Start of a transcript of Domicile by John Evans, jevans@alum.mit.edu, September 2003 (For assistance, type "ABOUT") Release 0 / Serial number 030928 / Inform v6.21 Library 6/10 Standard interpreter 1.0 (4F) / Library serial number 991113 >restart Are you sure you want to restart? y Several weeks ago you received an unusual letter. It stated that, upon the declared death of your great-uncle Robert Pire, the ownership of his estate reverted to his closest relative, namely yourself. While you cannot precisely remember much about this particular great-uncle, you feel a certain obligation to see to the resolution of the matter. That is why, after a tedious amount of travel, a taxicab has finally dropped you at the address specified in the letter... Press any key to continue.[ DOMICILE by John Evans] Press any key to continue. And now you find yourself in front of the curious house. As the taxi drives away, a sense of profound isolation settles over you... Domicile by John Evans, jevans@alum.mit.edu, September 2003 (For assistance, type "ABOUT") Release 0 / Serial number 030928 / Inform v6.21 Library 6/10 West of House You are standing in an open field west of a green house, with boarded-up windows. You can see a mailbox (which is closed) here. >about Domicile created by John Evans for IFComp2K3 jevans@alum.mit.edu http://alum.mit.edu/www/jevans http://www.ifcomp.org (For game help, type HINT or HELP; for known bugs, type BUGS; for information about the making of this game, type CREDITS) >bugs =====Known bugs: Keyring doesn't really work Hints not done yet "write" verb with one argument gives weird message=====End of bugs >[Odd to release a game with known bugs. But hey.] That's not a verb I recognize. >open mailbox You open the mailbox, revealing a leaflet. >read leaflet It's an advertisement for some sort of contest, or competition. It seems to have something to do with writing, but truth be told, you can't make head or tail of it. >get it Taken. >x it It's an advertisement for some sort of contest, or competition. It seems to have something to do with writing, but truth be told, you can't make head or tail of it. >l West of House You are standing in an open field west of a green house, with boarded-up windows. You can see a mailbox (which is empty) here. >e You can't, since the front door is in the way. >open front door It seems to be locked. >i You are carrying a leaflet, a set of clothes (being worn), a keyring, inside which is a house key and a letter. >x keyring A keyring, for holding keys. >read letter The letter which led to your visiting this house. It contains a picture of the departed Robert Pire, a gaunt man with a mischievous smile. He is posing next to a bust of himself sitting on an ornate-looking pedestal. >x pedestal You can't see any such thing. >unlock door What do you want to unlock the front door with? >key (first taking the house key) You unlock the front door. >open door You open the front door. >e Foyer This is a small entrance-room. Faded marks on the floor seem to indicate that there was some form of floor covering here before--a rug, or a doormat--but now the room is completely bare. The exit to the outside is west, and another door leads north deeper into the house. Light filters in through a dusty skylight. >x skylight A dusty old skylight, barely letting in enough light to see by. >x floor You see nothing special about the floor. >n The House You're inside the house. Light filters in through the boarded-up windows. This room is bare of furnishings, and a little dusty. The only exit is south, back to the foyer. An ornate pedestal stands in the middle of the room, looking oddly out of place. >['the house'? Hmm.] That's not a verb I recognize. >x pedestal An ornate pedestal, a stand for putting things on. There seem to be intricate, eerie designs scraped into the top... >read top (in the pedestal) You discover nothing of interest in the pedestal. >x designs You can't see any such thing. >read pedestal An ornate pedestal, a stand for putting things on. There seem to be intricate, eerie designs scraped into the top... >stand on pedestal That's not something you can stand on. >touch it You feel nothing unexpected. >push it It is fixed in place. >l The House You're inside the house. Light filters in through the boarded-up windows. This room is bare of furnishings, and a little dusty. The only exit is south, back to the foyer. An ornate pedestal stands in the middle of the room, looking oddly out of place. >i You are carrying a house key, a leaflet, a set of clothes (being worn), a keyring and a letter. >read letter The letter which led to your visiting this house. It contains a picture of the departed Robert Pire, a gaunt man with a mischievous smile. He is posing next to a bust of himself sitting on an ornate-looking pedestal. >open windows You can't see any such thing. >s Foyer This is a small entrance-room. Faded marks on the floor seem to indicate that there was some form of floor covering here before--a rug, or a doormat--but now the room is completely bare. The exit to the outside is west, and another door leads north deeper into the house. Light filters in through a dusty skylight. >w West of House You are standing in an open field west of a green house, with boarded-up windows. You can see a mailbox (which is empty) here. >w End of Driveway The driveway meets a north-south road here--a dirt road, but a well-maintained one. The house is east. >w There's nothing for you in that direction. >n You feel there is a mystery here that you have not even touched. >s You feel there is a mystery here that you have not even touched. >e West of House You are standing in an open field west of a green house, with boarded-up windows. You can see a mailbox (which is empty) here. >ne You can't go that way. >n North of House You are facing the north side of a green house. There is no door here, and all the windows are boarded up. To the north a narrow path winds through the grass. >n The path strangely peters out in the middle of the field, disappearing into a meadow. There is nothing but grass and scrub around you. With no other options, you return to the house. >[why have a path if you can't go down it? Grr.] That's not a verb I recognize. >e East of House You are behind the green house. A path leads off into the fields to the east. All the windows are boarded. >e Stone Circle Rolling, grass-covered hills extend around you in all directions, a small rise concealing the house from your view and only a faint trail showing the way back west. The path leads to an area of bare dirt and five large gray stones arranged in a ring. The stones loom taller than you, formed of granite too smooth to be natural but too worn to show any signs of shaping. Deep grooves have been dug in the ground between the stones, forming a network of symbols. A stone altar stands a few paces away from the stones. On the altar is a statue. >get statue Taken. >x it A stone bust of the late, lamented Pire. (In other words, a statue of his head.) It matches the photograph you received with the letter. >x grooves Unfamiliar symbols are scored in the ground, forming deep grooves. They form a rough circle between the stones. >x altar The altar is a block of stone, roughly carved to create a smooth surface on top. A number of symbols have been etched in the top of the altar, forming a rough crescent pattern. In order, they are: a representation of a cube or box; an eye; a mirror, with horns or wings atop it; a compass rose; a circle with two lines drawn on it, the perspective giving the illusion of a pole piercing a sphere. (Please see the accompanying image file for pictures of the symbols.) >[wa-hey!] That's not a verb I recognize. >[Uh, john? There's no accompanying image file.] You seem to want to talk to someone, but I can't see whom. >e There seems to be nothing but grass in that direction. >w East of House You are behind the green house. A path leads off into the fields to the east. All the windows are boarded. >s South of House You are facing the south side of a green house. There is no door here, and all the windows are boarded. >s Just bare fields that way. >w West of House You are standing in an open field west of a green house, with boarded-up windows. You can see a mailbox (which is empty) here. >e Foyer This is a small entrance-room. Faded marks on the floor seem to indicate that there was some form of floor covering here before--a rug, or a doormat--but now the room is completely bare. The exit to the outside is west, and another door leads north deeper into the house. Light filters in through a dusty skylight. >n The House You're inside the house. Light filters in through the boarded-up windows. This room is bare of furnishings, and a little dusty. The only exit is south, back to the foyer. An ornate pedestal stands in the middle of the room, looking oddly out of place. >put statue on pedestal The statue sits precisely on the pedestal, duplicating the picture you've seen-- and suddenly a wave of dizziness hits you... Press any key to continue. The world vanishes in swirling colors as a dark pain explodes in your head... Press any key to continue. The House You're inside the house. Light filters in through the boarded-up windows. This room is bare of furnishings, and a little dusty. There are doors in the west, north and east walls, and also a hallway to the south leading back to the foyer. >[I That's not a verb I recognize. > [I'm transported to God knows where and the room description is 'The House' again? A bit of a let-d That's not a verb I recognize. >[-down] That's not a verb I recognize. >w You can't, since the white west door is in the way. >open white door It seems to be locked. >i You are carrying a house key, a leaflet, a set of clothes (being worn), a keyring and a letter. >n You can't, since the oak north door is in the way. >open oak It seems to be locked. >unlock oak with house key That doesn't seem to be something you can unlock. >s Foyer This is a small entrance-room. Faded marks on the floor seem to indicate that there was some form of floor covering here before--a rug, or a doormat--but now the room is completely bare. The exit to the outside is west, and another door leads north deeper into the house. Light filters in through a dusty skylight. >w West of House You are standing in an open field west of a green house, with boarded-up windows. You can see a mailbox (which is empty) here. >n North of House You are facing the north side of a green house. There is no door here, and all the windows are boarded up. To the north a narrow path winds through the grass. >e East of House You are behind the green house. A path leads off into the fields to the east. All the windows are boarded. >e Stone Circle Rolling, grass-covered hills extend around you in all directions, a small rise concealing the house from your view and only a faint trail showing the way back west. The path leads to an area of bare dirt and five large gray stones arranged in a ring. The stones loom taller than you, formed of granite too smooth to be natural but too worn to show any signs of shaping. Deep grooves have been dug in the ground between the stones, forming a network of symbols. A stone altar stands a few paces away from the stones. >w East of House You are behind the green house. A path leads off into the fields to the east. All the windows are boarded. >w There is no entry. >n North of House You are facing the north side of a green house. There is no door here, and all the windows are boarded up. To the north a narrow path winds through the grass. >w West of House You are standing in an open field west of a green house, with boarded-up windows. You can see a mailbox (which is empty) here. >e Foyer This is a small entrance-room. Faded marks on the floor seem to indicate that there was some form of floor covering here before--a rug, or a doormat--but now the room is completely bare. The exit to the outside is west, and another door leads north deeper into the house. Light filters in through a dusty skylight. >n The House You're inside the house. Light filters in through the boarded-up windows. This room is bare of furnishings, and a little dusty. There are doors in the west, north and east walls, and also a hallway to the south leading back to the foyer. >e You can't, since the pine east door is in the way. >open east door You open the pine east door. >e Dusty Den This room has enough furniture to make it seem a bit like a den. There are two sofas and a plush chair, arranged around a fireplace. Looking closer, you see that the fireplace is purely ornamental. A plain table rests between the sofas. All the surfaces of the room sport a patina of dust, along with the high windows, but no spider webs are in evidence. You spot the bust of Pire on one shelf. The only exit is east. A black phone sits on a nearby table. A bronze key lies here. >get bronze Taken. >x pire A stone bust of the late, lamented Pire. (In other words, a statue of his head.) It matches the photograph you received with the letter. >x phone A plastic black phone. Strangely, it has no numbers, dials or control of any kind. It is just a handset and cradle. >get phone As you pick up the phone you hear a voice from the receiver say, "Housekeeping, may I help you?". >yes That was a rhetorical question. >talk to phone That's not a verb I recognize. >housekeeping, hi There is no reply. >housekeeping, key There is no reply. >ask housekeeping for key Which do you mean, the bronze key or the house key? >any You can't see any such thing. >ask housekeeping about key "I'm sorry, we have no information on that." >ask housekeeping about door "I'm sorry, we have no information on that." >ask housekeeping about pire There is a slight pause before you hear from the phone again. "We have heard of such a man," a disapproving voice says. "He has neglected his reponsibilities and, well, we don't wish to gossip about things like that..." >ask housekeeping about me "I'm sorry, we have no information on that." >ask housekeeping about housekeeping "I'm sorry, we have no information on that." >ask housekeeping about phone "I'm sorry, we have no information on that." >ask housekeeping about bust "I'm sorry, we have no information on that." >ask housekeeping about pizza "I'm sorry, we have no information on that." >ask housekeeping about food "I'm sorry, we have no information on that." >ask housekeeping about information "I'm sorry, we have no information on that." >hang up That's not a verb I recognize. >drop phone The phone is already here. >i You are carrying a bronze key, a house key, a leaflet, a set of clothes (being worn), a keyring and a letter. >l Dusty Den This room has enough furniture to make it seem a bit like a den. There are two sofas and a plush chair, arranged around a fireplace. Looking closer, you see that the fireplace is purely ornamental. A plain table rests between the sofas. All the surfaces of the room sport a patina of dust, along with the high windows, but no spider webs are in evidence. You spot the bust of Pire on one shelf. The only exit is east. A black phone sits on a nearby table. >x dust You can't see any such thing. >ask housekeeping about dust "I'm sorry, we have no information on that." >x fireplace You can't see any such thing. >x table You can't see any such thing. >x windows You can't see any such thing. >x shelf You can't see any such thing. >w The House You're inside the house. Light filters in through the boarded-up windows. This room is bare of furnishings, and a little dusty. There are doors in the west, north and east walls, and also a hallway to the south leading back to the foyer. >unlock north door with bronze That doesn't seem to be something you can unlock. >unlock west door with bronze That doesn't seem to be something you can unlock. >w You can't, since the white west door is in the way. >open west (the white west door) It seems to be locked. >open north (the oak north door) It seems to be locked. >unlock it What do you want to unlock the oak north door with? >bronze That doesn't seem to be something you can unlock. >[grr] That's not a verb I recognize. >hint [Warning: It is recognized that the temptation for help may at times be so exceedingly strong that you might fetch hints prematurely. Therefore, you may at any time during the story type HINTS OFF, and this will disallow the seeking out of help for the present session of the story. If you still want a hint now, indicate HINT.] >hint There are several rooms you can find other than the Arboretum. (4 hints left.) Explore. (4 hints left.) Look around. (3 hints left.) Look at objects. (2 hints left.) Think about what you've seen. (1 hint left.) Have fun. [That's All Folks!] All right, all right. The first phase of the game takes place in three areas: outside the house, inside the house, and the fields/forest/hill area. (3 hints left.) There is only one thing you need outside the house (where you start out). It's pretty obvious. (2 hints left.) Once inside the house, you can find your way to the field/forest/hill area. (1 hint left.) From there, find ways that the objects there interact with the inside of the house. See the other topics for more specific information. [That's All Folks!] There are three objects of real interest outside the house. (Aside from the objects you start out carrying--don't forget to read the letter and unlock the front door with your key!) (4 hints left.) The three objects are the stone circle, altar, and statue. They're east of East of House. (3 hints left.) Two of these objects only come into play later in the game. (2 hints left.) One of these things is not like the others. (1 hint left.) If you put certain objects on the altar, stuff happens. But the statue is obviously the wrong object. Take it into the house, and be sure to read your letter. [That's All Folks!] There are only two rooms in the house...to start with, at any rate. (7 hints left.) The Foyer is pretty unimportant. "The House" is VERY important. (6 hints left.) Look at everything you see in the house. (5 hints left.) Pay attention to the descriptions you see. (4 hints left.) That pedestal looks lonely just sitting there, doesn't it? (3 hints left.) Put the statue on the pedestal, like you saw in the letter. (2 hints left.) Now look around some more. (1 hint left.) Once you look at any of the designs, you learn MAGIC! Yay! Not only that, another door appears. This is your next destination. [That's All Folks!] If you're reading this, you should have exited the house from the southeast door. Otherwise, the succeeding hints won't make sense. (11 hints left.) The House You're inside the house. Light filters in through the boarded-up windows. This room is bare of furnishings, and a little dusty. There are doors in the west, north and east walls, and also a hallway to the south leading back to the foyer. >[magic?] That's not a verb I recognize. >i You are carrying a bronze key, a house key, a leaflet, a set of clothes (being worn), a keyring and a letter. >spell That's not a verb I recognize. >cast That's not a verb I recognize. >x altar You can't see any such thing. >s Foyer This is a small entrance-room. Faded marks on the floor seem to indicate that there was some form of floor covering here before--a rug, or a doormat--but now the room is completely bare. The exit to the outside is west, and another door leads north deeper into the house. Light filters in through a dusty skylight. >w West of House You are standing in an open field west of a green house, with boarded-up windows. You can see a mailbox (which is empty) here. >n North of House You are facing the north side of a green house. There is no door here, and all the windows are boarded up. To the north a narrow path winds through the grass. >e East of House You are behind the green house. A path leads off into the fields to the east. All the windows are boarded. >e Stone Circle Rolling, grass-covered hills extend around you in all directions, a small rise concealing the house from your view and only a faint trail showing the way back west. The path leads to an area of bare dirt and five large gray stones arranged in a ring. The stones loom taller than you, formed of granite too smooth to be natural but too worn to show any signs of shaping. Deep grooves have been dug in the ground between the stones, forming a network of symbols. A stone altar stands a few paces away from the stones. >put bust on altar You can't see any such thing. >i You are carrying a bronze key, a house key, a leaflet, a set of clothes (being worn), a keyring and a letter. >put statue on altar You can't see any such thing. >i You are carrying a bronze key, a house key, a leaflet, a set of clothes (being worn), a keyring and a letter. >w East of House You are behind the green house. A path leads off into the fields to the east. All the windows are boarded. >n North of House You are facing the north side of a green house. There is no door here, and all the windows are boarded up. To the north a narrow path winds through the grass. >w West of House You are standing in an open field west of a green house, with boarded-up windows. You can see a mailbox (which is empty) here. >e Foyer This is a small entrance-room. Faded marks on the floor seem to indicate that there was some form of floor covering here before--a rug, or a doormat--but now the room is completely bare. The exit to the outside is west, and another door leads north deeper into the house. Light filters in through a dusty skylight. >n The House You're inside the house. Light filters in through the boarded-up windows. This room is bare of furnishings, and a little dusty. There are doors in the west, north and east walls, and also a hallway to the south leading back to the foyer. >e Dusty Den This room has enough furniture to make it seem a bit like a den. There are two sofas and a plush chair, arranged around a fireplace. Looking closer, you see that the fireplace is purely ornamental. A plain table rests between the sofas. All the surfaces of the room sport a patina of dust, along with the high windows, but no spider webs are in evidence. You spot the bust of Pire on one shelf. The only exit is east. A black phone sits on a nearby table. >i You are carrying a bronze key, a house key, a leaflet, a set of clothes (being worn), a keyring and a letter. >x pire A stone bust of the late, lamented Pire. (In other words, a statue of his head.) It matches the photograph you received with the letter. >get it That's hardly portable. >touch it You feel nothing unexpected. >e You can't go that way. >[the only exit is east?] That's not a verb I recognize. >w The House You're inside the house. Light filters in through the boarded-up windows. This room is bare of furnishings, and a little dusty. There are doors in the west, north and east walls, and also a hallway to the south leading back to the foyer. >s Foyer This is a small entrance-room. Faded marks on the floor seem to indicate that there was some form of floor covering here before--a rug, or a doormat--but now the room is completely bare. The exit to the outside is west, and another door leads north deeper into the house. Light filters in through a dusty skylight. >w West of House You are standing in an open field west of a green house, with boarded-up windows. You can see a mailbox (which is empty) here. >n North of House You are facing the north side of a green house. There is no door here, and all the windows are boarded up. To the north a narrow path winds through the grass. >e East of House You are behind the green house. A path leads off into the fields to the east. All the windows are boarded. >e Stone Circle Rolling, grass-covered hills extend around you in all directions, a small rise concealing the house from your view and only a faint trail showing the way back west. The path leads to an area of bare dirt and five large gray stones arranged in a ring. The stones loom taller than you, formed of granite too smooth to be natural but too worn to show any signs of shaping. Deep grooves have been dug in the ground between the stones, forming a network of symbols. A stone altar stands a few paces away from the stones. >x altar The altar is a block of stone, roughly carved to create a smooth surface on top. A number of symbols have been etched in the top of the altar, forming a rough crescent pattern. In order, they are: a representation of a cube or box; an eye; a mirror, with horns or wings atop it; a compass rose; a circle with two lines drawn on it, the perspective giving the illusion of a pole piercing a sphere. (Please see the accompanying image file for pictures of the symbols.) >x designs You can't see any such thing. >x design You can't see any such thing. >x symbol Unfamiliar symbols are scored in the ground, forming deep grooves. They form a rough circle between the stones. >touch symbol You feel a faint pressure, as of something on the edge of your senses. >stand on altar That's not something you can stand on. >put all on altar bronze key: Done. house key: There is no more room on the altar. leaflet: There is no more room on the altar. keyring: There is no more room on the altar. letter: There is no more room on the altar. >get key (the house key) You already have that. >get bronze Taken. >x it It might not be bronze, for all you know. It's sort of a dull almost-goldish color. You like to think of it as the bronze key, though. >hint There are only two rooms in the house...to start with, at any rate. The Foyer is pretty unimportant. "The House" is VERY important. Look at everything you see in the house. Pay attention to the descriptions you see. That pedestal looks lonely just sitting there, doesn't it? Put the statue on the pedestal, like you saw in the letter. Now look around some more. Once you look at any of the designs, you learn MAGIC! Yay! Not only that, another door appears. This is your next destination. [That's All Folks!] Stone Circle Rolling, grass-covered hills extend around you in all directions, a small rise concealing the house from your view and only a faint trail showing the way back west. The path leads to an area of bare dirt and five large gray stones arranged in a ring. The stones loom taller than you, formed of granite too smooth to be natural but too worn to show any signs of shaping. Deep grooves have been dug in the ground between the stones, forming a network of symbols. A stone altar stands a few paces away from the stones. >w East of House You are behind the green house. A path leads off into the fields to the east. All the windows are boarded. >n North of House You are facing the north side of a green house. There is no door here, and all the windows are boarded up. To the north a narrow path winds through the grass. >w West of House You are standing in an open field west of a green house, with boarded-up windows. You can see a mailbox (which is empty) here. >e Foyer This is a small entrance-room. Faded marks on the floor seem to indicate that there was some form of floor covering here before--a rug, or a doormat--but now the room is completely bare. The exit to the outside is west, and another door leads north deeper into the house. Light filters in through a dusty skylight. >n The House You're inside the house. Light filters in through the boarded-up windows. This room is bare of furnishings, and a little dusty. There are doors in the west, north and east walls, and also a hallway to the south leading back to the foyer. >x door Which do you mean, the white west door, the pine east door or the oak north door? >oak An oaken door leading north-south. A strange angular design is somehow inscribed on it. >x design Which do you mean, the angular magic circle or the serpentine magic circle? >serpentine Another explosion of light in your head, a feeling even worse than the first, but much shorter... Press any key to continue. The House You're inside the house. Light filters in through the boarded-up windows. This room is bare of furnishings, and a little dusty. Doors lead north, west and east, along with one going southeast and a hallway to the south (back to the foyer). The eldritch design has impressed some sort of arcane power upon your thoughts. If you just concentrate, you know you will recall it precisely... >concentrate You feel you have the ability to draw the serpentine magic circle. >x west door A wooden door leading east-west, painted white. A strange angular design is somehow inscribed on it. >x angular design A circle painted on the door, covered over with angular designs. It almost seems to burn itself into your eyes as you stare... >concentrate You feel you have the ability to draw the following designs: the serpentine magic circle, the angular magic circle. >[well hey] That's not a verb I recognize. >drop serpentine magic circle The serpentine magic circle is already here. >e Dusty Den This room has enough furniture to make it seem a bit like a den. There are two sofas and a plush chair, arranged around a fireplace. Looking closer, you see that the fireplace is purely ornamental. A plain table rests between the sofas. All the surfaces of the room sport a patina of dust, along with the high windows, but no spider webs are in evidence. You spot the bust of Pire on one shelf. The only exit is east. A black phone sits on a nearby table. >w The House You're inside the house. Light filters in through the boarded-up windows. This room is bare of furnishings, and a little dusty. Doors lead north, west and east, along with one going southeast and a hallway to the south (back to the foyer). >draw serpentine magic circle What do you want to draw the serpentine magic circle? >draw serpentine magic circle on door Which do you mean, the white west door, the pine east door, the oak north door or the sturdy wooden door? >north You brush at the oak north door, attempting to recall some of the power you felt into your fingers...but nothing happens. >l The House You're inside the house. Light filters in through the boarded-up windows. This room is bare of furnishings, and a little dusty. Doors lead north, west and east, along with one going southeast and a hallway to the south (back to the foyer). >se You can't, since the sturdy wooden door is in the way. >open sturdy door Warning: @get_parent called with object 0 (PC = fc10) (occurence 1) From this side, you easily unlock and open the door. >se Warning: @get_parent called with object 0 (PC = fc30) (occurence 2) As you exit the house, a sudden cracking noise stops you in your tracks. You turn and see the house collapsing in upon itself, thunderous crashing noises echoing around you. Yet somehow there is no dust, no cloud of flying splinters, as the spinning timbers collapse downward like an explosion in reverse...leaving one lonely piece of wood behind. Not-So-Grassy Field The grass underfoot gives way to yellow, pebbly dirt. It's almost dry enough to be sand, but not quite. Looking around, you see that the barren area extends in a large circle around you. An exact circle. A wooden board lies here. >x board A board of light-colored wood, possibly oak. It is precisely one inch thick, one foot wide and one yard long. It is covered with writing, deep grooves carved into the wood forming words in many different languages. Most you do not recognize...But you eventually puzzle out "kore wo ochite", "lāchez-moi" and, finally, "DROP ME". >get it Taken. >drop it The board lands end-down on the ground...and begins to wriggle deeper, sprouting more lengths of wood that multiply and climb higher, until the entire house has regrown before your eyes! Not-So-Grassy Field The grass underfoot gives way to yellow, pebbly dirt. It's almost dry enough to be sand, but not quite. Looking around, you see that the barren area extends in a large circle around you. An exact circle. A white house stands before you, looking similar to the one you inherited, but not quite the same... >undo Not-So-Grassy Field [Previous turn undone.] >x circle (the barren area) A barren area, forming an exact circle. There is some grass, but it is yellow and stunted. >s Forest Gully A furious river to the east rushes into an overgrown gully and disappears into the forest to the south. North and west you see the grassy field extending off to the horizon. >s The forest is too dense and overgrown. >e The river looks too fast and dangerous. >w Cliff at Forest's Edge A yellowish stone cliff fills your view to the west. It extends southward into a dense forest, where it is overgrown with trees and brush. The forest extends east, blocking any way south except for a small southwesterly tunnel formed where the brush can find no purchase on the rock of the cliff. You see a tiny chair on the ground. >x chair A very small chair, as from a dollhouse. >get chair Taken. >x it A very small chair, as from a dollhouse. >sw Clearing in Forest Sunlight filters in through the trees in dappled patterns, but the forest still feels dark and oppressive. A small clearing in the brush is centered around a tall oak tree. A path runs through the clearing, traveling north and south. >x oak tree For some reason, this oak tree has a number of ridges and low branches, making it seem like you might be able to climb it. There is a smooth area on the front of the tree which seems worn, bearing traces of old marks or engravings. >u Up a Tree You're quite a ways up a tall oak tree. Leaves and branches fill your view, through which sunlight filters in shifting images. Some Spanish moss hangs from a branch. >get moss Taken. >x branches You can't see any such thing. >d Clearing in Forest Sunlight filters in through the trees in dappled patterns, but the forest still feels dark and oppressive. A small clearing in the brush is centered around a tall oak tree. A path runs through the clearing, traveling north and south. >concentrate You feel you have the ability to draw the following designs: the serpentine magic circle, the angular magic circle. >draw serpentine on oak You gather the invisible threads of eldritch energy in your fingers and impress them into the oak tree, weaving a link to the serpentine magic circle from your thoughts. >open oak That's not something you can open. >touch oak You feel nothing unexpected. >x oak For some reason, this oak tree has a number of ridges and low branches, making it seem like you might be able to climb it. There is a smooth area on the front of the tree which seems worn, bearing traces of old marks or engravings. Inscribed in the smooth area is a serpentine magic circle And somehow, the arcane inscriptions have defined an area which stretches back into the tree, a path that can be followed... >in The House You're inside the house. Light filters in through the boarded-up windows. This room is bare of furnishings, and a little dusty. Doors lead north, west and east, along with one going southeast and a hallway to the south (back to the foyer). >drop board The board clunks down. >get it Taken. >n You can't, since the oak north door is in the way. >x oak An oaken door leading north-south. A strange angular design is somehow inscribed on it. >x angular A circle painted on the door, covered over with angular designs. It almost seems to burn itself into your eyes as you stare... >s Foyer This is a small entrance-room. Faded marks on the floor seem to indicate that there was some form of floor covering here before--a rug, or a doormat--but now the room is completely bare. The exit to the outside is west, and another door leads north deeper into the house. Light filters in through a dusty skylight. >w West of House You are standing in an open field west of a green house, with boarded-up windows. You can see a mailbox (which is empty) here. >s South of House You are facing the south side of a green house. There is no door here, and all the windows are boarded. >s Just bare fields that way. >w West of House You are standing in an open field west of a green house, with boarded-up windows. You can see a mailbox (which is empty) here. >e Foyer This is a small entrance-room. Faded marks on the floor seem to indicate that there was some form of floor covering here before--a rug, or a doormat--but now the room is completely bare. The exit to the outside is west, and another door leads north deeper into the house. Light filters in through a dusty skylight. >n The House You're inside the house. Light filters in through the boarded-up windows. This room is bare of furnishings, and a little dusty. Doors lead north, west and east, along with one going southeast and a hallway to the south (back to the foyer). >se You can't, since the sturdy wooden door is in the way. >open wooden (the sturdy wooden door) Warning: @get_parent called with object 0 (PC = fc10) (occurence 3) From this side, you easily unlock and open the door. >se Warning: @get_parent called with object 0 (PC = fc30) (occurence 4) As you exit the house, a sudden cracking noise stops you in your tracks. You turn and see the house collapsing in upon itself, thunderous crashing noises echoing around you. Yet somehow there is no dust, no cloud of flying splinters, as the spinning timbers collapse downward like an explosion in reverse...leaving one lonely piece of wood behind. Warning: @move_object called moving into object 0 (PC = fc51) (occurence 1) You can't, since the sturdy wooden door leads nowhere. >l The House You're inside the house. Light filters in through the boarded-up windows. This room is bare of furnishings, and a little dusty. Doors lead north, west and east, along with one going southeast and a hallway to the south (back to the foyer). > Hot key -- Undo one turn The House [Previous turn undone.] > Hot key -- Undo one turn The House [Previous turn undone.] > Hot key -- Undo one turn The House [Previous turn undone.] > Hot key -- Undo one turn The House [Previous turn undone.] > Hot key -- Undo one turn Foyer [Previous turn undone.] > Hot key -- Undo one turn West of House [Previous turn undone.] > Hot key -- Undo one turn South of House [Previous turn undone.] > Hot key -- Undo one turn South of House [Previous turn undone.] > Hot key -- Undo one turn West of House [Previous turn undone.] > Hot key -- Undo one turn Foyer [Previous turn undone.] > Hot key -- Undo one turn The House [Previous turn undone.] > Hot key -- Undo one turn The House [Previous turn undone.] > Hot key -- Undo one turn The House [Previous turn undone.] > Hot key -- Undo one turn The House [Previous turn undone.] > Hot key -- Undo one turn The House [Previous turn undone.] > Hot key -- Undo one turn The House [Previous turn undone.] > Hot key -- Undo one turn Clearing in Forest [Previous turn undone.] > Hot key -- Undo one turn Clearing in Forest [Previous turn undone.] > Hot key -- Undo one turn Clearing in Forest [Previous turn undone.] > Hot key -- Undo one turn Clearing in Forest [Previous turn undone.] >i You are carrying some Spanish moss, a dollhouse chair, a wooden board, a bronze key, a house key, a leaflet, a set of clothes (being worn), a keyring and a letter. >l Clearing in Forest Sunlight filters in through the trees in dappled patterns, but the forest still feels dark and oppressive. A small clearing in the brush is centered around a tall oak tree. A path runs through the clearing, traveling north and south. >e You can't go that way. >s Large Clearing The forest recedes and you find yourself in a large clearing. The sunlight beams down more strongly here, actually reaching the ground. Paths lead north and south out of the clearing, the south one leading straight up a large hill that rises before you. >s Hill Summit The top of the hill is flat, and covered with short grass. A tree stands here regally. Looking out over the north side, you can see the forest and the field beyond it, and off in the distance the brownish line of the fence. To the east, down the other side of the hill, stretches a wide, windy plain of grass. Strangely, aisles or flattened areas seem to form a large pattern or design in the continually ruffling grasses. Looking south or west, however, you can see only mist... You can see a railing section and a paint can here. >get railing section You're carrying too many things already. >[ok, inventory limits suck.] You seem to want to talk to someone, but I can't see whom. > [In fact, I'm quitting now. I will play this again after it's been better beta-tested, or You seem to want to talk to someone, but I can't see whom. >[if asked to beta-test it when I happen to be in a good mood.] That's not a verb I recognize. >