[Welcome to a short story called "Balances", one of the example games for the Inform design system. Some people may recognise the setting, but others might like to type "how do spells work" - the game responds to a few such questions.]

You feel a little confused as to how you got here. Something to do with Helistar!  That's right, and how the world is so far off balance nowadays, after the Great Change.

BALANCES
An Interactive Short Story
Copyright (c) 1994, 1995, 1996 by Graham Nelson.
Release 5 / Serial number 961216 / Inform v6.10 Library 6/3
Standard interpreter 1.0

Ramshackle Hut
Until quite recently, someone lived here, you feel sure. Now the furniture is matchwood and the windows are glassless. Outside, it is a warm, sunny day, and grasslands extend to the low hills on the horizon.

west
put coin down
put burin down
put book down
put all down
examine furniture
examine book
examine spell

Searching through the furniture, which is good for nothing but firewood now, you come across an old cedarwood box, which you pick up for a closer look.

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

west
put box down
put book down
put burin down
put coin down
put all down
examine book
examine spell

cedarwood box
spell book
(players_coin)
magic burin

Using your best study habits, you commit the rezrov spell to memory.

west
spells
pronouns
cast spell
put box down
put book down
put burin down
put coin down
put all down
examine book
examine spell

Silently, the cedarwood box swings open. In the cedarwood box is Helistar's grimoire.

west
take grimoire
close box
put box down
put book down
put burin down
put coin down
put all down
push grimoire to furniture
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
push grimoire to box
put book in box
put burin in box
put coin in box
put all in box

west
close box
put grimoire down
put box down
put book down
put burin down
put coin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put book in box
put burin in box
put coin in box
put all in box

Helistar's grimoire
cedarwood box
spell book
(players_coin)
magic burin

This must be the grimoire of dangerous spells kept by your irresponsible friend Helistar. Many pages are missing, but a few spells remain:

frotz spell: cause an object to give off light.
lleps spell: reverse effect of memorised spell.
mortin spell: cause immediate death of caster.

Grasslands, near Hut
The grasslands sway over low hills in all directions: it is a peaceful wilderness, broken only by this hut and a faint path to the north.

east
north
close box
put coin down
put burin down
put grimoire down
put box down
put book down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put coin in box
put burin in box
put grimoire in box
put book in box
put all in box

Pocket Valley
A pleasant pocket valley in the grassy hills, through which a trail runs north-to-south.
There is a chestnut horse here, munching on a pile of oats.

south
close box
put grimoire down
put box down
put book down
put burin down
put coin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine oats
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put book in box
put burin in box
put coin in box
put all in box

Sifting through the oats, you find a shiny scroll!  Lucky you got to it before the horse did. As you turn it over in your hands, it seems undamaged.

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

south
close box
put grimoire down
put box down
put book down
put scroll down
put burin down
put coin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine scroll
examine spell
cast spell at scroll
put grimoire in box
put book in box
put scroll in box
put burin in box
put coin in box
put all in box

shiny scroll
Helistar's grimoire
cedarwood box
spell book
(players_coin)
magic burin

The scroll reads "bozbar spell: cause an animal to sprout wings".

take inventory
south
close box
put grimoire down
put box down
put book down
put scroll down
put burin down
put coin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine scroll
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put book in box
put scroll in box
put burin in box
put coin in box
put all in box

Your spell book begins to glow softly. Slowly, ornately, the words of the bozbar spell are inscribed, glowing even more brightly then the book itself. The book's brightness fades, but the spell remains! However, the scroll on which it was written vanishes as the last word is copied.

south
close box
put grimoire down
put box down
put book down
put burin down
put coin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put book in box
put burin in box
put coin in box
put all in box

Using your best study habits, you commit the bozbar spell to memory.

spells
pronouns
south
cast spell
close box
put grimoire down
put box down
put book down
put burin down
put coin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put book in box
put burin in box
put coin in box
put all in box

A pair of handsome brown wings suddenly appears on the horse's powerful shoulders. The horse turns in a complete circle, a look of puzzlement on his face.

pronouns
take in horse
south
close box
put grimoire down
put box down
put book down
put burin down
put coin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put book in box
put burin in box
put coin in box
put all in box

You begin to ride north. Then, slowly at first but with increasing sureness, the horse begins beating its powerful wings. You rise majestically through the air, sailing gracefully across a chasm where the hills fall away. The horse lands gently on the far side and deposits you, taking to the skies again.

Edge of Chasm
The road ends suddenly at a wide chasm. The road leads upward to the north, and you can see it continuing on the southern side of the chasm.

Lying in a tight coil at the edge of the chasm is a hissing snake.

The snake appears to be curled around a featureless white cube.

jump
north
close box
put grimoire down
put box down
put book down
put burin down
put coin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put book in box
put burin in box
put coin in box
put all in box

Crest of Hill
The road crosses the top of a ridge here, sloping downwards to the south and the northwest. A track diverges to east.

A tortoise ambles along the road, extremely slowly.

east
take in northwest
south
close box
put grimoire down
put box down
put book down
put burin down
put coin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put book in box
put burin in box
put coin in box
put all in box

Using your best study habits, you commit the yomin spell to memory.

spells
pronouns
east
take in northwest
south
cast spell
close box
put grimoire down
put box down
put book down
put burin down
put coin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put book in box
put burin in box
put coin in box
put all in box

For a moment you think there is nothing there, as you chew absentmindedly on a leaf. But somewhere inside the tortoise is a sense of wonder at the amazing blue canopy of the sky.

The tortoise seems to be incapable of expressing surprise, but is now soaring away high in the sky. Something rather grubby is left behind.

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

pronouns
take scroll
east
take in northwest
south
close box
put grimoire down
put box down
put book down
put burin down
put coin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine scroll
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put book in box
put burin in box
put coin in box
put all in box

east
take in northwest
south
close box
put grimoire down
put box down
put book down
put scroll down
put burin down
put coin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine scroll
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put book in box
put scroll in box
put burin in box
put coin in box
put all in box

chewed scroll
Helistar's grimoire
cedarwood box
spell book
(players_coin)
magic burin

Cave Mouth
This is a cave mouth, at one end of a road which winds southeast over rising ground. The entrance west to the caves is a dark tunnel, and only a footpath runs further north, into gorse.
A heavy iron door bars the cave mouth.

Clotted in the mud beside the door is a perfect sapphire.

take sapphire
close box
put grimoire down
put box down
put book down
put scroll down
put burin down
put coin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine sapphire
examine book
examine scroll
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put book in box
put scroll in box
put burin in box
put coin in box
put all in box
north
up

close box
put grimoire down
put box down
put book down
put scroll down
put burin down
put sapphire down
put coin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine scroll
examine sapphire
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put book in box
put scroll in box
put burin in box
put sapphire in box
put coin in box
put all in box
north
up

perfect sapphire
chewed scroll
Helistar's grimoire
cedarwood box
spell book
(players_coin)
magic burin

As you gaze into the perfect blue of the sapphire, you feel your mind begin to reel. Unable to bear the naked sight of perfection, you look away, ashamed. As you do so, the sapphire cracks and wastes away to thin hot dust. But something remains, something in your mind...

cast spell
close box
put grimoire down
put box down
put book down
put scroll down
put burin down
put coin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine scroll
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put book in box
put scroll in box
put burin in box
put coin in box
put all in box
north
up

My Spell Book

gnusto spell: copy a scroll into your spell book.
frotz spell: cause an object to give off light.
yomin spell: mind probe.
rezrov spell: open even locked or enchanted objects.
bozbar spell: cause an animal to sprout wings.
caskly spell: cause perfection.

Before your eyes, the scroll begins to repair itself, failing only at the very last tear. Not quite perfect perhaps, but certainly a readable, if torn scroll.

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

torn scroll
Helistar's grimoire
cedarwood box
spell book
(players_coin)
magic burin

Your spell book begins to glow softly. Slowly, ornately, the words of the lobal spell are inscribed, glowing even more brightly then the book itself. The book's brightness fades, but the spell remains! However, the scroll on which it was written vanishes as the last word is copied.

cast spell
close box
put grimoire down
put box down
put book down
put burin down
put coin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put book in box
put burin in box
put coin in box
put all in box
north
up

Gorse Bushes
The footpath from the cave mouth runs into dense, impenetrable gorse bushes. Perhaps it wasn't so much a footpath as a rill in the earth where roots wouldn't take; anyway, there's no way but back south.

Slung over one of the gorse bushes is a beautiful red carpet.

take carpet
south
cast spell
close box
put grimoire down
put box down
put book down
put burin down
put coin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put book in box
put burin in box
put coin in box
put all in box

south
cast spell
close box
put grimoire down
put box down
put book down
put carpet down
put burin down
put coin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put book in box
put carpet in box
put burin in box
put coin in box
put all in box

beautiful red carpet
Helistar's grimoire
cedarwood box
spell book
(players_coin)
magic burin

Cave Mouth
A heavy iron door bars the cave mouth.

cast spell
close box
put grimoire down
put box down
put book down
put carpet down
put burin down
put coin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put book in box
put carpet in box
put burin in box
put coin in box
put all in box
north
up

Using your best study habits, you commit the rezrov spell to memory.

spells
pronouns
cast spell
close box
put grimoire down
put box down
put book down
put carpet down
put burin down
put coin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put book in box
put carpet in box
put burin in box
put coin in box
put all in box
north
up

west
cast spell
close door
close box
put grimoire down
put box down
put book down
put carpet down
put burin down
put coin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put book in box
put carpet in box
put burin in box
put coin in box
put all in box
north
up

Darkness
It is pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a grue.

east
cast spell
close box
put box down
put spell down
put all down
examine spell
put spell in box
put all in box

(The magic writing of the spells casts enough light that you can read them.)
Using your best study habits, you commit the frotz spell to memory.

east
spells
pronouns
cast spell
close box
put box down
put spell down
put all down
examine spell
put spell in box
put all in box

There is an almost blinding flash of light as the silver coin begins to glow!  It slowly fades to a less painful level, but the silver coin is now quite usable as a light source.

Inside Cave
A wide but shallow cave not far inside the hill. There is no obvious exit, except for the way you came in.

The iron door stands open.

Balanced on a rock formation is a featureless white cube.

A fair-sized pair of scales hangs from a bracket in the cave wall. The scales are balanced.

On the right pan are three gold coins.

On the left pan are a bronze coin, two gold coins and a crumpled scroll.

east
take gold
take scroll
take cube
cast spell
close door
close box
put box down
put spell down
put burin down
put down coin
put grimoire down
put carpet down
put all down
examine book
examine scroll
examine grimoire
examine spell
take gold off left pan
take all off right pan
take all off left pan
put spell in box
put burin in box
put grimoire in box
put carpet in box
put all on right pan
put all on left pan
put all in box

Taken.

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

east
take gold
take scroll
cast spell
close door
close box
put box down
put spell down
put burin down
put down coin
put grimoire down
put carpet down
put cube down
put all down
examine book
examine scroll
examine grimoire
examine spell
take gold off left pan
take all off right pan
take all off left pan
put spell in box
put burin in box
put grimoire in box
put carpet in box
put cube in box
put all on right pan
put all on left pan
put all in box

cube
beautiful red carpet
Helistar's grimoire
cedarwood box
spell book
(players_coin)
magic burin

east
take gold
take scroll
cast spell
close door
close box
put box down
put spell down
put burin down
put down coin
put grimoire down
put cave down
put carpet down
put all down
examine book
examine scroll
examine grimoire
examine spell
take gold off left pan
take all off right pan
take all off left pan
put spell in box
put burin in box
put grimoire in box
put cave in box
put carpet in box
put all on right pan
put all on left pan
put all in box

take gold
cast spell
close door
close box
put box down
put spell down
put burin down
put down coin
put scroll down
put grimoire down
put cave down
put carpet down
put all down
examine book
examine scroll
examine grimoire
examine spell
take gold off left pan
take all off right pan
take all off left pan
put spell in box
put burin in box
put scroll in box
put scroll on right pan
put scroll on left pan
put grimoire in box
put cave in box
put carpet in box
put all on right pan
put all on left pan
put all in box

crumpled scroll
cube
beautiful red carpet
Helistar's grimoire
cedarwood box
spell book
(players_coin)
magic burin

Your spell book begins to glow softly. Slowly, ornately, the words of the urbzig spell are inscribed, glowing even more brightly then the book itself. The book's brightness fades, but the spell remains! However, the scroll on which it was written vanishes as the last word is copied.

take gold
cast spell
close door
close box
put box down
put spell down
put burin down
put gold down
put grimoire down
put cave down
put carpet down
put all down
examine book
examine grimoire
examine spell
take gold off left pan
take all off right pan
take all off left pan
put spell in box
put burin in box
put grimoire in box
put cave in box
put carpet in box
put gold on right pan
put gold on left pan
put all on right pan
put all on left pan
put gold in box
put all in box

(77)
cube
beautiful red carpet
Helistar's grimoire
cedarwood box
spell book
(players_coin)
magic burin

take gold
cast spell
close door
close box
put box down
put spell down
put burin down
put gold down
put grimoire down
put cave down
put carpet down
put all down
examine book
examine grimoire
examine spell
take coin off left pan
take all off right pan
take all off left pan
put spell in box
put burin in box
put grimoire in box
put cave in box
put carpet in box
put gold on right pan
put gold on left pan
put all on right pan
put all on left pan
put gold in box
put all in box

(bronze_coin)
(77)
cube
beautiful red carpet
Helistar's grimoire
cedarwood box
spell book
(players_coin)
magic burin

take gold
cast spell
close door
close box
put box down
put spell down
put burin down
put grimoire down
put cave down
put carpet down
put all down
examine book
examine grimoire
examine spell
take coin off left pan
take all off right pan
take all off left pan
put spell in box
put burin in box
put grimoire in box
put cave in box
put carpet in box
put all on right pan
put all on left pan
put all in box

(bronze_coin)
cube
beautiful red carpet
Helistar's grimoire
cedarwood box
spell book
(players_coin)
magic burin

east
take gold
cast spell
close door
close box
put box down
put spell down
put burin down
put down coin
put grimoire down
put cave down
put carpet down
put all down
examine book
examine grimoire
examine spell
take gold off left pan
take all off right pan
take all off left pan
put spell in box
put burin in box
put grimoire in box
put cave in box
put carpet in box
put all on right pan
put all on left pan
put all in box

(bronze_coin)
cube
beautiful red carpet
Helistar's grimoire
cedarwood box
spell book
magic burin

west
cast spell
close door
close box
put grimoire down
put box down
put cave down
put book down
put carpet down
put burin down
put coin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put cave in box
put book in box
put carpet in box
put burin in box
put coin in box
put all in box
north
up

east
take in northwest
south
cast spell
close box
put grimoire down
put box down
put book down
put carpet down
put cube down
put burin down
put coin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put book in box
put carpet in box
put cube in box
put burin in box
put coin in box
put all in box

Edge of Chasm

Lying in a tight coil at the edge of the chasm is a hissing snake.

The snake appears to be curled around a featureless white cube.

jump
north
cast spell
close box
put grimoire down
put box down
put book down
put carpet down
put cave down
put burin down
put coin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put book in box
put carpet in box
put burin in box
put coin in box
put cave in box
put all in box

Using your best study habits, you commit the urbzig spell to memory.

jump
spells
pronouns
north
cast spell
close box
put grimoire down
put box down
put book down
put carpet down
put cave down
put burin down
put coin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put book in box
put carpet in box
put burin in box
put coin in box
put cave in box
put all in box

The snake is replaced by a clump of daffodils.

jump
pronouns
take cube
north
cast spell
close box
put grimoire down
put box down
put book down
put carpet down
put cave down
put burin down
put coin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put book in box
put carpet in box
put cave in box
put burin in box
put coin in box
put all in box

(the featureless white cube)
Taken.

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

jump
north
cast spell
close box
put grimoire down
put box down
put book down
put carpet down
put burin down
put coin down
put cave down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put book in box
put carpet in box
put burin in box
put coin in box
put cave in box
put all in box

cube
(bronze_coin)
cube
beautiful red carpet
Helistar's grimoire
cedarwood box
spell book
magic burin

jump
north
cast spell
close box
put grimoire down
put box down
put book down
put cave down
put carpet down
put burin down
put coin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put book in box
put cave in box
put carpet in box
put burin in box
put coin in box
put all in box

jump
take carpet
take in carpet
north
cast spell
close box
put grimoire down
put box down
put book down
put cave down
put burin down
put coin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire on carpet
put grimoire in box
put box on carpet
put book on carpet
put book in box
put cave on carpet
put cave in box
put burin on carpet
put burin in box
put coin on carpet
put coin in box
put all on carpet
put all in box

cube
(bronze_coin)
cube
Helistar's grimoire
cedarwood box
spell book
magic burin

The carpet rises suddenly into the fluffy white clouds, and after a headlong journey deposits you...

Crowded Bazaar (on the beautiful red carpet)
This is a crowded, noisy bazaar. Directly in front of you is a lottery!  But the contemptuous-looking barker is doing a very poor trade: hardly anyone wants his first prize, the big cuddly toy elephant, or even his nineteenth prize, a featureless white cube.

Behind the barker is a huge drilled board, and inside each little numbered hole is a rolled-up lottery ticket.

"This could be your lucky day!"

take up
take in carpet
cast spell
close box
put grimoire down
put box down
put book down
put cave down
put burin down
put coin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put book in box
put cave in box
put burin in box
put coin in box
put all in box

You get off the beautiful red carpet.

Crowded Bazaar

Behind the barker is a huge drilled board, and inside each little numbered hole is a rolled-up lottery ticket.

You can also see a beautiful red carpet here.

"This could be your lucky day!"

The carpet rises suddenly into the fluffy white clouds, and after a headlong journey deposits you...

Crest of Hill (on the beautiful red carpet)
The road crosses the top of a ridge here, sloping downwards to the south and the northwest. A track diverges to east.

You get off the beautiful red carpet.

Crest of Hill

You can see a beautiful red carpet here.

east
take in northwest
south
cast spell
close box
put grimoire down
put box down
put book down
put cave down
put carpet down
put burin down
put coin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put book in box
put cave in box
put carpet in box
put burin in box
put coin in box
put all in box

beautiful red carpet
cube
(bronze_coin)
cube
Helistar's grimoire
cedarwood box
spell book
magic burin

Track, outside Temple
This is the end of a long track winding through desolate hills, which runs back west up to the ridge.

You stand outside an enormous temple in the shape of a perfect, featureless white cube, four hundred feet on a side. From somewhere within you hear the tiny sound of the monks chanting.

cast spell
close box
put grimoire down
put carpet down
put box down
put book down
put cave down
put burin down
put coin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put carpet in box
put book in box
put cave in box
put burin in box
put coin in box
put all in box
west

Using your best study habits, you commit the lobal spell to memory.

spells
pronouns
cast spell
close box
put grimoire down
put carpet down
put box down
put book down
put cave down
put burin down
put coin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put carpet in box
put book in box
put cave in box
put burin in box
put coin in box
put all in box
west

Nothing happens, possibly because those butterflies on the other side of the hill keep distracting you.

The endlessly repeating threnody of the monks tells of the legend of one who will some day enlighten their order, and so be taken up to a higher plane. He (or she, presumably) is known as The Four-Cubed One.

Time passes.

High in the sky, a tortoise flaps across the sun.

Time passes.

Those wretched butterflies finally shut up.

Time passes.

A tortoise-feather flutters to the ground before you!

pronouns
take feather
cast spell
close box
put grimoire down
put carpet down
put box down
put book down
put cave down
put burin down
put coin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put carpet in box
put book in box
put cave in box
put burin in box
put coin in box
put all in box
west

Taken.

Far above you, a tortoise flaps across the sun.

cast spell
close box
put grimoire down
put carpet down
put box down
put book down
put cave down
put feather down
put burin down
put coin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put carpet in box
put book in box
put cave in box
put feather in box
put burin in box
put coin in box
put all in box
west

tortoise feather
beautiful red carpet
cube
(bronze_coin)
cube
Helistar's grimoire
cedarwood box
spell book
magic burin

east
take in northwest
south
cast spell
close box
put grimoire down
put box down
put book down
put carpet down
put cave down
put burin down
put coin down
put feather down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put book in box
put carpet in box
put cave in box
put burin in box
put coin in box
put feather in box
put all in box

west
cast spell
close door
close box
put grimoire down
put carpet down
put box down
put cave down
put book down
put burin down
put feather down
put coin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put carpet in box
put cave in box
put book in box
put burin in box
put feather in box
put coin in box
put all in box
north
up

Inside Cave

The iron door stands open.

A fair-sized pair of scales hangs from a bracket in the cave wall. The scales are balanced.

On the right pan are three gold coins.

On the left pan are a silver coin (providing light) and two gold coins.

east
take gold
cast spell
close door
close box
put box down
put cave down
put spell down
put burin down
put down coin
put feather down
put grimoire down
put carpet down
put all down
examine book
examine grimoire
examine spell
take gold off left pan
take all off right pan
take all off left pan
put cave in box
put spell in box
put burin in box
put feather in box
put feather on right pan
put feather on left pan
put grimoire in box
put carpet in box
put all on right pan
put all on left pan
put all in box

take gold
cast spell
close door
close box
put box down
put cave down
put spell down
put burin down
put feather down
put grimoire down
put carpet down
put all down
examine book
examine grimoire
examine spell
take coin off left pan
take all off right pan
take all off left pan
put cave in box
put spell in box
put burin in box
put feather in box
put feather on right pan
put feather on left pan
put grimoire in box
put carpet in box
put all on right pan
put all on left pan
put all in box

(players_coin)
tortoise feather
beautiful red carpet
cube
(bronze_coin)
cube
Helistar's grimoire
cedarwood box
spell book
magic burin

You put the bronze coin on the left pan.

(players_coin)
tortoise feather
beautiful red carpet
cube
cube
Helistar's grimoire
cedarwood box
spell book
magic burin

east
take feather
take gold
cast spell
close door
close box
put box down
put cave down
put spell down
put burin down
put down coin
put grimoire down
put carpet down
put all down
examine book
examine grimoire
examine spell
take gold off left pan
take all off right pan
take all off left pan
put cave in box
put spell in box
put burin in box
put grimoire in box
put carpet in box
put all on right pan
put all on left pan
put all in box

(players_coin)
beautiful red carpet
cube
cube
Helistar's grimoire
cedarwood box
spell book
magic burin

west
cast spell
close door
close box
put grimoire down
put carpet down
put box down
put cave down
put book down
put burin down
put coin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put carpet in box
put cave in box
put book in box
put burin in box
put coin in box
put all in box
north
up

east
take in northwest
south
cast spell
close box
put grimoire down
put box down
put book down
put carpet down
put cave down
put burin down
put coin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put book in box
put carpet in box
put cave in box
put burin in box
put coin in box
put all in box

(players_coin)
cube
cube
Helistar's grimoire
cedarwood box
spell book
magic burin

take up
take in carpet
cast spell
close box
put grimoire down
put box down
put book down
put cave down
put burin down
put coin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put book in box
put cave in box
put burin in box
put coin in box
put all in box
give barker coin

You get off the beautiful red carpet.

Crowded Bazaar

Behind the barker is a huge drilled board, and inside each little numbered hole is a rolled-up lottery ticket.

You can also see a beautiful red carpet here.

"Roll up!  Roll up!  One silver piece for three goes!"

cast spell
close box
put box down
put cave down
put spell down
put burin down
put coin down
put grimoire down
put carpet down
put all down
examine book
examine grimoire
examine spell
put cave in box
put spell in box
put burin in box
put coin in box
put grimoire in box
put carpet in box
put all in box
give barker coin

beautiful red carpet
(players_coin)
cube
cube
Helistar's grimoire
cedarwood box
spell book
magic burin

"None of that!" snaps the barker angrily, putting you off your study habits. He mutters about "Enchanter cheats", but under the circumstances you decide to let the insult pass.

"Roll up!  Roll up!  One silver piece for three goes!"

Dropped.

"Think what you could win, all for one silver coin!"

take up
take in carpet
cast spell
close box
put grimoire down
put box down
put book down
put cave down
put burin down
put coin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put book in box
put cave in box
put burin in box
put coin in box
put all in box

Using your best study habits, you commit the yomin spell to memory.

take up
spells
pronouns
take in carpet
cast spell
close box
put grimoire down
put box down
put book down
put cave down
put burin down
put coin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put book in box
put cave in box
put burin in box
put coin in box
put all in box

Using your best study habits, you commit the yomin spell to memory once again.

Far above you, a tortoise flaps across the sun.

Using your best study habits, you commit the yomin spell to memory a third time.

You get off the beautiful red carpet.

Crest of Hill

You can see a beautiful red carpet here.

spells
take carpet
take in carpet
east
take in northwest
south
cast spell
close box
put grimoire down
put box down
put book down
put cave down
put burin down
put coin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire on carpet
put grimoire in box
put box on carpet
put book on carpet
put book in box
put cave on carpet
put cave in box
put burin on carpet
put burin in box
put coin on carpet
put coin in box
put all on carpet
put all in box

The carpet rises suddenly into the fluffy white clouds, and after a headlong journey deposits you...

Crowded Bazaar (on the beautiful red carpet)
This is a crowded, noisy bazaar. Directly in front of you is a lottery!  But the contemptuous-looking barker is doing a very poor trade: hardly anyone wants his first prize, the big cuddly toy elephant, or even his nineteenth prize, a featureless white cube.

Behind the barker is a huge drilled board, and inside each little numbered hole is a rolled-up lottery ticket.

"Come on, then!  Just a silver coin gets you three!"

take up
spells
take in carpet
cast spell
close box
put grimoire down
put box down
put book down
put cave down
put burin down
put coin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put book in box
put cave in box
put burin in box
put coin in box
put all in box
give barker coin

You get off the beautiful red carpet.

Crowded Bazaar

Behind the barker is a huge drilled board, and inside each little numbered hole is a rolled-up lottery ticket.

You can also see a beautiful red carpet here.

"This could be your lucky day!"

spells
take carpet
take in carpet
cast spell
close box
put box down
put cave down
put spell down
put burin down
put coin down
put grimoire down
put all down
examine book
examine grimoire
examine spell
put box on carpet
put cave in box
put cave on carpet
put spell in box
put spell on carpet
put burin in box
put burin on carpet
put coin in box
put coin on carpet
put grimoire in box
put grimoire on carpet
put all on carpet
put all in box
give barker coin

Grudgingly the barker takes the silver coin and stands back to let you at the board, arms folded.

"Roll up!  Roll up!  One silver piece for three goes!"

spells
take carpet
take ticket
take in carpet
cast spell
close box
put box down
put cave down
put spell down
put burin down
put grimoire down
put all down
examine book
examine grimoire
examine spell
put box on carpet
put cave in box
put cave on carpet
put spell in box
put spell on carpet
put burin in box
put burin on carpet
put grimoire in box
put grimoire on carpet
put all on carpet
put all in box

cube
cube
Helistar's grimoire
cedarwood box
spell book
magic burin

"Hope that scrawny Enchanter doesn't pick 2306!" thinks the barker (slowly).

"Roll up!  Roll up!  One silver piece for three goes!"

You take lottery ticket 2306 out of the board.

"Come on, then!  Just a silver coin gets you three!"

spells
take carpet
take in carpet
cast spell
close box
put box down
put cave down
put spell down
put ticket down
put burin down
put grimoire down
put all down
examine book
examine grimoire
take ticket off board
examine spell
put box on carpet
put cave in box
put cave on carpet
put spell in box
put spell on carpet
put burin in box
put burin on carpet
put grimoire in box
put grimoire on carpet
put ticket on carpet
put all on carpet
put ticket in box
put all in box
give barker ticket

Ticket_1
cube
cube
Helistar's grimoire
cedarwood box
spell book
magic burin

"If that mark does win, hope it's only worthless old 5802," ponders the barker.

"This could be your lucky day!"

You take lottery ticket 5802 out of the board.

"This could be your lucky day!"

Ticket_2
Ticket_1
cube
cube
Helistar's grimoire
cedarwood box
spell book
magic burin

With very bad grace, the barker shoves the cuddly toy elephant into your arms.

"Think what you could win, all for one silver coin!"

spells
take carpet
take in carpet
cast spell
close box
put grimoire down
put box down
put book down
put cave down
put elephant down
put burin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
take ticket off board
put ticket down
examine spell
put grimoire on carpet
put grimoire in box
put box on carpet
put book on carpet
put book in box
put cave on carpet
put cave in box
put elephant on carpet
put elephant in box
put burin on carpet
put burin in box
put ticket on carpet
put all on carpet
put ticket in box
put all in box
give barker ticket

cuddly toy elephant
Ticket_2
cube
cube
Helistar's grimoire
cedarwood box
spell book
magic burin

With concealed relief, the barker shoves the featureless white cube into your hands.

"Roll up!  Roll up!  One silver piece for three goes!"

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

spells
take carpet
take in carpet
cast spell
close box
put grimoire down
put cave down
put box down
put book down
put elephant down
put burin down
put all down
take ticket off board
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire on carpet
put grimoire in box
put cave on carpet
put cave in box
put box on carpet
put book on carpet
put book in box
put elephant on carpet
put elephant in box
put burin on carpet
put burin in box
put all on carpet
put all in box

cube
cuddly toy elephant
cube
cube
Helistar's grimoire
cedarwood box
spell book
magic burin

It is now called the "prize" cube.

"This could be your lucky day!"

spells
take carpet
take ticket
take in carpet
cast spell
close box
put grimoire down
put box down
put book down
put cave down
put elephant down
put burin down
put down prize
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire on carpet
put grimoire in box
put box on carpet
put book on carpet
put book in box
put cave on carpet
put cave in box
put elephant on carpet
put elephant in box
put burin on carpet
put burin in box
put all on carpet
put all in box

The carpet rises suddenly into the fluffy white clouds, and after a headlong journey deposits you...

Crest of Hill (on the beautiful red carpet)
The road crosses the top of a ridge here, sloping downwards to the south and the northwest. A track diverges to east.

Far above you, a tortoise flaps across the sun.

take up
spells
take in carpet
cast spell
close box
put grimoire down
put box down
put book down
put cave down
put elephant down
put burin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put book in box
put cave in box
put elephant in box
put burin in box
put all in box

You get off the beautiful red carpet.

Crest of Hill

You can see a beautiful red carpet here.

Tiny in the blue sky, a tortoise flaps across the sun.

spells
take carpet
take in carpet
east
take in northwest
south
cast spell
close box
put grimoire down
put box down
put book down
put cave down
put elephant down
put burin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire on carpet
put grimoire in box
put box on carpet
put book on carpet
put book in box
put cave on carpet
put cave in box
put elephant on carpet
put elephant in box
put burin on carpet
put burin in box
put all on carpet
put all in box

spells
east
take in northwest
south
cast spell
close box
put grimoire down
put box down
put book down
put carpet down
put cave down
put elephant down
put burin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put book in box
put carpet in box
put cave in box
put elephant in box
put burin in box
put all in box

beautiful red carpet
cube
cuddly toy elephant
cube
cube
Helistar's grimoire
cedarwood box
spell book
magic burin

Using your best study habits, you commit the urbzig spell to memory.

spells
pronouns
east
take in northwest
south
cast spell
close box
put grimoire down
put box down
put book down
put carpet down
put cave down
put elephant down
put burin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put book in box
put carpet in box
put cave in box
put elephant in box
put burin in box
put all in box

Using your best study habits, you commit the lleps spell to memory.

spells
pronouns
east
take in northwest
south
cast spell
close box
put grimoire down
put carpet down
put box down
put book down
put cave down
put elephant down
put burin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put carpet in box
put book in box
put cave in box
put elephant in box
put burin in box
put all in box

Your mind wrenches as the urbzig spell reverses itself.

Far above you, a tortoise flaps across the sun.

spells
take elephant
east
take in northwest
south
cast spell
close box
put grimoire down
put box down
put book down
put cave down
put carpet down
put burin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put book in box
put cave in box
put carpet in box
put burin in box
put all in box

beautiful red carpet
cube
cube
cube
Helistar's grimoire
cedarwood box
spell book
magic burin

The cuddly toy elephant is replaced by a buck-toothed cyclops wielding a mace!

The cyclops leaps and bellows!

examine box
spells
east
south
take in northwest
cast spell
close box
put box down
put cave down
put spell down
put burin down
put grimoire down
put carpet down
put all down
examine book
examine grimoire
examine spell
put cave in box
put spell in box
put burin in box
put grimoire in box
put carpet in box
put all in box

Using your best study habits, you commit the urbzig spell to memory.

High in the sky, a tortoise flaps across the sun.

The cyclops is losing patience (the appropriate cyclops word is untranslatable into English, but approximately means "forbearance in not smashing all nearby skulls").

examine carpet
spells
pronouns
east
take in northwest
south
cast spell
close box
put grimoire down
put carpet down
put box down
put book down
put cave down
put burin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put carpet in box
put book in box
put cave in box
put burin in box
put all in box

The mace turns into a featureless white cube just as the cyclops was about to hit you with it. Mightily embarrassed by this, he drops the cube and runs off!

examine cube
spells
take cube
east
take in northwest
south
cast spell
close box
put grimoire down
put carpet down
put box down
put book down
put cave down
put burin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put carpet in box
put book in box
put cave in box
put burin in box
put all in box

(the featureless white cube)
Taken.

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

examine box
spells
east
take in northwest
south
cast spell
close box
put grimoire down
put box down
put book down
put carpet down
put cave down
put burin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put book in box
put carpet in box
put cave in box
put burin in box
put all in box

cube
beautiful red carpet
cube
cube
cube
Helistar's grimoire
cedarwood box
spell book
magic burin

spells
east
take in northwest
south
cast spell
close box
put grimoire down
put carpet down
put box down
put book down
put mace down
put burin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put carpet in box
put book in box
put mace in box
put burin in box
put all in box

Track, outside Temple

You stand outside an enormous temple in the shape of a perfect, featureless white cube, four hundred feet on a side. From somewhere within you hear the tiny sound of the monks chanting.

Far above you, a tortoise flaps across the sun.

spells
cast spell
close box
put grimoire down
put carpet down
put box down
put book down
put mace down
put burin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put carpet in box
put book in box
put mace in box
put burin in box
put all in box
west

Using your best study habits, you commit the frotz spell to memory.

spells
pronouns
cast spell
close box
put grimoire down
put carpet down
put box down
put book down
put mace down
put burin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
put grimoire in box
put carpet in box
put book in box
put mace in box
put burin in box
put all in box
west

The temple shakes and white light bathes you. Smoothly it unfolds itself in a four-dimensional way your senses can barely comprehend. All you know is that when it is over, you find yourself in...

Balance Room
This seems to be the inside of a featureless white cube, forty feet on a side. The air is stale and there is no exit.

The image of a pair of scales hangs high in the air. One pan is much lower than the other.

Far below the scales, in the centre of the "floor", is a predictably-shaped podium, but it is so dusty and cobwebbed that you can't see what it once was.

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

spells
cast spell
cast other
clean podium
close box
put grimoire down
put carpet down
put box down
put book down
put mace down
put burin down
put all down
examine grimoire
examine book
examine spell
examine other
put grimoire in box
put carpet in box
put book in box
put mace in box
put burin in box
put all in box

No substitute for old-fashioned hard work, sometimes, and after much patient (sneezy) scrubbing, the podium appears in its true white glory. Set into it are four sockets, arranged in a two by two square.

spells
cast spell
cast other
close box
put box down
put mace down
put spell down
put burin down
put grimoire down
put carpet down
put down cave
put all down
examine book
examine grimoire
examine spell
examine other
put box on podium
put mace in box
put mace on podium
put mace in bottom right socket
put mace in top left socket
put mace in bottom left socket
put mace in top right socket
put spell in box
put spell on podium
put burin in box
put burin on podium
put grimoire in box
put grimoire on podium
put carpet in box
put carpet on podium
put all on podium
drop cave down bottom right socket
put all in box

The cube is a predictably perfect fit in the socket.

spells
take cube
cast spell
cast other
close box
put box down
put spell down
put burin down
put mace down
put grimoire down
put carpet down
put down cave
put all down
examine book
examine grimoire
examine spell
examine other
put box on podium
put spell in box
put spell on podium
put burin in box
put burin on podium
put mace in box
put mace on podium
put mace in bottom right socket
put mace in top left socket
put mace in top right socket
put grimoire in box
put grimoire on podium
put carpet in box
put carpet on podium
put all on podium
drop cave down bottom right socket
put all in box

cube
beautiful red carpet
cube
cube
Helistar's grimoire
cedarwood box
spell book
magic burin

spells
cast spell
cast other
close box
put box down
put spell down
put burin down
put mace down
put grimoire down
put carpet down
put all down
examine book
examine grimoire
examine spell
examine other
take cube off bottom right socket
take cube off bottom left socket
put box on podium
put spell in box
put spell on podium
put burin in box
put burin on podium
put mace in box
put mace on podium
put mace in top left socket
put mace in top right socket
put grimoire in box
put grimoire on podium
put carpet in box
put carpet on podium
put all on podium
put all in box

cube
beautiful red carpet
cube
Helistar's grimoire
cedarwood box
spell book
magic burin

spells
cast spell
cast other
close box
put box down
put spell down
put burin down
put mace down
put grimoire down
put carpet down
put all down
examine book
examine grimoire
examine spell
examine other
take cube off bottom right socket
take cube off top left socket
take cube off bottom left socket
put box on podium
put spell in box
put spell on podium
put burin in box
put burin on podium
put mace in box
put mace on podium
put mace in top right socket
put grimoire in box
put grimoire on podium
put carpet in box
put carpet on podium
put all on podium
put all in box

cube
beautiful red carpet
Helistar's grimoire
cedarwood box
spell book
magic burin

As you place the final cube into the sockets, you feel imbued with celestial wisdom (more so than usually). You find yourself growing to the height of the cube, so that you pull the balances back level by hand, and then you grow still further, out of the temple until it is but a cube in your hand, and you are a giant towering over the land.

Then, of course, you wake up, glumly realising it's time to go to your job at the new Borphee Laboratories and all those Wheatstone bridge experiments. But at least you can dream about the old days.

    *** You have won ***

In that game you scored 50 out of a possible 51, in 122 turns, earning you the rank of Scientist.

Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game or QUIT

search furniture
learn rezrov
rezrov box
get grimoire from box
examine grimoire
out
north
search oats
examine shiny scroll
gnusto shiny scroll
learn bozbar
bozbar horse
mount horse
north
learn yomin
yomin tortoise
learn bozbar
bozbar tortoise
get chewed scroll
northwest
take sapphire
examine sapphire
examine book
caskly chewed scroll
gnusto scroll
n
take carpet
s
learn rezrov
rezrov door
w
learn frotz
frotz coin
take cube
write cave on cube
take crumpled
gnusto crumpled
take gold coin from right pan
take bronze coin from left pan
put gold coin on right
put silver coin on left
e
se
s
learn urbzig
urbzig snake
take cube
write chasm on featureless cube
drop carpet
sit on carpet
stand
sit on carpet
stand
take carpet
e
listen
learn lobal
lobal me
listen
wait
wait
wait
wait
wait
wait
wait
wait
wait
wait
wait
wait
wait
take feather
w
nw
w
take silver
put bronze on left
put feather on left
e
se
drop carpet
sit on carpet
stand
take carpet
learn yomin
drop carpet
sit on carpet
learn yomin
learn yomin
learn yomin
stand
sit on carpet
stand
give silver to barker
yomin barker
take ticket 2306
yomin barker
take ticket 5802
give ticket 2306 to barker
give ticket 5802 to barker
write prize on featureless
sit on carpet
stand
take carpet
learn urbzig
learn lleps
lleps urbzig
drop toy
urbzig toy
learn urbzig
urbzig mace
take cube
write mace on featureless
e
learn frotz
frotz temple
clean podium
put chasm cube in bottom left socket
put cave cube in bottom right socket
put prize cube in top left socket
put mace cube in top right socket
QUIT


                                               ALL QUIET ON THE LIBRARY FRONT

                                               [Please press SPACE to begin.]
                                                                                Every library should try to be complete                                             on something, if it were only the history                                             of pinheads.                                                                                -- Oliver Wendell Holmes,                                                  The Poet at the Breakfast-Table
You are a student at Anycollege, in Anytown, and it's the end of the semester!  You've been slacking off all semester long, and it's catching up to you. That final paper is due for your Computer Science class ("The History of IF Games"), and you desperately need to check out a comprehensive book on Graham Nelson, one of the foremost authors of the obscure genre of interactive-fiction. You know there is exactly one such book, but you have no idea where it might be!

The first time player should probably type "help".

ALL QUIET ON THE LIBRARY FRONT
An Interactive Vignette
Release 2 / Serial number 951204 / Inform v1502 Library 5/12
Standard interpreter 1.0

Lobby
This is the entrance to the library. The circulation desk dominates the room, seemingly cobbled together over the course of several generations from an assortment of desks and tables. A pair of security gates stands before the front doors to prevent people from stealing books. A card catalog lurks in a dark and dusty corner of the room, seemingly cringing away from the harsh flourescent light. Glass doors to the west lead to the book stacks; an archway to the northwest is labelled "Duplicating Services"; a door to the north bears a sign marked "Private" in large friendly letters; and the exit is to the east

You can see a circulation desk attendant here.

xyzzy
close drawer
take into northwest
west
put card down
examine door
open drawer
give card id

The gates are made of gunmetal-grey plastic, and a set of little red lights on top seem to watch you menacingly.

He's leafing through a dog-eared copy of Tom Clancy's "Without Remorse", looking terminally bored. He is wearing a nametag.

He glances up at you. "Yeah, it gets pretty dull around here on Friday afternoons, and I've already read this one six times."  He sighs heavily. "If only I hadn't lost that copy of "Debt of Honor" in the stacks. I've only read that one four times, and not within the past three months."  Dejected, he goes back to flipping the pages.

"Try talking to the reference librarian."

"Try going through those doors, she's probably at her desk."

You push the glass doors open. Their hydraulics hiss faintly.

Ground Floor Stacks
This cavernous room is lit with flickering flourescent lighting which makes the ceiling look even lower than it really is. It is filled with half-empty shelves, upon which rest the dusty boxes of many early games. To one side sits a massive, ancient desk, its surface cluttered with paperwork. A sign on the wall indicates that this is the reference desk, which would make the prim young woman sitting behind it the reference librarian. A doorway to the north is labelled "Stairs", and glass doors lead east to the lobby.

You can see a reference librarian here.

She is an extremely proper young woman. She has her hands folded neatly in front of her on the desk, and a pencil so sharp it looks like it would make a decent stiletto is tucked behind one ear. She watches the room, and you, like a hungry hawk. Pinned to her jacket is a nametag.

"Ah, that valuable book. We keep it locked away, in the Rare Books Room."

"The Rare Books Room is on the second floor. Stairs are north of here. You will need the key, though."

"The key may be obtained at the circulation desk."

"You need to give me your ID card in order to get the key to the Rare Books Room."

(the ID card to the circulation desk attendant)
The circulation attendant gives you the key to the Rare Books Room, and he holds your ID card in exchange.

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

xyzzy
close drawer
take into northwest
west
put key down
examine door
open drawer
give attendant key

Ground Floor Stairwell
Grungy stairs lead upwards, to the second level. A damaged picture hangs on the wall. The door to the ground floor shelving area is to the south.

south
xyzzy
put key down
look under stairs
up

These grungy stairs lead upwards. Dust bunnies romp and play all over the place, and the dust sure seems thick. Maybe the cleaning staff is on vacation.

You found a red herring!

[Your score has just gone up by one point.]

south
xyzzy
put key down
put herring down
put all down
up

Second Floor Stairwell
Grungy stairs lead downwards. The lights are dim, and a painting hangs on the wall. A door to the south appears to open into a room of shelves.

south
give painting herring
take into floor
put key down
put herring down
put all down

This painting could pass for a black canvas. The small plaque below it has "Grue" engraved.

It almost appears as if an indescribable blackness forms in the painting and reaches out, taking the herring. It is followed by a terrible gnawing noise, and then all is silent again.

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

south
xyzzy
take into floor
put key down

Second Floor Stacks
You are in a maze of twisty shelves, all alike.

(Well, okay, not really)

This cavernous room is filled with shelves as far as the eye can see. A doorway to the east is labelled "Computer Room", and the stairwell lies to the north.

A heavy wooden door bars the way to the rare books room. A sign indicates that the key may be obtained from the circulation desk.

north
xyzzy
east
put key down
look in books
open door with key

Tucked away in a corner, you find the novel "Debt of Honor", by Tom Clancy. Someone must've lost it!

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

north
xyzzy
east
put key down
put copy down
put all down
open door with key
open door with copy

north
xyzzy
east
put key down
put copy down
put all down
open door
lock door with key
open door with key

north
south
xyzzy
close door
east
put key down
put copy down
put all down
open door with key

Rare Books Room
The shelves are nearly bare, although there is a complete set of the "New Zork Times", a box labeled "Avalon", and several biographies of various computer game authors. The door out is to the north

You can see a biography of Graham Nelson here.

north
xyzzy
take nelson
put key down
put copy down
put all down

Taken.

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

north
xyzzy
take graham
put key down
put graham down
put copy down
put all down

biography of Graham Nelson
copy of "Debt of Honor"
key

Second Floor Stacks
This cavernous room is filled with shelves as far as the eye can see. A doorway to the east is labelled "Computer Room", and the stairwell lies to the north.

The door stands open.

north
south
xyzzy
take graham
close door
east
put key down
put graham down
put copy down
put all down
open door with key

north
xyzzy
take graham
east
put key down
put graham down
put copy down
put all down
open door
lock door with key
open door with key

north
xyzzy
take graham
east
put key down
put graham down
put copy down
put all down
open door with key
open door with graham

Computer Lab
This entire room hums with the combined output of several dozen computers. All of them are hopelessly out of date, but at least they're still good for word processing.

A bank of printers on one side of the room frantically churns out paper.

You can see a technician here.

west
xyzzy
take graham
put key down
put graham down
put copy down
put all down
examine manual

This frazzled-looking man is thin and angular. He wears thick, slightly rose-tinted glasses, and exhibits nervous twitching. He is wearing a nametag.

He is leafing through a manual for security systems, and cursing the unreliability of the security gates.

The technician throws his hands up in frustration, slams the manual shut, tucks it under one arm and heads for the stairs. The air behind him positively smokes from the stream of invective he's producing.

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

west
xyzzy
take graham
put key down
put graham down
put copy down
put all down
examine printers

Wow, a complete copy of the "Encyclopedia Frobozzica"! You take it, as it might prove useful.

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

west
xyzzy
take graham
put key down
put graham down
put copy down
put frobozzica down
put all down

printout of the Encyclopedia Frobozzica
biography of Graham Nelson
copy of "Debt of Honor"
key

Second Floor Stacks
This cavernous room is filled with shelves as far as the eye can see. A doorway to the east is labelled "Computer Room", and the stairwell lies to the north.

A heavy wooden door bars the way to the rare books room.

north
xyzzy
take graham
east
put key down
put graham down
put copy down
put printout down
put all down
open door with key
open door with graham

south
xyzzy
take graham
take into floor
put key down
put graham down
put copy down
put printout down
put all down

south
xyzzy
take graham
put key down
put graham down
put copy down
put printout down
put all down
up

east
xyzzy
take graham
north
put key down
put printout down
put debt down
put graham down
put all down
give reference printout

"I am waiting for the Encyclopedia Frobozzica, which the technician is currently printing out for me."

"Wow, a copy of the Encyclopedia Frobozzica!  I've been wanting one of those!  I need to add it to the collection right away."  She begins furiously working at the computer at her desk.

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

east
xyzzy
take graham
north
put key down
put debt down
put graham down
put all down

The games on these shelves range from every installment of the Zork series, through something simply marked as LTOI. There is a special shelf devoted to a game called, simply, "Curses", with labels like "R12", "R14", "R15", and "Curses95". Other shelves cover "Christminster", "Theatre", "Balances", and many, many others.

Off in one corner are several magazines dedicated to IF, including XYZZYNews and SPAG.

These IF magazines include XYZZYNews (named for an old magic word from "Colossal Caves") and SPAG, the Society for the Preservation of Adventure Games.

You invoke an ancient word of power, and a hollow voice whispers in your ear, "Quiet, please. No talking in the library."

[Your score has just gone up by one point.]

Lobby
This is the entrance to the library. The circulation desk dominates the room, seemingly cobbled together over the course of several generations from an assortment of desks and tables. A pair of security gates stands before the front doors to prevent people from stealing books. A card catalog lurks in a dark and dusty corner of the room, seemingly cringing away from the harsh flourescent light. Glass doors to the west lead to the book stacks; an archway to the northwest is labelled "Duplicating Services"; a door to the north bears a sign marked "Private" in large friendly letters; and the exit is to the east

You can see a technician and a circulation desk attendant here.

take book
close drawer
take into northwest
west
put key down
put debt down
put book down
put all down
examine door
open drawer
give attendant key
give attendant debt

The circulation attendant puts the key away, then he returns your ID card.

take book
close drawer
take into northwest
west
put card down
put debt down
put book down
put all down
examine door
open drawer
give attendant card
give attendant debt

ID card
biography of Graham Nelson
copy of "Debt of Honor"

The circulation attendant gets a big smile on his face. "I wondered where that had gotten off to!"  He immediately becomes immersed in the novel.

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

take book
close drawer
take into northwest
west
north
east
put card down
put book down
put all down
examine door
open drawer
give attendant card

This frazzled-looking man is thin and angular. He wears thick, slightly rose-tinted glasses, and exhibits nervous twitching. He is wearing a nametag.

He has opened up one of the security gates and is tinkering with its innards, muttering bitterly to himself all the while.

"Hey, I gotta fix these gates before going home. Go pester the librarians, or something."

End Game

You succeed in gaining the biography, and you exit the library. The paper is written over the week-end, you return the book on Monday (of course), and you pass the class with flying colors (despite slacking off for the whole semester), and you graduate from college.

Shortly thereafter, you meet an investor who loves IF, and you write a wildly successful game, get rich off of it, and live the rest of your life thanking all the IF authors of the past.

    *** You have won ***

In that game you scored 30 out of a possible 30, in 52 turns.

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

X security gates
X attendant
Read tag
Ask Alan about novel
Ask him about Nelson
Ask him about librarian
W
X librarian
Read tag
Ask Marion about Nelson
Ask her about rare books
Ask her about key
E
Ask Alan about key
I
Give card to Alan
W
N
X stairs
Smell
Look under stairs
U
X painting
Give fish to grue
S
Search shelves
Unlock door with key
Open door
S
Get book
N
Close door
Lock door with key
E
X technician
Ask technician about security gates
X printouts
W
N
D
S
Ask Marion about encyclopedia
Give encyclopedia to Marion
X shelves
X magazines
Xyzzy
E
Give key to Alan
Give novel to Alan
X technician
Ask technician about security gates
E
QUIT


[Type "help" for more information about this version]

Detective
By Matt Barringer.
Ported by Stuart Moore.
Stuart_Moore@my-deja.com
Release 1 / Serial number 000715 / Inform v6.21 Library 6/10 SD

<< Chief's office >>
You are standing in the Chief's office. He is telling you "The Mayor was murdered yeaterday night at 12:03 am. I want you to solve it before we get any bad publicity or the FBI has to come in. "Yessir!" You reply. He hands you a sheet of paper. Once you have read it, go north or west.

You can see a piece of white paper here.

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

Taken.

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

CONFIDENTIAL:
Detective was created by Matt Barringer.
He has worked hard on this so you better enjoy it.
I did have fun making it though. But I'd REALLY appreciate it if you were kind enough to send a postcard or... dare I even say it?... money... to:
Matt Barringer
325 Olive Ave
Piedmont
CA 94611
Just tell me if you like it or not.
If you want to talk to me over a BBS call the Ghostbuster Central BBS at (510)208-5657.
There is an Exile Games file area. Have fun. I WILL give hints out over the BBS to any of my games.

<< Closet >>
You are in a closet. There is a gun on the floor. Better get it. To exit, go east.

You can see a small black pistol here.

north
take pistol
east
push pistol to floor

east
take paper
west
put pistol down
north

<< Outside >>
You are outside in the cold. To the east is a dead end. To the west is the rest of the street. Papers are blowing around. It's amazingly cold for this time of year.

<< Outside >>
You are still on the streets. To the north is a restraunt where the mayor ate often. To the east is the Mayor's home.

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

<< Mayor's house >>
You are in the house, at the scene of the crime. You enter and flash your badge before a cop. He admits you. To the north is the upstairs. To the east is the living room and to the west is the dining room.

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

<< Living room >>
You are standing in the living room. You see a battered piece of wood. You wonder "Should I pick this thing up?". Well, whether you do or don't the only way out of the room is back west.

You can see a wooden wood here.

north
put wood down
put pistol down
put all down
west

south
west
north
east
put wood down
put pistol down
put all down

<< Dining room >>
You are in the dining room. You look around and see a note on the table. You can go back east.

You can see a paper note here.

north
take note
east
put wood down
put pistol down
put all down

paper note
wooden wood
small black pistol

The note was written on a computer obviously this murder was planned and it says:
We have acclaimed Justice! The Justice of the future! Our next hit is the governer! You CAN'T STOP US! The note sounds like the killers are a group and that they are vigilantes (look it up). You are now getting a bit worried.

south
west
north
east
put wood down
put pistol down
put note down
put all down

<< Upstairs hallway >>
You are in the hallway of the large house of the mayor. It is an amazingly large house. You can go north, south, east or west.

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

get up
west
south
east
put wood down
put pistol down
put note down
put all down
north

<< Hallway >>
You are at the end of the hallway. To the north is a room, while to the west is the rest of the hallway.

east
west
north
put wood down
put pistol down
put note down
put all down

<< Hallway >>
You are in the hallway. To the north is more hallway, and to the east is a door marked "Guests".

<< Hallway >>
You are STILL in the hallway. There is EVEN MORE hallway to the north, and a room to the west and a room to the east of you.

<< Hallway >>
You are still in the hallway. You can go north to where there is a police officer who will let you outside, or you can go east or west.

south
west
put wood down
put pistol down
put note down
put all down
north
east

<< Bedroom >>
You are in the bedroom. You noticed that there was a guard guarding the stairs to the 3rd story, because there is remodelling going on there. You see nothing of importance. Go east.

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

north
put wood down
put pistol down
put note down
put all down
east

<< Outside >>
You pass the guard. He nods at you. You are now outside standing on the street. You can go north and east, your choice. To the north is more of the street, and to the east is a video store.

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

<< Video Store >>
You are in a video store called Brickbuster Video. There are about 3,000 videos here. You can go north, or east.

west
east
put wood down
put pistol down
put note down
put all down
north

<< Video Store >>
You are still in the video store. You can go north, or east.

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

<< Outside >>
You are outside. You can go north, south, east or west.

<< McDonalds >>
You are in a McDonalds. You pay the guy behind the counter. Now there is a hamburger there. When you have picked it up, go north.

You can see a food hamburger here.

east
take hamburger
put wood down
put pistol down
put note down
put all down
eat hamburger
north

Taken.

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

food hamburger
paper note
wooden wood
small black pistol

get up
west
south
east
put wood down
put hamburger down
put pistol down
put note down
put all down
eat hamburger
north

<< Outside >>
You are still outside. You hit a dead end, then notice that you can go east only.

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

north
put wood down
put hamburger down
put pistol down
put note down
put all down
eat hamburger
east

<< Music Store >>
You are in a music store. You ask the man behind the counter if he knew any information. "Uhh... nope! But the guy back there might be able ta help." You politly thank him and head to the back. You can only go north.

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

<< Back of Music Store >>
You are in the back of the music store. You ask the guy who's looking at the cool tapes. He looks up at you. "Duh.. no... don't t'ink so... lemme see..." You decide that he's no help. To the west there is a dazed looking man and to the north there is an exit.

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

east
west
north
put wood down
put hamburger down
put pistol down
put note down
put all down
eat hamburger

<< Alley >>
You are in an alley. A drunken man stagers up to you and says "Boycott FDR! <HICKUP>.". You just walk away. You can go north, east or west. Your call.

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

south
west
east
put wood down
put hamburger down
put pistol down
put note down
put all down
eat hamburger
north

<< Police Station >>
You are in the 3rd precinct police station. This isn't your station. You get admitance from the guy at the desk and go to the holding cells. You ask each offender if they know anything. You promise a lighter sentence for the ones who help. But one guy really sets you straight. "I got caught wit' t'ree ounces o' crack. I'm supposed to get 20 years but I'll be out in 2. You can't make me talk cuz it don't matter to me. If I squeal, da guys who did it are gonna come lookin' for me. I know but I ain't gonna tell ya. Now git outta my face.". You are surprised but used to it. You can go north to the outside, south to go back to the alley and west or east to talk to more guys.

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

get up
west
east
put wood down
put hamburger down
put pistol down
put note down
put all down
eat hamburger
north
south

<< Outside >>
You are outside. it's bitter cold and you pull your jacket around yourself. To the north is a nice, warm Holiday Inn hotel, where the killer is rumoured to be staying. Or you could go to his favourite hang out, the Wall, to the west, or to the east is the place where he is supposed to be working, the Doughnut King.

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

south
north
east
west
put wood down
put hamburger down
put pistol down
put note down
put all down
eat hamburger

<< Doughnut King >>
You are in the Doughnut King, where the greasiest doughnuts on earth reside. He isn't here, no one seems to be for that matter, so you should go west.

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

north
put wood down
put hamburger down
put pistol down
put note down
put all down
eat hamburger
west

<< The Wall >>
You don't see him here. You ought to go east.

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

<< Holiday Inn >>
You are in the Holiday Inn registration room. You talk to some suspicious guys, but they don't talk until you hold your gun to their side. "Alright! Alright! I'll talk! He's on the 15th floor! That's all I can tell ya!" You shove them away. You walk up to the registration desk and show the woman there your badge. She gives you the master ring. You now have access to all of the facilitys on the 15th floor. But the problem is that the 15th floor is the suite level, and there are 30 suites, and 5 pools, 2 saunas and 5 game rooms. Big problem! Well, you have all night. You get a picture of all on the 15th floor, the people up there have to show their drivers license to be admitted, and the license is secretly xeroxed. You look at them all. Well, better get started. You see one person who stands out. You get his room number from the lady. Room 30. Now you have to find it. To get started, go north.

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

You can't go west from here!

<< Holiday Inn >>
You are in the Holiday Inn registration room. You talk to some suspicious guys, but they don't talk until you hold your gun to their side. "Alright! Alright! I'll talk! He's on the 15th floor! That's all I can tell ya!" You shove them away. You walk up to the registration desk and show the woman there your badge. She gives you the master ring. You now have access to all of the facilitys on the 15th floor. But the problem is that the 15th floor is the suite level, and there are 30 suites, and 5 pools, 2 saunas and 5 game rooms. Big problem! Well, you have all night. You get a picture of all on the 15th floor, the people up there have to show their drivers license to be admitted, and the license is secretly xeroxed. You look at them all. Well, better get started. You see one person who stands out. You get his room number from the lady. Room 30. Now you have to find it. To get started, go north.

<< Holiday Inn 15th Floor >>
You go up the elevator. When you step out, you see the wallpaper is pink, with little flowers on it. You can go east or west.

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

north
west
put wood down
put hamburger down
put pistol down
put note down
put all down
eat hamburger
east

<< Hallway >>
You are in the hallway. You see many doors... 1... 2... 3... 4... 5... 6... 7... boy, you have a long way to go. You can only go north.

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

<< Hallway >>
You are still in the hallways. You can go west or east.

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

north
west
east
put wood down
put hamburger down
put pistol down
put note down
put all down
eat hamburger

You can't go north from here!

<< Hallway >>
You are still in the hallways. You can go west or east.

<< Hallway >>
You are in the hallway. You see numbers flash by as you run through the halls. 19... 20... 21... 22... you are getting close! You can only go north.

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

<< Hallway >>
You are in the hallway. You feel the heat from the sauna to the west, and to the east is a door marked "Pool A". To the north is more hall.

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

south
west
north
east
put wood down
put hamburger down
put pistol down
put note down
put all down
eat hamburger

<< Room # 30 >>
You enter room 30... after a harrowing gun battle you conk him on the head and take him in. You get promoted and suddenly, with the "Jurrasic Park" theme song playing in your head, you feel proud to be an American. For special info about Exile Games, and to leave this darned game, go up.

[Your score has just gone up by one hundred points.]

north
put wood down
put hamburger down
put pistol down
put note down
put all down
eat hamburger
up

<< Info >>
Exile Games is a group of people who like text games.
We plan to get into graphic games sometime in 1995.
We don't ask for money, we just want to know if you like it or not.
Our support BBS is (510) 208-5657, the Ghostbuster Central BBS.
We have accounts on Compuserve and Prodigy. Exile Games is curently made up of:

Matt Barringer, president and head programmer
Nathaniel Smith, advisor
Kurt Somogue, assistent programmer
And all the users of the Ghostbuster Central BBS, who give me ideas!

    *** You have won ***

In that game you scored 360 out of a possible 360, in 51 turns.

Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, give the FULL score for that game, see some suggestions for AMUSING things to do or QUIT?

TAKE PAPER
READ PAPER
DROP PAPER
INVENTORY
W
TAKE GUN
E
N
W
E
E
TAKE WOOD
W
W
TAKE NOTE
READ NOTE
E
N
N
W
N
N
W
E
N
E
E
E
S
TAKE HAMBURGER
N
N
E
N
N
N
N
E
W
W
E
N
W
N
W
N
N
w
n
n
up
QUIT