR
CF |
CF | The east door is closed.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "be queen"
CF ] Rotunda
CF | >
CF | > BE QUEEN
CF |
CF | The Queen Regent
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open east door"
CF ] Rotunda
CF | >
CF | > OPEN EAST DOOR
CF |
CF | The east door seems to be locked.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Rotunda
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF | (first opening the east door)
CF | The east door seems to be locked.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "We don't have our key; Linus has it."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "be mouse"
CF ] Rotunda
CF | >
CF | > BE MOUSE
CF |
CF | The tiny mouse
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Statue Hall
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF | You slip under the door.
CF |
CF | Statue Hall
CF | The broad corridor is full of shadows.
CF |
CF | You can see doors to the north, east, south, and west.
CF |
CF | In the center of the hallway stands a marble statue of a centauress.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Bedchamber
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF | You slip under the door.
CF |
CF | Bedchamber
CF | A bare bedframe rests near a dark fireplace.
CF |
CF | A shaft of moonlight falls from the east window. A painting hangs on
CF | the opposite wall.
CF |
CF | Doorways lead south and west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x painting"
CF ] Bedchamber
CF | >
CF | > X PAINTING
CF |
CF | A pond rendered in brownish watercolors, surrounded by leafless trees.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x moonlight"
CF ] Bedchamber
CF | >
CF | > X MOONLIGHT
CF |
CF | (You can't see that, or it's not implemented.)
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x window"
CF ] Bedchamber
CF | >
CF | > X WINDOW
CF |
CF | The moon is watching you, cheering you on, praying for your success.
CF | Silently.
CF |
CF | > Jacqueline says, "aw"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Stair
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF | You slip under the door.
CF |
CF | Stair
CF | The stairs lead up and down from this landing, where a closed door
CF | stands in the north wall.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "u"
CF ] Tower
CF | >
CF | > U
CF |
CF |
CF | Tower
CF | A pair of manacles hangs from the wall on the north side of the room.
CF | On the south side, a tiny window overlooks the valley.
CF |
CF | The spiral staircase leads down.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x window"
CF ] Tower
CF | >
CF | > X WINDOW
CF |
CF | The window is very narrow: You have a view of the church across the
CF | valley, and that's about it.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "yeah, I remember the church."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "d"
CF ] Stair
CF | >
CF | > D
CF |
CF |
CF | Stair
CF | The stairs lead up and down from this landing, where a closed door
CF | stands in the north wall.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "d"
CF ] Stair
CF | >
CF | > D
CF |
CF |
CF | Stair
CF | Stone steps spiral up and down—but a heavy steel shutter blocks the
CF | way downstairs. A passage leads out to the north.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Lounge
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Lounge
CF | Mahogany panels line the walls; a lush purple carpet covers the floor.
CF | Several overstuffed couches are ready to receive any weary travelers
CF | who happen to pass through. The great hall lies to the west; in the
CF | passage to the south is a stone staircase.
CF |
CF | Ashes and half-burned logs sit in the hearth; the fire is long dead.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Stair
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Stair
CF | Stone steps spiral up and down—but a heavy steel shutter blocks the
CF | way downstairs. A passage leads out to the north.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "oh, okay, they can get in here via the lounge then."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "u"
CF ] Stair
CF | >
CF | > U
CF |
CF |
CF | Stair
CF | The stairs lead up and down from this landing, where a closed door
CF | stands in the north wall.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Bedchamber
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF | You slip under the door.
CF |
CF | Bedchamber
CF | A bare bedframe rests near a dark fireplace.
CF |
CF | A shaft of moonlight falls from the east window. A painting hangs on
CF | the opposite wall.
CF |
CF | Doorways lead south and west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Statue Hall
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF | You slip under the door.
CF |
CF | Statue Hall
CF | The broad corridor is full of shadows.
CF |
CF | You can see doors to the north, east, south, and west.
CF |
CF | In the center of the hallway stands a marble statue of a centauress.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Balcony
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF | You slip under the door.
CF |
CF | Balcony
CF | A cozy balcony overlooking the castle's courtyard—and far below that,
CF | a snowy valley. The edge of the castle's roof is overhead.
CF |
CF | A doorway leads north into the castle.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "oh, and Lantern could jump to the roof from here."
DavidW says, "She could talk to the ghost."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Statue Hall
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF | You slip under the door.
CF |
CF | Statue Hall
CF | The broad corridor is full of shadows.
CF |
CF | You can see doors to the north, east, south, and west.
CF |
CF | In the center of the hallway stands a marble statue of a centauress.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "nw"
CF ] Statue Hall
CF | >
CF | > NW
CF |
CF | The ways out of here are north, east, south, and west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Rotunda
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF | You slip under the door.
CF |
CF | Rotunda
CF | Doors stand on the east and west ends of this grand circular walkway.
CF | An immense stairway curves downward, drawing your eye to the mosaic
CF | floor below.
CF |
CF | The dome above somehow seems both incredibly high and uncomfortably
CF | low.
CF |
CF | Sister Lantern and the Queen Regent are here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "d"
CF ] Grand Stair
CF | >
CF | > D
CF |
CF |
CF | Grand Stair
CF | A majestic staircase curls around the circular room, climbing to the
CF | railing of the rotunda above—drawing your gaze vertiginously to the
CF | great dome overhead. High archways open to the east and west.
CF |
CF | Sister Lantern and the Queen Regent are here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Great Hall
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Great Hall
CF | A few folding tables and conference chairs are scattered around the
CF | hall, not arranged in any particular way. A fair amount of litter has
CF | been swept into the corners.
CF |
CF | At the south end of the room is an empty stage; behind it, a wide
CF | glass door. Other passages lead north, east, and west.
CF |
CF | Sister Lantern and the Queen Regent are here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Lounge
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Lounge
CF | Mahogany panels line the walls; a lush purple carpet covers the floor.
CF | Several overstuffed couches are ready to receive any weary travelers
CF | who happen to pass through. The great hall lies to the west; in the
CF | passage to the south is a stone staircase.
CF |
CF | Ashes and half-burned logs sit in the hearth; the fire is long dead.
CF |
CF | Sister Lantern and the Queen Regent are here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Stair
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Stair
CF | Stone steps spiral up and down—but a heavy steel shutter blocks the
CF | way downstairs. A passage leads out to the north.
CF |
CF | Sister Lantern and the Queen Regent are here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "u"
CF ] Stair
CF | >
CF | > U
CF |
CF |
CF | Stair
CF | The stairs lead up and down from this landing, where a closed door
CF | stands in the north wall.
CF |
CF | Sister Lantern and the Queen Regent are here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Bedchamber
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF | You slip under the door.
CF |
CF | Bedchamber
CF | A bare bedframe rests near a dark fireplace.
CF |
CF | A shaft of moonlight falls from the east window. A painting hangs on
CF | the opposite wall.
CF |
CF | Doorways lead south and west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Statue Hall
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF | You slip under the door.
CF |
CF | Statue Hall
CF | The broad corridor is full of shadows.
CF |
CF | You can see doors to the north, east, south, and west.
CF |
CF | In the center of the hallway stands a marble statue of a centauress.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "unlock door"
CF ] Statue Hall
CF | >
CF | > UNLOCK DOOR
CF |
CF | Which do you mean, the west door, the east door, the south door, or
CF | the north door?
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "west door"
CF ] Statue Hall
CF | >
CF | > WEST DOOR
CF |
CF | Your paws aren't dextrous enough to do that.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "be queen"
CF ] Stair
CF | >
CF | > BE QUEEN
CF |
CF | The Queen Regent
CF |
CF | Stair
CF | The stairs lead up and down from this landing, where a closed door
CF | stands in the north wall.
CF |
CF | Sister Lantern is here.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "oops. Another door blocked them."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "be mouse"
CF ] Statue Hall
CF | >
CF | > BE MOUSE
CF |
CF | The tiny mouse
CF |
CF | Statue Hall
CF | The broad corridor is full of shadows.
CF |
CF | You can see doors to the north, east, south, and west.
CF |
CF | In the center of the hallway stands a marble statue of a centauress.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Bedchamber
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF | You slip under the door.
CF |
CF | Bedchamber
CF | A bare bedframe rests near a dark fireplace.
CF |
CF | A shaft of moonlight falls from the east window. A painting hangs on
CF | the opposite wall.
CF |
CF | Doorways lead south and west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Stair
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF | You slip under the door.
CF |
CF | Stair
CF | The stairs lead up and down from this landing, where a closed door
CF | stands in the north wall.
CF |
CF | Sister Lantern and the Queen Regent are here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "save"
CF | >
CF | > SAVE
CF | %% Enter a save filename to write:
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "cflmg5castle"
CF ] Stair
CF | > SAVEOk.
CF |
CF | > Jacqueline nods.
DavidW says, "back"
DavidW says, "sorry I didn't get to the end of the game, but this section is trickier than I expected."
Jacqueline exclaims, "I am once again mostly riding your coat tails, experiencing the game vicariously, so I don't think you need to apologize!"
DavidW says, "Maybe the girl, if she stood on the table, could reach the egg/nose thing, or throw the mouse at it."
Jacqueline says, "Gosh. I don't know about the mouse throwing. But perhaps."
DavidW says, "Maybe the ancient vampire has a key."
DavidW says, "and the mouse can try to explore the rest of the roof."
*** SESSION 4 ***
Lancelot says, "whoops hi"
Jacqueline says, "Hi."
Knight_Otu says, "Hey."
Lancelot says, "Hiya Knight_Otu and Roger"
Lancelot asks, "we are still playing the little girl game?"
Knight_Otu says, "That sounds a bit dismissive, but I think yes."
Jacqueline says, "hee"
Lancelot says, "Not dismissiveness intended, I did not join last week and kinda thought you would have finished it already... I guess its a big game"
Jacqueline says, "Yeah, we did not finish. Suspect we'll pick it back up today."
Knight_Otu says (to Jacq), "Had to think a bit which email you meant, but now I think I do."
Lancelot says, "I also missed the beginning so then that game has had 3 sessions alrerady lol"
DavidW says, "sorry! I lost track of time!"
Lancelot says, "hiya David"
DavidW says, "okay. Look at this map I did of the vampire's castle: [LINK]"
Knight_Otu says, "That place is massive."
DavidW says, "It is. We did see most of it last week, though."
Lancelot says, "nice map"
DavidW says, "We missed a few access points though."
Jacqueline says, "It is indeed a very, very nice map."
DavidW says, "The mouse can enter the hearth in the lounge and go down or up."
DavidW says, "Also, the glass door to the south of the Great Hall can be easily opened to the courtyard, where Sister Lantern can use the jumping skill from her battlesuit to jump onto the balcony, and then up further to the roof herself."
DavidW says, "So I propose we start by seeing those missed areas that way."
Knight_Otu says, "Sure."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "l"
CF ] Stair
CF | >
CF | > L
CF |
CF | Stair
CF | The stairs lead up and down from this landing, where a closed door
CF | stands in the north wall.
CF |
CF | Sister Lantern and the Queen Regent are here.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "Stair is ambiguous."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Bedchamber
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF | You slip under the door.
CF |
CF | Bedchamber
CF | A bare bedframe rests near a dark fireplace.
CF |
CF | A shaft of moonlight falls from the east window. A painting hangs on
CF | the opposite wall.
CF |
CF | Doorways lead south and west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Statue Hall
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF | You slip under the door.
CF |
CF | Statue Hall
CF | The broad corridor is full of shadows.
CF |
CF | You can see doors to the north, east, south, and west.
CF |
CF | In the center of the hallway stands a marble statue of a centauress.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "oh, we're the mouse."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Bedchamber
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF | You slip under the door.
CF |
CF | Bedchamber
CF | A bare bedframe rests near a dark fireplace.
CF |
CF | A shaft of moonlight falls from the east window. A painting hangs on
CF | the opposite wall.
CF |
CF | Doorways lead south and west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x fireplace"
CF ] Bedchamber
CF | >
CF | > X FIREPLACE
CF |
CF | The fireplace is completely clean.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "enter it"
CF ] Bedchamber
CF | >
CF | > ENTER IT
CF |
CF | You crawl inside the fireplace for a better look.
CF |
CF | It'd be easy to scamper up or down this.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "u"
CF ] Roof
CF | >
CF | > U
CF |
CF | You enter the fireplace and begin skittering up the bricks.
CF |
CF | Soon you emerge from the top of the chimney.
CF |
CF | Roof
CF | A crumbling chimney rises at the eastern edge of the roof. The tower
CF | just south of you looks very solid, but you can see a narrow hole in
CF | the tower to the north where it meets the roof.
CF |
CF | The moon is ascending slowly in the eastern sky.
CF |
CF | The rest of the roof is west from here.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "The mouse was able to reach the roof last time from the hole in the northeastern tower room's wall."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "d"
CF ] Bedchamber
CF | >
CF | > D
CF |
CF | You skitter down the chimney to the room below.
CF |
CF | Bedchamber
CF | A bare bedframe rests near a dark fireplace.
CF |
CF | A shaft of moonlight falls from the east window. A painting hangs on
CF | the opposite wall.
CF |
CF | Doorways lead south and west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "d"
CF ] Lounge
CF | >
CF | > D
CF |
CF | You enter the fireplace and climb down the chimney to the room below.
CF |
CF | Lounge
CF | Mahogany panels line the walls; a lush purple carpet covers the floor.
CF | Several overstuffed couches are ready to receive any weary travelers
CF | who happen to pass through. The great hall lies to the west; in the
CF | passage to the south is a stone staircase.
CF |
CF | Ashes and half-burned logs sit in the hearth; the fire is long dead.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "d"
CF ] Lobby
CF | >
CF | > D
CF |
CF | You crawl through the hole in the bottom of the chimney and down the
CF | wall to the room below.
CF |
CF | Lobby
CF | A circular information desk marks the center of the room, bearing the
CF | logo "PFÖKUS" in large white letters. Carpeted paths lead south, west,
CF | and northwest. The door to the north is labeled "Office."
CF |
CF | On the east side of the desk, near a bit of crumbling brick wall (the
CF | way you got down here), stands a tall lucite box.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x desk"
CF ] Lobby
CF | >
CF | > X DESK
CF |
CF | The desk is not attended at the moment.
CF |
CF | Hanging from one side is a black letter board.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x board"
CF ] Lobby
CF | >
CF | > X BOARD
CF |
CF | White letters are pressed into the black felt: "NEXT TOUR IN :PPPP
CF | MINUTES."
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x box"
CF ] Lobby
CF | >
CF | > X BOX
CF |
CF | A transparent container, molded from very thick plastic. The lid is
CF | open, and the padlock is unlocked.
CF |
CF | The notice on the side of the box explains that PFÖKUS needs your
CF | support to continue making important historical sites like Schloss
CF | Tuxenstein open to the public.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "This box, like the hollow statue in the Temple, seems to be another potential prison/coffin."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "l"
CF ] Lobby
CF | >
CF | > L
CF |
CF | Lobby
CF | A circular information desk marks the center of the room, bearing the
CF | logo "PFÖKUS" in large white letters. Carpeted paths lead south, west,
CF | and northwest. The door to the north is labeled "Office."
CF |
CF | On the east side of the desk, near a bit of crumbling brick wall (the
CF | way you got down here), stands a tall lucite box.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x office"
CF ] Lobby
CF | >
CF | > X OFFICE
CF |
CF | It says "Office." It's closed.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Lobby
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF | There's only a sliver of space under the door. Not enough for you to
CF | squeeze through.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Diorama
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Diorama
CF | A scale model of Schloss Tuxenstein sits atop a scale model of the
CF | surrounding mountains, all covered in a layer of dust. A foam placard
CF | is mounted on the table.
CF |
CF | Corridors lead east and north.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x placard"
CF ] Diorama
CF | >
CF | > X PLACARD
CF |
CF | The placard says: "Schloss Tuxenstein was originally constructed by
CF | the House of Tuxenstein in the early thirteenth century. By 1650, the
CF | fortification had been abandoned and was in great disrepair. In 1786,
CF | Walther Richter van Rauch moved into the castle and converted it into
CF | a jagdschloss [hunting cabin] at which to entertain his fellow
CF | noblemen. The castle was acquired by PFÖKUS and converted into a
CF | museum beginning in the late 1960s."
CF |
CF | It also says all of this in German.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "Walther, as you remember, is the ghost on the roof's dome, and also mentioned on the other exhibits."
Knight_Otu says, "Hunting cabin is a rather modest translation."
Lancelot says, "some cabin indeed"
DavidW asks, "ah. too twee?"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x model"
CF ] Diorama
CF | >
CF | > X MODEL
CF |
CF | The model castle is only three feet tall. In the front are the gardens
CF | and grand main entrance; at the back are the courtyard and balcony
CF | overlooking the valley. You recognize the four towers in the corners,
CF | and the large central dome; the brickwork and windows have all been
CF | rendered with great attention to detail.
CF |
CF | The topography of the mountain itself doesn't seem quite as accurate.
CF |
CF | > Knight_Otu says, "Yeah, Schloss usually translates to castle."
DavidW says, "I think this model is mainly to point out the existence of the courtyard and the four towers so we don't miss them."
DavidW says, "and the dome"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Staging Area
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Staging Area
CF | Several steel benches are bolted to the floor here, facing a blank
CF | wall. The path of the carpeting leads past the benches toward a heavy
CF | iron door to the west.
CF |
CF | Open passages lead southeast and south.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x carpeting"
CF ] Staging Area
CF | >
CF | > X CARPETING
CF |
CF | The floor is carpeted in some places and not others, subtly
CF | encouraging you to walk in some places, but not others.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x benches"
CF ] Staging Area
CF | >
CF | > X BENCHES
CF |
CF | The slightest angle in the arrangement of the benches makes it clear
CF | that whoever is sitting on them is supposed to be looking at that
CF | empty wall.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x wall"
CF ] Staging Area
CF | >
CF | > X WALL
CF |
CF | Someone probably used this wall for projecting videos of some sort, at
CF | some point.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x door"
CF ] Staging Area
CF | >
CF | > X DOOR
CF |
CF | The black iron is hundreds of years old. The designer of this door
CF | wanted to convey feelings of hopelessness and finality to whoever
CF | looked at it.
CF |
CF | > Knight_Otu says, "(Morbid curiosity compels me to try and figure out what pfökus stands for, unless it's been mentioned earlier.)"
DavidW says, "The little girl saw the other side of this door. We'll probably need to open it eventually to get her out."
DavidW says, "no, that name is new to me."
DavidW says, "anyway, let's switch to Lantern, so we can see the roof from her viewpoint."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "be lantern"
CF ] Stair
CF | >
CF | > BE LANTERN
CF |
CF | Sister Lantern
CF |
CF | Stair
CF | The stairs lead up and down from this landing, where a closed door
CF | stands in the north wall.
CF |
CF | The Queen Regent is here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "d"
CF ] Stair
CF | >
CF | > D
CF |
CF |
CF | Stair
CF | Stone steps spiral up and down—but a heavy steel shutter blocks the
CF | way downstairs. A passage leads out to the north.
CF |
CF | The Queen Regent is here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Lounge
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Lounge
CF | Mahogany panels line the walls; a lush purple carpet covers the floor.
CF | Several overstuffed couches are ready to receive any weary travelers
CF | who happen to pass through. The great hall lies to the west; in the
CF | passage to the south is a stone staircase.
CF |
CF | Ashes and half-burned logs sit in the hearth; the fire is long dead.
CF |
CF | The Queen Regent is here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Great Hall
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Great Hall
CF | A few folding tables and conference chairs are scattered around the
CF | hall, not arranged in any particular way. A fair amount of litter has
CF | been swept into the corners.
CF |
CF | At the south end of the room is an empty stage; behind it, a wide
CF | glass door. Other passages lead north, east, and west.
CF |
CF | The Queen Regent is here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Courtyard
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF | (first opening the wide glass door)
CF |
CF | Courtyard
CF | There might be a garden here, in warmer months. Tonight the place is
CF | undecorated, except for a cracked marble fountain.
CF |
CF | The castle only encloses this courtyard on three sides; to the south,
CF | framed by a wrought iron fence, is a view over a glittering Alpine
CF | valley.
CF |
CF | The great hall is visible through the glass door to the north. Some
CF | distance above them, a balcony extends from the castle wall.
CF |
CF | The Queen Regent is here.
CF |
CF | > Knight_Otu asks, "I'm reasonably certain it's something like P? für Österreich's Kultur und S?"
Knight_Otu says, "(... for Austria culture and ...)"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x valley"
CF ] Courtyard
CF | >
CF | > X VALLEY
CF |
CF | This side of the castle stands at the edge of a rocky cliff. It
CF | descends steeply for a few hundred feet before becoming the gentle
CF | slope of a snowy valley.
CF |
CF | Far across the valley, a tiny church stands out in the moonlight.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x church"
CF ] Courtyard
CF | >
CF | > X CHURCH
CF |
CF | There's a light on inside the church. But it's very, very far away.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x fence"
CF ] Courtyard
CF | >
CF | > X FENCE
CF |
CF | The iron fence is more decorative than functional; it wouldn't stop a
CF | sufficiently unlucky guest from tumbling out of the courtyard and down
CF | the cliff below.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x fountain"
CF ] Courtyard
CF | >
CF | > X FOUNTAIN
CF |
CF | The fountain is in terrible condition, and might not even run when the
CF | temperature is above freezing.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x balcony"
CF ] Courtyard
CF | >
CF | > X BALCONY
CF |
CF | You can barely make out the railings of the second-floor balcony from
CF | down here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "u"
CF ] Balcony
CF | >
CF | > U
CF |
CF | You leap up to the balcony, swinging yourself over the railing.
CF |
CF | Balcony
CF | A cozy balcony overlooking the castle's courtyard—and far below that,
CF | a snowy valley. The edge of the castle's roof is overhead.
CF |
CF | A doorway leads north into the castle.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "u"
CF ] Edge of the Roof
CF | >
CF | > U
CF |
CF | You jump up to the roof.
CF |
CF | Edge of the Roof
CF | This edge of the roof continues to the west. A tower wall rises to the
CF | east. Directly below you is the second-floor balcony.
CF |
CF | The castle's central dome is northwest.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Edge of the Roof
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Edge of the Roof
CF | This edge of the roof continues to the east. A tower wall rises to the
CF | west. One floor below you is a smaller section of roof.
CF |
CF | The castle's central dome is north from here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "d"
CF ] Small Roof
CF | >
CF | > D
CF |
CF | You jump down from the castle's roof, alighting on a smaller bit of
CF | roof.
CF |
CF | Small Roof
CF | This patch of roof is right over some small section of the first
CF | floor. You're roughly level with the balcony to the east.
CF |
CF | The main part of the roof is above you.
CF |
CF | A loose piece of paper has been blown into the corner.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "take paper"
CF ] Small Roof
CF | >
CF | > TAKE PAPER
CF |
CF | You take the piece of paper.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x it"
CF ] Small Roof
CF | >
CF | > X IT
CF |
CF | The headline says this is The Juicer, official zine of the
CF | Yawning Crypt Clan. A one-page zine, apparently. This month's features
CF | include a profile of Tasha Ainsworth, some weird art by Belladonna
CF | Nyx, and a puzzle.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x profile"
CF ] Small Roof
CF | >
CF | > X PROFILE
CF |
CF | The "profile" is really just Tasha's age, measurements, likes (beer)
CF | and dislikes (stupid questions), and a quote: "Be good to yourself, or
CF | else." Her picture has had the contrast turned all the way up in
CF | Photoshop.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x art"
CF ] Small Roof
CF | >
CF | > X ART
CF |
CF | Belladonna Nyx has arranged some very faint lines in a vaguely
CF | triangular formation. The title of the piece is "Hypocrites."
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x puzzle"
CF ] Small Roof
CF | >
CF | > X PUZZLE
CF |
CF | The puzzle is titled "Ends and Beginnings." It reads:
CF |
CF | Beginning of ice (5)
CF | End of imprisonment (6)
CF | Beginning of winter (8)
CF | End of sentence (6)
CF | Beginning of steel (4)
CF | End of problem (8)
CF | Beginning of wine (6)
CF |
CF | > Lancelot says, "oh right we need to get some words here"
DavidW says, "During the week, I solved this. The individual answers are WATER, PAROLE, DECEMBER, PERIOD, IRON, SOLUTION, and GRAPES."
Knight_Otu asks, "WEDDING?"
Lancelot says, "ah I got 6"
DavidW says, "And if you take the beginnings and ends of those words ..."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "wedding"
CF ] Small Roof
CF | >
CF | > WEDDING
CF |
CF | That is correct! Well done, you.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "u"
CF ] Edge of the Roof
CF | >
CF | > U
CF |
CF | You jump up to the roof.
CF |
CF | Edge of the Roof
CF | This edge of the roof continues to the east. A tower wall rises to the
CF | west. One floor below you is a smaller section of roof.
CF |
CF | The castle's central dome is north from here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Dome
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Dome
CF | Depending on what side of the dome you're on, you can see smaller
CF | towers at the northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest corners
CF | of the castle. The roof extends to the north, east, south, and west.
CF |
CF | The pinnacle of the dome is a bit of a climb from here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "u"
CF ] Top of the Dome
CF | >
CF | > U
CF |
CF |
CF | Top of the Dome
CF | The view from up here is amazing.
CF |
CF | Walther Richter van Rauch's ghost sits near the summit, staring at the
CF | moon.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x ghost"
CF ] Top of the Dome
CF | >
CF | > X GHOST
CF |
CF | He wears the hunting garb and the facial hair of an eighteenth-century
CF | nobleman. The years have worn the regret in his eyes down to
CF | nothingness.
CF |
CF | > Lancelot asks, "solving it doesnt do anything?"
DavidW says, "Not that I can tell."
DavidW says, "It's an easter egg thing."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to ghost"
CF ] Top of the Dome
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO GHOST
CF |
CF | He looks at you for a moment; then he looks back at the moon.
CF |
CF | "I really am sorry for what I've done," he says blankly.
CF |
CF | > Lancelot says, "a rather smug reply by the game lol"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Top of the Dome
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | He has nothing else to say.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "I don't know what he's sorry for."
Jacqueline says, "Hm, yeah."
Jacqueline says, "And we can't ask him."
Knight_Otu says, "Not very talkative."
DavidW says, "I assume he died before the vampires showed up, but if they killed him, he wouldn't apologize fof that."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "d"
CF ] Dome
CF | >
CF | > D
CF |
CF |
CF | Dome
CF | Depending on what side of the dome you're on, you can see smaller
CF | towers at the northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest corners
CF | of the castle. The roof extends to the north, east, south, and west.
CF |
CF | The pinnacle of the dome is a bit of a climb from here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Roof
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Roof
CF | The western edge of the roof.
CF |
CF | The southwest tower is in terrible condition, and there's a huge hole
CF | in the wall (across a fairly large gap from this part of the roof).
CF | The northwest tower is quite intact.
CF |
CF | The castle's central dome is east from here.
CF |
CF | > Knight_Otu says, "Might have given out a general invite, attracting all the vampires."
DavidW asks, "Unlike the mouse, we can jump over this gap. And maybe enter it too?"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x gap"
CF ] Roof
CF | >
CF | > X GAP
CF |
CF | (You can't see that, or it's not implemented.)
CF |
CF | > Lancelot says, "aww"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "d"
CF ] Roof
CF | >
CF | > D
CF |
CF | From here you can go northeast or east across the roof—or you can
CF | jump
CF | south into the broken tower.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "oh, I guess it's not enterable."
DavidW says, "But Lantern can jump over it; mouse couldn't."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Ruined Tower
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF | You hop through the wall, into the tower.
CF |
CF | Ruined Tower
CF | The wall has crumbled here, and exposed this chamber to the sky. What
CF | remains of the tower appears to have been an unfinished storage space.
CF | In the middle of the frost-covered floor is an ancient reliquary.
CF |
CF | The staircase leads down into the tower—or you can jump north onto
CF | the
CF | roof.
CF |
CF | It's awfully cold up here.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "uh, in LMG3 or 4, there was a pearl in the reliquary that we took for the Queen of Fairie, Titania."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "d"
CF ] Stair
CF | >
CF | > D
CF |
CF |
CF | Stair
CF | Cold wind carries from the top of this staircase. The way out is
CF | north.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Bedchamber
CF | A canopied bed fit for a princess seems to take up most of the room.
CF | Beneath its rosy veil, the Hunter, bane of vampires, lies sleeping in
CF | absolute peace.
CF |
CF | An unspeakably decrepit man is seated next to the bed—the ancient
CF | vampire Cadac.
CF |
CF | He recognizes you immediately, and raises a skeletal finger:
CF | "Ebenezabeth Scrooge. By the Lights of Hell, I rebuke you, Ebenezabeth
CF | Scrooge. By the Ten Crowns, I abjure you." His shadow seems to grow as
CF | the candlelight sputters. "Not a step will you take toward me, not a
CF | weapon will you raise against me, Ebenezabeth Scrooge. Begone."
CF |
CF | You stumble, almost fall to your knees.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Stair
CF | You stumble, almost fall to your knees.And then you stagger backward,
CF | out of the room.
CF |
CF | Stair
CF | Cold wind carries from the top of this staircase. The way out is
CF | north.
CF |
CF | > Knight_Otu says, "Hm."
DavidW says, "I don't know how to fight that yet. I suspect that it only works with people he knows a name for, and the little girl has no name, so she may be the key to his defeat."
Cerfeuil says, "Hi, sorry for being late."
DavidW says, "hi Cerfeuil"
Knight_Otu says, "Hey."
Lancelot says, "makes sense... the power of naming things"
Lancelot says, "hiya Cerfeuil"
DavidW says, "I'm not certain, but it's possible the little match girl didn't have any name until Ebenezer gave her one."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "u"
CF ] Ruined Tower
CF | >
CF | > U
CF |
CF |
CF | Ruined Tower
CF | The wall has crumbled here, and exposed this chamber to the sky. What
CF | remains of the tower appears to have been an unfinished storage space.
CF | In the middle of the frost-covered floor is an ancient reliquary.
CF |
CF | The staircase leads down into the tower—or you can jump north onto
CF | the
CF | roof.
CF |
CF | It's awfully cold up here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Roof
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF | You hop out onto the roof.
CF |
CF | Roof
CF | The western edge of the roof.
CF |
CF | The southwest tower is in terrible condition, and there's a huge hole
CF | in the wall (across a fairly large gap from this part of the roof).
CF | The northwest tower is quite intact.
CF |
CF | The castle's central dome is east from here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Dome
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Dome
CF | Depending on what side of the dome you're on, you can see smaller
CF | towers at the northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest corners
CF | of the castle. The roof extends to the north, east, south, and west.
CF |
CF | The pinnacle of the dome is a bit of a climb from here.
CF |
CF | > Knight_Otu says, "I guess we won't nibble on him as the mouse."
DavidW says, "The mouse and go there, and has, but won't attempt to bring attention to herself."
DavidW says, "er can go there"
Knight_Otu says, "Yeah."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "se"
CF ] Edge of the Roof
CF | >
CF | > SE
CF |
CF |
CF | Edge of the Roof
CF | This edge of the roof continues to the west. A tower wall rises to the
CF | east. Directly below you is the second-floor balcony.
CF |
CF | The castle's central dome is northwest.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "d"
CF ] Balcony
CF | >
CF | > D
CF |
CF | You jump down from the castle's roof, alighting on the balcony.
CF |
CF | Balcony
CF | A cozy balcony overlooking the castle's courtyard—and far below that,
CF | a snowy valley. The edge of the castle's roof is overhead.
CF |
CF | A doorway leads north into the castle.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "d"
CF ] Courtyard
CF | >
CF | > D
CF |
CF | You jump lightly over the railing, landing in the courtyard without
CF | making a sound.
CF |
CF | Courtyard
CF | There might be a garden here, in warmer months. Tonight the place is
CF | undecorated, except for a cracked marble fountain.
CF |
CF | The castle only encloses this courtyard on three sides; to the south,
CF | framed by a wrought iron fence, is a view over a glittering Alpine
CF | valley.
CF |
CF | The great hall is visible through the glass door to the north. Some
CF | distance above them, a balcony extends from the castle wall.
CF |
CF | The Queen Regent is here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Great Hall
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Great Hall
CF | A few folding tables and conference chairs are scattered around the
CF | hall, not arranged in any particular way. A fair amount of litter has
CF | been swept into the corners.
CF |
CF | At the south end of the room is an empty stage; behind it, a wide
CF | glass door. Other passages lead north, east, and west.
CF |
CF | The Queen Regent is here.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "I think the only way forward at this point is for lantern to get to the northwest tower and deal with the computers."
DavidW says, "The queen regent can't get there unless she can also jump, but I doubt it."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Courtyard
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Courtyard
CF | There might be a garden here, in warmer months. Tonight the place is
CF | undecorated, except for a cracked marble fountain.
CF |
CF | The castle only encloses this courtyard on three sides; to the south,
CF | framed by a wrought iron fence, is a view over a glittering Alpine
CF | valley.
CF |
CF | The great hall is visible through the glass door to the north. Some
CF | distance above them, a balcony extends from the castle wall.
CF |
CF | The Queen Regent is here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "u"
CF ] Balcony
CF | >
CF | > U
CF |
CF | You leap up to the balcony, swinging yourself over the railing.
CF |
CF | Balcony
CF | A cozy balcony overlooking the castle's courtyard—and far below that,
CF | a snowy valley. The edge of the castle's roof is overhead.
CF |
CF | A doorway leads north into the castle.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "be queen"
CF ] Courtyard
CF | >
CF | > BE QUEEN
CF |
CF | The Queen Regent
CF |
CF | Courtyard
CF | There might be a garden here, in warmer months. Tonight the place is
CF | undecorated, except for a cracked marble fountain.
CF |
CF | The castle only encloses this courtyard on three sides; to the south,
CF | framed by a wrought iron fence, is a view over a glittering Alpine
CF | valley.
CF |
CF | The great hall is visible through the glass door to the north. Some
CF | distance above them, a balcony extends from the castle wall.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "u"
CF ] Courtyard
CF | >
CF | > U
CF |
CF | You can't just jump up to that balcony.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "be lantern"
CF ] Balcony
CF | >
CF | > BE LANTERN
CF |
CF | Sister Lantern
CF |
CF | Balcony
CF | A cozy balcony overlooking the castle's courtyard—and far below that,
CF | a snowy valley. The edge of the castle's roof is overhead.
CF |
CF | A doorway leads north into the castle.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "d"
CF ] Courtyard
CF | >
CF | > D
CF |
CF | You jump lightly over the railing, landing in the courtyard without
CF | making a sound.
CF |
CF | Courtyard
CF | There might be a garden here, in warmer months. Tonight the place is
CF | undecorated, except for a cracked marble fountain.
CF |
CF | The castle only encloses this courtyard on three sides; to the south,
CF | framed by a wrought iron fence, is a view over a glittering Alpine
CF | valley.
CF |
CF | The great hall is visible through the glass door to the north. Some
CF | distance above them, a balcony extends from the castle wall.
CF |
CF | The Queen Regent is here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "take queen"
CF ] Courtyard
CF | >
CF | > TAKE QUEEN
CF |
CF | I don't suppose the Queen Regent would care for that.
CF |
CF | > Lancelot says, "I guess carrying around NPCs is out of the question"
DavidW says, "We can pick up the mouse when it's nearby, so this isn't out of order, I think."
Lancelot says, "oh right thats why"
DavidW says, "anyway, Lantern can't take Queen."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "u"
CF ] Balcony
CF | >
CF | > U
CF |
CF | You leap up to the balcony, swinging yourself over the railing.
CF |
CF | Balcony
CF | A cozy balcony overlooking the castle's courtyard—and far below that,
CF | a snowy valley. The edge of the castle's roof is overhead.
CF |
CF | A doorway leads north into the castle.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Statue Hall
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF | (first opening the door)
CF |
CF | Statue Hall
CF | The broad corridor is full of shadows.
CF |
CF | You can see doors to the north, east, south, and west.
CF |
CF | In the center of the hallway stands a marble statue of a female
CF | centaur.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Library
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF | (first opening the north door)
CF |
CF | Library
CF | Huge arched windows span the north wall. The other walls are covered
CF | in bookshelves—most of them empty. Exits lead east, south, and west.
CF |
CF | In the center of the library, within a tall enclosure of reinforced
CF | glass, is an enormous rosebush.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Master Bedroom
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Master Bedroom
CF | The opulent four-poster bed isn't square with the wall, and its sheets
CF | are in a horrible mess. At the foot of the bed, a finely crafted
CF | coffin lies open.
CF |
CF | The library is to the east, and a small passage leads west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Stair
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Stair
CF | The bottom of a narrow spiral staircase. The master bedroom is east
CF | from here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "u"
CF ] Tower
CF | >
CF | > U
CF |
CF |
CF | Tower
CF | A bank of computers has been installed haphazardly in the top of this
CF | chilly tower. Tangled cables run past your feet and disappear between
CF | the floorboards.
CF |
CF | The spiral staircase leads back down to the master bedroom.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x computers"
CF ] Tower
CF | >
CF | > X COMPUTERS
CF |
CF | When you feel the heat radiating from the machines, you understand why
CF | they were set up in this chilly tower and not somewhere more
CF | convenient.
CF |
CF | You had to work with just this sort of technology not too long
CF | ago—deactivating it should be fairly simple.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "deactivate computers"
CF | >
CF | > DEACTIVATE COMPUTERS
CF |
CF | A shape phases in between you and the computers.
CF |
CF | "You've come quite far enough," it warbles, coalescing into the body
CF | of Sceptyre, the Ultimate Vampire Warrior. He raises his sword.
CF |
CF | You raise yours. "Don't do it," you tell him. "Poseidon will tear you
CF | to shreds."
CF |
CF | "He's welcome to try," Sceptyre chuckles—and he lunges toward you. Jacqueline says, "gosh"
DavidW says, "Sceptyre was mentioned earlier with a grimace."
Knight_Otu says, "Someone's confident."
DavidW says, "He's a tough customer, I take it."
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | "He's welcome to try," Sceptyre chuckles—and he lunges toward
CF | you.Something interesting is happening to Madam Scrooge.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | you.Something interesting is happening to Madam Scrooge.Madam Scrooge
CF |
CF | A klaxon buzzes. Atë slams her fist on the console, and the wall of
CF | monitors lights up.
CF |
CF | "Friends of yours?" she spits: On the CCTV feeds, the Queen Regent is
CF | looking around cautiously; Sister Lantern is locked in combat with
CF | Sceptyre. It takes a moment for Atë to realize what she's seeing.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | Sceptyre. It takes a moment for Atë to realize what she's seeing.She
CF | punches a hole through the screen. "This!" she shrieks. "This right
CF | here! All this cutesy showboating of yours just pisses me off to no
CF | end. Well, enjoy it while you can, hag."
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Office
CF | end. Well, enjoy it while you can, hag."She pulls a remote out of her
CF | dress and hits a button. The clatter of steel echoes through the
CF | castle: shutters falling over doorways and windows.
CF |
CF | With one more snarl of rage, Atë transforms into a pink mist and flows
CF | under the door, out of sight.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "l"
CF ] Office
CF | >
CF | > L
CF |
CF | Office (on the folding chair)
CF | A high-backed padded chair sits in front of a huge security console
CF | with a hole punched in it. A cheap folding chair has been pushed into
CF | the back corner of the narrow room, wedged between the wall and a
CF | rusty filing cabinet. The door to the south is closed.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "This office is in the bottom floor."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x console"
CF ] Office
CF | >
CF | > X CONSOLE
CF |
CF | Six television screens are mounted above an array of
CF | unhelpfully-labeled controls. The screens are all blank—and one has a
CF | jagged hole in it.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x cabinet"
CF ] Office
CF | >
CF | > X CABINET
CF |
CF | From top to bottom, the drawers are labeled "Zuschüsse,"
CF | "Korrespondenz," "Süßigkeiten," and "Gemisch."
CF |
CF | > Lancelot says, "so the castle now has tigntened security? maybe new avenues"
DavidW says, "yeah, I don't know where all the new shutters are."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open top"
CF ] Office
CF | >
CF | > OPEN TOP
CF |
CF | You open the top drawer.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open second"
CF ] Office
CF | >
CF | > OPEN SECOND
CF |
CF | You open the second drawer.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open third"
CF ] Office
CF | >
CF | > OPEN THIRD
CF |
CF | You open the third drawer, revealing a key ring.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x key ring"
CF ] Office
CF | >
CF | > X KEY RING
CF |
CF | A dozen or so keys of various vintages hang from the key ring, along
CF | with a metal fob.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x fob"
CF ] Office
CF | >
CF | > X FOB
CF |
CF | The key fob bears the phrase "ZU DIR SELBER TREU SEIN;" the words
CF | "EINHEIT," "DIENST," and "ERHOLUNG," and a large X.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "take ring"
CF ] Office
CF | >
CF | > TAKE RING
CF |
CF | You take the key ring.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open fourth"
CF ] Office
CF | >
CF | > OPEN FOURTH
CF |
CF | You open the bottom drawer.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open door"
CF ] Office
CF | >
CF | > OPEN DOOR
CF |
CF | The office door seems to be locked.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "unlock door"
CF ] Office
CF | >
CF | > UNLOCK DOOR
CF |
CF | You find the key that matches the office door and unlock it without
CF | too much trouble.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Lobby
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF | (first getting off the folding chair)
CF | (first opening the office door)
CF |
CF | Lobby
CF | A circular information desk marks the center of the room, bearing the
CF | logo "PFÖKUS" in large white letters. Carpeted paths lead south, west,
CF | and northwest. The door to the north is labeled "Office."
CF |
CF | On the east side of the desk, near a bit of crumbling brick wall,
CF | stands a tall lucite box.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "nw"
CF ] Staging Area
CF | >
CF | > NW
CF |
CF |
CF | Staging Area
CF | Several steel benches are bolted to the floor here, facing a blank
CF | wall. The path of the carpeting leads past the benches toward a heavy
CF | iron door to the west.
CF |
CF | Open passages lead southeast and south.
CF |
CF | The tiny mouse is here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "unlock door"
CF ] Staging Area
CF | >
CF | > UNLOCK DOOR
CF |
CF | You find the key that matches the heavy iron door and unlock it
CF | without too much trouble.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Chamber
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF | (first opening the heavy iron door)
CF |
CF | Chamber
CF | Three dirty skeletons hang by their feet from the ceiling, jaws
CF | gaping.
CF |
CF | To the east is a massive door of black iron. An open passage leads
CF | south.
CF |
CF | A plaque is mounted on one wall.
CF |
CF | The tiny mouse is here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "sw"
CF ] Chamber
CF | >
CF | > SW
CF |
CF | The black iron door is east, and an open passage is south.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Long Table
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Long Table
CF | Water flows slowly through the passages to the southwest, west, and
CF | northwest. The entire chamber is flooded up to your ankles. The way
CF | out to the north is dry, at least.
CF |
CF | In the center of the room is a slanted stone table. At the end of a
CF | chain mounted in the ceiling, an object dangles over the slab.
CF |
CF | The tiny mouse is here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "sw"
CF ] Temple
CF | >
CF | > SW
CF |
CF |
CF | Temple
CF | Low stone benches encircle a huge statue of tarnished brass: a
CF | corpulent humanoid with a leering goat's head. A plastic stand next to
CF | the idol displays an informative plaque.
CF |
CF | The trickle of black water flows in from the north and out to the
CF | northeast. A narrower passage leads east.
CF |
CF | The tiny mouse is here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Oubliette
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Oubliette
CF | The walls of this narrow shaft are slick with condensation.
CF |
CF | A wheel attached to a pulley mechanism is built into a crooked stone
CF | platform.
CF |
CF | The way out is west.
CF |
CF | The tiny mouse and the little girl are here.
CF |
CF | "There you are!" you cry. "Poor thing. Come on, we're almost
CF | finished." And you hold out your hand, and the little girl grasps it
CF | tightly.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Temple
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Temple
CF | Low stone benches encircle a huge statue of tarnished brass: a
CF | corpulent humanoid with a leering goat's head. A plastic stand next to
CF | the idol displays an informative plaque.
CF |
CF | The trickle of black water flows in from the north and out to the
CF | northeast. A narrower passage leads east.
CF |
CF | The little girl and the tiny mouse are here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "ne"
CF ] Long Table
CF | >
CF | > NE
CF |
CF |
CF | Long Table
CF | Water flows slowly through the passages to the southwest, west, and
CF | northwest. The entire chamber is flooded up to your ankles. The way
CF | out to the north is dry, at least.
CF |
CF | In the center of the room is a slanted stone table. At the end of a
CF | chain mounted in the ceiling, an object dangles over the slab.
CF |
CF | The little girl and the tiny mouse are here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Chamber
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Chamber
CF | Three dirty skeletons hang by their feet from the ceiling, jaws
CF | gaping.
CF |
CF | To the east is a massive door of black iron. An open passage leads
CF | south.
CF |
CF | A plaque is mounted on one wall.
CF |
CF | The little girl and the tiny mouse are here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Long Table
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Long Table
CF | Water flows slowly through the passages to the southwest, west, and
CF | northwest. The entire chamber is flooded up to your ankles. The way
CF | out to the north is dry, at least.
CF |
CF | In the center of the room is a slanted stone table. At the end of a
CF | chain mounted in the ceiling, an object dangles over the slab.
CF |
CF | The little girl and the tiny mouse are here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x object"
CF ] Long Table
CF | >
CF | > X OBJECT
CF |
CF | The thing at the end of the chain is shaped a bit like a nose, or a
CF | misshapen egg.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "hm, I hoped Madam would know what that object was."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "push it"
CF ] Long Table
CF | >
CF | > PUSH IT
CF |
CF | You'd have to climb onto the table to do that.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "get on table"
CF ] Long Table
CF | >
CF | > GET ON TABLE
CF |
CF | You don't want to do that.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Chamber
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Chamber
CF | Three dirty skeletons hang by their feet from the ceiling, jaws
CF | gaping.
CF |
CF | To the east is a massive door of black iron. An open passage leads
CF | south.
CF |
CF | A plaque is mounted on one wall.
CF |
CF | The little girl and the tiny mouse are here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Staging Area
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Staging Area
CF | Several steel benches are bolted to the floor here, facing a blank
CF | wall. The path of the carpeting leads past the benches toward a heavy
CF | iron door to the west.
CF |
CF | Open passages lead southeast and south.
CF |
CF | The little girl and the tiny mouse are here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "se"
CF ] Lobby
CF | >
CF | > SE
CF |
CF |
CF | Lobby
CF | A circular information desk marks the center of the room, bearing the
CF | logo "PFÖKUS" in large white letters. Carpeted paths lead south, west,
CF | and northwest. The door to the north is labeled "Office."
CF |
CF | On the east side of the desk, near a bit of crumbling brick wall,
CF | stands a tall lucite box.
CF |
CF | The little girl and the tiny mouse are here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Bottom of the Stairs
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Bottom of the Stairs
CF | Cells with rusty iron bars line the narrow hallway. The air is clammy,
CF | and dark puddles have formed in the corners. Mounted on the wall is an
CF | interpretive placard.
CF |
CF | The hallway continues west. Another passage leads north. A spiral
CF | staircase is barred by a heavy steel shutter.
CF |
CF | The little girl and the tiny mouse are here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "unlock shutter"
CF ] Bottom of the Stairs
CF | >
CF | > UNLOCK SHUTTER
CF |
CF | You don't see any keyhole.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "hm. That's a problem"
DavidW says, "I guess the computers are needed to deal with that."
DavidW asks, "Shall we switch viewpoint to Lantern's battle, so see how the Queen is doing?"
DavidW says, "er or see"
Lancelot says, "be my guest, I cannot advise at this point"
DavidW asks, "or... maybe the girl can go up the chimney too?"
Knight_Otu says, "Hm, maybe."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Lobby
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Lobby
CF | A circular information desk marks the center of the room, bearing the
CF | logo "PFÖKUS" in large white letters. Carpeted paths lead south, west,
CF | and northwest. The door to the north is labeled "Office."
CF |
CF | On the east side of the desk, near a bit of crumbling brick wall,
CF | stands a tall lucite box.
CF |
CF | The little girl and the tiny mouse are here.
CF |
CF | > Lancelot asks, "she no doubt is tiny enough?"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "be girl"
CF ] Lobby
CF | >
CF | > BE GIRL
CF |
CF | The little girl
CF |
CF | > Jacqueline says, "Maybe"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "enter chimney"
CF ] Lobby
CF | >
CF | > ENTER CHIMNEY
CF |
CF | (You can't see that, or it's not implemented.)
CF |
CF | > Lancelot says, "ouch"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x wall"
CF ] Lobby
CF | >
CF | > X WALL
CF |
CF | This section of the wall seems to have been left unrestored in order
CF | to demonstrate something about the castle's architecture. Bricks are
CF | missing in several places, including a substantial hole in the ceiling
CF | above.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x hole"
CF ] Lobby
CF | >
CF | > X HOLE
CF |
CF | (You can't see that, or it's not implemented.)
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "u"
CF ] Lobby
CF | >
CF | > U
CF |
CF | You have no way of getting straight to the room above this one.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "oh, it's not a chimney from here. Only from the hearth and up."
DavidW says, "I'm just wondering if the queen had the keys, she might make the difference in Lantern's battle."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "be madam"
CF ] Lobby
CF | >
CF | > BE MADAM
CF |
CF | Madam Scrooge
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "give keys to mouse"
CF ] Lobby
CF | >
CF | > GIVE KEYS TO MOUSE
CF |
CF | The mouse can't carry this key ring.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "drat"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "be queen"
CF ] Courtyard
CF | >
CF | > BE QUEEN
CF |
CF | The Queen Regent
CF |
CF | Courtyard
CF | There might be a garden here, in warmer months. Tonight the place is
CF | undecorated, except for a cracked marble fountain.
CF |
CF | The castle only encloses this courtyard on three sides; to the south,
CF | framed by a wrought iron fence, is a view over a glittering Alpine
CF | valley, spoiled somewhat by a set of heavy steel bars.
CF |
CF | The great hall is visible through the glass door to the north. Some
CF | distance above them, a balcony extends from the castle wall.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Great Hall
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Great Hall
CF | A few folding tables and conference chairs are scattered around the
CF | hall, not arranged in any particular way. A fair amount of litter has
CF | been swept into the corners.
CF |
CF | At the south end of the room is an empty stage; behind it, a wide
CF | glass door. Other passages lead north, east, and west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Lounge
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Lounge
CF | Mahogany panels line the walls; a lush purple carpet covers the floor.
CF | Several overstuffed couches are ready to receive any weary travelers
CF | who happen to pass through. The great hall lies to the west; in the
CF | passage to the south is a stone staircase.
CF |
CF | Ashes and half-burned logs sit in the hearth; the fire is long dead.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Stair
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Stair
CF | Stone steps spiral up and down—but a heavy steel shutter blocks the
CF | way downstairs. A passage leads out to the north.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "u"
CF ] Stair
CF | >
CF | > U
CF |
CF |
CF | Stair
CF | The stairs lead up and down from this landing, where a closed door
CF | stands in the north wall.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open door"
CF ] Stair
CF | >
CF | > OPEN DOOR
CF |
CF | The door seems to be locked.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "d"
CF ] Stair
CF | >
CF | > D
CF |
CF |
CF | Stair
CF | Stone steps spiral up and down—but a heavy steel shutter blocks the
CF | way downstairs. A passage leads out to the north.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Lounge
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Lounge
CF | Mahogany panels line the walls; a lush purple carpet covers the floor.
CF | Several overstuffed couches are ready to receive any weary travelers
CF | who happen to pass through. The great hall lies to the west; in the
CF | passage to the south is a stone staircase.
CF |
CF | Ashes and half-burned logs sit in the hearth; the fire is long dead.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "oh, the keys can go up the bucket!"
Lancelot says, "clever"
DavidW says, "Assuming the queen can get to there still."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Great Hall
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Great Hall
CF | A few folding tables and conference chairs are scattered around the
CF | hall, not arranged in any particular way. A fair amount of litter has
CF | been swept into the corners.
CF |
CF | At the south end of the room is an empty stage; behind it, a wide
CF | glass door. Other passages lead north, east, and west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Grand Stair
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Grand Stair
CF | A majestic staircase curls around the circular room, climbing to the
CF | railing of the rotunda above—drawing your gaze vertiginously to the
CF | great dome overhead. High archways open to the east and west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Display Hall
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Display Hall
CF | The array of taxidermy exhibited here represents the passion of one
CF | for whom an avid collection has grown into a compulsive mania. Mounted
CF | on walls and in display cases, standing on shelves or on the floor,
CF | and hanging from the ceiling are stuffed and varnished swordfish,
CF | owls, frogs, scorpions, polecats, iguanas, herons, spiders, newts,
CF | raccoons, wallabies, eagles, moths, puffins, turtles, wolves, and a
CF | pygmy crocodile.
CF |
CF | The ways out of the hall are north, east, and south.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Chapel
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Chapel
CF | Pews are smashed and overturned; crumpled papers litter the floor. The
CF | antique altar has been smashed beyond repair. A huge hole has been
CF | punched through the stained glass in the south wall, but now it's
CF | sealed by a steel shutter.
CF |
CF | The taxidermy hall is north, and a narrow passage leads east.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Closet
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Closet
CF | The walls of this chilly closet are bare brick.
CF |
CF | A bucket hangs from a tiny winch over a narrow gap in the floor.
CF |
CF | The way out is west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "be madam"
CF ] Lobby
CF | >
CF | > BE MADAM
CF |
CF | Madam Scrooge
CF |
CF | Lobby
CF | A circular information desk marks the center of the room, bearing the
CF | logo "PFÖKUS" in large white letters. Carpeted paths lead south, west,
CF | and northwest. The door to the north is labeled "Office."
CF |
CF | On the east side of the desk, near a bit of crumbling brick wall,
CF | stands a tall lucite box.
CF |
CF | The little girl and the tiny mouse are here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "nw"
CF ] Staging Area
CF | >
CF | > NW
CF |
CF |
CF | Staging Area
CF | Several steel benches are bolted to the floor here, facing a blank
CF | wall. The path of the carpeting leads past the benches toward a heavy
CF | iron door to the west.
CF |
CF | Open passages lead southeast and south.
CF |
CF | The little girl and the tiny mouse are here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Chamber
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Chamber
CF | Three dirty skeletons hang by their feet from the ceiling, jaws
CF | gaping.
CF |
CF | To the east is a massive door of black iron. An open passage leads
CF | south.
CF |
CF | A plaque is mounted on one wall.
CF |
CF | The little girl and the tiny mouse are here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Long Table
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Long Table
CF | Water flows slowly through the passages to the southwest, west, and
CF | northwest. The entire chamber is flooded up to your ankles. The way
CF | out to the north is dry, at least.
CF |
CF | In the center of the room is a slanted stone table. At the end of a
CF | chain mounted in the ceiling, an object dangles over the slab.
CF |
CF | The little girl and the tiny mouse are here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Spring
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Spring
CF | Dark water slowly bubbles from a gash in the rock wall. The fluid
CF | collects first in an ancient stone basin; then it flows over the sides
CF | and runs down channels to the north, east, and south.
CF |
CF | A plaque is mounted on the wall nearby.
CF |
CF | The little girl and the tiny mouse are here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Temple
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Temple
CF | Low stone benches encircle a huge statue of tarnished brass: a
CF | corpulent humanoid with a leering goat's head. A plastic stand next to
CF | the idol displays an informative plaque.
CF |
CF | The trickle of black water flows in from the north and out to the
CF | northeast. A narrower passage leads east.
CF |
CF | The little girl and the tiny mouse are here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Oubliette
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Oubliette
CF | The walls of this narrow shaft are slick with condensation.
CF |
CF | A wheel attached to a pulley mechanism is built into a crooked stone
CF | platform.
CF |
CF | The way out is west.
CF |
CF | The little girl and the tiny mouse are here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "turn wheel"
CF ] Oubliette
CF | >
CF | > TURN WHEEL
CF |
CF | You turn the ancient wheel, and the wooden bucket slowly descends
CF | until it rests on the stone platform.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "put key ring in bucket"
CF ] Oubliette
CF | >
CF | > PUT KEY RING IN BUCKET
CF |
CF | You put the key ring into the bucket.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "turn wheel"
CF ] Oubliette
CF | >
CF | > TURN WHEEL
CF |
CF | You turn the ancient wheel, and the bucket rises—jerkily and
CF | noisily—into the darkness.
CF |
CF | > Lancelot says, "yay"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "be queen"
CF ] Closet
CF | >
CF | > BE QUEEN
CF |
CF | The Queen Regent
CF |
CF | Closet
CF | The walls of this chilly closet are bare brick.
CF |
CF | A bucket hangs from a tiny winch over a narrow gap in the floor.
CF |
CF | The way out is west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "take key ring"
CF ] Closet
CF | >
CF | > TAKE KEY RING
CF |
CF | You take the key ring.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Chapel
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Chapel
CF | Pews are smashed and overturned; crumpled papers litter the floor. The
CF | antique altar has been smashed beyond repair. A huge hole has been
CF | punched through the stained glass in the south wall, but now it's
CF | sealed by a steel shutter.
CF |
CF | The taxidermy hall is north, and a narrow passage leads east.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Display Hall
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Display Hall
CF | The array of taxidermy exhibited here represents the passion of one
CF | for whom an avid collection has grown into a compulsive mania. Mounted
CF | on walls and in display cases, standing on shelves or on the floor,
CF | and hanging from the ceiling are stuffed and varnished swordfish,
CF | owls, frogs, scorpions, polecats, iguanas, herons, spiders, newts,
CF | raccoons, wallabies, eagles, moths, puffins, turtles, wolves, and a
CF | pygmy crocodile.
CF |
CF | The ways out of the hall are north, east, and south.
CF |
CF | > Knight_Otu says, "Well done"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Grand Stair
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Grand Stair
CF | A majestic staircase curls around the circular room, climbing to the
CF | railing of the rotunda above—drawing your gaze vertiginously to the
CF | great dome overhead. High archways open to the east and west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "u"
CF ] Rotunda
CF | >
CF | > U
CF |
CF |
CF | Rotunda
CF | Doors stand on the east and west ends of this grand circular walkway.
CF | An immense stairway curves downward, drawing your eye to the mosaic
CF | floor below.
CF |
CF | The dome above somehow seems both incredibly high and uncomfortably
CF | low.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "unlock east door"
CF ] Rotunda
CF | >
CF | > UNLOCK EAST DOOR
CF |
CF | You find the key that matches the east door and unlock it without too
CF | much trouble.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Statue Hall
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF | (first opening the east door)
CF |
CF | Statue Hall
CF | The broad corridor is full of shadows.
CF |
CF | You can see doors to the north, east, south, and west.
CF |
CF | In the center of the hallway stands a marble statue of a centauride.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Library
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Library
CF | Huge shuttered windows span the north wall. The other walls are
CF | covered in bookshelves—most of them empty. Exits lead east, south,
CF | and
CF | west.
CF |
CF | The reinforced glass walls of a tall enclosure at the center of the
CF | room have opened, and the thorny tendrils of an enormous rosebush have
CF | spilled out across the room.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF | You step carefully between the vines, trying not to make a sound.
CF |
CF | A floorboard creaks beneath you foot. DavidW says, "uh oh"
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Library
CF | A floorboard creaks beneath you foot.The tendrils leap into action,
CF | grabbing your arms and legs, etching red streaks in your wrists and
CF | ankles. The plant pulls you into the air. The more you struggle, the
CF | more the thorns dig into your skin.
CF |
CF | > Jacqueline says, "oops"
Jacqueline asks, "But I mean... inevitable?"
Knight_Otu says, "Oh dear."
Jacqueline asks, "Can we calm down?"
Jacqueline says, "This is like those vines in Harry Potter"
Lancelot says, "lol"
DavidW says, "The vines in Harry Potter, the book at least, needed sunlight, I think."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "relax"
CF ] Library
CF | >
CF | > RELAX
CF |
CF | That's not a verb I recognize.
CF |
CF | > Jacqueline says, "Did it? I thought they just relaxed and it let them down."
Jacqueline says, "Oh, well, that's not a very it knows, so."
DavidW says, "The movie plant was different."
Jacqueline says, "Ah. I've read and seen both, but a long time ago."
Lancelot says, "nice try anyways but a bit of a stretch"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "kill bush"
CF ] Library
CF | >
CF | > KILL BUSH
CF |
CF | You can barely move, and your trident wouldn't do much against these
CF | vines anyway.
CF |
CF | > Jacqueline says, "Yeah, I was just reading into 'the more you struggle, the more it digs in'"
DavidW asks, "Shall we bring the mouse up here? Chew the plant?"
Lancelot says, "yummy plant? why not"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "be mouse"
CF ] Oubliette
CF | >
CF | > BE MOUSE
CF |
CF | The tiny mouse
CF |
CF | Oubliette
CF | The walls of this narrow shaft are slick with condensation.
CF |
CF | A wheel attached to a pulley mechanism is built into a crooked stone
CF | platform.
CF |
CF | The way out is west.
CF |
CF | The little girl and Madam Scrooge are here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "turn wheel"
CF ] Oubliette
CF | >
CF | > TURN WHEEL
CF |
CF | You don't have the strength to do that.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "be girl"
CF ] Oubliette
CF | >
CF | > BE GIRL
CF |
CF | The little girl
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "turn wheel"
CF ] Oubliette
CF | >
CF | > TURN WHEEL
CF |
CF | You turn the ancient wheel, and the wooden bucket slowly descends
CF | until it rests on the stone platform.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "put mouse in bucket"
CF ] Oubliette
CF | >
CF | > PUT MOUSE IN BUCKET
CF |
CF | (first taking the tiny mouse)
CF | You pick up the tiny mouse.
CF |
CF | You put the tiny mouse into the bucket.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "turn wheel"
CF ] Oubliette
CF | >
CF | > TURN WHEEL
CF |
CF | You turn the ancient wheel, and the bucket rises—jerkily and
CF | noisily—into the darkness.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "be mouse"
CF ] Closet
CF | >
CF | > BE MOUSE
CF |
CF | The tiny mouse
CF |
CF | Closet (in the bucket)
CF | The walls of this chilly closet are bare brick.
CF |
CF | A bucket hangs from a tiny winch over a narrow gap in the floor.
CF |
CF | The way out is west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "out"
CF ] Closet
CF | >
CF | > OUT
CF |
CF | You get out of the bucket.
CF |
CF | Closet
CF | The walls of this chilly closet are bare brick.
CF |
CF | A bucket hangs from a tiny winch over a narrow gap in the floor.
CF |
CF | The way out is west.
CF |
CF | > Lancelot says, "nice mechanivcs"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Chapel
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Chapel
CF | Pews are smashed and overturned; crumpled papers litter the floor. The
CF | antique altar has been smashed beyond repair. A huge hole has been
CF | punched through the stained glass in the south wall, but now it's
CF | sealed by a steel shutter.
CF |
CF | The taxidermy hall is north, and a narrow passage leads east.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Display Hall
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Display Hall
CF | The array of taxidermy exhibited here represents the passion of one
CF | for whom an avid collection has grown into a compulsive mania. Mounted
CF | on walls and in display cases, standing on shelves or on the floor,
CF | and hanging from the ceiling are stuffed and varnished swordfish,
CF | owls, frogs, scorpions, polecats, iguanas, herons, spiders, newts,
CF | raccoons, wallabies, eagles, moths, puffins, turtles, wolves, and a
CF | pygmy crocodile.
CF |
CF | The ways out of the hall are north, east, and south.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "u"
CF ] Display Hall
CF | >
CF | > U
CF |
CF | The ways out are north, east, and south.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Grand Stair
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Grand Stair
CF | A majestic staircase curls around the circular room, climbing to the
CF | railing of the rotunda above—drawing your gaze vertiginously to the
CF | great dome overhead. High archways open to the east and west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "su"
CF ] Grand Stair
CF | >
CF | > SU
CF |
CF | That's not a verb I recognize.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "u"
CF ] Rotunda
CF | >
CF | > U
CF |
CF |
CF | Rotunda
CF | Doors stand on the east and west ends of this grand circular walkway.
CF | An immense stairway curves downward, drawing your eye to the mosaic
CF | floor below.
CF |
CF | The dome above somehow seems both incredibly high and uncomfortably
CF | low.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Statue Hall
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Statue Hall
CF | The broad corridor is full of shadows.
CF |
CF | You can see doors to the north, east, south, and west.
CF |
CF | In the center of the hallway stands a marble statue of a centauress.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Library
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Library
CF | Huge shuttered windows span the north wall. The other walls are
CF | covered in bookshelves—most of them empty. Exits lead east, south,
CF | and
CF | west.
CF |
CF | The rosebush has the Queen Regent wrapped in its vines, hanging in the
CF | air, helpless.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "bite bush"
CF | >
CF | > BITE BUSH
CF |
CF | You hop onto a vine and clamber up toward the Queen Regent.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | You hop onto a vine and clamber up toward the Queen Regent.A bolt of
CF | white slashes through the air, knocking you to the floor.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Library
CF | white slashes through the air, knocking you to the floor.Rask has you
CF | pinned. "That's right! And I'm going to eat you alive, while your
CF | future self watches. Give her a good view of your head, before I bite
CF | it off."
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "damn. The ferret vampire."
Knight_Otu says, "I forgot about that thing."
Lancelot says, "a ferret? ouch"
Jacqueline says, "golly"
DavidW says, "We saw it earlier."
Jacqueline says, "yeah"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "death roll"
CF ] Statue Hall
CF | >
CF | > DEATH ROLL
CF |
CF | You shriek, twist your body, erupt into a tornado of teeth and claws.
CF | Rask starts back—and you wriggle out of his grip. Your only chance is
CF | south. You race to the doorway—
CF |
CF | Statue Hall
CF | The broad corridor is full of shadows.
CF |
CF | You can see doors to the north, east, south, and west.
CF |
CF | In the center of the hallway stands a marble statue of a centauress.
CF |
CF | Rask pounces in after you.
CF |
CF | "Don't you run, you despicable worm. You know you deserve this. For
CF | what you've done, for that kind of treachery, there's nothing you
CF | don't deserve."
CF |
CF | "I'm not exactly proud of it," you mutter.
CF |
CF | A pinkish haze wafts past the edge of your vision.
CF |
CF | > Jacqueline says, "IJLTS 'gosh' and 'golly'"
DavidW says, "The death roll manuever was taught to us by the Sewer Queen's alligators in another game."
Lancelot asks, "so we cannot play games in isolation?"
DavidW says, "usually yes, but maybe not this one."
DavidW says, "Maybe the game would have reminded us you could do it if you were struggling."
Knight_Otu says, "There's not quite as much death in this death roll as advertised."
DavidW says, "That pink haze is Ate, of course. This is tricky."
Knight_Otu says, "They've all just decided, Forget Poseidon, or something, it seems."
DavidW says, "which way should we run? Ate can probably follow us anywhere, but the ferret might not be able to go under the door"
DavidW says, "If we go to balcony, we'd be trapped, I think."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Bedchamber
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF | You skitter away. Rask gallops after you—you scramble for an exit.
CF | The
CF | closest way out is east. You scurry under the door—
CF |
CF | Bedchamber
CF | A bare bedframe rests near a dark fireplace.
CF |
CF | The east window is covered with a steel shutter. A painting hangs on
CF | the opposite wall.
CF |
CF | Doorways lead south and west.
CF |
CF | Rask smashes the door open and begins stalking toward you.
CF |
CF | "What did you say?" he barks.
CF |
CF | "I said I'm not proud of myself—for infiltrating your gang, or
CF | earning
CF | your trust, or selling you out, or any of what happened," you tell
CF | him, backing away slowly. "I don't feel good about it."
CF |
CF | "What, you're sorry? That's what you're telling me?"
CF |
CF | "I wouldn't go that far." Oh, you shouldn't have said that out loud.
CF |
CF | > Jacqueline says, "heh"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "u"
CF | >
CF | > U
CF |
CF | There's nowhere to go but down.
CF |
CF | Rask sees you running and leaps after you. The two of you tumble
CF | toward the fireplace.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | toward the fireplace.You fall down the chimney, claws still digging
CF | into each other. He rebounds against a brick—then you do—the shock
CF | ripples through your tiny body.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | ripples through your tiny body.You land hard in the lounge's
CF | fireplace. Rask howls in pain, tries to roll on top of you— Knight_Otu says, "Ow ow ow."
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | fireplace. Rask howls in pain, tries to roll on top of you—You fall
CF | again, through the bottom of the fireplace, through empty air—
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | again, through the bottom of the fireplace, through empty air—And
CF | land
CF | again, on the floor of the lobby.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Lobby
CF | again, on the floor of the lobby.## Lobby
CF | A circular information desk marks the center of the room, bearing the
CF | logo "PFÖKUS" in large white letters. Carpeted paths lead south, west,
CF | and northwest. The door to the north is labeled "Office."
CF |
CF | On the east side of the desk, near a bit of crumbling brick wall (the
CF | way you got down here), stands a tall lucite box.
CF |
CF | Fortunately, Rask is underneath you.
CF |
CF | But then he rolls on top of you—but then you get out from under
CF | him—but you can't get out of his grip.
CF |
CF | > Lancelot says, "the fight goes on"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "death roll"
CF ] Lobby
CF | >
CF | > DEATH ROLL
CF |
CF | You thrash yourself around—but you can't thrash your way out of
CF | Rask's
CF | grip.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "be madam"
CF ] Oubliette
CF | >
CF | > BE MADAM
CF |
CF | Madam Scrooge
CF |
CF | Oubliette
CF | The walls of this narrow shaft are slick with condensation.
CF |
CF | A wheel attached to a pulley mechanism is built into a crooked stone
CF | platform.
CF |
CF | The way out is west.
CF |
CF | The little girl is here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Temple
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Temple
CF | Low stone benches encircle a huge statue of tarnished brass: a
CF | corpulent humanoid with a leering goat's head. A plastic stand next to
CF | the idol displays an informative plaque.
CF |
CF | The trickle of black water flows in from the north and out to the
CF | northeast. A narrower passage leads east.
CF |
CF | The little girl is here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Spring
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Spring
CF | Dark water slowly bubbles from a gash in the rock wall. The fluid
CF | collects first in an ancient stone basin; then it flows over the sides
CF | and runs down channels to the north, east, and south.
CF |
CF | A plaque is mounted on the wall nearby.
CF |
CF | The little girl is here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Long Table
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Long Table
CF | Water flows slowly through the passages to the southwest, west, and
CF | northwest. The entire chamber is flooded up to your ankles. The way
CF | out to the north is dry, at least.
CF |
CF | In the center of the room is a slanted stone table. At the end of a
CF | chain mounted in the ceiling, an object dangles over the slab.
CF |
CF | The little girl is here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Chamber
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Chamber
CF | Three dirty skeletons hang by their feet from the ceiling, jaws
CF | gaping.
CF |
CF | To the east is a massive door of black iron. An open passage leads
CF | south.
CF |
CF | A plaque is mounted on one wall.
CF |
CF | The little girl is here.
CF |
CF | > Knight_Otu says, "Clash of the Tinytans."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Staging Area
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Staging Area
CF | Several steel benches are bolted to the floor here, facing a blank
CF | wall. The path of the carpeting leads past the benches toward a heavy
CF | iron door to the west.
CF |
CF | Open passages lead southeast and south.
CF |
CF | The little girl is here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "se"
CF ] Lobby
CF | >
CF | > SE
CF |
CF |
CF | Lobby
CF | A circular information desk marks the center of the room, bearing the
CF | logo "PFÖKUS" in large white letters. Carpeted paths lead south, west,
CF | and northwest. The door to the north is labeled "Office."
CF |
CF | On the east side of the desk, near a bit of crumbling brick wall,
CF | stands a tall lucite box.
CF |
CF | Rask and the little mouse are locked in combat on the floor here.
CF |
CF | The little girl is here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "kill rask"
CF ] Lobby
CF | >
CF | > KILL RASK
CF |
CF | You do not approve of violence, especially against helpless animals.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "take rask"
CF ] Lobby
CF | >
CF | > TAKE RASK
CF |
CF | You grab the ferret by the scruff of his neck.
CF |
CF | He doesn't know what's happening yet, but he's not happy about it.
CF |
CF | > Lancelot asks, "can that box help?"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "put rask in box"
CF ] Lobby
CF | >
CF | > PUT RASK IN BOX
CF |
CF | You drop Rask in the box.
CF |
CF | Then you flip the top shut and secure the padlock.
CF |
CF | The tiny mouse gives you a weak little wave—exhausted, but incredibly
CF | grateful.
CF |
CF | > Lancelot says, "check :D"
Knight_Otu says, "Whew."
Lancelot asks, "back to plant chewing?"
DavidW says, "perhaps? Ate might interfere next."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "be mouse"
CF ] Lobby
CF | >
CF | > BE MOUSE
CF |
CF | The tiny mouse
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "u"
CF ] Lounge
CF | >
CF | > U
CF |
CF | You scramble up the wall, through a hole in the brickwork, and find
CF | yourself in an empty fireplace.
CF |
CF | Lounge
CF | Mahogany panels line the walls; a lush purple carpet covers the floor.
CF | Several overstuffed couches are ready to receive any weary travelers
CF | who happen to pass through. The great hall lies to the west; in the
CF | passage to the south is a stone staircase.
CF |
CF | Ashes and half-burned logs sit in the hearth; the fire is long dead.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "u"
CF ] Bedchamber
CF | >
CF | > U
CF |
CF | Climbing up the chimney isn't difficult at all for someone like you.
CF |
CF | At the top of the sooty tunnel is another fireplace.
CF |
CF | Bedchamber
CF | A bare bedframe rests near a dark fireplace.
CF |
CF | The east window is covered with a steel shutter. A painting hangs on
CF | the opposite wall.
CF |
CF | Doorways lead south and west.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Statue Hall
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Statue Hall
CF | The broad corridor is full of shadows.
CF |
CF | You can see doors to the north, east, south, and west.
CF |
CF | In the center of the hallway stands a marble statue of a centauress.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Library
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Library
CF | Huge shuttered windows span the north wall. The other walls are
CF | covered in bookshelves—most of them empty. Exits lead east, south,
CF | and
CF | west.
CF |
CF | The rosebush has the Queen Regent wrapped in its vines, hanging in the
CF | air, helpless.
CF |
CF | "Oh, thank goodness," she groans.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "bite vine"
CF ] Library
CF | >
CF | > BITE VINE
CF |
CF | You climb up the vines and get to work: First you chew the tendrils
CF | away from the Queen's ankles—then you jump to another vine, to her
CF | left wrist—and then the other. The rosebush doesn't seem to realize
CF | what you're doing until it's too late.
CF |
CF | The Queen Regent hits the floor with a soft grunt. "Thanks," she says.
CF | "Now let's get going."
CF |
CF | > Lancelot says, "yay"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "be queen"
CF ] Library
CF | >
CF | > BE QUEEN
CF |
CF | The Queen Regent
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Master Bedroom
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Master Bedroom
CF | The opulent four-poster bed isn't square with the wall, and its sheets
CF | are in a horrible mess. At the foot of the bed, a finely crafted
CF | coffin lies open.
CF |
CF | The library is to the east, and a small passage leads west.
CF |
CF | The tiny mouse is here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Stair
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Stair
CF | The bottom of a narrow spiral staircase. The master bedroom is east
CF | from here.
CF |
CF | The tiny mouse is here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "u"
CF ] Tower
CF | >
CF | > U
CF |
CF |
CF | Tower
CF | A bank of computers has been installed haphazardly in the top of this
CF | chilly tower. Tangled cables run past your feet and disappear between
CF | the floorboards.
CF |
CF | The spiral staircase leads back down to the master bedroom.
CF |
CF | Sceptyre is phasing back and forth around Sister Lantern, but she's
CF | keeping up with him.
CF |
CF | The tiny mouse is here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "kill sceptyre"
CF ] Tower
CF | >
CF | > KILL SCEPTYRE
CF |
CF | Sceptyre looks down his nose at Sister Lantern. "We last locked horns
CF | in 1983—sixteen years ago! I suppose you don't remember,"
CF |
CF | "I remember," she tells him.
CF |
CF | His eyes widen as you stab into his chest. The breastplate can't
CF | absorb the entire blow; he has to take a step back.
CF |
CF | "Marvelous," he mutters. "Almost an even fight!" And he swings back,
CF | making up the lost ground.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Tower
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | You take a stab—Sceptyre raises his sword between the tines of your
CF | trident and flings you away.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Tower
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | Sceptyre waves you forward as you lunge—then he brings his massive
CF | sword down, slamming you to the floor.
CF |
CF | You push yourself up and glance at Sister Lantern.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "be lantern"
CF ] Tower
CF | >
CF | > BE LANTERN
CF |
CF | Sister Lantern
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "kill him"
CF ] Tower
CF | >
CF | > KILL HIM
CF |
CF | "I demanded that you return to battle me once more," Sceptyre bellows,
CF | "and I waited—sixteen years! I ignored many other responsibilities,
CF | gave up many opportunities, so that I would be ready for you."
CF |
CF | "I guess that was considerate of you," you say.
CF |
CF | You swing at his back while he's distracted. He staggers—then he
CF | turns
CF | to swing at you.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Tower
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | You push forward—He's ready for you. The tip of his sword practically
CF | flicks you away.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "g"
CF ] Tower
CF | >
CF | > G
CF |
CF | You try another thrust, but Sceptyre's eyes are right on you. You
CF | can't connect.
CF |
CF | The Queen Regent is looking for a way in.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "be queen"
CF ] Tower
CF | >
CF | > BE QUEEN
CF |
CF | The Queen Regent
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "kill him"
CF ] Tower
CF | >
CF | > KILL HIM
CF |
CF | "You never did come back to face me. Even tonight, you're only here to
CF | rescue some other version of yourself—inconsiderate shrew! We should
CF | have set a specific date for our rematch, before you cut our first
CF | bout short."
CF |
CF | "I seem to recall I was called away on a very urgent matter," Sister
CF | Lantern says.
CF |
CF | While he's focusing on Sister Lantern, you thrust low, and trip
CF | him—for just a moment.
CF |
CF | He shakes it off and turns his attention to you.
CF |
CF | > Lancelot says, "lol I like this one vs many battle :D"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "be lantern"
CF ] Tower
CF | >
CF | > BE LANTERN
CF |
CF | Sister Lantern
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "kill him"
CF | >
CF | > KILL HIM
CF |
CF | You swing at just the right moment to get Sceptyre's sword caught in
CF | the curve of your khopesh. You're locked together—his breath is cold
CF | on your face.
CF |
CF | "Finally!" he grunts. "Now we're having fun."
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Tower
CF | "Finally!" he grunts. "Now we're having fun.""Very fun, yes." The
CF | Queen Regent comes in from the side. She puts her trident through
CF | Sceptyre's stomach, and the Ultimate Vampire Warrior explodes.
CF |
CF | "Thanks," you tell her.
CF |
CF | > Lancelot says, "well done"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "deactivate computers"
CF ] Tower
CF | >
CF | > DEACTIVATE COMPUTERS
CF |
CF | You hack the system just enough to disable the lockdown protocol
CF | without activating anything else (fingers crossed).
CF |
CF | The castle rattles and clangs again, briefly.
CF |
CF | > Knight_Otu says, "Another one turned to dust."
Jacqueline nods.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Tower
CF | >
CF | >
CF |
CF | I beg your pardon?
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "SAVE"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "cf13"
CF | >
CF | > SAVE
CF | %% Enter a save filename to write:
CF ] Tower
CF | > SAVEOk.
CF |
CF | > DavidW asks, "I guess we all try to reach Hunter now. I'd like to have us all enter at once, maybe?"
Jacqueline nods.
Knight_Otu says, "Let's try, at least."
DavidW says, "I'd like to see if the shutters are gone."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "be madam"
CF ] Lobby
CF | >
CF | > BE MADAM
CF |
CF | Madam Scrooge
CF |
CF | Lobby
CF | A circular information desk marks the center of the room, bearing the
CF | logo "PFÖKUS" in large white letters. Carpeted paths lead south, west,
CF | and northwest. The door to the north is labeled "Office."
CF |
CF | On the east side of the desk, near a bit of crumbling brick wall,
CF | stands a tall lucite box.
CF |
CF | The little girl is here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Bottom of the Stairs
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Bottom of the Stairs
CF | Cells with rusty iron bars line the narrow hallway. The air is clammy,
CF | and dark puddles have formed in the corners. Mounted on the wall is an
CF | interpretive placard.
CF |
CF | The hallway continues west. Another passage leads north, and spiral
CF | stairs lead up to the next floor.
CF |
CF | The little girl is here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "u"
CF ] Stair
CF | >
CF | > U
CF |
CF |
CF | Stair
CF | Stone steps spiral up and down. A passage leads out to the north.
CF |
CF | The little girl is here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "u"
CF ] Stair
CF | >
CF | > U
CF |
CF |
CF | Stair
CF | The stairs lead up and down from this landing, where a closed door
CF | stands in the north wall.
CF |
CF | The little girl is here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Stair
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF | (first opening the door)
CF | The door seems to be locked.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "oh right, we didn't unlock that one."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "d"
CF ] Stair
CF | >
CF | > D
CF |
CF |
CF | Stair
CF | Stone steps spiral up and down. A passage leads out to the north.
CF |
CF | The little girl is here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "n"
CF ] Lounge
CF | >
CF | > N
CF |
CF |
CF | Lounge
CF | Mahogany panels line the walls; a lush purple carpet covers the floor.
CF | Several overstuffed couches are ready to receive any weary travelers
CF | who happen to pass through. The great hall lies to the west; in the
CF | passage to the south is a stone staircase.
CF |
CF | Ashes and half-burned logs sit in the hearth; the fire is long dead.
CF |
CF | The little girl is here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Great Hall
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Great Hall
CF | A few folding tables and conference chairs are scattered around the
CF | hall, not arranged in any particular way. A fair amount of litter has
CF | been swept into the corners.
CF |
CF | At the south end of the room is an empty stage; behind it, a wide
CF | glass door. Other passages lead north, east, and west.
CF |
CF | The little girl is here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "u"
CF ] Great Hall
CF | >
CF | > U
CF |
CF | Obvious exits are north, east, south, and west. Just like in a text
CF | adventure!
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Grand Stair
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Grand Stair
CF | A majestic staircase curls around the circular room, climbing to the
CF | railing of the rotunda above—drawing your gaze vertiginously to the
CF | great dome overhead. High archways open to the east and west.
CF |
CF | The little girl is here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "u"
CF | >
CF | > U
CF |
CF |
CF | Rotunda
CF | Doors stand on the east and west ends of this grand circular walkway.
CF | An immense stairway curves downward, drawing your eye to the mosaic
CF | floor below.
CF |
CF | The dome above somehow seems both incredibly high and uncomfortably
CF | low.
CF |
CF | The little girl is here.
CF |
CF | You rummage through your coat.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | You rummage through your coat."Here we go," you say, pulling your hand
CF | out from your pocket. "Hold out your hand, little girl."
CF |
CF | The little girl does as she is told, and you place a tiny stone in her
CF | palm: a miniature emerald.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | palm: a miniature emerald."They call this the Goroshinka," you tell
CF | her. "Take it into the next room—" (the room to the west) "—and
CF | place
CF | it under the Hunter's mattress. That's all."
CF |
CF | The little girl bites her lip. "Will you come with me?"
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Rotunda
CF | The little girl bites her lip. "Will you come with me?"You shake your
CF | head. "You have to do it on your own. But you can handle it, I'm
CF | sure."
CF |
CF | The little girl nods.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "be lantern"
CF ] Tower
CF | >
CF | > BE LANTERN
CF |
CF | Sister Lantern
CF |
CF | Tower
CF | A bank of computers has been installed haphazardly in the top of this
CF | chilly tower. Tangled cables run past your feet and disappear between
CF | the floorboards.
CF |
CF | The spiral staircase leads back down to the master bedroom.
CF |
CF | The tiny mouse and the Queen Regent are here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "d"
CF ] Stair
CF | >
CF | > D
CF |
CF |
CF | Stair
CF | The bottom of a narrow spiral staircase. The master bedroom is east
CF | from here.
CF |
CF | The tiny mouse and the Queen Regent are here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Master Bedroom
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Master Bedroom
CF | The opulent four-poster bed isn't square with the wall, and its sheets
CF | are in a horrible mess. At the foot of the bed, a finely crafted
CF | coffin lies open.
CF |
CF | The library is to the east, and a small passage leads west.
CF |
CF | The tiny mouse and the Queen Regent are here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "e"
CF ] Library
CF | >
CF | > E
CF |
CF |
CF | Library
CF | Huge arched windows span the north wall. The other walls are covered
CF | in bookshelves—most of them empty. Exits lead east, south, and west.
CF |
CF | In the center of the library, within a tall enclosure of reinforced
CF | glass, is an enormous rosebush.
CF |
CF | The tiny mouse and the Queen Regent are here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Statue Hall
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Statue Hall
CF | The broad corridor is full of shadows.
CF |
CF | You can see doors to the north, east, south, and west.
CF |
CF | In the center of the hallway stands a marble statue of a female
CF | centaur.
CF |
CF | The tiny mouse and the Queen Regent are here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF ] Rotunda
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Rotunda
CF | Doors stand on the east and west ends of this grand circular walkway.
CF | An immense stairway curves downward, drawing your eye to the mosaic
CF | floor below.
CF |
CF | The dome above somehow seems both incredibly high and uncomfortably
CF | low.
CF |
CF | The tiny mouse, the Queen Regent, the little girl, and Madam Scrooge
CF | are here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "be girl"
CF ] Rotunda
CF | >
CF | > BE GIRL
CF |
CF | The little girl
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x emerald"
CF ] Rotunda
CF | >
CF | > X EMERALD
CF |
CF | A tiny emerald, only a quarter of an inch across.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "w"
CF | >
CF | > W
CF |
CF |
CF | Bedchamber
CF | A canopied bed fit for a princess seems to take up most of the room.
CF | Beneath its rosy veil, a beautiful lady with hair of white gold lies
CF | sleeping in absolute peace.
CF |
CF | An unspeakably decrepit man is seated next to the bed.
CF |
CF | He squints down at you. "Ebenezabeth Scrooge. By the Lights of Hell, I
CF | rebuke you, Ebenezabeth Scrooge. By the Ten Crowns, I abjure you." He
CF | leans forward, wagging his finger at you. "Not a step will you take
CF | toward me, not a weapon will you raise against me, Ebenezabeth
CF | Scrooge. Begone."
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | Scrooge. Begone."The two of you wait for something to happen.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | Scrooge. Begone."The two of you wait for something to happen.He
CF | frowns. "Aren't you Ebenezabeth Scrooge?"
CF |
CF | You shake your head. "I don't know who that is."
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | You shake your head. "I don't know who that is.""Oh," he says.
CF |
CF | He glances around the room. "Oh," he says, again.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Bedchamber
CF | He glances around the room. "Oh," he says, again.With a groan of
CF | desperation, he turns into a bat and flies away.
CF |
CF | > DavidW says, "ha ha ha ha ha"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "put emerald under mattress"
CF | >
CF | > PUT EMERALD UNDER MATTRESS
CF |
CF | You hold up the Goroshinka. Which mattress are you supposed to put it
CF | under?
CF |
CF | Sharp fingernails dig into the back of your neck. Knight_Otu exclaims, "It's true, she has not received a name yet!"
Lancelot says, "indeed"
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | Sharp fingernails dig into the back of your neck.Atë, Queen of
CF | Vampires
CF |
CF | You squeeze harder, until her blood starts oozing under your fingers.
CF |
CF | "If Cadac's truename spell doesn't apply to you, then I don't suppose
CF | Poseidon's vow does, either."
CF |
CF | The little girl doesn't move a muscle. The scent of panic mingles with
CF | the scent of blood. Knight_Otu says, "Uh oh."
DavidW says, "I was afraid of that."
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | the scent of blood."Oh, I wish I had time to think of something really
CF | entertaining," you grumble. "But I guess ripping your head right off
CF | is fun enough."
CF |
CF | Someone taps on your shoulder. You whirl around and grab her bony
CF | wrist.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | wrist.Madam Scrooge
CF |
CF | Somehow Atë seems surprised—but she doesn't let go.
CF |
CF | You crane your head to address the little girl.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Bedchamber
CF | You crane your head to address the little girl."The others don't want
CF | me to tell you this," you say. "They think it'd be cruel, even if you
CF | won't necessarily remember. But I've thought it over, and I think you
CF | should know: When you're a little older—maybe I shouldn't say how
CF | much
CF | older—you'll learn how to go places by looking at fire. Like that
CF | candle on the table there."
CF |
CF | > Lancelot asks, "is that how the little girl knows she is special?"
Lancelot asks, "oh wait she cannot use fire yet?"
DavidW says, "I don't think she knew it before."
Knight_Otu asks, "Are creating a paradox?"
DavidW says, "Yes, this girl is from BEFORE the first adventure."
Knight_Otu says, "*Are we"
DavidW asks, "Does Madam want the girl to look at the candle?"
Knight_Otu asks, "I think so?"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "be girl"
CF ] Bedchamber
CF | >
CF | > BE GIRL
CF |
CF | (You should look at the candle.)
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "look at candle"
CF | >
CF | > LOOK AT CANDLE
CF |
CF | The little flame welcomes you. It knows just where you need to go... Lancelot says, "lol a rather direct hint"
Jacqueline says, "I guess so!! haha"
Jacqueline says, "Very direct."
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | The little flame welcomes you. It knows just where you need to
CF | go...12410 Donald Duck
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | go...12410 Donald Duck"What?"
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Surface
CF | go...12410 Donald Duck"What?"## Surface
CF | The asteroid is only a few miles across; the horizon is a short hike
CF | away.
CF |
CF | The sky is full of stars—one of them must be the sun.
CF |
CF | "Oh, they name these after all sorts of things," you explain. Atë
CF | still doesn't know what she's looking at.
CF |
CF | > Knight_Otu asks, "Quak?"
DavidW says, "I think Madam pulled all three of us to an asteriod called Donald Duck."
Jacqueline says, "Wacky."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "hit ate"
CF ] Surface
CF | >
CF | > HIT ATE
CF |
CF | No need for that.
CF |
CF | > Lancelot says, "if it quacks like a duck"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x ate"
CF ] Surface
CF | >
CF | > X ATE
CF |
CF | Beautiful, as always—her hair and the train of her dress are floating
CF | gently, as if she were underwater. The distant stars glitter in her
CF | wide, bewildered eyes.
CF |
CF | > Jacqueline says, "I know that things have heretofore also been wacky, but... yeah."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x me"
CF ] Surface
CF | >
CF | > X ME
CF |
CF | You don't need a pack of lithesome little girls to remind you how slow
CF | you are, how feeble and wrinkled and brittle you are.
CF |
CF | But you'll get the job done.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x girl"
CF ] Surface
CF | >
CF | > X GIRL
CF |
CF | Beautiful, as always—her hair and the train of her dress are floating
CF | gently, as if she were underwater. The distant stars glitter in her
CF | wide, bewildered eyes.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "l"
CF ] Surface
CF | >
CF | > L
CF |
CF | Surface
CF | The asteroid is only a few miles across; the horizon is a short hike
CF | away.
CF |
CF | The sky is full of stars.
CF |
CF | Atë is completely confused, but that won't last long.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "take girl"
CF ] Surface
CF | >
CF | > TAKE GIRL
CF |
CF | I don't suppose Atë would care for that.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "kill ate"
CF ] Surface
CF | >
CF | > KILL ATE
CF |
CF | No need for that.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x sun"
CF ] Surface
CF | >
CF | > X SUN
CF |
CF | The stars are beautiful (as always).
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "be girl"
CF ] Surface
CF | >
CF | > BE GIRL
CF |
CF | You'd better finish your job here.
CF |
CF | > Knight_Otu asks, "Talk to her on this air-less rock?"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to girl"
CF ] Surface
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO GIRL
CF |
CF | "Where—" Atë stumbles across the rocky surface.
CF |
CF | "The asteroid belt," you explain. "There are plenty of other asteroids
CF | out here; they're just hard to see."
CF |
CF | "Where's the sun?"
CF |
CF | You motion toward the starry sky. "Whichever one is brightest, I
CF | suppose. Assuming it's daytime right now."
CF |
CF | "Where's Earth?"
CF |
CF | She's catching on. You'd better get out of here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x sun"
CF ] Surface
CF | >
CF | > X SUN
CF |
CF | The stars are beautiful (as always).
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x stars"
CF ] Surface
CF | >
CF | > X STARS
CF |
CF | The stars are beautiful (as always).
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x brightest star"
CF ] Surface
CF | >
CF | > X BRIGHTEST STAR
CF |
CF | (You can't see that, or it's not implemented.)
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "find sun"
CF ] Surface
CF | >
CF | > FIND SUN
CF |
CF | That's not a verb I recognize.
CF |
CF | > Lancelot asks, "sunproof vampire?"
DavidW says, "The sunlight is weakened at this distance, I'd think."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to girl"
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO GIRL
CF |
CF | "Well, if we guess that's the sun," you say, pointing, "then Earth
CF | must be in..." You draw a broad circle. "That general direction. No
CF | guarantees, though."
CF |
CF | Atë turns on you, understanding at last. Horror and rage have drained
CF | the color from her cheeks.
CF |
CF | No point in sticking around. "So long," you say, and you wake up. Jacqueline says, "I'm guessing it's still pretty dark, like being outside at night under the stars."
Lancelot says, "stranding the vampire on an asteroid... neat"
DavidW says, "oh right. We WAKE to stop travelling."
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Bedchamber
CF | No point in sticking around. "So long," you say, and you wake
CF | up.Schloss Tuxenstein, 1999
CF |
CF | The little girl
CF |
CF | Bedchamber
CF | A canopied bed fit for a princess seems to take up most of the room.
CF | Beneath its rosy veil, a beautiful lady with hair of white gold lies
CF | sleeping in absolute peace.
CF |
CF | A candle burns on a tall bedside table. Exits lead east and south.
CF |
CF | Madam Scrooge reappears.
CF |
CF | "All taken care of," she says. "Go ahead."
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "be girl"
CF ] Bedchamber
CF | >
CF | > BE GIRL
CF |
CF | You'd better finish your job in here.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "put emerald under mattress"
CF | >
CF | > PUT EMERALD UNDER MATTRESS
CF |
CF | So you take the little green gem, and you push it between two of the
CF | mattresses.
CF |
CF | The Hunter sits up immediately, her eyes wide.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | The Hunter sits up immediately, her eyes wide.She goggles at you for a
CF | moment, then she looks up at Madam Scrooge.
CF |
CF | "Where—" she croaks, and then she coughs violently. (She's been
CF | asleep
CF | for weeks.)
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | for weeks.)Madam Scrooge puts a hand on her knee. "You're safe," she
CF | says. "Take a second to catch your breath, and we'll get out of here."
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | says. "Take a second to catch your breath, and we'll get out of
CF | here."But the Hunter shakes her head. "Where's Linus?"
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Cave
CF |
CF |
CF | part 3:
CF | the hunter's vow
CF |
CF |
CF |
CF | THE WOODS
CF |
CF |
CF |
CF | Cave
CF | Warm light from outside rouses you. Slowly, you stand up.
CF |
CF | The walls of your cave are smooth, damp stone. The pelt that serves as
CF | your bed is dry, if not comfortable.
CF |
CF | You have an appointment outside.
CF |
CF | Your book lies near your bed.
CF |
CF | > Knight_Otu says, "Well, the hunter needs physiotherapy."
DavidW says, "THERE'S A PART THREE!?!"
Knight_Otu says, "Oh dear."
Jacqueline says, "EPIC"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x me"
CF ] Cave
CF | >
CF | > X ME
CF |
CF | You aren't much concerned with your appearance, but some folk are.
CF | Your hood and cloak keep your body hidden, except your hands, your
CF | snout, your hooves.
CF |
CF | > Lancelot says, "pfff and the story goes on"
DavidW says, "okay, I wanted to know who we are. I don't remember any character with hooves."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x book"
CF ] Cave
CF | >
CF | > X BOOK
CF |
CF | Thick moss and pale lichen cover most of the binding. A very, very
CF | long time ago, the book was red.
CF |
CF | Your office is one of mere symbols, of assigned significances—less
CF | real than certain of your siblings' duties. But "real" is always a
CF | relative quantity.
CF |
CF | The book is closed.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "take book"
CF ] Cave
CF | >
CF | > TAKE BOOK
CF |
CF | You take the book.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open it"
CF ] Cave
CF | >
CF | > OPEN IT
CF |
CF | You don't open your book until the rite begins.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "out"
CF ] Trees
CF | >
CF | > OUT
CF |
CF |
CF | Trees
CF | Light with no particular source suffuses the woods. "Daytime."
CF |
CF | A broad stretch of stone marks the entrance to your cave.
CF |
CF | Your appointment is through the trees to the south.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Thicket
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Thicket
CF | Five beings are hiding here, where the trees grow close together: an
CF | aged woman, an armored warrior, a mouse on her shoulder, a weary-eyed
CF | queen, and a little girl sleeping in her arms.
CF |
CF | Your appointment is a short distance to the south. Your cave is
CF | further north.
CF |
CF | > Knight_Otu says, "Well."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x warrior"
CF ] Thicket
CF | >
CF | > X WARRIOR
CF |
CF | A woman in red armor. She hasn't been sleeping well, but she smiles
CF | politely anyway.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x girl"
CF ] Thicket
CF | >
CF | > X GIRL
CF |
CF | Who do you mean, the aged woman, the armored warrior, the weary-eyed
CF | queen, or the little girl?
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x little"
CF ] Thicket
CF | >
CF | > X LITTLE
CF |
CF | Who do you mean, the mouse or the little girl?
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x mouse"
CF ] Thicket
CF | >
CF | > X MOUSE
CF |
CF | A tiny mouse. She waves her tiny paw at you.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x queen"
CF ] Thicket
CF | >
CF | > X QUEEN
CF |
CF | You instinctively recognize a member of royalty, and offer the
CF | requisite bow. She nods back, clearly annoyed.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "s"
CF ] Ruins
CF | >
CF | > S
CF |
CF |
CF | Ruins
CF | Two rows of crumbling marble columns run along this clearing. To one
CF | side of a toppled archway stand Sir Ebenezer Scrooge; Princess Eirene
CF | of Atlantis; and Princess Eunoia, also of Atlantis. On the other side
CF | stands Morgan le Fay, with the crow Hrieman on her shoulder.
CF |
CF | In the center stand Ebenezabeth Scrooge and Prince Linus of Sardinia.
CF |
CF | > DavidW asks, "... are they getting married?"
Knight_Otu says, "Seems that way."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x ebenezabeth"
CF ] Ruins
CF | >
CF | > X EBENEZABETH
CF |
CF | Ebenezabeth wears a white dress trimmed with gold thread; someone of a
CF | poetic bent might imagine she was the source of all the light in the
CF | Woods. On her left hand is a gold ring.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x linus"
CF ] Ruins
CF | >
CF | > X LINUS
CF |
CF | Prince Linus wears a gray suit, tailored to accommodate his feathery
CF | right arm. On his left hand is a silver ring.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x ebenezer"
CF ] Ruins
CF | >
CF | > X EBENEZER
CF |
CF | Sir Ebenezer wears a long black coat, a tall black top hat, a bright
CF | red scarf. If he is uncomfortably warm, he doesn't show it; he is
CF | beaming with pride.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x eunoia"
CF ] Ruins
CF | >
CF | > X EUNOIA
CF |
CF | Princess Eunoia's lavender dress is simpler than her sister's, but
CF | roughly as modest. Her black hair is tied in a tall bun, ringed with
CF | brilliant orchids.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x eirene"
CF ] Ruins
CF | >
CF | > X EIRENE
CF |
CF | Princess Eirene's golden hair spills over her bare shoulders and her
CF | many-ruffled dress of seafoam green. Her dress is cunningly cut to
CF | show even the most casual observer that, at the moment, she has legs.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x morgan"
CF ] Ruins
CF | >
CF | > X MORGAN
CF |
CF | Morgan's velvet dress is embroidered with flowers, thorns, sigils,
CF | serpents... a chain of silver is around her waist.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "x hrieman"
CF ] Ruins
CF | >
CF | > X HRIEMAN
CF |
CF | Hrieman is not dressed for the occasion, but this is understandable.
CF |
CF | He is eyeing you expectantly.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "talk to linus"
CF ] Ruins
CF | >
CF | > TALK TO LINUS
CF |
CF | "You're already wearing your rings," you notice.
CF |
CF | Prince Linus hides his hand sheepishly. "Sorry. Should we take them
CF | off?"
CF |
CF | "No, it's fine." These kids.
CF |
CF | >
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "open book"
CF ] Ruins
CF | >
CF | > OPEN BOOK
CF |
CF | Are you ready to begin?
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "yes"
CF | Are you ready to begin?
CF | > YES
CF |
CF | You take your place at the center of the assemblage.
CF |
CF | "Friends," you say, opening your book, "Our existence is confusing and
CF | cruel. No amount of safety is guaranteed to us; every comfort is
CF | fleeting." You have to say it. It's in the book. "If we seek meaning,
CF | it eludes us; if we find beauty, it withers in our grasp. And all of
CF | us, every one of us, in every moment of every day, in one sense or
CF | another, are alone.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | another, are alone."To find someone who will share in our struggling,
CF | in our seeking, in our loneliness, we must be very lucky indeed. But
CF | the more comfort we find in each other, and the more understanding and
CF | affection we give, the more vulnerable we make ourselves, and open to
CF | new and greater miseries.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | new and greater miseries."Therefore is the covenant we here witness
CF | one to be entered solemnly, not hastily, by beings whose hearts have
CF | measured all these risks, and who have earned each other's deepest
CF | trust.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | trust."So I ask you, Prince Linus: In the sight of Man, of Matter, and
CF | of Mind, do you vow to serve and defend your partner, to provide her
CF | security and respite from the uncaring universe, and to pursue her
CF | happiness as you would your own?"
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "push space"
CF | happiness as you would your own?""I'll certainly try," he says.
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "push space"
CF | happiness as you would your own?""I'll certainly try," he says. "And
CF | I ask you, Ebenezabeth Scrooge: Before God, Who is Law and Love, do
CF | you vow to serve and defend your partner, to offer him your patience
CF | and your understanding, and to minimize his suffering to the best of
CF | your ability?" Jacqueline says, "This is ..."
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | your ability?"She smiles. "Yes."
DavidW says (to ClubFloyd), "push space"
CF | your ability?"She smiles. "Yes." "Very good." You close your book.
CF | "Then you are husband and wife." The witnesses applaud, and the lovers
CF | kiss, according to their human custom. Lancelot says, "wedding"
Jacqueline says, "Yeah. But a grim wedding"
Lancelot asks, "end of story?"
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | kiss, according to their human custom. There—That is a true story.
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | kiss, according to their human custom. There—That is a true story.
CF | thank you for playing THE LITTLE MATCH GIRL 5 © h.c. andersen mdcccli
CF | all rights reserved Knight_Otu says, "Those vows are not particularly traditional."
Jacqueline says, "Oho."
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF | all rights reservedEBENEZABETH SCROOGE WILL RETURN Lancelot says, "ah lol indeed end of THIS story"
Jacqueline says, "Yeah, end of story."
DavidW pushes the green 'space' button.
CF ] Ruins
CF | all rights reservedEBENEZABETH SCROOGE WILL RETURN
CF |
CF | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, QUIT, or UNDO the
CF | last command?
CF |
CF | > Jacqueline says, "Yeah, *this* story, anyway."
DavidW says, "So the Hunter's Vow was her wedding vow!"
Knight_Otu nods.
Lancelot says, "I better start playing the othere games in the series"
DavidW says, "I wasn't expecting Morgan to be here. I don't remember her in any previous game."
DavidW says, "oh and we finished in time too."
DavidW says, "I wonder if we were a centaur, then."
Jacqueline says, "Yeah."
Lancelot says, "the desc seemed to hint in that direction yeah"
DavidW says, "We must've been. It was forshadowed by the statue."
Knight_Otu asks, "Is it just me, or are these games kind of like of a more serious version of Taleslinger's old New Years series?"
DavidW says, "well, in the sense that it's a continuous story, yes. And written in Inform."
DavidW says, "Not much else in common."
Jade says, "This is a big, great game."
Knight_Otu says, "And kind of wacky all over the place, I guess."
Jacqueline says (to KO), "Yeah, I get what you mean."
DavidW says, "This game was drawing on a lot of open threads from previous games. Most of the other games in the series aren't like this one."
Jacqueline says, "Wacky or not, still very good. I always love Ryan's writing."
Lancelot says, "pretty strong concept if you can make a whole series of games out of it"
DavidW says (to Jacqueline), "me too"
DavidW says, "yeah, in lesser hands, this would be a crumbling mess instead of the multi-tiered wedding cake it is."
Lancelot says, "dang there goes my idea of creating a sequel down the drain lol"
DavidW says, "actually, I've been wondering if Ryan is open to others playing in this particular sandbox in any way."
Lancelot asks, "you mean creating anything set in his universe?"
DavidW says, "yeah. There's all sorts of untold stories implied by the series."
Lancelot says, "no doubt to give him leeway to add more"
DavidW says, "But you'd have to run it by him to make sure it doesn't contradict anything."
Lancelot says, "I guess tinkering with clockwork universes like that are doomed to fail unless one knows the grand scheme of things"
DavidW says, "unless you're careful to make it a bottle story where it's safe from the rest of the universe."
Knight_Otu exclaims, "I should log off for today. Good night, everyone!"
Knight_Otu goes home. Lancelot says, "we would need a 'write like Ryna Veeder' manual to pull it off no doiubt"
DavidW says, "There's already a new story that's currently Patreon-only, the story where she meets the Pope and gets her revolver blessed."
Lancelot says, "write like Ryan even"
DavidW says, "bye Knight! Take care!"
DavidW says, "oh drat. Because of my last entrance, I forgot to record this session."
Lancelot says, "my gosh 1- games in the series"
DavidW says, "oh well."
Lancelot says, "10"
Jacqueline says, "I can send you the transcript. One sec."
Lancelot says, "I don't see the patreon one, I guess that makes 11"
DavidW says (to Jacqueline), "thanks!"
DavidW says, "I'm seriously considering making a mini-wiki just about this series."
Lancelot says, "I gotta go, see ya maybe next week (my holiday starts, not sure if I will be around)"
DavidW says, "bye Lancelot! take care!"
Lancelot says, "making a wiki sounds grand... also add some list of characters etc in the universe... but I would expect Ryan to have such a list already"
Jacqueline says (to DW), "Sent"
Lancelot says, "wave"



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