Start of a transcript of Sparrow's Song A Smoochie Comp Entry by J.D. Berry (berryx@earthlink.net) This game is freeware (Type 'about' at any > prompt). (An 'overview' is recommended for your first go.) Release 1 / Serial number 010122 / Inform v6.21 Library 6/10 Standard interpreter 1.0 (6F) / Library serial number 991113 >restart Are you sure you want to restart? y Sparrow's Song A Smoochie Comp Entry by J.D. Berry (berryx@earthlink.net) This game is freeware (Type 'about' at any > prompt). (An 'overview' is recommended for your first go.) Release 1 / Serial number 010122 / Inform v6.21 Library 6/10 Bedroom (on the bed) Your bedroom is quite modest for someone of nobility; still it's likely the largest in Hinter Keep. The main furnishings here--a bed, a desk, an armoire and a fireplace--are all of deceptive quality. Plain on first glance, they gradually reveal their exquisite workmanship. An opened bay window offers a view of most of the keep and, for the moment at least, a warm, spring breeze. [Nearby locations: Hall] >about This game is freeware. You can download the program and use it indefinitely at no charge. You are also free to distribute it to anyone you want, provided the distribution is an unmodified version. Freeware is provided on an "as is" basis and no technical support is available. >overview "Sparrow's Song" is a short game written for Smoochie Comp 2001. You'll probably be able to finish in an hour or so. You can extend your playing time by stopping to smell, touch and even squeeze the flowers. Or, if there are no flowers, the monsters. Your game, your call. The first thing to note is the procedure for moving between game locations. Type in the name of the place where you wish to go. After most area descriptions is a list of nearby places. You are not necessarily restricted to only those places. If you are familiar with a more distant location, you can type that and attempt to go there. The second is conversation. Rather than the conventional 'ask cardboard cutout about unimplemented item', simply type a one-word topic followed immediately by a question mark. As a typically game-useless but point-conveying example, typing in dogs? MAY broach (or continue) the subject of dogs. The question mark does not necessarily indicate a question, although it usually does because, generally, player characters are more interested in gathering knowledge than relating it. (But NON-player characters are omniscient, uncaring, sarcastic folk who LIVE to serve you. Really. No, they mean that.) As a diplomat among other things, you'll find that you can almost always think of topics of conversation. The 'topics' command will search your chitchat 'database' for a few random possibilities. And as always, please, do not poke the beholder. >x me You, Kellen of Moorwick, Baron of Hinter, are a distinguished and handsome gentleman in his mid 30s. Your natural, noble bearing is tinged with years of frontier life and its practicalities. A sparrow, as is its kind's custom in early morning, flits to the sill of your window. >x sparrow On first glance there appears to be nothing special about this sparrow. >g Looking at it again, you notice an intelligence in the sparrow's eyes. The sparrow peers in the room, thoughtfully examining you. >squeeze sparrow You realize that would frighten the bird, and that is not your intention. >hello? You dismiss that subject as currently irrelevant. The sparrow chirps a little song. The song begins to speak to you in emotions. It tells a tale of melancholy, of separation, of love and longing. Your heart dances with its melody, your soul with its harmony. A woman, distant in many ways, loves you. You are meant for one another, this she has known for some time. This you know now. You want desperately to be with her. Abruptly, the sparrow flies away. The pure emotions experienced seconds ago are gone. However, a warm, airy "presence" persists, feeling like it will stay within you forever. >x presence That's unavailable, unimplemented or irrelevant. >x emotions That's unavailable, unimplemented or irrelevant. >x window The window juts from the south side of the manor's second floor. It exposes a beautiful panorama which centers on the keep and expands outward to the raw elegance of the frontier. >x keep (looking out the window) The view truly is magnificent. You can see a small but thriving keep built on one of many gently rolling hills. A backdrop of mountains perfects the picture. >x mountains As is often the case, the mountains are much farther away than they appear. To make out any details from here is difficult, still they complement the view well with their majestic beauty. >squeeze mountains You achieve nothing by this. >touch mountains You feel nothing unexpected. >[hee hee!] That's neither a verb nor a topic I recognize. >get up You get off the bed. Bedroom >verbose Sparrow's Song is now in its "verbose" mode, which always gives long descriptions of locations (even if you've been there before). >l Bedroom Your bedroom is quite modest for someone of nobility; still it's likely the largest in Hinter Keep. The main furnishings here--a bed, a desk, an armoire and a fireplace--are all of deceptive quality. Plain on first glance, they gradually reveal their exquisite workmanship. An opened bay window offers a view of most of the keep and, for the moment at least, a warm, spring breeze. [Nearby locations: Hall] >x armoire This armoire was the only piece of furniture you brought with you from your father's palace. While getting it here in one piece was a saga worthy of the great bards, your sentimental attachment to it made the struggle a worthwhile one. The armoire is currently closed. >open it Inside the armoire is your last set of clean clothes. The cleaners come tomorrow. >x me You, Kellen of Moorwick, Baron of Hinter, are a distinguished and handsome gentleman in his mid 30s. Your natural, noble bearing is tinged with years of frontier life and its practicalities. And, you now realize, there's a big, goofy, "I'm in love" grin on your face. >i You are carrying nothing. >get clothes Taken. >wear them You get dressed. >i You are carrying: your clothes (being worn) >x clothes Your clothing is practical, though all of it is of the highest quality. Your blue tunic proudly displays the Moorwick crest, a shield with three diagonal red stripes, on both front and back. Your gray pants are made of thick leather. Your boots are "old cavalry". Few wear that kind today, but you continue to do so because nothing else feels right. >x desk Made of oak, this desk is really more of a table. Its legs have been carved to look like long goblets. The desktop contains: a pile of papers >x papers These are mostly all legal documents, none of which interest you in the slightest, today. >get them At the moment you have no interest at all in the papers. >save Ok. >quit Are you sure you want to quit? y