                                 Escape from Starship Zenon.

                               [Press any button to continue]

The story so far:

Accused of multi-planaterial murder and thrown in the high-security brig of a large federal starship with a life sentence. What a downer. There's probably some fiendishly tricky and elusive way to escape from here if you put your mind to it, you know.

Over to you.

Type help for help. Please read the read me.

Escape from the Starship Zenon
By Andrew Gawthorpe
Release 2 / Serial number 100122 / Inform v6.14 Library 6/10

Cell
If you ever get out of here, you really must complain to the prison's standards officers. This place is dirtier and dustier than a dirt factory. If you didn't have better things to do, you'd be in the right mind too give the place a jolly good clean just too spite it. There's a heavily built door to the south.

You can see a door, a bed, a pressure guage and a light switch here.

examine switch
take switch
push switch
look under bed
open guage
turn switch on
push switch to bed

This is just your average prisoner regulation bed. No quilt, sheets or pillow. Just a hard wooden board.
You think you see a glint under the bed.

examine switch
take switch
push switch
put key down
open guage
turn switch on
push switch to bed
put key on bed
open door with key

A steel key. Looks like it might fit a keyhole.

A switch that presumably operates the lights.
The light switch is currently switched off.

take switch
push switch
push guage
close guage
put key down
turn switch on
push switch to bed
put key on bed
open door with key

A big red light starts to flash on the pressure guage. Perhaps you did something wrong.

You hear hurried footsteps from outside as a guard rushes up.

It is now pitch dark in here!

Time passes.
The guard runs into the room and, in the darkness, you hear a clatter and then a thud. Grinning sheepishly, you push the button on the pressure guage and wait for the lights to return.....
[Your score has just gone up by four points.]

Time passes.
The lights switch back on automatically.

Cell
If you ever get out of here, you really must complain to the prison's standards officers. This place is dirtier and dustier than a dirt factory. If you didn't have better things to do, you'd be in the right mind too give the place a jolly good clean just too spite it. There's a heavily built door to the south.

You can see an a prone guard, a door, a bed, a pressure guage and a light switch here.

examine switch
take switch
push switch
close guage
put key down
turn switch on
push switch to bed
put key on bed
open door with key

This guard seems to have tripped over something and knocked himself out when running into the room.

take switch
push switch
close guage
put key down
open door
turn switch on
push switch to bed
put key on bed
lock door with key

take switch
push switch
close door
close guage
south
put key down
turn switch on
push switch to bed
put key on bed

Landing
This is a long corridor stretching west and east. The cell you where once held in is to the north, though you have no wish to return there.

The door is open

Corridor
Another section of corridor that leads south into a room of some sort and west back towards your old cell.

You can see a Janitor here.

Armoury
The armoury is very sparsely stocked. If it where not for the bid red sign that proclaims "ARMOURY!" you'd probably guess it was just another cell...

You can see a box of chaff grenades (which is closed) here.

This box contains chaff grenades - you can only get one at once.

You open the box of chaff grenades, revealing a chaff grenade.

take grenade
close box
put key down
pull grenade
empty box
put key in box
push grenade to box
north

examine key
close box
put key down
put grenade down
put all down
pull grenade
put key in box
put grenade in box
put all in box
north

A chaff grenade, used for disabling electronics. You could pull the pin and then deposit it somewhere.

examine key
put key down
put grenade down
put all down
pull grenade
south
west

Landing

The door is open

You can also see a Janitor here.

The janitor wanders off, mopping as he goes.

examine west
close door
west
north
east
put key down
put grenade down
put all down
pull grenade

Corridor
A section of corridor. You can see your old cell door to the east and the corridor stretches further west.

west
east
put key down
put grenade down
put all down
pull grenade

Corridor
A section of corridor that stretches east back toward your old cell and north into some sort of hall. It also leads south to another room.

north
put key down
put grenade down
put all down
pull grenade
south
east

Control Room
Some kind of control room. Unfortunatly you fail to see a big button marked "Disable security devices"...Might have to be a bit more subtle.

A cupboard is beneath the control panels.

put key down
put grenade down
put all down
pull grenade
open cupboard
turn button on
north

A load of buttons and switches.
The Controls is currently switched off.

A sign on the cupboard reads "Surveilance camera electronics - DO NOT TOUCH, THIS MEANS YOU BOB."

You open the cupboard revealing some electronics

close cupboard
put key down
put grenade down
put all down
pull grenade
turn button on
put key in cupboard
put grenade in cupboard
put all in cupboard
north

examine key
close cupboard
put key down
put grenade down
put all down
turn button on
put key in cupboard
put grenade in cupboard
put all in cupboard
north

You put the chaff grenade into the cupboard.

examine key
take grenade
close cupboard
put key down
empty cupboard
turn button on
put key in cupboard
push grenade to cupboard
north

Time passes.
The grenade explodes - you hear the electronics fizzle out.

[Your score has just gone up by four points.]

close cupboard
put key down
turn button on
put key in cupboard
north

Scorched and blackened, these electronics don't appear to be in working order.

Hall
A reasonably large hall with a security camera positioned to the far north. The walls are that inhumane stainless steel white that turns your brain to mush after looking at it for a while.

The camera just sits there, smoking gently

The black security camera is high up on the wall, too far up for you to reach it.

Lift
A lift. There's a button that says "Down" on it and also a door to the south.

The lift shoots downwards and gradually comes to a halt...

Lift
The bottom of the lift. There's a button with "Up" written on it and also a door to the north.

Hallway
A hallway leading south into a lift of some kind and northwards into a fairly large room.

Office
This room is large administration office with two desks stacked with papers, which behind sit two office workers, one male and one female. There are corridors emitting from this room in every direction and a sign on the wall that seems to explain where each of these corridors goes.

A male secretary sits at a desk to the west, working furiously

A female secretary sits at a desk to the east, not appearing to be doing much work
The male secretary gives the female secretary a baleful stare.

The sign reads: "South: Cell area. North: Main ship deck. East: Guards bar. West: Officers Quarters."

The male secretary wears a very prim and proper three piece suit - jacket, shirt and trousers, with a tie neatly dividing his torso in two. Every so often he stops furiously scribbling with his pencil to glare at his female counterpart across the office.
The female secretary looks wistfully towards the bar, before turning back.

The female secretary is casually dressed, although she is not to scruffy. She doesn't appear to be doing nearly as much work as her male workmate across the office and spends a fair amount of time twirling her pen around in her fingers with a far away look on her face.
The female secretary gets her purse out and powders her nose.

"You cannot pass without proper paperwork!" snorts the male secretary.
"Sorry, hon." says the female secretary. "You can't pass without paperwork, unless you bribe us of course." She giggles foolishly.
You can't go that way.
The male secretary gives the female secretary a baleful stare.

He rolls his eyes. "That damn infernal woman never does any work. She makes the place so bally untidy as well."
"How I wish I was an officer, so I could make Daddy proud." says the male secretary.

"Something you'll never catch madam over there doing!"

"I so wish I was an officer, just like Daddy." says the male officer wistfully. "There's an officers convention soon, if I could attend then surely I could impress my superiors. If only I had an invitation...."

The male officer suddenly perks up. "You have an invitation for the officers convention?" he asks eagerly. Seeing you don't, he gives you an evil stare and sets back down to his work.

"You leave my dear daddy out of this!"
The female secretary gets her purse out and powders her nose.

"Isn't he so uptight?" says the female secretary. "Never lets his hair down, always working."

She flutters her eyelashes. "If you can get me the job in the bar, so I can get away from this dump and that sour puss." She points across the room to her co-worker. "Then I'll let you pass through."
"How I wish I was an officer, so I could make Daddy proud." says the male secretary.

Bar
Finally, a bar! Somewhere to quench your thirst for a pint of smooth, creamy ale...Your mouth begins to dribble, until you realise you have no money to speak of.... Your heart sinks, and you pause to take in the surroundings. It looks rather like a 20th century wine bar, with classy furnishings well placed around the room. There is a large sign on the wall.

A barman beams at you from behind the bar.

You can also see a juke box here.

"Barmaid wanted!" reads the sign, "Ask Sandy the barman about 'job' for more info."

Sandy the barman is a fine figure of a man, standing some six feet tall. His head is topped by masses of ginger curls below which there are thick ginger eyebrows. To finish the image off, some ginger whiskers bristle underneath his nose. He's beaming quite hugely at you.

It's a raging stonker of a duke box! If you know your juke boxes, and you surely do, it's nothing less than one of the now legendary Rock-Ola's, from 1961. It appears to be jammed on tracks from Genesis.

"Here's the application form, it's really quite simple." explains the barman, "Just give it to whoever wants the job and get them to fill it in. I assume you're not applying for the job as a barmaid." He laughs and winks at you.
You hear Phil Collins singing his heart out on the juke box.

examine key
put key down
put form down
put all down
west

An application form for the post of barmaid at the bar.The distinctive voice of Peter Gabriel can be heard from the jukebox.

The female secretary fills in the form quickly and says "Thanks!  Now please just give it back to the barman, and I'll let you pass."

Bar

A barman beams at you from behind the bar.

You can also see a juke box here.

"Thanks!" exclaims the barman, "I'm sure she'll be very happy in her new position, she'll be starting here very soon."
[Your score has just gone up by four points.]

Officer's Room
Rather than an officers social hall, it appears to be a place of work. There is a photocopier stood on a table and a smart looking officer type sat behind the desk.

On the table is a photocopier (which is closed).

put key down
open photocopier
put key on desk
east

A big photocopier with somewhat simple controls. It appears you open it up, put whatever you wish to copy inside and then press the "On" button on the side.

A white table with metal legs and a plastic top.

This officer looks very officious. Looking at him, words such as "bustling" and "puffy cheeks" come to mind. He looks like one of those old style military men, and displays several medals on his green jacket. This jacket is kept company by a pair of green trousers, which you can just see from behind the desk. He displays a bristling moustache which is surrounded by the red, puffy mass of his face.

"This is my invite," says the officer, handing you a bit of paper. "You are free to peruse it and wish you had one of your own." He sniggers.

put key down
put invite down
put all down
open photocopier
ask officer about invite
put key on desk
put invite on desk
put all on desk
east

An invite to the officers convention, given to you by an officer.

examine key
close photocopier
put key down
put invite down
put all down
ask officer about invite
put key on desk
put key in photocopier
put invite on desk
put invite in photocopier
put all on desk
put all in photocopier
east

You put the invite into the photocopier.

take invite
push photocopier
close photocopier
put key down
empty photocopier
put key on desk
put key in photocopier
push invite to desk
push invite to photocopier
east

The photocopier merrily chugs away for a few minutes before depositing a copy of the invite in your hand. You then retrieve the original invite

close photocopier
put key down
put copy down
put all down
ask officer about invite
put key on desk
put key in photocopier
put copy on desk
put copy in photocopier
put all on desk
put all in photocopier
east

A photocopy of an invite to the officers convention. Doubtless it could pass as the real thing.

The officer takes his invite back off you before you leave.

Office

A male secretary sits at a desk to the west, working furiously

A female secretary sits at a desk to the east, not appearing to be doing much work
The female secretary looks wistfully towards the bar, before turning back.

"By jove!" exclaims the secretary. "You've actually got me an invite. I won't notice if you pass through now."
The male secretary gives the female secretary a baleful stare.

[Your score has just gone up by four points.]

Hallway
A south/north corridor. To the south is a large room of some kind while the corridor leads north to some sort of airlock.

North end of hallway
Before you stands a bulkhead door, looking every inch your ticket to freedom. Unfortunatly, it doesn't appear to have any method of opening. Back to the south you can see a large room, while to your east lies a small control room.

You can see a door here.

A control room
A small, dank control room, which only has the one button. An incredibly strange state of affairs for a control room, really. It's a big button, if it helps.

You can see a Button here.

It's a big red button. It's the only button in this room, and probably gets rather lonely. It's just begging you to push it.

You push the button, and hear the grind of machinery

North end of hallway

You can see a door here.

close door
north
east
south
put key down

You leap through the airlock, and find an escape pod at the other side. How convieniant! You engage the throttle and speed away into the unknown.

This really is all too good to be true. Escaped from the spaceship with not a scratch or scrape and now your own escape pod to call your own, there must be a catch somewhere. I expect you'll find out in the sequal.

The end!

You won!

The door is open

    *** You have won ***

In that game you scored 20 out of a possible 20, in 82 turns, which tells me you've completed my game and are ready to send in the shareware fee!

Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, give the FULL score for that game or QUIT

x bed
look under bed
x key
x gauge
x switch
open guage
push button
push switch
wait
wait
wait
x guard
unlock door with key
open door
s
e
s
x box
open box
take grenade
x grenade
n
w
w
w
s
x panels
x cupboard
open cupboard
pull pin
put grenade in cupboard
wait
wait
x electronics
n
n
x camera
n
d
n
n
x sign
x male
x female
n
ask male about female
ask male about work
ask male about officer
ask male about invitation
ask male about daddy
ask female about male
ask female about bar
e
x sign
x barman
x juke
ask barman about job
x form
w
give form to female
e
give form to barman
w
w
x copier
x table
x officer
ask officer about convention
x invite
open copier
put invite in copier
push button
x copy
e
give copy to male
n
n
e
x button
push button
w
open door
n
QUIT


You remember darkness. And the cold. Cold and darkness. And silence. Those memories are all that you have. That, and a feeling that something you never knew you possessed has been lost.

Suddenly, oblivion is split by a blinding light and a crash of sound. You awaken to the roar of a storm and a deluge of rain and mud.

The Awakening
Copyright (c) 1998 by Dennis Matheson
(For more information type "HELP", for hints type "HINTS")

Release 1 / Serial number 980726 / Inform v6.15 Library 6/7

In the Mud
Rain and muddy water are pouring down on you, making it difficult to see or even breathe. Sodden earth and mud surrounds you on all sides except overhead, where flashes of lightning illuminate a storm tossed sky.

put rain under sky
put sky under rain
put water under rain
put mud under rain
up

As you scramble out of the hole the mud collapses downward, filling in the hole behind you.

Graveyard
Dozens of stone markers stand here, oblivious to the wind and the rain. Huge, twisted oaks, their limbs tossed by the wind, draw an unmentionable sustenance from the moss-covered, moldy ground. An odor of decay, which even the storm cannot dissipate, hangs over everything. An iron barred fence surrounds the graveyard, an ivy-covered barrier separating it from the world of the living. The only exit is through the gate to the east.

A church rises to the east, its boarded up windows giving the impression that it is covering its eyes from the sight of the graveyard.

A large branch has been broken from one of the trees and has crushed the grave marker below it.

take branch
take broken
east
push broken to rain
put rain under church
put church under rain
put windows under rain
put trees under rain
put grave under rain
put markers under rain
put wind under rain
put branch under rain
put mold under rain
put broken under rain
put ground under rain
put ivy under rain
put east under rain
put steeple under rain

east
put limb down
take limb
put rain under limb
put church under rain
put windows under rain
put trees under rain
put grave under rain
put markers under rain
put wind under rain
put branch under rain
put mold under rain
put ground under rain
put ivy under rain
put east under rain
put steeple under rain

West Side of the Church
This side of the church is untended and grasses and weeds have run rampant. A muddy trail leads back to the graveyard to the west and on to the southeast and a faint path continues around the church to the northeast.

To the east, the wall of the church breaks some of the force of the wind.

Lightning arcs overhead, followed instantly by a blast of thunder.

west
south
north
put limb down
take limb
put church under limb
put trail under church
put weeds under church
put wind under church
put west under church
put east under church
put steeple under church
put rain under church
put southeast under church
put windows under church
put northeast under church
put chain under church
put mud under church

Front of the Church
Two massive oak trees which flank the cracked sidewalk dominate the front of the church. The facade of the church itself rises beyond them, its steeple silhouetted against the sky. The storm lashes at its faded white facade, almost as if the storm is trying to wash the church clean; something you somehow realize will take more than mere water to accomplish. To the north, a sidewalk leads to the front of the church. A weed-choked driveway runs to the northeast and down a hill to the south, and a muddy path leads around the church to the northwest.

The church and steeple loom to the north, the open window frames seeming to stare with judgment upon anyone standing before it.
A formidable looking guard dog stands here.

The dog growls at you threateningly.

examine limb
east
west
put limb down
take limb
put church under limb
put window under limb
put trees under limb
put northeast under limb
put dog under limb
put rain under limb
put sky under limb
put northwest under limb
put weeds under limb
put north under limb
put chain under limb
put mud under limb
put driveway under limb
put south under limb
put steeple under limb
put path under limb

Bristling and growling, the dog blocks your path

The dog growls at you threateningly.

Angered at your attack, the dog charges at you!

The dog growls and snarls angrily, snapping at your legs.

West Side of the Church

To the east, the wall of the church breaks some of the force of the wind.

The dog chases madly after you!

examine church
west
south
north
put limb down
take limb
put church under dog
put dog under church
put trail under church
put weeds under church
put wind under church
put west under church
put east under church
put steeple under church
put rain under church
put southeast under church
put windows under church
put northeast under church
put chain under church
put mud under church

North Side of the Church
The trees close in here, their storm-tossed branches seeming to reach clawing limbs towards the back of the church. The weeds have run wild here and ivy climbs its way up the back of the building.  A faint path continues around the church to the southeast and the southwest.

The south wall of the church looms blankly overhead.

The dog chases madly after you!

examine church
west
east
put limb down
take limb
put church under path
put path under church
put southwest under church
put dog under church
put trees under church
put storm under church
put weeds under church
put south under church
put steeple under church
put rain under church
put southeast under church
put windows under church
put north under church
put chain under church
put mud under church
put ivy under church

East Side of the Church
This wide, graveled clearing may have once been where the worshippers at the church left their vehicles while attending services inside. If so, it seems that the last service was held long ago. Weeds and grasses grow up through the gravel, which is littered with debris. Dark, looming trees surround the clearing except for the driveway, which leads to the southwest, and for a narrow opening to the northwest.

To the west, the church stares out over the clearing.

The dog chases madly after you!

examine limb
take clearing
south
north
put limb down
take limb
put church under limb
put debris under limb
put windows under limb
put clearing under limb
put trees under limb
put southwest under limb
put dog under limb
put storm under limb
put northwest under limb
put weeds under limb
put chain under limb
put driveway under limb
put mud under limb
put west under limb
put east under limb
put steeple under limb
put rain under limb

Front of the Church

The church and steeple loom to the north, the open window frames seeming to stare with judgment upon anyone standing before it.

The dog lunges after you, but is suddenly jerked to a stop with a yelp.  The dog has been brought up short by it's chain, which is now completely wrapped around the church.  It barks wildly but ineffectually at you as you continue on around the corner.

east
west
north
put limb down
take limb
put church under limb
put window under limb
put trees under limb
put northeast under limb
put rain under limb
put sky under limb
put northwest under limb
put weeds under limb
put north under limb
put chain under limb
put mud under limb
put driveway under limb
put south under limb
put steeple under limb
put path under limb

Church Porch
This wide, covered porch spans the width of the church front. A white picket railing surrounds the porch on three sides, except to the south where a short flight of steps leads down to the sidewalk. Two large windows have been boarded up but the main doors stand slightly ajar.

[Your score has just gone up by ten points.]

take railing
push railing
south
put limb down
take limb
put windows under limb
put railing under limb
put mud under limb
put south under limb
put rain under limb
put storm under limb
put weeds under limb
put steeple under limb
north

With a jerk, you tear free the loose section of railing.

take broken
south
put broken down
take limb
push railing to windows
put windows under broken
put south under windows
put weeds under windows
put steeple under windows
put rain under windows
put storm under windows
put mud under windows
north

south
put limb down
put railing down
put all down
take limb
take railing
put windows under limb
put south under windows
put weeds under windows
put steeple under windows
put rain under windows
put storm under windows
put mud under windows
north

Vestibule
This small room is the entryway for the church. The years of neglect are obvious; the floorboards are rotten and warped and what were probably once stained glass windows are shattered and boarded up. Dirt and debris covers the floor. A set of double doors leads south back to the outside while a large archway leads north into the sanctuary. Overhead, there is an open trap door in the ceiling at about twice your height.

There is a brief rattle of hail on the roof.

put limb down
put railing down
put all down
take limb
take railing
put dirt under windows
put windows under dirt
put ceiling under dirt
put floor under dirt
put railing under ceiling
north
south

Sanctuary
Once the heart of the church this room is now cold, dark and empty. Debris is scattered among the sagging pews and only shards of broken glass remain of the stained glass windows. Most of the interior fixtures have been removed, but a large portrait of Christ stares down at you from above the archway to the south. The pulpit still stands to the north.

south
north
get in pews
put limb down
put of down
put all down
take limb
take of
put windows under debris
put debris under windows
put pulpit under windows
put painting under windows
put south under windows
put eyes under windows
put north under windows
put of under painting
put pews under windows

Pulpit
From this raised platform you can see the entire inside of the church. The pulpit is empty except for the podium which rises from the center. A small door is visible behind the podium to the north.

take book
north
put limb down
put of down
put all down
take limb
take of
take book off podium
put limb on podium
push book to limb
push book to podium
put of on podium
put all on podium
put windows under limb
put book under limb
put painting under limb
put north under limb
put podium under limb
put eyes under limb
put debris under limb
south

Much of the book has been damaged by moisture and rats, but some of the passages are still legible. One in particular sticks in your mind... "The way to understand another is through their eyes, because the eyes are the windows of the soul.  Through the eyes the soul may seen by those who are sensitive, and through the eyes the soul my be taken by those who have pledged themselves to the ones who wait beyond."

north
put book down
put limb down
put of down
put all down
take book
take limb
take of
put book on podium
put limb on podium
put of on podium
put all on podium
put windows under book
put painting under book
put podium under book
put eyes under book
put north under book
put debris under book
south

large black book
broken length of railing
broken limb

Small Office
This small office has the same run-down appearance of the rest of the church. Debris covers the floor and a trickle of water comes in around the boards covering a broken window. A desk stands in the middle of the room and an empty bookshelf sits against one wall. A pile of ashes marks where a fire once burned in the middle of the floor. A door to the south leads back to the sanctuary.

On the desk is a journal.

A richly embroidered robe hangs beside the door.

There is a brief rattle of hail on the roof.

take book
take ash
take robe
take stopper
push bookshelf
south
put limb down
put book down
put of down
put all down
put on robe
take limb
take large black book
take of
put limb on desk
put book on desk
push journal to limb
push journal to desk
push robe to limb
push robe to desk
put of on desk
push stopper to limb
push stopper to desk
push stopper to bookshelf
put all on desk
put debris under limb
put glass under limb
put desk under limb
put journal under limb
put ash under limb
put floor under limb
put robe under limb
put stopper under limb
put bookshelf under limb
put south under limb

take ash
take journal
take robe
push bookshelf
south
put limb down
put stopper down
put book down
put of down
put all down
put on robe
take limb
take stopper
take large black book
take of
put limb on desk
put stopper on desk
push journal to limb
push journal to desk
put book on desk
push robe to limb
push robe to desk
put of on desk
put all on desk
put debris under limb
put glass under limb
put desk under limb
put ash under limb
put floor under limb
put journal under limb
put robe under limb
put bookshelf under limb
put south under limb

heavy stopper
large black book
broken length of railing
broken limb

You pick up a handful of ashes.

A flash of lightning can be seen through the cracks between the boards, followed by a sudden blast of thunder.

take book
take robe
push bookshelf
south
put limb down
put stopper down
put book down
put ash down
put railing down
put all down
put on robe
take limb
take stopper
take large black book
take railing
put ash on journal
put limb on desk
put stopper on desk
put book on desk
push journal to limb
push journal to desk
put ash on desk
push robe to limb
push robe to desk
put railing on desk
put all on desk
put debris under limb
put glass under limb
put desk under limb
put journal under limb
put floor under limb
put fire under limb
put ash under limb
put robe under limb
put bookshelf under limb
put south under limb

handful of ashes
heavy stopper
large black book
broken length of railing
broken limb

(the handful of ashes on the journal)
As you rub the ashes against the page, the indentations fill in and the last entry becomes visible.

take book
take robe
push bookshelf
south
put limb down
put stopper down
put book down
put ash down
put railing down
put all down
put on robe
take limb
take stopper
take large black book
take railing
read journal
put ash on journal
put limb on desk
put stopper on desk
put book on desk
push journal to limb
push journal to desk
put ash on desk
push robe to limb
push robe to desk
put railing on desk
put all on desk
put debris under limb
put glass under limb
put desk under limb
put journal under limb
put floor under limb
put fire under limb
put ash under limb
put robe under limb
put bookshelf under limb
put south under limb

You read the last entry from the journal... "I cannot continue. The more I come to know her the more I realize that I cannot continue to corrupt her.  She was pure and innocent before I took her, and that innocence allows her to continue to trust me even after what I have done.  I only hope that the taint of that which I have done has not stained her irrevocably and that she will go to her proper place after I release her... and that I shall go to mine."

[Your score has just gone up by five points.]

You push the bookshelf to one side, revealing an old book bound in a strange reddish cover.

A flash of lightning can be seen through the cracks between the boards, followed by a sudden blast of thunder.

take grimoire
take journal
take robe
south
put limb down
put stopper down
put book down
put ash down
put railing down
put all down
take all
put on robe
take limb
take stopper
take book
take railing
put ash on journal
put limb on desk
push grimoire to limb
push grimoire to desk
put stopper on desk
put book on desk
push journal to limb
push journal to desk
put ash on desk
push robe to limb
push robe to desk
put railing on desk
put all on desk
put debris under limb
put glass under limb
put grimoire under limb
put desk under limb
put journal under limb
put floor under limb
put fire under limb
put ash under limb
put robe under limb
put bookshelf under limb
put south under limb

take book
take robe
south
put limb down
put stopper down
put ash down
put large black book down
put grimoire down
put railing down
put all down
put on robe
take limb
take stopper
take large black book
take railing
put ash on journal
put limb on desk
put stopper on desk
push journal to limb
push journal to desk
put ash on desk
put large black book on desk
push robe to limb
push robe to desk
put grimoire on desk
put railing on desk
put all on desk
put debris under limb
put glass under limb
put desk under limb
put journal under limb
put floor under limb
put fire under limb
put ash under limb
put robe under limb
put bookshelf under limb
put south under limb

old grimoire
handful of ashes
heavy stopper
large black book
broken length of railing
broken limb

(the old grimoire)
The book contains several rituals and procedures all involving the soul or spirit.  The first describes a ritual through which the soul can be removed from a person's body and placed in a specially prepared container. The soul remains in the container even if the person's body dies.

A second ritual can be employed to use the stored soul as a receptacle for the sin of another person.  This allows the possessor of another's soul to perform any acts they wish without having to answer for those acts in the next world.

take book
south
put large black book down
put handful down
put limb down
put stopper down
put grimoire down
put robe down
put railing down
put all down
put on robe
take large black book
take limb
take stopper
take railing
put handful on journal
put large black book on desk
put handful on desk
put limb on desk
put stopper on desk
put grimoire on desk
push journal to debris
push journal to desk
put robe on desk
put railing on desk
put all on desk
put debris under large black book
put handful under debris
put desk under debris
put fire under debris
put journal under debris
put glass under debris
put bookshelf under debris
put floor under debris
put south under debris

embroidered robe
old grimoire
handful of ashes
heavy stopper
large black book
broken length of railing
broken limb

Pulpit

You hear a loud crash and see a flash of light through the cracks in the boards covering the windows.

north
put large black book down
put ashes down
put grimoire down
put limb down
put stopper down
put robe down
put railing down
put all down
put on robe
take large black book
take limb
take stopper
take railing
put large black book on podium
put ashes on podium
put grimoire on podium
put limb on podium
put stopper on podium
put robe on podium
put railing on podium
put all on podium
put ashes under large black book
put windows under large black book
put painting under large black book
put podium under large black book
put eyes under large black book
put north under large black book
put debris under large black book
south

Sanctuary

A blast of thunder rattles the building.

north
south
get in pews
put limb down
put large black book down
put stopper down
put ashes down
put robe down
put grimoire down
put railing down
put all down
put on robe
take limb
take large black book
take stopper
take railing
put windows under limb
put debris under limb
put pulpit under limb
put painting under limb
put ashes under limb
put north under limb
put south under limb
put eyes under limb
put pews under limb
put railing under painting

put large black book down
put ashes down
put limb down
put stopper down
put grimoire down
put robe down
put railing down
put all down
put on robe
take large black book
take limb
take stopper
take railing
put dirt under windows
put windows under dirt
put ashes under dirt
put door under dirt
put floor under dirt
put railing under door
north
south

You carefully place the length of railing under the trap door in the ceiling.

A flash of lightning can be seen through the cracks between the boards, followed by a sudden blast of thunder.

take broken
get in railing
put limb down
put large black book down
put stopper down
put ashes down
put robe down
put grimoire down
put all down
put on robe
take limb
take large black book
take stopper
push railing to limb
put dirt under limb
put windows under limb
put ceiling under limb
put floor under limb
put ashes under limb
north
south

embroidered robe
old grimoire
handful of ashes
heavy stopper
large black book
broken limb

You carefully climb up the length of railing, using the pickets like a ladder.

Steeple Chamber
This small chamber is about halfway up the steeple of the church. Rain and wind from the storm outside blows in through an open window frame and water collects in puddles on the warped floor, mixing with the droppings of the birds, or perhaps bats, which can be heard fluttering around overhead. Looking up, you can see a maze of beams and supports that form the interior of the steeple. Rain pours in from an opening higher in the steeple and trickles out through a trap door in the floor.

A frayed but heavy rope hangs from somewhere overhead.

The heavy wooden door to the north is closed.

The top of the broken section of railing is visible sticking up through the trap door in the floor.

[Your score has just gone up by five points.]

tie rope
take rope
get in railing
get in rope
put limb down
put heavy down
put ashes down
put large black book down
put robe down
put grimoire down
put all down
put on robe
take limb
take heavy
take large black book
put rope under limb
tie rope to floor
push railing to limb
push rope to limb
put railing under limb
put floor under limb
put ashes under limb
put north under limb
put door under limb
put debris under limb

Belfry
The belfry of the church, high up inside the steeple. You are hanging from a maze of support beams and trusses with the nearest solid floor far below you. Large open frames give a view of the surrounding forest and of the town at the base of the hill. They also allow the fury of the storm to pass in unimpeded. You can see the branch of an oak tree just outside the southern frame.

A massive bell hangs here, from a damaged mount.
A heavy rope is attached to the bell and hangs through the beams to the room below.

jump
tie rope
take rope
get in rope
put large black book down
put rope down
put branch down
put ashes down
put limb down
put heavy down
put bell down
put grimoire down
put beams down
put storm down
put hill down
drop floor
put robe down
put trees down
put debris down
put all down
put on robe
take large black book
take limb
take stopper
tie rope to floor
push rope to large black book
put large black book under rope
put branch under large black book
put ashes under large black book
put limb under large black book
put heavy under large black book
put bell under large black book
put grimoire under large black book
put beams under large black book
put storm under large black book
put hill under large black book
put floor under large black book
put robe under large black book
put trees under large black book
put debris under large black book
south

You tie the rope securely to the tree branch.

jump
tie rope
take heavy
get in floor
put limb down
put large black book down
put hill down
put beams down
put heavy down
put branch down
drop floor
put ashes down
put rope down
put robe down
put storm down
put grimoire down
put trees down
put bell down
put debris down
put all down
put on robe
take limb
take large black book
take stopper
tie rope to floor
push rope to limb
put limb under large black book
put large black book under limb
put hill under limb
put beams under limb
put heavy under limb
put branch under limb
put floor under limb
put ashes under limb
put robe under limb
put storm under limb
put grimoire under limb
put trees under limb
put bell under limb
put debris under limb
south

Steeple Chamber

A frayed but heavy rope hangs from somewhere overhead. There is a tree branch hanging from the end of the rope.

The heavy wooden door to the north is closed.

The top of the broken section of railing is visible sticking up through the trap door in the floor.

tie rope
take rope
get in railing
get in rope
put broken down
put heavy down
put large black book down
put ashes down
put grimoire down
put robe down
put all down
put on robe
take heavy
take large black book
take limb
put rope under broken
tie rope to floor
push railing to broken
push rope to broken
put railing under broken
put floor under broken
put ashes under broken
put north under broken
put door under broken
put debris under broken

You tie the rope securely to the heavy wooden door.

A flash of lightning can be seen through the cracks between the boards, followed by a sudden blast of thunder.

tie rope
take rope
get in railing
get in rope
put broken down
put large black book down
put ashes down
put heavy down
put grimoire down
put robe down
put all down
put on robe
take large black book
take limb
take heavy
put rope under broken
tie rope to floor
push railing to broken
push rope to broken
put railing under broken
put ashes under broken
put door under broken
put floor under broken
put north under broken
put debris under broken

Vestibule

The broken length of railing is propped up under the trap door

There is a brief rattle of hail on the roof.

broken length of railing
embroidered robe
old grimoire
handful of ashes
heavy stopper
large black book
broken limb

Church Porch

Momentarily, the wind and rain slacken then return with renewed force.

south
put large black book down
put ashes down
put limb down
put railing down
put stopper down
put grimoire down
put robe down
put all down
put on robe
take large black book
take limb
take railing
take stopper
put windows under large black book
put ashes under windows
put steeple under windows
put weeds under windows
put rain under windows
put lightning under windows
put south under windows
put mud under windows
north

Front of the Church

The church and steeple loom to the north, the open window frames seeming to stare with judgment upon anyone standing before it.

The heavy chain stretches from one of the oak trees and around the corner of the church to the northwest.

With a loud CRACK, a bolt of lightning strikes the steeple of the church.

east
west
north
put large black book down
put ashes down
put limb down
put stopper down
put railing down
put grimoire down
put robe down
put all down
put on robe
take large black book
take limb
take stopper
take railing
put church under large black book
put ashes under church
put trees under church
put weeds under church
put sky under church
put path under church
put railing under trees
put rain under church
put mud under church
put steeple under church
put south under church
put window under church
put northeast under church
put northwest under church
put north under church
put driveway under church

You lean the length of railing against the side of the oak tree.

take broken
get in railing
east
west
north
put broken down
put large black book down
put ashes down
put stopper down
put grimoire down
put robe down
put all down
put on robe
take large black book
take limb
take stopper
push railing to church
put church under broken
put ashes under church
put trees under church
put weeds under church
put sky under church
put path under church
put rain under church
put mud under church
put steeple under church
put south under church
put window under church
put northeast under church
put northwest under church
put north under church
put driveway under church

You carefully climb up the length of railing, using the pickets like a ladder.

Top of Oak Tree
The limbs of the tree are swaying violently from the storm, but near the trunk it is a little more stable. You have an excellent view from here of the church grounds and surrounding area. The church seems to be in a clearing on a hill surrounded by a forest. At the base of the hill a small town can be seen, its lights glimmering faintly through the storm.

One of the branches of the tree reaches out to the north towards the steeple of the church. An open frame can be seen in the steeple near where the branch ends.

The steeple of the church looms to the north.

The broken length of railing is propped up against a nearby branch.

jump
get in railing
north
put church down
put broken down
put large black book down
put branch down
put ashes down
put railing down
put stopper down
put hill down
put weeds down
put rain down
put grimoire down
put storm down
put trees down
put frame down
put steeple down
put robe down
put north down
put mud down
put all down
put on robe
take large black book
take limb
take stopper
push railing to church
put church under broken
put broken under church
put large black book under church
put branch under church
put ashes under church
put railing under church
put stopper under church
put hill under church
put weeds under church
put rain under church
put grimoire under church
put storm under church
put trees under church
put frame under church
put steeple under church
put robe under church
put north under church
put mud under church

Belfry

A massive bell hangs here, from a damaged mount.
A heavy rope is attached to the bell and hangs through the beams to the room below.

jump
tie rope
take rope
push bell
get in rope
put large black book down
put rope down
put branch down
put ashes down
put limb down
put heavy down
put bell down
put grimoire down
put beams down
put storm down
put hill down
drop floor
put robe down
put trees down
put debris down
put all down
put on robe
take large black book
take limb
take stopper
tie rope to floor
push rope to large black book
put large black book under rope
put branch under large black book
put ashes under large black book
put limb under large black book
put heavy under large black book
put bell under large black book
put grimoire under large black book
put beams under large black book
put storm under large black book
put hill under large black book
put floor under large black book
put robe under large black book
put trees under large black book
put debris under large black book
south

You shove against the bell. For a few seconds, the support takes the strain. Then, with a loud cracking noise, the bell tears loose from the beam and falls from the steeple. You hear the sound of splintering wood from below and then duck aside as the splintered remains of the door are pulled past you and out the open window. A metallic crash is heard from the ground outside.

[Your score has just gone up by ten points.]

jump
put limb down
put large black book down
put hill down
put beams down
put stopper down
put branch down
drop floor
put ashes down
put robe down
put storm down
put grimoire down
put trees down
put debris down
put all down
put on robe
take limb
take large black book
take stopper
put limb under large black book
put large black book under limb
put hill under limb
put beams under limb
put stopper under limb
put branch under limb
put floor under limb
put ashes under limb
put robe under limb
put storm under limb
put grimoire under limb
put trees under limb
put debris under limb
south

Top of Oak Tree

The steeple of the church looms to the north.

The broken length of railing is propped up against a nearby branch.

A blast of thunder rattles the ground.

Front of the Church

The church and steeple loom to the north, the open window frames seeming to stare with judgment upon anyone standing before it.

The heavy chain stretches from one of the oak trees and around the corner of the church to the northwest.

A broken bell lies half-buried in the mud.

The broken length of railing is propped up against the side of the oak tree.

take broken
get in railing
east
west
north
put broken down
put large black book down
put ashes down
put stopper down
put grimoire down
put robe down
put all down
put on robe
take large black book
take limb
take stopper
push railing to church
put church under broken
put ashes under church
put trees under church
put bell under church
put mud under church
put weeds under church
put sky under church
put path under church
put rain under church
put steeple under church
put south under church
put window under church
put northeast under church
put northwest under church
put north under church
put driveway under church

east
west
north
put large black book down
put ashes down
put limb down
put stopper down
put railing down
put grimoire down
put robe down
put all down
put on robe
take large black book
take limb
take stopper
take railing
put church under large black book
put ashes under church
put trees under church
put bell under church
put mud under church
put weeds under church
put sky under church
put path under church
put railing under trees
put rain under church
put steeple under church
put south under church
put window under church
put northeast under church
put northwest under church
put north under church
put driveway under church

south
put limb down
put large black book down
put stopper down
put ashes down
put railing down
put robe down
put grimoire down
put all down
put on robe
take limb
take large black book
take stopper
take railing
put rain under limb
put windows under rain
put ashes under rain
put wind under rain
put weeds under rain
put mud under rain
put south under rain
put steeple under rain
north

Vestibule

The building shudders under a sudden gust of wind.

put limb down
put large black book down
put stopper down
put ashes down
put robe down
put grimoire down
put railing down
put all down
put on robe
take limb
take large black book
take stopper
take railing
put dirt under limb
put windows under limb
put ceiling under limb
put floor under limb
put ashes under limb
put railing under ceiling
north
south

You carefully place the length of railing under the trap door in the ceiling.

You carefully climb up the length of railing, using the pickets like a ladder.

Steeple Chamber

A gaping splintered opening lies to the north.

The top of the broken section of railing is visible sticking up through the trap door in the floor.

get in railing
north
put limb down
put heavy down
put ashes down
put large black book down
put robe down
put grimoire down
put all down
put on robe
take limb
take large black book
take stopper
push railing to limb
put railing under limb
put floor under limb
put ashes under limb
put north under limb
put door under limb
put debris under limb

Inner Chamber
Even with the door open and the wind from the storm blowing in this room is rank with a fetid odor. The floor is piled high with trash and half eaten scraps of food. There are no windows, only the broken door frame to the south. An old sofa is pushed against one wall and a heavy table sits in the middle of the room. A curtained archway is to the north.

A gaping splintered opening lies to the south.

A curtain of purple cloth hangs in the archway.

On the old sofa is an old man.

You can also see a heavy wooden table (on which are an oil lantern and a pair of glass bottles) here.

[Your score has just gone up by five points.]

open blue bottle
open green bottle
take lantern
take bottles
take green bottle
take blue bottle
get in sofa
north
south
put limb down
put large black book down
put ashes down
put old down
put stopper down
put robe down
put all down
put on robe
take limb
take large black book
take stopper
ask old about man
take green bottle off table
take blue bottle off table
push lantern to sofa
push lantern to bottles
push lantern to table
put limb on sofa
put limb on table
put large black book on sofa
put large black book on table
push green bottle to lantern
push green bottle to sofa
push green bottle to table
put ashes on sofa
put ashes on table
put old on sofa
put old on table
put stopper on sofa
put stopper on table
push blue bottle to lantern
push blue bottle to sofa
push blue bottle to table
put robe on sofa
put robe on table
put all on sofa
put all on table
put lantern under sofa
put sofa under lantern
put bottles under lantern
put green bottle under lantern
put cloth under lantern
put ashes under lantern
put blue bottle under lantern
put table under lantern
put floor under lantern
put south under lantern
put trash under lantern
put north under lantern
put man under lantern
put door under lantern

open green bottle
open blue bottle
take bottles
take green bottle
take blue bottle
get in sofa
north
south
put limb down
put large black book down
put ashes down
put old down
put stopper down
put lantern down
put robe down
put all down
put on robe
take limb
take large black book
take stopper
ask old about man
take green bottle off table
take blue bottle off table
put limb on sofa
put limb on table
put large black book on sofa
put large black book on table
push green bottle to sofa
push green bottle to bottles
push green bottle to table
put ashes on sofa
put ashes on table
put old on sofa
put old on table
put stopper on sofa
put stopper on table
put lantern on sofa
put lantern on table
push blue bottle to sofa
push blue bottle to bottles
push blue bottle to table
put robe on sofa
put robe on table
put all on sofa
put all on table
put sofa under bottles
put bottles under sofa
put green bottle under sofa
put cloth under sofa
put ashes under sofa
put blue bottle under sofa
put table under sofa
put floor under sofa
put south under sofa
put trash under sofa
put north under sofa
put man under sofa
put door under sofa

oil lantern
embroidered robe
old grimoire
handful of ashes
heavy stopper
large black book
broken limb

You push the curtain aside and pause. On the other side of the curtain is a room much like the one you are in. A figure stands in the archway, apparently about to enter your room, and it is the sight of this figure which has brought you up short. It is, or was, human... once. Now, it is a withered mass of decaying flesh. It's clothing hangs in tatters and it is caked in mud and grave mold. Patches of hair hang from it's scalp and bones are visible in places through it's skin. The only thing that remains intact are it's eyes; pale blue and now wide open and staring.

The creature raises its hand to you, and you find yourself doing the same. You reach out your arm and touch...

...a cold unyielding surface of polished glass.

Suddenly, the realization of what you are seeing comes home to you, and you step back from the mirror with a cry.

[Your score has just gone up by five points.]

open green bottle
open blue bottle
take bottles
take green bottle
take blue bottle
get in sofa
south
put limb down
put large black book down
put ashes down
put old down
put stopper down
put lantern down
put robe down
put all down
put on robe
open frame
take limb
take large black book
take stopper
ask old about man
take green bottle off table
take blue bottle off table
put limb on sofa
put limb on table
put large black book on sofa
put large black book on table
push green bottle to sofa
push green bottle to bottles
push green bottle to table
put ashes on sofa
put ashes on table
put old on sofa
put old on table
put stopper on sofa
put stopper on table
put lantern on sofa
put lantern on table
push blue bottle to sofa
push blue bottle to bottles
push blue bottle to table
put robe on sofa
put robe on table
put all on sofa
put all on table
put sofa under bottles
put bottles under sofa
put green bottle under sofa
put frame under sofa
put ashes under sofa
put blue bottle under sofa
put table under sofa
put floor under sofa
put south under sofa
put trash under sofa
put north under sofa
put man under sofa
put door under sofa

The green bottle has a sickly feel which matches its color. It feels like ice, cold and burning at the same time. It is all you can do to keep from throwing it down.

open bottle
open blue bottle
take bottle
get in sofa
south
put limb down
put bottle down
put large black book down
put ashes down
put old down
put lantern down
put robe down
put all down
put on robe
open frame
take limb
take large black book
take green bottle
ask old about man
take bottle off table
put limb on sofa
put limb on table
put bottle on sofa
put bottle on table
put large black book on sofa
put large black book on table
put ashes on sofa
put ashes on table
put old on sofa
put old on table
put lantern on sofa
put lantern on table
push blue bottle to sofa
push blue bottle to limb
push blue bottle to table
put robe on sofa
put robe on table
put all on sofa
put all on table
put sofa under limb
put frame under sofa
put ashes under sofa
put blue bottle under sofa
put table under sofa
put floor under sofa
put south under sofa
put trash under sofa
put north under sofa
put man under sofa
put door under sofa

green bottle
oil lantern
embroidered robe
old grimoire
handful of ashes
heavy stopper
large black book
broken limb

You peel the wax away from the mouth of the bottle and pull out the cork.  The old man suddenly realizes what you are doing.  With a scream of "Noooo!", he throws himself towards you knocking the lantern from your hands in the process. As he collapses at your feet, a glowing green mist rises from the bottle and hangs before him. "No!", he whispers.

Then, the mist starts moving slowly downward as he doubles over and screams in agony. As the mist soaks into the ground, he looks up at you and screams, "I'll get my revenge"  I'll see you in hell.  I'LL SEE YOU IN HELL! Ia! Ia! Fthagn...  Aaaaagh...!"

His body collapses to the ground.  As you watch the body blackens and decays until, within only a few moments, what is left appears to be a many-months old corpse.

You hear a sudden *Whumph!* and look around. The spilled oil from the broken lantern has ignited.  You grab the blue bottle from the table and race outside.  You watch for a moment as flames consume the church. With a crackling roar, the steeple collapses inward and a plume of flame shoots skyward.

Clutching the bottle to you, you make your way down the hill.

    *** You have won ***

In that game you scored 50 out of a possible 50, in 57 turns.

Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, UNDO your last move, give the FULL score for that game or QUIT

u
take limb
e
se
n
hit dog
nw
n
e
s
n
push railing
take section
n
n
n
read book
take book
n
search desk
take stopper
take ash
put ash on journal
read journal
move bookshelf
take old book
read old book
take robe
s
s
s
put ladder under trap
climb ladder
climb rope
tie rope to branch
d
tie rope to handle
d
take ladder
s
s
put ladder under tree
climb ladder
n
push bell
s
d
get ladder
n
n
put ladder under trap
climb ladder
n
take lantern
n
take green bottle
open green bottle
QUIT