The Awakening
by Dennis Matheson (1998)
Genres: Lovecraftian

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 day goes downhill from there...

action: About yourself
response: You find you cannot look down at yourself. It is almost as if you know what you might find and are afraid to have your fears confirmed.
action: You look at the lightning
response: The howling wind sends the clouds racing across the sky. The almost constant flashing of lightning illuminates the landscape in stark black and white contrast, while the barrage of thunder joins with the wind in a mad concaphony.
action: You examine the mud
response: The sides of the hole are made of dark, rich earth, now soaked through by the torrential downpour. As you watch, more and more mud is washed away and into the hole with you.
action: You go upwards
response: As you scramble out of the hole the mud collapses downward, filling in the hole behind you.

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.
action: You look at the marker
response: The marker for this grave has been shattered by the fall of a large branch from the overhanging tree. The grave itself has been disturbed; the soil has fallen in to form a shallow pit.
action: You examine the branch
response: This large branch has broken off from one of the trees and fallen on one of the graves, shattering it's marker.
action: You take it
response: The branch is too large to move, but a smaller limb has broken off and is lying nearby.
action: You take the limb
response: Taken.
action: You examine it
response: A stout oak limb, about as long as you are tall.

The marker for this grave has been shattered by the fall of a large branch from the overhanging tree. The grave itself has been disturbed; the soil has fallen in to form a shallow pit.
action: You examine the church
response: The old church has seen better days. Formerly painted white, the boards are now faded, peeling and rotted. Most of the windows are boarded up, and those that aren't have long since been broken out. The shingles have fallen from the roof, which sags alarmingly. A broken-tipped steeple rises from one end of the building, and a faint miasma of decay seems to rise from the structure.
action: Go east
response: 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.
action: You examine the weeds
response: Diseased looking grasses and weeds surround the church. In clumps it rises to your knees, while in other places it has been beaten to the ground by the force of the storm.
action: You search the weeds
response: You find nothing of interest.

Lightning arcs overhead, followed instantly by a blast of thunder.
action: You go to the southeast
response: 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.

A blast of thunder rattles the ground.
action: You go north
response: N = next subject                                        P = previous RETURN = read subject                                Q = resume game

> About this game
Credits and Acknowledgments
License and Copyright info
Hints...
Walkthru
"The Awakening" is my first piece of interactive fiction. It is based (very) loosely on several stories by H.P. Lovecraft, most notably "The Outsider", "The Terrible Old Man" and "The Two Black Bottles".

I mainly wrote "The Awakening" as a learning exercise. I had started several other games, but they were all too big and I found myself becoming overwhelmed by the scope of the game along with learning the language. I was inspired to try a smaller game by the Textfire games which came out in April of 1998. "The Awakening" became much larger than any Textfire, but the inspiration was there.

It took longer to finish the game than I expected. My main problem involved the rope that is encountered in the game. Originally, it was far more complex than what is now implemented. Even what is there now doesn't work quite as well as I would have liked.

I hope you enjoy the game. Since it is my first game, feedback is especially welcome. At this time (July 1998) my most stable e-mail address is:

Dennis_Matheson@compuserve.com

or, you can reach me by snail mail at:

4068 Maxanne Dr.
Kennesaw, GA  30144

Enjoy!

N = next subject                                        P = previous RETURN = read subject                                Q = resume game

> About this game
Credits and Acknowledgments
License and Copyright info
Hints...
Walkthru
action: You examine dog
response: This large, solid black dog is chained to one of the oak trees. There is something disturbing about the shape of it's head; it seems to be too large and slightly misshapen and an unnatural intelligence can be seen behind its red eyes.

The dog growls at you threateningly.
action: Hello
response: The dog growls threateningly.

The dog growls at you threateningly.
action: Pet dog
response: The dog snarls and snaps at you as you reach for it and you draw your hand back hurriedly.

The dog growls at you threateningly.
action: You check your inventory
response: You are carrying:
a broken limb

The dog growls at you threateningly.

Momentarily, the wind and rain slacken then return with renewed force.
action: You give the limb to the dog
response: The dog snarls and barks at you.

The dog growls at you threateningly.
action: You throw the limb
response: Dropped.

The dog growls at you threateningly.

With a loud CRACK, a bolt of lightning strikes the steeple of the church.
action: You examine the trees
response: These massive trees are easily hundreds of years old. They tower over the front of the church, climbing almost as high as the steeple. Unlike the forest surrounding other parts of the grounds they are almost unnaturally healthy, their branches clean and straight and their leaves a deep rich green.

The dog growls at you threateningly.
action: You throw the limb
response: Dropped.

The dog growls at you threateningly.
action: You get the limb
response: Taken.

The dog growls at you threateningly.
action: You examine the steeple
response: Pointing heavenward like some broken, accusing finger, the steeple rises from the front of the church. The steeple ends in a ragged, blunt tip; whatever decoration may have once surmounted it is long gone.

The dog growls at you threateningly.
action: You climb the trees
response: The trunk is too rain-slick to climb.

The dog growls at you threateningly.
action: You go to the north
response: Bristling and growling, the dog blocks your path

The dog growls at you threateningly.
action: Go northwest
response: To the east, the wall of the church breaks some of the force of the wind.

Growling faintly, the dog follows you to the West Side of the Church, dragging its chain behind it.

A blast of thunder rattles the ground.
action: Go west
response: 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.

Satisfied, the dog wanders off back to the Front of the Church.
action: You examine the boards
response: Once, the windows were probably told stories of hope and redemption in brightly colored stained glass. Now, they are boarded up as if the church has closed it's eyes to the world outside.
action: You take the boards
response: The boards are nailed firmly in place.
action: Look around
response: 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.
action: You look at the graves
response: Dozens of stone slabs mark the final resting places of those who have departed. All are old, the inscriptions worn away and covered with moss and mold, they tilt at odd angles. Many have fallen and are now half buried in the mud.

Lightning arcs overhead, followed instantly by a blast of thunder.
action: You dig the mud
response: You are only able to dig a few inches before striking rock, and the rain rapidly washes more mud in to fill up the hole you make.
action: You go east
response: To the east, the wall of the church breaks some of the force of the wind.

With a loud CRACK, a bolt of lightning strikes the steeple of the church.
action: Go southeast
response: 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.
action: Go northwest
response: To the east, the wall of the church breaks some of the force of the wind.

Growling faintly, the dog follows you to the West Side of the Church, dragging its chain behind it.
action: You go northeast
response: 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.

Satisfied, the dog wanders off back to the Front of the Church.
action: Go southeast
response: 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.
action: You examine the debris
response: Scattered sticks, leaves and bits of trash cover the gravel clearing.
action: You search it
response: You find nothing of interest.

Momentarily, the wind and rain slacken then return with renewed force.
action: You examine the trees
response: The trees wave wildly in the wind, their twisted limbs seeming to reach out to claw at the side of the church. No birds or forest animals inhabit their branches; a repellent air surrounds them that seems inimical to any such invasion.
action: You examine the weeds
response: Diseased looking grasses and weeds surround the church. In clumps it rises to your knees, while in other places it has been beaten to the ground by the force of the storm.
action: You go southwest
response: 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.
action: You examine the chain
response: A heavy steel chain. It has rusted slightly but is still more than sturdy enough to hold the dog.

The dog growls at you threateningly.
action: Go south
response: You feel that you are unable to. Some force on you increases as you try to leave the area.

The dog growls at you threateningly.
action: You look at the windows
response: Once, the windows were probably told stories of hope and redemption in brightly colored stained glass. Now, they are boarded up as if the church has closed it's eyes to the world outside.

The dog growls at you threateningly.
action: Go northwest
response: To the east, the wall of the church breaks some of the force of the wind.

Growling faintly, the dog follows you to the West Side of the Church, dragging its chain behind it.
action: You put the limb in chain
response: That can't contain things.

The dog growls at you threateningly.
action: You throw the limb at the chain
response: Futile.

The dog growls at you threateningly.
action: You take the chain
response: The dog probably wouldn't like you to be pulling on its chain.

The dog growls at you threateningly.
action: Wave limb
response: You look ridiculous waving the broken limb.

The dog growls at you threateningly.
action: Dig
response: (the broken limb)
Digging would achieve nothing here.

The dog growls at you threateningly.
action: Go northeast
response: The south wall of the church looms blankly overhead.

Satisfied, the dog wanders off back to the Front of the Church.
action: You go north
response: You feel that you are unable to. Some force on you increases as you try to leave the area.
action: You look at the windows
response: Once, the windows were probably told stories of hope and redemption in brightly colored stained glass. Now, they are boarded up as if the church has closed it's eyes to the world outside.
action: You look around
response: 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.
action: You go to the south-west
response: 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.
action: You look at the windows
response: Once, the windows were probably told stories of hope and redemption in brightly colored stained glass. Now, they are boarded up as if the church has closed it's eyes to the world outside.

Momentarily, the wind and rain slacken then return with renewed force.
action: Dig
response: (the broken limb)
Digging would achieve nothing here.

A blast of thunder rattles the ground.
action: Go southwest
response: 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.
action: You examine the window
response: Once, the windows were probably told stories of hope and redemption in brightly colored stained glass. Now, they are boarded up as if the church has closed it's eyes to the world outside.

The dog growls at you threateningly.
action: You ask the dog about Church
response: The dog snarls and barks at you.

The dog growls at you threateningly.
action: You break the limb
response: Violence isn't the answer to this one.

The dog growls at you threateningly.
action: Go south
response: You feel that you are unable to. Some force on you increases as you try to leave the area.

The dog growls at you threateningly.
action: You eat the dog
response: (first taking the guard dog)
I don't suppose the guard dog would care for that.

The dog growls at you threateningly.

Momentarily, the wind and rain slacken then return with renewed force.
action: You examine the rain
response: The rain pours downward, pelting you painfully and almost blinding you with its intensity.

The dog growls at you threateningly.
action: You go northeast
response: 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.

Growling faintly, the dog follows you to the East Side of the Church, dragging its chain behind it.
action: You hit dog
response: Angered at your attack, the dog charges at you!

The dog growls and snarls angrily, snapping at your legs.
action: Go northwest
response: 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!
action: You go to the south-west
response: 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.

The dog chases madly after you!
action: Go southwest
response: You feel that you are unable to. Some force on you increases as you try to leave the area.

The dog leaps at you, raking your chest with its claws and leaving a trail of red.
action: Go southeast
response: 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.

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.
action: Go north
response: 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.
action: About yourself
response: You find you cannot look down at yourself. It is almost as if you know what you might find and are afraid to have your fears confirmed.
action: You look at the railing
response: The railing consists of two parallel lengths of wood about an arm's span apart connected by wooden pickets. One section of the railing seems fairly unsteady.

For a brief moment, hail pounds against you then subsides.
action: You take section
response: Taken.
action: You examine it
response: The railing consists of two parallel lengths of wood about an arm's span apart connected by wooden pickets. If stood on end, the rail would be about twice your height.
action: You look
response: 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.
action: North
response: 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.
action: You examine the door
response: The opening in the ceiling seems to lead to another room overhead, but there doesn't seem to be any way to get to it.

A blast of thunder rattles the building.
action: You drop the ladder
response: Dropped.
action: North
response: 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.

A flash of lightning can be seen through the cracks between the boards, followed by a sudden blast of thunder.
action: You examine the portrait
response: As you look at the painting, a memory seems to float to the surface of your mind. You remember standing in this church and looking at that painting. And you remember it staring back at you, with malevolent, vivid green eyes...
action: You examine the pews
response: Once, these rows would have been filled with worshippers. Now, they only contain dust and debris.
action: You take the painting
response: The painting is too high up on the wall to do anything with.

The building shudders under a sudden gust of wind.
action: North
response: 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.

The building shudders under a sudden gust of wind.
action: You examine the podium
response: This carved wooden podium is where the leader of this church would have addressed his or her followers. Now, from the podium, you can only see rows of empty pews and a lone painting of Christ, staring blankly down from the south wall. A large black book is resting open on the podium.
action: Examine book
response: At first you thought this book was a Bible, but now you realize that you were mistaken. The large, black, leather-bound tome contains passages you find disturbing, and uncomfortably familiar.

A flash of lightning can be seen through the cracks between the boards, followed by a sudden blast of thunder.
action: You read the book
response: 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."

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

A flash of lightning can be seen through the cracks between the boards, followed by a sudden blast of thunder.
action: You examine the desk
response: An old wooden desk. Scarred and water-damaged, it has been here for some time.
action: Search desk
response: On the desk is a journal.
action: You look at the journal
response: A book of blank pages, the kind that would be used to keep a ledger or a journal. Unfortunately, someone has torn out most of the pages and only blank sheets remain.

A blast of thunder rattles the building.
action: You look at the ash
response: It seems as if a good sized fire once burned here; it is amazing that the entire room did not catch fire. From the occasional bit of unburned material it seems as if whoever built the fire was burning books, probably from the now empty bookcase. Mixed in with the ashes you find a number of jagged shards of glass.
action: You examine the glass
response: A number of shards of broken glass lies mixed in with the ashes. From the look of the fragments, it was some kind of thick walled bottle that was smashed into the floor. A curious object lies in with the shards of glass. It looks like a heavy rubber stopper with a chain hanging from it.
action: You take the ash
response: You pick up a handful of ashes.
action: You put the ash on the journal
response: (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.
action: You read the journal
response: 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."
action: You check your inventory
response: You are carrying:
a journal
a handful of ashes
a heavy stopper
a large black book
a broken length of railing
a broken limb

The building shudders under a sudden gust of wind.
action: You examine the shelves
response: A warped, wooden bookshelf.
action: Examine stopper
response: A heavy rubber stopper, such as would be used to close a bottle. Bits of wax still cling to the edge showing where the bottle was sealed with the stopper in place. A fine chain hangs from the stopper and ends in an oddly carved lead weight.
action: You look around
response: 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.

A richly embroidered robe hangs beside the door.
action: You move the bookshelf
response: You push the bookshelf to one side, revealing an old book bound in a strange reddish cover.
action: You take the old book
response: (the old grimoire)
Taken.
action: You examine it
response: A very old volume, bound in some strange reddish material. At first you thought it was leather but it seems to be more closely akin to snakeskin. The book seems to be a weird grimoire or spellbook and mostly concerns the soul or spirit.
action: You read it
response: 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.
action: You examine the robe
response: Richly embroidered red robes, such as might be worn for ceremonial purposes.
action: Look around
response: 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.
action: You wear the robe
response: You put on the embroidered robe.
action: South
response: 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.
action: South
response: 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.
action: You examine the eyes
response: There is something unusual about the eyes of the painting, but it is too far away to see clearly.
action: You climb the podium
response: I don't think much is to be achieved by that.

There is a brief rattle of hail on the roof.
action: You examine the painting
response: As you look at the painting, a memory seems to float to the surface of your mind. You remember standing in this church and looking at that painting. And you remember it staring back at you, with malevolent, vivid green eyes...

You hear a loud crash and see a flash of light through the cracks in the boards covering the windows.
action: You put the ladder on the podium
response: You put the broken length of railing on the podium.
action: You climb the ladder
response: The railing doesn't lead anywhere.

A blast of thunder rattles the building.
action: Up
response: It is not yet that time...
action: You look at the pews
response: Once, these rows would have been filled with worshippers. Now, they only contain dust and debris.

The building shudders under a sudden gust of wind.
action: You put the ladder under the painting
response: You lean the length of railing against the wall near the painting.
action: You climb it
response: You carefully climb up the length of railing, using the pickets like a ladder.

You are standing on top of the railing section near the large painting of Christ. From this location, you notice that the eyes in the painting are cut out and there are holes behind them.

You are precariously balanced on the top of the broken section of railing.
action: You move painting
response: You are unable to.
action: You examine the holes
response: The eyes of the painting are cutouts. There are holes and an open space behind the eyes.

A flash of lightning can be seen through the cracks between the boards, followed by a sudden blast of thunder.
action: You look in the holes
response: You find yourself looking into a small enclosed space covered with a faded purple curtain.

There is a brief rattle of hail on the roof.
action: You pull  the painting
response: You are unable to.

A blast of thunder rattles the building.
action: You take the painting
response: The painting is too high up on the wall to do anything with.
action: You cut the painting
response: Cutting that up would achieve little.

A flash of lightning can be seen through the cracks between the boards, followed by a sudden blast of thunder.
action: You look at the pulpit
response: A simple raised platform at the front of the church, it supports a simple wooden podium.
action: Down
response: 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.

The broken length of railing is propped against the wall near the painting.
action: You put the ladder under the trap
response: You carefully place the length of railing under the trap door in the ceiling.
action: You climb the ladder
response: You carefully climb up the length of railing, using the pickets like a ladder.

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.
action: You examine the rope
response: A frayed but heavy section of rope.
action: You examine the door
response: This heavy wooden door looks to be newer and of more sturdy construction than the rest of the church. A large, heavy handle is set into the door.
action: You climb it
response: Dropped.

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.
action: You look at the town
response: The small town huddles at the base of the hill. A few lights shine defiantly against the storm but for the most part it seems quiet, as if its inhabitants are waiting inside their homes for the fury to pass them by.
action: You examine tree
response: Which do you mean, the oak trees or the tree branch?
action: Branch
response: The tree branch sways alarmingly in the wind but seems quite sturdy. It passes very close to the open window frame in the steeple.
action: You examine the bell
response: This massive bell once summoned worshippers to the church. Now, it only serves as the home for birds and rodents. The mount for the bell has broken on one side, and the other is barely holding on. You are surprised that it has not broken free and plummeted from the steeple before this.
action: You ring bell
response: The bell makes a muted "CLANK".
action: You climb the branch
response: You climb around on the supports a bit, but are unable to move much further up or down the steeple.
action: You get the branch
response: The branch is securely attached to the tree.
action: You climb the rope
response: 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.
action: You open the door
response: It seems to be locked.
action: You examine the door
response: This heavy wooden door looks to be newer and of more sturdy construction than the rest of the church. A large, heavy handle is set into the door.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
an embroidered robe (being worn)
an old grimoire
a journal
a handful of ashes
a heavy stopper
a large black book
a broken limb
action: You tie the rope to the branch
response: You tie the rope securely to the tree branch.
action: You climb the rope
response: 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. 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.
action: You tie the rope to door
response: You tie the rope securely to the heavy wooden door.
action: Up
response: 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.
action: Down
response: The drop to the floor below is too far for you to climb safely.

The building shudders under a sudden gust of wind.
action: Branch
response: You climb around on the supports a bit, but are unable to move much further up or down the steeple.

The building shudders under a sudden gust of wind.
action: You climb the beams
response: You climb around on the supports a bit, but are unable to move much further up or down the steeple.

There is a brief rattle of hail on the roof.
action: You look
response: 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.

There is a brief rattle of hail on the roof.
action: Go south
response: 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.
action: Go downwards
response: The drop to the ground below is too far for you to jump safely, and the trunk of the tree is too slick to climb.
action: You look
response: 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.

Momentarily, the wind and rain slacken then return with renewed force.
action: You examine the frame
response: Once, the windows were probably told stories of hope and redemption in brightly colored stained glass. Now, they are boarded up as if the church has closed it's eyes to the world outside.

For a brief moment, hail pounds against you then subsides.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
an embroidered robe (being worn)
an old grimoire
a journal
a handful of ashes
a heavy stopper
a large black book
a broken limb

Lightning arcs overhead, followed instantly by a blast of thunder.
action: North
response: 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.

The building shudders under a sudden gust of wind.
action: You jump
response: You leap off of the support and plummet to the floor below. The last thing you hear is the peal of thunder outside.
action: Go south
response: 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.
action: You jump
response: Throwing caution to the winds, you leap out of the tree and into space. The wind howls around you as you plummet to the ground. Your last sight is the church steeple, silhouetted by the lightning against the sky.
action: Branch
response: The tree branch sways alarmingly in the wind but seems quite sturdy. It passes very close to the open window frame in the steeple.

For a brief moment, hail pounds against you then subsides.
action: Go north
response: 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.
action: You look at beams
response: Rough hewn from wood, the beams and trusses are dirty and covered with bird and animal droppings which make footing treacherous.

There is a brief rattle of hail on the roof.
action: You climb the beams
response: You climb around on the supports a bit, but are unable to move much further up or down the steeple.
action: You go to the south-east
response: The graveyard is surrounded on all sides by an iron-barred fence. The only exit is through the gate to the east.

For a brief moment, hail pounds against you then subsides.
action: Go east
response: 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.
action: Go southeast
response: 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.
action: Go northeast
response: 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!
action: You go northwest
response: 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!

A blast of thunder rattles the ground.
action: Attack dog
response: Angered at your attack, the dog charges at you!

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

Lightning arcs overhead, followed instantly by a blast of thunder.
action: Go southwest
response: To the east, the wall of the church breaks some of the force of the wind.

The dog chases madly after you!
action: Attack dog
response: Angered at your attack, the dog charges at you!

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

With a loud CRACK, a bolt of lightning strikes the steeple of the church.
action: You go southeast
response: 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.
action: You go northeast
response: To the west, the church stares out over the clearing.

A heavy chain stretches around the church to the northwest and southwest.
action: Go southwest
response: 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 northeast.
action: Go north
response: 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.
action: You go north
response: 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.
action: You get the ash
response: You pick up a handful of ashes.
action: You put the ash on the journal
response: (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.
action: You take the robe
response: Taken.

The building shudders under a sudden gust of wind.
action: You look at the ashes
response: (the handful of ashes)
A handful of old ashes.
action: You take the book
response: Taken.

A flash of lightning can be seen through the cracks between the boards, followed by a sudden blast of thunder.
action: You take the book
response: You already have that.
action: You take the old book
response: (the old grimoire)
Taken.
action: Look around
response: 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.
action: You examine the podium
response: This carved wooden podium is where the leader of this church would have addressed his or her followers. Now, from the podium, you can only see rows of empty pews and a lone painting of Christ, staring blankly down from the south wall. A large black book is resting open on the podium.
action: You take the book
response: Which do you mean, the large black book, the old grimoire or the journal?
action: All
response: large black book: Taken.
old grimoire: You already have that.
journal: You already have that.
action: Go south
response: 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.
action: You tie the rope to handle
response: You tie the rope securely to the heavy wooden door.

There is a brief rattle of hail on the roof.
action: You pull the rope
response: You hear a metallic <CLANK> from somewhere overhead.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a large black book
an old grimoire
a heavy stopper
a journal
an embroidered robe
a handful of ashes
a broken limb
action: You look
response: 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 rope is tied to the handle of the door.

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.
action: You climb down
response: I don't think much is to be achieved by that.

A blast of thunder rattles the building.
action: Go south
response: 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.

The heavy chain stretches from one of the oak trees and around the corner of the church to the northeast.
action: You examine the tree
response: These massive trees are easily hundreds of years old. They tower over the front of the church, climbing almost as high as the steeple. Unlike the forest surrounding other parts of the grounds they are almost unnaturally healthy, their branches clean and straight and their leaves a deep rich green.
action: You put the ladder under the tree
response: You lean the length of railing against the side of the oak tree.
action: You climb the ladder
response: You carefully climb up the length of railing, using the pickets like a ladder.

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.
action: Go south
response: 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.
action: Down
response: 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.

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

A broken bell lies half-buried in the mud.

The broken length of railing is propped up against the side of the oak tree.
action: You go north
response: 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.

You hear a loud crash and see a flash of light through the cracks in the boards covering the windows.
action: You climb the ladder
response: You carefully climb up the length of railing, using the pickets like a ladder.

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 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.

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

A blast of thunder rattles the building.
action: You look at old Man
response: An old, extremely gaunt man. The old man is drawn and pale, his hair long and wild and his clothing filthy, torn and unkempt. But, an active intelligence burns behind the vivid green eyes with which he watches you; eyes which also contain a taint of madness.

There is a brief rattle of hail on the roof.
action: You examine table
response: A heavy table of rough cut wooden planks. Curious symbols are carved into the wood and the top is oddly stained.
action: You examine the lantern
response: A old oil-burning lantern. Possibly brass, but very tarnished. The glass chimney is almost opaque with soot and grime.
action: You examine Bottles
response: The bottles are made of a heavy, leaded glass and closed with a cork stopper sealed with wax. Inside the bottles, an oddly shaped lead weight hangs like a pendulum from a string. The bottles glow faintly.
action: You look at the curtain
response: The curtain is an old and faded purple. It looks as if it may have been a tablecloth initially.
action: You ask Man about the bottle
response: "Beautiful, aren't they? That's what *you* used to say. I remember how you used to stare at them for hours. How you used to try to understand them...
action: You ask Man about yourself
response: The old man laughs. "What did you expect? After you saw what happened to *her* and realized that *you* were the one responsible you went, shall we say, mad? You always were weak. There was only one thing to be done, wasn't there?"
action: You ask Man about the girl
response: The old man giggles uncontrollably.
action: You ask Man about Man
response: What? You've forgotten me? How could you forget Silas? Your servant... your colleague... your... teacher...?
action: You ask Man about the dog
response: A useful creature. Quite intelligent, you know.
action: You take Bottles
response: The blue bottle is warm to your touch as you pick it up. The warmth seems to travel up your arm and into the center of your being. It is almost as if you have found a missing part of yourself.
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.
That isn't available.
action: You open the blue bottle
response: You peel the wax away from the mouth of the bottle and pull out the cork. A cloud of faintly glowing blue mist rises from the bottle and hangs in the air before you. You feel a brief moment of freedom, of release.

Then, you realize that Silas has started chuckling to himself. The first jolt of pain hits. The cloud suddenly jerks and starts moving downward, as if drawn by a strong suction. The pain intensifies and you drop first to your knees, then flat onto the ground as if trying to follow the mist, which is now soaking into the earth. The pain becomes excruciating. The last thing you see, as everything fades to black, is Silas standing over you, laughing...
action: You ask Man about the painting
response: Please give one of the answers above.

Please give one of the answers above.
action: You describe your surroundings
response: Please give one of the answers above.
action: Full
response: In that game you scored 30 out of a possible 50, in 92 turns.

The score was made up as follows:

5 for entering the sealed room
10 for opening the door

30 total (out of 50)

Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, UNDO your last move, give the FULL score for that game or QUIT?
action: You describe your surroundings
response: 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.

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.

The building shudders under a sudden gust of wind.
action: Down
response: 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.
action: Go south
response: Taken.

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.
action: Go south
response: 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.

The heavy chain stretches from one of the oak trees and around the corner of the church to the northeast.
action: You climb down
response: 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.

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

The broken length of railing is propped up against the side of the oak tree.
action: Up
response: 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.

A blast of thunder rattles the building.
action: You tie the rope to the door
response: You tie the rope securely to the heavy wooden door.

You hear a loud crash and see a flash of light through the cracks in the boards covering the windows.
action: You get the ladder
response: Taken.

There is a brief rattle of hail on the roof.
action: Down
response: 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.

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

A broken bell lies half-buried in the mud.

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

For a brief moment, hail pounds against you then subsides.
action: You put the ladder under the trap
response: You carefully place the length of railing under the trap door in the ceiling.

A blast of thunder rattles the building.
action: Up
response: 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 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.
action: You go north
response: 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.
action: Go north
response: 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.
action: About yourself
response: You find you cannot look down at yourself. It is almost as if you know what you might find and are afraid to have your fears confirmed.

You hear a loud crash and see a flash of light through the cracks in the boards covering the windows.
action: You take the green bottle
response: 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.
action: You look
response: 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 blue bottle) here.
action: You open the green bottle
response: 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 over the lantern 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.
action: Light lantern
response: This dangerous act would achieve little.
action: You ask Man about the lantern
response: The old man giggles uncontrollably.
action: You ask Man about green
response: "You see, I am safe now... I have transferred my sin to your soul. *If* I ever decide to release it, I will go to *your* reward, while you will go to *my* punishment."
action: You ask Man about the blue
response: "Yes. That is you. Or, should I say, *was* you. It's *mine* now. The receptacle for *my* sin.
action: You ask Man about the grave
response: The old man giggles uncontrollably.

There is a brief rattle of hail on the roof.
action: You wear the robe
response: You put on the embroidered robe.
action: You read tome
response: What do you want to read in?
action: All
response: Sorry, you can only have one item here. Which exactly?
action: Old
response: Which do you mean, the old grimoire or the journal?
action: Grimoire
response: 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.
action: You ask Silas about the stopper
response: The old man giggles uncontrollably.

You hear a loud crash and see a flash of light through the cracks in the boards covering the windows.
action: Full
response: You have so far scored 35 out of a possible 50, in 96 turns.

The score is made up as follows:

5 for entering the sealed room
10 for opening the door
5 for discovering the truth

35 total (out of 50)
action: You check your inventory
response: You are carrying:
an oil lantern (providing light)
a green bottle (providing light)
a large black book
an old grimoire
a heavy stopper
a journal
an embroidered robe (being worn)
a handful of ashes
a broken limb
action: You read the black
response: 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."

A blast of thunder rattles the building.
action: You look at the stopper
response: Which do you mean, the blue bottle, the green bottle or the heavy stopper?
action: Go south
response: 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 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.

Babbling to himself, the old man wanders after you.
action: You go north
response: 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.

You can also see a heavy wooden table (on which is a blue bottle) here.

You hear a loud crash and see a flash of light through the cracks in the boards covering the windows.
action: You get blue
response: The blue bottle is warm to your touch as you pick it up. The warmth seems to travel up your arm and into the center of your being. It is almost as if you have found a missing part of yourself.
action: You go south
response: 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 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.

You can also see an oil lantern and an old man here.
action: Go downwards
response: 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.

Babbling to himself, the old man wanders after you.
action: You open green
response: 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. 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.

With a loud *CRAK*, lightning strikes the steeple of the church. With a roar, the wooden structure catches fire. Clutching the second bottle to you, you 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.
action: Go south
response: 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.

Babbling to himself, the old man wanders after you.

With a loud CRACK, a bolt of lightning strikes the steeple of the church.
action: You go to the north
response: 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.

Babbling to himself, the old man wanders after you.
action: Go north
response: 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.

Babbling to himself, the old man wanders after you.
action: Up
response: You are standing on top of the railing section near the large painting of Christ. From this location, you notice that the eyes in the painting are cut out and there are holes behind them.

You are precariously balanced on the top of the broken section of railing.

Babbling to himself, the old man wanders after you.
action: You look through the holes
response: You are looking into the small room in the steeple. You can see past a faded purple curtain to a small table which is holding two heavy glass bottles.
action: You look at bottle
response: Which do you mean, a green bottle or a blue bottle?
action: You take the blue bottle
response: You can't do anything to the blue bottle from here.

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