Aotearoa
by Matt Wigdahl (2010)
Genres: Children's

The Fish of Māui. The Land of the Long Cloud. Aotearoa. An entire continent of untamed wilds, and the last place on Earth where dinosaurs still roam. If only you'd come ashore under better circumstances...

action: %
response: Are you sure you want to quit? 

Welcome to Aotearoa!

Display Test:

*+ LM jk



If no words above were colored or emphasized,
or if you didn't see the characters as vowels with macrons,
or if you want to adjust the colors displayed,
or if you want to see interpreter compatibility information,
press K now.

Press R to restore an existing story, or a number from 1 to 4 to start a new story...

1) ...with an in-game tutorial for new players, as well as color keyword highlighting in the text.
2) ...with an in-game tutorial for new players, but no keyword highlighting.
3) ...with no tutorial, but with color keyword highlighting in the text.
4) ...with no tutorial and no keyword highlighting.
action: K.
response: Aotearoa can make use of emphasized keywords to indicate objects you can interact with. It is recommended that your interpreter program correctly displays them with some form of emphasis, although it is not strictly required. Type a number below to cycle through display options until you find one that shows clearly on your system:

1) Emphasized object keywords currently look like this.
2) Emphasized topic keywords currently look like this.

Press 0 when you're finished here.
action: 1
response: Aotearoa can make use of emphasized keywords to indicate objects you can interact with. It is recommended that your interpreter program correctly displays them with some form of emphasis, although it is not strictly required. Type a number below to cycle through display options until you find one that shows clearly on your system:

1) Emphasized object keywords currently look like this.
2) Emphasized topic keywords currently look like this.

**A warning: it may at times be useful to be able to differentiate between the various kinds of keyword.**

Press 0 when you're finished here.
action: 0
response: Polynesian Character Display Test: *+ LM jk

If the characters above are vowels with horizontal lines over them, your interpreter can properly display the special letters in this story. If not, you will need to change your interpreter's font to one that supports Polynesian characters. If you know your font already supports such characters, you may need to consider switching to an alternative interpreter.

Interpreters known to function correctly with Aotearoa include (but are not limited to):

Gargoyle (the 2009-08-25 build or newer)
Zoom 1.1.4 or newer
Filfre 0.987 or newer
Quixe 1.0.2 or newer (using the CSS provided at

Other browsers based on Glulxe 0.4.4 or newer or Git 1.2.4 or newer should work as well.

Fonts known to render well include (but, again, are not limited to):

Linux Libertine (free for download and recommended if you have it) Georgia
Palatino Linotype
Times New Roman

Known issues: The older, 2009-08-25 build of Gargoyle, out of the box, defaults to the Charter BT font, which is known to not support Polynesian characters. This can be fixed by changing the font settings in the garglk.ini configuration file to point to a font (such as one of the ones above) that does support the characters. The newest (2010.1) build of Gargoyle does not have this problem as it uses Linux Libertine by default. And although Filfre supports the proper characters out of the box, it doesn't render them correctly. Regardless of the interpreter you use, you may need to configure it for best appearance.

Welcome to Aotearoa!

Display Test:

*+ LM jk



If no words above were colored or emphasized,
or if you didn't see the characters as vowels with macrons,
or if you want to adjust the colors displayed,
or if you want to see interpreter compatibility information,
press K now.

Press R to restore an existing story, or a number from 1 to 4 to start a new story...

1) ...with an in-game tutorial for new players, as well as color keyword highlighting in the text.
2) ...with an in-game tutorial for new players, but no keyword highlighting.
3) ...with no tutorial, but with color keyword highlighting in the text.
4) ...with no tutorial and no keyword highlighting.
action: 4
response: The waka floats in the deep ocean, the sun motionless and searing in the clear sky. Mui, the trickster, casts his fishing line into the depths of the ocean, tied to his magic hook made from a human jawbone. Almost immediately the hook catches, and he pulls up an enormous fish that somehow becomes, as you watch, an entire continent. On that new continent magnificent dinosaurs -- taniwha -- prowl the dark forests. Volcanoes dim the sky with smoke and stain the air with the stench of sulfur, but the land is rich and fertile, and Mui's older brothers
look on it with greed in their eyes. Mui watches them, deep in
thought, with a faraway expression you can't read. Then he turns to look directly into your eyes, and says, "You know that some of my brothers cannot be trusted. You must keep them from carving up this great fish until I return from the gods with the proper karakia."

And suddenly he's gone, flying away into the sun in the form of a seabird, and you're left floating in the waka with Mui's brothers as they smile secret half-smiles to each other and reach for their knives, and you wonder what in the world Mui thinks that you, twelve-year-old Tim Cooper, can do to stop them before they carve up and defile...



Difficulty Level: Introductory            Cruelty Level: Polite

 Everyone is! You are ready to work?"

Excitement gets the upper hand for now and you grin just a bit -- you can't help it. "I still can't believe I got picked to come! I get to see real dinosaurs? That's so cool!"

Eruera laughs, a startling, wild sound. "You may not think it is quite so 'cool' after picking through dinosaur roka for a few days, Tim."

You cock your head a bit, not quite sure you understood. "Roka"He just looks back at you silently, the friendly grin growing a bit wider.

Oh.

The cutter's hydrofoil brings the ship high out of the water -- high enough that there's very little spray. The wind whips past as the boat glides across the ocean off the coast to port. Thick, deep green bands of forest snake along the coastline to port. The treeline tracks stretches of black sand beach, sharp cliffs of dark volcanic rock, and the occasional salt marsh. The ocean glares as you look at the shore, almost overpoweringly blue.

A dark feather from some sort of seabird flutters in the wind, caught in a small gap in the guardrail.

You hear an incomprehensible yell from the general direction of the bridge. Eruera turns toward it, then closes his eyes for an instant. "I told them to double-check those gaskets," he sighs. "I'd better go help them before we're dead in the water."

He starts to leave, then turns back to you for a moment. "Why don't you head to the bridge? They've got sandwiches in there; I'm sure you're hungry after all your traveling. I'll catch up with you after I sort things out below decks."

Eruera sprints off to aft.
The Prow
The cutter's hydrofoil brings the ship high out of the water -- high enough that there's very little spray. The wind whips past as the boat glides across the ocean off the coast to port. Thick, deep green bands of forest snake along the coastline to port. The treeline tracks stretches of black sand beach, sharp cliffs of dark volcanic rock, and the occasional salt marsh. The ocean glares as you look at the shore, almost overpoweringly blue.

A dark feather from some sort of seabird flutters in the wind, caught in a small gap in the guardrail.
action: About yourself
response: You're a bit taller than average for your age, with dark brown hair and green eyes. Currently you're feeling a bit hungry, a bit thirsty, and very nervously excited about getting to camp and seeing the dinosaurs.
action: You take the feather
response: Taken.

It doesn't seem quite so hot any more.
action: You examine the feather
response: It's a small, grayish feather, possibly from a white-bellied tiko or other seabird.
action: You check your inventory
response: You are carrying:
a seabird feather

You think you see something large moving on shore -- could it be a dinosaur? You wish your binoculars weren't stowed in your luggage.
action: You examine the shore
response: Which do you mean, the 1) coastline or the 2) beach?
action: Coastline
response: The coastline is rough and varied. Some areas are relatively flat and at other places the cliffs come right up to the water's edge.
action: You look at the beach
response: The beach is a surprisingly dark black, which you've read is because of millenia of waves pounding against volcanic rock. It glitters with flashes of reflected sunlight as the cutter passes.
action: Fore
response: It's hard for you to make yourself even approach the guardrails, let alone think of hurling yourself off the speeding ship. Besides, you're this close to finally seeing the dinosaurs!
action: Exits
response: The only obvious exit is aft.

(Use EXITS ON to enable the status line exit lister and EXITS OFF to turn it off. You may also cycle through the available colors to use for unvisited rooms with the command EXIT COLOR.)
action: Aft
response: The stern of the cutter is well-organized and uncluttered; all of the stores and supplies are stashed below. The deck and guardrail are painted white, and are almost too bright to focus upon in the sun. A small door leads inside to the bridge, and a rectangular opening in the deck leads down a steep ladder into the hold.
action: Go inside
response: The cutter's small bridge looks like it also serves as a living room and smoking lounge. The ship's controls are laid out on a cluttered panel to forward, under a wide, grimy window. A low side table stands by the door, food trash surrounding an overflowing, smoldering ashtray. A few chairs are scattered around as well. A door leads outside and a ladder leads down into the crew quarters.

The captain fidgets with his fingers unconsciously.

The captain acknowledges your arrival with a glance and a grunt, then turns back to his instruments. "Help yourself to a sandwich. I think there's one left."
action: Examine sandwich
response: You look closely at the sandwich and shrug. You can't tell how old it is, or even what it's made of. The bread is brown and it looks edible, at least in theory.
action: You take it
response: Taken.
action: You eat it
response: You decide that you're hungry enough to confront the mystery of the sandwich head-on and take a bite. Surprisingly, it's tasty, and you make short work of the rest of it.
action: You talk to the captain
response: You approach the captain a bit gingerly. "Excuse me, sir?"

"What do you want, tama?"

(You could ask him about himself, the sandwich, Eruera, the coastal cutter, the dinosaurs, or Aotearoa.)
action: You ask the captain about the sandwich
response: "Hey, that was a pretty good sandwich!"

The captain looks at you for a moment and frowns, trying to decide if you expect a response, and if so, what it should be. He finally decides against saying anything and shakes his head as he turns away.
action: You ask him about Aotearoa
response: "Sir," you ask, "what can you tell me about Aotearoa? I've never been here before."

"Well, that's obvious, son." He smiles, then starts talking, gesturing expansively with his hands.

"Aotearoa -- 'The Land of the Long Cloud'! You're just offshore of the closest place to Paradise on the face of the Earth, kid. The one place the British couldn't conquer when they were colonizing the world -- we Mori toa fought them to a standstill and they settled for an alliance as equals."

He laughs as he continues, "Even the giant meteor that killed the dinosaurs all over the world couldn't defeat the taniwha of Aotearoa! All the dinosaurs left in the world live right here." He sweeps his hands to indicate the coastline moving past outside the window, then turns back to the controls.
action: You ask the captain about dinosaurs
response: "Have you ever seen one of the dinosaurs?" you ask.

The captain laughs. "'Have I seen a big one?', of course you mean. The taniwha are not as common as the television documentaries would have you believe, boy. But yes, I've seen several of the horned ones. Even though they are plant-eaters, they are still fearsome."
action: You ask the captain about Eruera
response: "What do you know about Eruera?"

The captain turns to you. "Eruera? I don't know him well, except by reputation. He's supposed to be a quite a toa -- a warrior. Served in the ADF before transferring to the Conservation Service."
action: You ask him about himself
response: (himself)
"Who are you?" you ask.

The captain responds. "I'm Captain Hunapo, the captain of the ANS Whakamarumaru."

He grins as you try to mouth the name of the ship. "It means 'protector'."
action: You ask the Captain about the cutter
response: "What kind of ship is this?" you ask.

The captain grimaces. "This decrepit old tub is the Whakamarumaru. It's an old hydrofoil design; one of the first they ever made. It's fast and maneuverable, but we have a devil of a time keeping it running."

deck.
action: You ask the Captain about the cutter
response: "So what's wrong with the ship now?"

The captain shakes his head. "Oil leak. A big one. We just overhauled the engine, but one of the gaskets blew out. It might have been bad to start with."

He raises his voice to include the ladder below, if they can hear him over the sound of clanking tools and Mori curse words. "More likely, one of those mhunga wai screwed it up when they installed it!"
action: You ask the Captain about Aotearoa
response: "Is there anything else you can tell me about Aotearoa? I'm really interested in the..."

He cuts you off with a jerk of his hand. "The taniwha, I know. You don't have to be a mind-reader to see that. I already gave you the basics. Aotearoa isn't someplace you can be told about. If you want to know more you'll find out for yourself in about an hour."

Something seems to bother the captain. He peers more closely at a control on the console, then mutters darkly to himself.
action: You look at the controls
response: The controls are labeled with unfamiliar abbreviations; you can't figure them out.

The captain checks the controls, then gives a grunt of apparent satisfaction.
action: You ask the Captain about the cutter
response: "Anything else about the ship?"

"What do you want, the technical manuals? You looking to take my job? This tub will get you to the campsite in another hour -- that's all you need to know!"
action: You ask him about the crewmen
response: You start to speak, but the captain doesn't seem to be interested.

"Yes yes," he says brusquely. "I don't have time to discuss that right now."

(You could ask him about himself, the sandwich, Eruera, the coastal cutter, the dinosaurs, or Aotearoa.)

Something seems to bother the captain. He peers more closely at a control on the console, then mutters darkly to himself.
action: You ask him about the sandwich
response: The captain's look of only partially suppressed exasperation makes you think that asking him about the sandwich yet again isn't a particularly good idea.

The captain checks the controls, then gives a grunt of apparent satisfaction.
action: You exit
response: As you turn away, the captain shakes his head, mutters something you can't understand, and turns back to the controls.

The stern of the cutter is well-organized and uncluttered; all of the stores and supplies are stashed below. The deck and guardrail are painted white, and are almost too bright to focus upon in the sun. A small door leads inside to the bridge, and a rectangular opening in the deck leads down a steep ladder into the hold.

You notice clouds gathering as you leave the bridge -- maybe there's a storm coming. As you take a few steps out onto the stern deck, you hear shouts from behind you. Almost immediately, the captain yells as well, calling you back. "Hey, you... Kid! Whatever your name was... Come back here! I've got a job for you."

It doesn't seem quite so hot any more.
action: You enter
response: The cutter's small bridge looks like it also serves as a living room and smoking lounge. The ship's controls are laid out on a cluttered panel to forward, under a wide, grimy window. A low side table stands by the door, food trash surrounding an overflowing, smoldering ashtray. A few chairs are scattered around as well. A door leads outside and a ladder leads down into the crew quarters.

The captain paces impatiently.

The captain half-turns towards you. "You! Make yourself useful and grab the hyperbolic torsion spanner from the hold. Those mhunga wai down there forgot it."
action: Exits
response: The obvious exits are down and outside.
action: You ask the Captain about the spanner
response: The captain looks up as you approach. He folds his arms and glowers at you. "I'll talk to you after you bring me the hyperbolic torsion spanner like I asked you. Not before."
action: You look at the radar
response: The radar unit is a screen with some unlabeled controls underneath. Green lines indicate the position of the shore. If there were other ships nearby you'd assume that they would also appear, but there don't seem to be any at the moment.

Something seems to bother the captain. He peers more closely at a control on the console, then mutters darkly to himself.
action: You go outside
response: The stern of the cutter is well-organized and uncluttered; all of the stores and supplies are stashed below. The deck and guardrail are painted white, gleaming in the alternating patches of sun and shade as the cutter passes under the gathering clouds. A small door leads inside to the bridge, and a rectangular opening in the deck leads down a steep ladder into the hold.
action: Go downwards
response: The hold's ceiling is frighteningly low, even for you. The space is cramped and hot, and the relentless, overpowering drone of the cutter's engine is almost unbearable here. The hold is mostly packed full of crates, probably containing supplies for the various Conservation Service camps in the Protected Lands. Near the stern there's a clear area with a pegboard mounted on the wall. The pegboard holds tools and supplies that the crew members use, and a ladder leads up.

Your school backpack leans against against one the crates, looking out of place.
action: You look at the backpack
response: Aunt Janet gave you this at the beginning of the school year -- a cheap, nylon Camp Rock backpack more suited to the homeroom coat rack -- for a third grade girl, maybe -- than the Aotearoan bush. At least she tried.

In the backpack are your acceptance letter, your passport, your lucky rabbit's foot, your photographs, and Aotearoa 4 Kids!.

One of the crates shifts slightly, startling you.
action: You examine Aotearoa
response: Your teacher, Mrs. Casmer, gave you this reference book about Aotearoa when your acceptance letter came in. She was really proud of you. The book is huge -- at least 400 pages -- and covers everything from history and politics to geography and wildlife. You've probably read it all the way through five times by now, trying to prepare yourself for this trip. You leaf through the familiar pages a bit distractedly, refreshing your memory a bit about the requirements for getting a driver's license.

The hot, humid atmosphere of the hold is almost overpowering.
action: You look at the crates
response: The wooden crates are stacked in rough order and held down with wide canvas straps. They come in several different sizes, but most appear to be cubes and measure around four or five feet on a side.
action: You listen to the crates
response: The low drone of the engine is surprisingly loud.

The tools and equipment clatter as the cutter lurches a bit.
action: You examine the photographs
response: You pull out a picture of your Mom fussing over your hair on your first day of second grade. The memories return, sharp and clear. When Mom was still alive, she always knew how to make things right, stand you back up when you fell. Even when you broke your arm skateboarding she talked you into riding again...

The hot, humid atmosphere of the hold is almost overpowering.
action: You look at the letter
response: A copy of the letter from the Aotearoa Conservation Service informing you that you've been selected for the Junior Fieldwork Program. Who knew writing an essay about "What Conservation Means to Me" would lead to this? Only 100 kids total per year from all over the world get chosen, and you were one of them! Of course, you're also the only one that missed his connecting flight and has to catch up with the rest, too...
action: You look at tools
response: Which do you mean, the 1) hyperbolic torsion spanner, the 2) small pipe wrench, the 3) large pipe wrench, the 4) crescent wrench, the 5) hacksaw, or the 6) electric drill?
action: Hyperbolic
response: An obscure tool that you apparently overlooked in your earlier looting. You have no idea what it does.
action: You take all
response: hyperbolic torsion spanner: Taken.

small pipe wrench: Taken.

large pipe wrench: Taken.

crescent wrench: Taken.

hacksaw: Taken.

electric drill: Taken.

your acceptance letter: Taken.

your passport: Taken.

your lucky rabbit's foot: Taken.

your photographs: Taken.

Aotearoa 4 Kids!: Taken.

The tools and equipment clatter as the cutter lurches a bit.
action: You put all in the backpack
response: Aotearoa 4 Kids!: Done.

your photographs: Done.

your lucky rabbit's foot: Done.

your passport: Done.

your acceptance letter: Done.

electric drill: Done.

hacksaw: Done.

crescent wrench: Done.

large pipe wrench: You can't fit any more tools in there without risking damage to the cheap nylon backpack.
small pipe wrench: You can't fit any more tools in there without risking damage to the cheap nylon backpack.
hyperbolic torsion spanner: You can't fit any more tools in there without risking damage to the cheap nylon backpack.
seabird feather: Done.

The hot, humid atmosphere of the hold is almost overpowering.
action: You wear backpack
response: You put on the backpack.
action: Up
response: The stern of the cutter is well-organized and uncluttered; all of the stores and supplies are stashed below. The deck and guardrail are painted white, gleaming in the alternating patches of sun and shade as the cutter passes under the gathering clouds. A small door leads inside to the bridge, and a rectangular opening in the deck leads down a steep ladder into the hold.

You fumble the tools around as you walk. They're so bulky that it's hard to keep hold of all of them at once, but you manage somehow.

White seabirds pace the cutter for a while, then wheel away.
action: Go inside
response: The cutter's small bridge looks like it also serves as a living room and smoking lounge. The ship's controls are laid out on a cluttered panel to forward, under a wide, grimy window. A low side table stands by the door, food trash surrounding an overflowing, smoldering ashtray. A few chairs are scattered around as well. A door leads outside and a ladder leads down into the crew quarters.

The captain drums his fingers on the console.

The captain turns and notices you holding the hyperbolic torsion spanner, and reaches to take it. "Thanks, son... Took you long enough, though. Now put the other ones back." He then turns and yells down the ladder to the lower deck.

"Hey, mhunga wai! Here's the hyperbolic torsion spanner!" He tosses it down the ladder. You hear a yelp of pain, followed by a clatter as the tool falls to the deck. The captain mutters, shakes his head, and returns to work.

The radio erupts with a quick burst of staticky conversation, which the captain ignores. You can't make out a single word.
action: Leave
response: As you poke your head out the bridge door, you notice the clouds have thickened quickly -- it's now quite dark, except for brief, dim sparks of internal lightning that flicker deep within the clouds. Eruera pops his head up from the staircase. "Is that you, Tim? Hold on a second..." He looks down and waves someone on, then turns back to you. "Good! I think we are almost done here -- I will meet you on the prow when we are finished. That will keep you a bit more out of the way while we test whether the repair will hold under pressure." He vanishes back down the ladder.

The captain checks the controls, then gives a grunt of apparent satisfaction.
action: Down
response: The captain waves you back. "Don't go down there, kid! The men are cleaning up an oil leak. Very messy!"

deck.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a large pipe wrench
a small pipe wrench
a backpack (being worn, and open)
a seabird feather
a crescent wrench
a hacksaw
an electric drill
your acceptance letter
your passport
your lucky rabbit's foot
your photographs
Aotearoa 4 Kids!

A sudden beeping from the radar attracts the captain's attention. He glances at the screen for a moment, then clicks his tongue.
action: Go outside
response: The stern of the cutter is well-organized and uncluttered; all of the stores and supplies are stashed below. The deck and guardrail are painted white, helping you to see them under the shade of the gathering storm clouds. A small door leads inside to the bridge, and a rectangular opening in the deck leads down a steep ladder into the hold.
action: Down
response: The hold's ceiling is frighteningly low, even for you. The space is cramped and hot, and the relentless, overpowering drone of the cutter's engine is almost unbearable here. The hold is mostly packed full of crates, probably containing supplies for the various Conservation Service camps in the Protected Lands. Near the stern there's a clear area with a pegboard mounted on the wall. The pegboard holds tools and supplies that the crew members use, and a ladder leads up.
action: You put the wrench on the pegboard
response: Which do you mean, the 1) large pipe wrench, the 2) small pipe wrench, or the 3) crescent wrench?
action: 1
response: (the large pipe wrench on the pegboard)
You put the large pipe wrench on the pegboard.
action: You put the small wrench on the pegboard
response: You put the small pipe wrench on the pegboard.

The tools and equipment clatter as the cutter lurches a bit.
action: Fore
response: The cutter's hydrofoil brings the ship high out of the water -- high enough that there's very little spray. The wind whips past as the boat glides across the ocean off the coast to port. Gathering clouds dim the light, almost hiding the dark green bands of thick forest snaking along the coastline's inky beach and charcoal cliffs to port.

You spend a couple of minutes looking out over the ocean, watching the waves rise as dim lightning glows in the depths of the stormclouds and distant booms of thunder shake the air. It's a breathtaking scene, and for a moment you don't notice Eruera pushing through the wind from aft to stand beside you. He watches the approaching storm in silence with you for a moment as the light dims. "It looks like quite an wh coming our way. Perhaps you should come back in to the bridge before it hits. I would hate for you to get soaked and miserable before we even get to camp."

You consider it as the sky darkens further. It's not a bad idea. But as you start to agree, Eruera snaps his head up, startled by something in the distance to port, and cuts you off with a raised hand. "Tim, did you see..."

Without warning, he seizes you in a powerful grip! In one smooth motion he wrenches you off of your feet and pitches you over the starboard railing, so quickly you don't even have time for a scream before you're tumbling towards the sea, arms pinwheeling. Just before you hit the water you catch a single brief glimpse of Eruera poised to leap, one hand on the railing and a wide-eyed look of panic on his face. Then you plunge into the ocean with a stinging jolt, seawater jetting up your nose and your limbs painfully forced into unnatural positions by the water's drag.

As you tumble and slow, there's a terribly loud crash of thunder. You flounder, stunned, trying to remember your swimming survival lessons. By the time you orient yourself and manage to look around, it's all over. But everything has changed. The cutter is half-submerged and leaning way over on its side, a huge, ragged hole punched in its port side near the stern. Twisted pieces of deck and the remains of crates are strewn over the ocean, visible in brief peeks over the rolling waves.

But even though the panic rises up and your breathing is shallow and fast, you know you have to stay afloat. You start paddling toward the ship, but before you can cover even half the distance it has sunk low in the water and you realize there's no point -- it will be gone before you can reach it.

You tread water for a moment as you look around, thrashing your legs wildly to keep your head above water and continuing to force down the panic. It seems you've gotten turned around somehow -- which way was the coast?

You are treading water alone in the ocean as a sudden summer storm drenches your face with sheets of rain. Lightning flashes and sledgehammers of thunder batter your ears as you try to get your bearings. The slightly acrid taste of engine oil mixed with seawater seeps into your mouth and makes you want to constantly spit; the bad taste and the floating debris are the only reminders that there was a ship with a living crew skimming over this water just minutes ago. The rise and fall of the ocean waves all around you limit how far you can see, and the storm blocks out the summer sun like an eclipse.

In the confusion, you lose your grip on what you were holding, and everything is swept away in the fury of the storm. Even the backpack is lost, the cheap straps ripping away as you hit the water.
action: Swim
response: To swim, you should specify to where you are swimming: SWIM TO BOAT or something similar.
action: Go downwards
response: Maybe it's crazy, but the sound of the rain and thunder is just too much after a while. You duck your head underwater, trying to gain a few moments of silence. But you can't see anything while submerged in the dark and you soon surface back into the chaos of the storm, gasping for breath.

Something bumps you from below. You thrash away from it, wasting energy. You're not sure if you moved very far, but whatever it was is apparently gone. At least, it isn't bothering you at the moment.
action: You go north
response: You have no choice; you have to try to get to shore. You kick, aiming in the direction you think might be correct. After several minutes of swimming, however, you don't notice any difference in your surroundings, and you're not even sure you're going the same direction you were headed when you started out.

Something oddly-shaped appears as it approaches you. It looks vaguely like a life vest.
action: Swim to vest
response: You hold out some hope that the jacket is still usable, but as you approach it you find it's far too damaged. Reluctantly, you watch as it's carried away by the storm.

You're very cold. It's getting harder to make your hands do what you want.
action: You go east
response: Once again, you decide on a direction and start swimming, hoping to reach land. Or at least sight it. But again the minutes pass and you can't see any change in your surroundings. You stop, filled with exhaustion and despair.
action: Shout
response: What do you want to shout hello to?
action: Yourself
response: You're a bit taller than average for your age, with dark brown hair and green eyes. Currently you're feeling cold, terrified, waterlogged, and on the verge of sinking.
action: You go to the south
response: You're exhausted and confused, but you're not about to give up. You force yourself to set forth once more in search of the shore. Unfortunately, the results are the same as before: no land and more fatigue.
action: You describe your surroundings
response: You are treading water alone in the ocean as a sudden summer storm drenches your face with sheets of rain. Lightning flashes and sledgehammers of thunder batter your ears as you try to get your bearings. The slightly acrid taste of engine oil mixed with seawater seeps into your mouth and makes you want to constantly spit; the bad taste and the floating debris are the only reminders that there was a ship with a living crew skimming over this water just minutes ago. The rise and fall of the ocean waves all around you limit how far you can see, and the storm blocks out the summer sun like an eclipse.
action: You look at the debris
response: Blown about at random in the storm are bits and broken pieces of the cutter, mostly unrecognizable. The blast must have done a lot of internal damage as well as what it did to the outside of the ship.

You see something at the limit of your vision -- something that looks like a floating crate. And you hear something -- Dad? How could that be? Unless... you're already dead, or dying... "Tim, over here, buddy!"

That's Dad's voice, all right -- you can hear him clearly, even over the deafening storm!
action: You get on the crate
response: There's nothing suitable to enter here.

You see something at the limit of your vision -- something that looks like a floating crate. Despite the fury of the storm, you can hear a voice calling to you. Could it be...? "Tim! Swim to me! Grab ahold of the crate!"

You have no idea how, but it sounds exactly like your father!

You seem to hear a voice crying out, but you can't tell whether it's real or simply a trick of the wind before it's gone.
action: Swim to crate
response: "Tim, over here!" The call is clearer this time. It's definitely Dad, and you don't spare any more effort wondering whether it's possible or not.

"Dad!" Fatigue is forgotten as you flail through the water towards your father. He's hanging on to one of the crates from the cutter -- this one miraculously intact -- that floats nearby, and he beckons you anxiously with his free hand.

You draw near -- the crate is very close, but you're so tired, and you think you might not make it, and then your father's voice rings clearly in your ears over the shrieks of the other kids at the pool...

You're standing in the warm water of the shallow end of the George Ross Community Center pool, five years old once more. The pool is indoors, so the the excited shouting and shrieking from all the other kids echo back and forth into a neverending high-pitched background noise. The air is thick with humidity and the itchy smell of chlorine.

Dad is crouching in the water, just a step or two beyond where the bottom of the pool starts to slope down into the deep end. His arms are outstretched, and there's an excited smile on his face. "Swim with your hands and kick with your feet at the same time, Tim! You can do it!" You're pretty scared, and really tired from all the swimming and playing earlier in the day, but maybe you can do this after all...
action: Swim to Dad
response: You start towards Dad, but it's too scary and you flail backwards to the safety of the shallow end, spluttering as cold, yucky-tasting water floods your mouth and nose.

Cold?

"Good try, Tim! You were doing it! Try once more and you'll make it!"
action: About yourself
response: . You're wearing your Spider-man swim trunks and standing up to your armpits in warm pool water. You're once again five and a half years old and just under four feet tall.
action: You look at Dad
response: Dad is much taller than you -- maybe even six feet tall -- with dark brown hair, blue eyes, and a slightly lopsided smile. He's wearing bright rainbow-colored swim trunks and is crouching in the water a few steps into the deep end of the pool.
action: Swim to Dad
response: You try to work up your courage for another attempt, but the memory of slipping underwater is too frightening. You're about to call out to Dad and tell him you can't do it, when you see a young dark-skinned boy about your age wade out to the drop-off. Who is he? He looks very familiar, but you know he's not in your kindergarten class. Maybe one of the other classes...

He turns to look directly at you, and something about the look in his eyes gives you a calm sense of confidence. He turns away, crouches, pushes with his legs, and he's off, a fish flitting to the far end of the pool without a backwards glance.

As you watch him, you can feel a new determination -- if that boy can do it, you can too. You turn, look at Dad, crouch down, and push forward, kicking your tired legs with new strength and moving your arms the right way -- you think it's the right way, at least. You keep going, trying to remember to breathe properly, until your hand pokes into Dad's stomach and he pulls you up out of the water with a huge smile on his face. He twirls you around, shouting "You did it! You did it!" as he gathers you into a great big hug...

"I pai ai! You're alive!" Somehow you're hanging onto the crate near Eruera. Of course it couldn't have been Dad; what were you thinking? Something's wrong, though. Eruera winces as he shifts his grip on the crate, breath hissing and eyes narrowing. Then it passes, and he continues, shouting to be heard over the raging storm.

"We may be alive, Tim, but we won't stay alive unless we can get to shore. And I think I broke my leg when the missile hit -- I was almost over the railing, but not quite. I felt my left leg crunch below the knee, and it hurts very badly to move it at all, let alone kick." He smiles almost apologetically. "I don't know how much help I'm going to be moving this thing."

Missile? Was that what sank the ship?

You are floating holding onto a crate in what seems like the dead center of the storm. Eruera is beside you, grimacing with pain and taking shallow breaths as he holds on as well. The wind shoves the crate around where it will, dragging you along in its wake. You might be able to influence its direction, but your legs are really tired and you're not sure you have the strength.

Thunder crashes as the storm rolls on.
action: You talk to Eruera
response: "Eruera," you start. "How are you doing?"

He coughs, his arms tightening convulsively on the crate. "Need to get to shore! Won't last much longer..."

He seems to lose focus on the rest of what you were saying.

You seem to hear a voice crying out, but you can't tell whether it's real or simply a trick of the wind before it's gone.
action: You listen
response: The wind does its best to carry Eruera's few words away, and mostly succeeds.

You can't help wondering whether you're going to live through this. You fight down a rising sense of panic.
action: You look around
response: You are floating holding onto a crate in what seems like the dead center of the storm. Eruera is beside you, grimacing with pain and taking shallow breaths as he holds on as well. The wind shoves the crate around where it will, dragging you along in its wake. You might be able to influence its direction, but your legs are really tired and you're not sure you have the strength.

Eruera is here alongside you, face twisted in pain and desperately clinging to the crate.
action: You ask Eruera about about shore
response: You try to get Eruera's attention, and at first he fails to respond. After long moments, he gasps in pain. "Can't understand you!" he calls. "Must... get to shore..."

He seems to lose focus on the rest of what you were saying.

Thunder crashes as the storm rolls on.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying nothing.

You can't help wondering whether you're going to live through this. You fight down a rising sense of panic.
action: Swim east
response: "Hold on," you yell to Eruera over the howling of the wind. You can't really muster up much hope that you'll make it to shore, but at least you've got something to cling to, and you're not alone. That's way, way better than where you were a couple of minutes ago. You start kicking, trying to push the crate in a direction -- any direction. You can't tell whether you're making any progress. Eruera tries to encourage you, but his words are cut apart by the storm and garbled by your own exhaustion, and you can't make sense of what he's saying.

You keep kicking until your legs fail. You rest, then try again, a cycle that gets shorter and shorter as you slowly run out of energy. All of a sudden, an unexpectedly violent surge of the sea tears you loose from the crate, and in a strange calm you briefly slip under the waves before kicking upwards again with leaden feet. By the time you reorient yourself, the crate is out of reach, scudding just ahead of you before the wind. It's so close... but you have nothing left in your legs, and you can't quite reach Eruera's arm as he stretches out towards you. Slowly, unstoppably, the distance increases, carrying the crate into the dark and leaving you behind. The last thing you see is Eruera straining toward you, trying to yell something over the fury of the storm. But the thunder, wind, and rain drown his voice and he finally disappears into the gloom.

Alive...

You must be alive -- you feel too miserable to be dead. Despite your aching leg muscles and the burning sensation in your lungs you'd rather stay unconscious -- if it weren't for the surf slapping your face every few seconds, making you choke and splutter. Very reluctantly, you shove yourself up the beach a bit farther to get away from the tide. After what seems like another hour, you open your stinging eyes and look around. You're on a strand of black sand in a shallow bay, and the lying sky is now innocent blue and filled with harmless-looking, puffy clouds.

You stand on a thin strip of black sand lining the shallow curve of a bay to the east. A few seabirds fly overhead, and various clumps of driftwood, seaweed, and other shore debris litter the shore, the only visible evidence of the recent storm. A steep tumble of volcanic rock looms over the beach to the west and south, blocking travel in all directions except into the forest to the north.

You slowly stagger to your feet, your battered body and abused muscles protesting all the while. You look around with a dull stare, not really understanding yet what you're seeing and unsure what to make of the black beach you stand upon. You wonder what happened to Eruera.
action: About yourself
response: You're a bit taller than average for your age, with dark brown hair and green eyes. Your clothes are heavy with salt and you can taste it on your lips. Your skin feels raw and your muscles are stiff and sore. But you're alive, and nothing's broken.
action: You go to the east
response: Only the waters of the wide bay lie in that direction. And you've had enough of swimming for a lifetime.
action: You go north
response: The black sand beach transitions to stones and boulders here as the seashore lifts into the black cliffs. To the northwest a break in the volcanic stone leads upwards and into the depths of the forest. Where the water eddies at the north end of the beach a collection of light, floating junk has collected.

A green plastic bucket is washed up on shore here.
action: You examine the junk
response: As you approach the floating junk, you notice a few interesting things. There are some shredded pieces of rope tangled around some crate splinters and seaweed, and a crumpled wad of what looks to be a ripped piece of tent fabric bobs here as well.
action: You examine the bucket
response: The bucket is made out of green plastic. Unfortunately, it has a small hole on the bottom. The bucket is currently empty.
action: You look at the tent
response: A long strip of thick tent fabric. Despite the abuse it's suffered, it seems tough.
action: Go south
response: You stand on a thin strip of black sand lining the shallow curve of a bay to the east. A few seabirds fly overhead, and various clumps of driftwood, seaweed, and other shore debris litter the shore, the only visible evidence of the recent storm. A steep tumble of volcanic rock looms over the beach to the west and south, blocking travel in all directions except into the forest to the north.
action: You go south
response: Steep rocks block your path in that direction. It doesn't look like you'd be able to climb them.
action: Go north
response: The black sand beach transitions to stones and boulders here as the seashore lifts into the black cliffs. To the northwest a break in the volcanic stone leads upwards and into the depths of the forest. Where the water eddies at the north end of the beach a collection of light, floating junk has collected.

Shreds of what used to be a thick rope are here, washed up on the rocks at the north end of the beach and coated in black sand grains.
action: You go to the north-west
response: Low bushy ferns give way to towering kauri trees here. Their delicate cones and thin, green leaves cast deeper shadows as the forest thickens to the northeast. A steep break in the cliff rock here leads southeast, down to the beach, and a faint animal trail leads into the forest to the northeast.
action: You take the rope
response: The remains of the rope are soggy and useless, and you end up just giving up and dropping the slimy shreds back onto the beach.
action: You go to the north-east
response: Alone? The forest looks dangerous, and you might get lost! You don't know anything about how to survive in there, and you don't know what kind of wild life to expect or even where you should go. Maybe it would be better to wait on the beach and try to signal rescue, or at least talk to Eruera about it. If you can find him and he's still alive.
action: You search junk
response: You sift through the junk carefully, but you've already picked out the only items that would likely be useful.
action: Go south
response: You stand on a thin strip of black sand lining the shallow curve of a bay to the east. A few seabirds fly overhead, and various clumps of driftwood, seaweed, and other shore debris litter the shore, the only visible evidence of the recent storm. A steep tumble of volcanic rock looms over the beach to the west and south, blocking travel in all directions except into the forest to the north.
action: You search debris
response: You start to pick through the pile of junk, and suddenly realize there's a body buried beneath! It's lying still, but you can just barely see its chest rise and fall. Moving as carefully as you can, you remove the splintered boards and assorted wreckage, until you expose the face. It's Eruera!

The jostling of debris disturbs him, and his eyes slowly open, flakes of dried salt falling from his eyelids. You can't bear to look at his face -- he's in too much agony. It takes a long minute before he becomes aware enough of his surroundings to recognize you.

"Tim, is that you?" he croaks. "I guess we made it."

He doesn't smile, barely even sounds interested. It's obvious he's going to need help quickly.
action: You examine Eruera
response: Eruera looks pretty bad -- he's soaked with seawater and moaning in pain, and not really fully aware. Despite everything, he's still desperately holding on to what you recognize as one of the broken boards from the crate. His left leg in particular looks really painful -- it doesn't seem to be as straight as it should, and it's swollen to almost grotesque size.
action: You examine the leg
response: Eruera's leg looks terrible. It looks like the top part is fine, but his left leg is broken below the knee, and it looks as if it's a pretty bad break. His leg is bent at an unnatural angle, although it's swollen so huge that you can't judge just how far it's bent.
action: You ask Eruera about the leg
response: You approach Eruera as he lies on the beach.

"Eruera, I... I want to talk to you about..." You trail off. It's obvious he's not going to understand. But he does react to the sound of your voice.

He draws in a hissing breath. "My leg... Help..."

"Well, I found this board," you say, holding it out so he can see. "And there are some more over in the pile. I also found this piece of tent fabric. Seems pretty strong to me. Will these work?"

Eruera nods quickly. "Those... should work."

He rallies and becomes a bit more coherent, speaking with forced precision. "Tim, I think my left leg is badly broken. It needs to be straightened. I'll brace myself; you pull my leg straight toward you as hard as you can. After that you can splint it."
action: You pull the leg
response: Eruera braces himself, and you hesitate just a moment before taking a firm grip on his ankle. Trying not to think about it, you pull as hard as you can, throwing your weight into extending his leg as Eruera screams in pain. Just when you're sure you're not strong enough -- that this was all for nothing -- you feel his leg shift. Eruera lets out such a piercing shriek of agony that you let go of his leg in surprise, falling backwards onto the wet sand. But when you struggle back up, you see that Eruera's leg looks like it's straight again. Still horribly swollen, but straight.

Eruera himself lies flat on his back, panting in exhaustion. "Good... Good job, Tim... Tn koe..."
action: Splint leg
response: Working quickly, you brace Eruera's leg with the wood, tying the splint securely with scraps of tent fabric. Eruera hisses in pain as you pull, but also nods a quick jerk of approval through clenched teeth. You finish the knot.

Eruera tests the splint -- gingerly at first, but with more confidence as he sees how it holds up. "Good work, Tim!"
action: You talk to him
response: You walk up to Eruera where he lies near the pile of debris.

"Eruera, can I talk to you about..." He cuts you off with a wave of his hand and swallows painfully.

"Please, Tim. I'm so thirsty I can barely think. Please bring me some water first and then we can talk."

You take stock of your possessions and realize you don't have anything suitable. "OK, Eruera. I'll try to find something."

>"Eruera, could you just...." He interrupts again.

"Please, Tim. I need water badly. We can talk afterwards."
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a leaky bucket, currently empty
action: Look around
response: You stand on a thin strip of black sand lining the shallow curve of a bay to the east. A few seabirds fly overhead, and various clumps of driftwood, seaweed, and other shore debris litter the shore, the only visible evidence of the recent storm. A steep tumble of volcanic rock looms over the beach to the west and south, blocking travel in all directions except into the forest to the north.

Eruera lies on the sand here, alert but unable to move.
action: You examine the rock
response: A section of the volcanic cliffs has collapsed in huge chunks here, blocking travel to the west and south. In a few thousand years they'll likely wear away to more black sand.
action: Go northeast
response: The ground cover has been pushed aside by passing animals just enough to make this weaving trail the path of least resistance. There is a very tall kauri tree here, its thick roots snaking in and out of the ground. You can hear swiftly running water from somewhere off to the north. To the southwest you can see the forest lighten as it thins out, and the trail forks here, continuing to both the northeast and the north.

A small dinosaur, which stands no taller than your shin, is nearby. She raises her head to issue a warbling call that sounds remarkably like a bird's, while continuing to watch you out of the corner of her eye.

A shiny battery, apparently discarded or lost by someone, lies half-hidden by a pile of leaves that the female oviraptor is using as a nest.

[You've encountered an animal that may figure significantly in the story! This story gives you the ability to name such animals with the command NAME FEMALE OVIRAPTOR BOOPSIE (or any other name of your choice). When you do this, the game will use your new name for the animal in descriptions, and you can use that name in your commands as well. Try it!]
action: You look at the tree
response: This kauri is intimidatingly tall, punching through the forest canopy into the full sunlight. It's very wide -- maybe three feet in diameter -- and its flaky bark has piled up around the roots of the tree, killing the grass and other plants in a wide radius around the trunk.

[You've encountered an animal that may figure significantly in the story! This story gives you the ability to name such animals with the command NAME FEMALE OVIRAPTOR BOOPSIE (or any other name of your choice). When you do this, the game will use your new name for the animal in descriptions, and you can use that name in your commands as well. Try it!]
action: You name the female oviraptor dina
response: [Great! Now you can refer to the animal using your new name rather than its generic description. If you dislike the name, you can use the NAME command again to change it, or use UNNAME to remove it and revert to the generic description.]

You address the female oviraptor. "I'm going to call you 'Dina'."

Dina seems utterly disinterested.
action: You get the water
response: (using the bucket)
You dunk the bucket into the stream, and pull it up brimming with fresh water.

A thin stream of water drips to the ground as water leaks from the bucket.
action: You go south
response: The ground cover has been pushed aside by passing animals just enough to make this weaving trail the path of least resistance. There is a very tall kauri tree here, its thick roots snaking in and out of the ground. You can hear swiftly running water from somewhere off to the north. To the southwest you can see the forest lighten as it thins out, and the trail forks here, continuing to both the northeast and the north.

Dina, who stands no taller than your shin, is nearby. She stares at you with intense, beady eyes, tensed to spring away.

A shiny battery, apparently discarded or lost by someone, lies half-hidden by a pile of leaves that Dina is using as a nest.

The water in the bucket drips away as the level slowly falls.
action: Go southwest
response: Low bushy ferns give way to towering kauri trees here. Their delicate cones and thin, green leaves cast deeper shadows as the forest thickens to the northeast. A steep break in the cliff rock here leads southeast, down to the beach, and a faint animal trail leads into the forest to the northeast.

The water level in the bucket drops as the contents leak away.
action: You go southeast
response: The black sand beach transitions to stones and boulders here as the seashore lifts into the black cliffs. To the northwest a break in the volcanic stone leads upwards and into the depths of the forest. Where the water eddies at the north end of the beach a collection of light, floating junk has collected.

Shreds of what used to be a thick rope are here, washed up on the rocks at the north end of the beach and coated in black sand grains.

The water in the bucket drips away as the level slowly falls.
action: You go south
response: You stand on a thin strip of black sand lining the shallow curve of a bay to the east. A few seabirds fly overhead, and various clumps of driftwood, seaweed, and other shore debris litter the shore, the only visible evidence of the recent storm. A steep tumble of volcanic rock looms over the beach to the west and south, blocking travel in all directions except into the forest to the north.

Eruera lies on the sand here, alert but unable to move.

A thin stream of water drips to the ground as water leaks from the bucket.
action: You give the water to Eruera
response: (the fresh water to Eruera)
You approach Eruera as he lies on the beach.

"Eruera! I've got water for you!

You hold out the bucket. "Here's some water, Eruera."

Eruera sits up laboriously, takes the bucket from you, and tips it into his mouth. Water spills over his face as he drinks, and he closes his eyes in bliss. What seems like minutes later, he lowers the bucket. "Thank you, Tim. That's much better!"

He gathers strength for a minute, panting for air a bit after downing the water. Finally he beckons you closer. "Tim, I'm sure the cutter was attacked, and I'm pretty certain it was by poachers -- criminals who illegally sneak ashore to capture the taniwha and sell them abroad. I'm not completely certain where we are at the moment, but if I'm right there should be a Conservation Service station about thirty miles to the north."

He grins and spreads his hands. "Obviously I'm in no shape for such a trip through the bush, so it is going to fall to you to get to that station and get us some help. I'll try to answer any questions you have, and if you encounter anything unusual in the area you can always ask me about it."

He steels himself, then twists, reaches into the pile of debris, and pulls out a solid-looking metal case. A huge smile spreads over his face. "By blind luck, that crate we stumbled across in the ocean had a set of field radios in it. They were in a sealed case, and they're pretty rugged, so they should still work." He hands you one of the radios and shows you how to push the button to make a call. You try it out, and the radio works perfectly! "With these we should be able to keep in touch in the field! If you run into anything, just give me a call."

Having this link back to Eruera, even if he can't really get to you to help out, loosens up a tightness in your chest you weren't even aware you had.

(You could ask him about himself, the coastal cutter, the dinosaurs, Dina, the battery, Aotearoa, or your vision.)
action: You ask him about Dina
response: "Hey, Eruera?"

"Yes, Tim?"

"I ran into a little dinosaur -- it was only about as high as my knee, but it was pretty active and, well, aggressive."

"That was probably an oviraptor, Tim. There are several species of the little pests around here."

You shift a bit. "Are they dangerous?"

"Well, to small lizards, bugs, and eggs, sure. Not really to people, although they're protective and have a nasty bite."
action: You ask him about the vision
response: "When we were in the ocean -- before I made it to the crate -- I thought I saw my father, back before he died."

Eruera looks at you with interest. "You had a vision?"

"Yes, I was a little kid again, maybe five years old, and my dad was teaching me how to swim."

"Tim, in the Mori culture, such visions are not uncommon. It is often said that the wairua -- the soul -- of an ancestor can send visions of warning or guidance. Perhaps your father's wairua gave you strength as you struggled in the ocean."
action: You ask him about the battery
response: "I found something odd in a little dinosaur's nest. She wouldn't let me near it, but it's obviously a battery of some sort."

Eruera sits up and looks at you seriously. "Really? That's serious, Tim. "It's likely some trash from the same group of poachers that attacked us. I'd be very careful as you go through the forest. If they're that close, you'll need to be quite alert to avoid being spotted."
action: You ask him about the cutter
response: "I have to ask -- what happened to the cutter?"

"You won't believe this, Tim, but I think it was a ship-to-ship missile." Your look of incredulity must be immediately obvious. He smiles faintly and continues. "I am serious, Tim. There have always been groups of poachers raiding the Protected Lands to take the taniwha away and sell them. They make a great deal of money, and so there's been an ongoing arms race between them and the Conservation Service for years. These poachers are pretty good at hiding their camps, but when they're cornered or feel they can get away with it they usually have some pretty heavy weaponry."
action: You ask him about the dinosaurs
response: "What can you tell me about the dinosaurs that live here?"

Eruera shifts a bit, and there's a twinkle in his eye as he addresses you. "We really shouldn't waste time with this until we've secured rescue, but I know that's the main reason you came, and you haven't gotten your chance to see them yet, so I'll indulge your curiosity. In many ways, Tim, the taniwha are the living symbols of this whole nation. When the Mori first arrived in Aotearoa, they fought the taniwha simply to exist here. In those days, they covered the continent, for the most part, and weren't really willing to share it with humans."

"But eventually the Mori learned how to coexist with the taniwha, and even partially domesticate some of them. When the pkeh came, bringing guns and colonists and looking for land to clear and farm, the Mori
met their firearms with kairkau mounted on taniwha. Their mana was strong -- the British guns had some effect, but the bony plates on the taniwha's heads served as shields and made the riders difficult targets. The pkeh were unable to simply take Mori land, but they weren't willing to give up. Years of fighting ensued, until Pitiroi -- Robert FitzRoy -- was sent here from Great Britain and met with the great chiefs -- the rangatira -- and signed the Treaty of Waitangi."

"The Treaty established a permanent state of alliance between Great Britain and Aotearoa. Mori sovereignty was guaranteed, but the pkeh were granted rights and brought into the iwi, or family, of Aotearoa. Many speculate that if the taniwha had not existed, we might have ended up like the aboriginal people of the Australian or American colonies -- a broken people, stripped of their land and heritage."

"So the taniwha are vitally important to the Mori people, Tim. That is why we work so hard to protect them."
action: You ask him about Aotearoa
response: Which do you mean, 1) Aotearoa 4 Kids! or 2) Aotearoa?
action: 2
response: "I've read about Aotearoa, but I don't really know what it's like here. Could you tell me about it?"

Eruera chuckles. "That is a lot to cover, Tim. How about I just tell you how I see it? Aotearoa is home. It's not like we don't have problems here -- we have poverty and some pretty harsh political fights over taxes and resources and things like that, but so many things went right here that seemed to go wrong other places. We've kept our precious indigenous species safe -- we haven't had an extinction since the Laughing Owl back about a century ago. Race relations here are good compared with some -- well, most, really -- other former British colonies."

He leans back. "Let's leave it at that for now, OK?"
action: You ask him about the station
response: You walk up to Eruera where he lies near the pile of debris. "I'm sorry, Tim. I don't think I can help you much with that."

(You could ask him about himself, the captain, the poachers, your vision, or the Conservation Service.)
action: You ask him about  the poachers
response: "So, about these poachers. What should I expect?"

Eruera's face stills as he looks at you. "Be very careful, Tim. If the poachers are in your path, do everything you can to avoid contact with them. These men killed my brothers on the cutter in cold blood, to protect their profits from stealing the taniwha. The best you could hope for if you are caught would be to be held for ransom."
action: You ask him about Conservation Service
response: "So what is the Conservation Service like?"

Eruera frowns. "To work for, I'm guessing you mean? They're a good employer. I've not worked elsewhere, but I am told it's one of the better places within the government to work. More importantly, though, I see a great deal of Aotearoa the way the tkpuna did -- wild and unspoiled. And I feel like I'm doing my part to keep the mana of my homeland strong -- to protect the whenua rhui."
action: You ask him about Captain
response: "The captain -- I'm guessing he must be ... dead, right? Did you know him?"

Eruera shakes his head. "Captain Hunapo? Yes, I suppose he is dead, although if anyone else managed to survive it would probably be that old kak+ mrM. Too stubborn to admit he's dead, I don't doubt."

He sighs. "No, I'd known him by reputation -- a very skilled sailor, a long-time veteran of the Service, hell to work under -- but this was the first time I'd sailed with him."
action: Go north
response: As you leave, Eruera calls out to you. "Haere r and waimaria, Tim. Come back safely."

The black sand beach transitions to stones and boulders here as the seashore lifts into the black cliffs. To the northwest a break in the volcanic stone leads upwards and into the depths of the forest. Where the water eddies at the north end of the beach a collection of light, floating junk has collected.

Shreds of what used to be a thick rope are here, washed up on the rocks at the north end of the beach and coated in black sand grains.
action: You go to the north-west
response: Low bushy ferns give way to towering kauri trees here. Their delicate cones and thin, green leaves cast deeper shadows as the forest thickens to the northeast. A steep break in the cliff rock here leads southeast, down to the beach, and a faint animal trail leads into the forest to the northeast.
action: Go northeast
response: The ground cover has been pushed aside by passing animals just enough to make this weaving trail the path of least resistance. There is a very tall kauri tree here, its thick roots snaking in and out of the ground. You can hear swiftly running water from somewhere off to the north. To the southwest you can see the forest lighten as it thins out, and the trail forks here, continuing to both the northeast and the north.

Dina, who stands no taller than your shin, is nearby. She slowly moves from tree to tree, searching for something while always managing to keep you in view.

A shiny battery, apparently discarded or lost by someone, lies half-hidden by a pile of leaves that Dina is using as a nest.
action: You take the battery
response: Dina steps forward, lets out a violent hiss, and glares at you in rage as you approach her nest. You retreat empty-handed, not wanting to get bitten.
action: You examine Dina
response: Dina stands on her hind legs, her tiny head and sharp teeth about knee-high. Her front arms are short and clawed, making her look like a very miniature T-Rex, except for a smaller, almost birdlike head, and she has muted and dappled green and brown skin that makes her very hard to pick out of the undergrowth. She eyes you warily, unsure whether you're dangerous or not.
action: You examine the tree
response: This kauri is intimidatingly tall, punching through the forest canopy into the full sunlight. It's very wide -- maybe three feet in diameter -- and its flaky bark has piled up around the roots of the tree, killing the grass and other plants in a wide radius around the trunk.
action: Up
response: You approach the giant kauri and look up. It's impressively tall, and the first branches that look like they'd support your weight look like they could be almost thirty feet up. You begin to feel dizzy just thinking about trying to climb it. What if you fall? What if you get stuck?
action: You look at the nanakia
response: The nanakia looks kind of like a lemur, with spotted brown fur, delicate arms, and a long, thin tail. Her head is the big tipoff that she's not a lemur or a monkey -- two scooped ears that swivel around when she listens, beady yellow eyes, and a ratlike snout make it obvious that this creature has to be related to bats in some way. The nanakia stands on her hind legs on the far bank, watching you intently and mimicking your every move.

The nanakia watches you intently from across the stream. She notices you looking at her and gets very excited. She draws herself up to her full height, wiggles her handlike paws, and twitches her tail.
action: Name nanakia naginata
response: You address the nanakia, who draws herself up with a look of interest. "I'm going to call you 'Naginata'."

Naginata's eyes gleam, and she preens with the attention.
action: You ask the radio about Naginata
response: You can only do that to something animate.
action: You turn on radio
response: You click the transmitter. "Can I ask you a question, Eruera?"

"Sure, Tim. What would you like to talk about?"

Naginata watches you intently from across the river. She makes a few halfhearted motions, trying to imitate calling Eruera on the field radio, but quickly gives up and returns to watching you.

(You could ask him about himself, your vision, or your fear of heights.)
action: You ask Eruera about Naginata
response: "I'm sorry, Tim. I don't know much about that."

(You could ask him about himself, your vision, or your fear of heights.)
action: You ask him about the fear of the heights
response: "I wanted to ask you about... well... climbing."

"Climbing, Tim?"

"Yes. I've wanted to climb some of these trees -- I've even started to try -- but I just... Are they safe to climb?"

"Ah, I think I understand. The bark is smooth, yes? And the branches are high?"

"Yes! I've never climbed a tree like this before. They're so tall! If I slipped and fell, I might break a bone, or even get killed!"

Eruera is silent for a moment. "Well, Tim, I'm not sure what to tell you. I can't tell you it's completely safe, but I will say that Mori children often climb and play in trees much like these, and these are children younger than you, Tim. I feel certain that if you feel you need to climb a kauri, and you concentrate hard on what you are doing, that you will succeed."

Immediately your mind fills with an image of the young boy you saw when you imagined being back learning to swim with Dad, before the accident. But this time the young boy is scampering up a tall tree like a hairless monkey, grabbing handholds quickly and surely as he climbs. After reaching the lower branches, he turns to you and beckons, and somehow your fear lessens. It's still there, but somehow more manageable. Something you can master, rather than the other way around. The young boy smiles and the brief vision ends.

"Tim? Are you listening?"

You shake your head, back to reality. "Yes, Eruera," you say. "You know, I think I might be able to give this a try."

"You do? Very good! Take care and I'm sure you'll be fine."
action: Up
response: You release the transmitter as you walk, ending the conversation.

You are perched on a fairly thick branch of a kauri tree about thirty feet above the ground, which is about as high as you can climb, and higher than you feel truly comfortable with anyway. Above this level the bark is too smooth to climb, and you can't imagine trying to climb any higher even if it wasn't. The branch extends north out over the river. You take a moment to savor your victory -- you did it! You actually climbed all the way up to the low branches of a tall kauri tree! Sure, you were scared, but you did it anyway!

I wish that little Mori boy was here so I could thank him.

Across the river, you notice Naginata watching you climb with great interest. She hops onto what looks like a dead or dying kauri on the north bank, which appears to have some sort of major trunk damage near the ground. The nanakia scampers up the trunk to a branch, about at your level, that reaches south across the stream.
action: Go north
response: You carefully creep out along the branch as it sags more and more under your weight. Your deathgrip on the branch takes most of your attention, but out of the corner of your eye you see Naginata approaching you, moving out over the river on her branch. The damaged kauri's limb sags and creaks alarmingly even under the slight weight of Naginata. She doesn't seem the slightest bit concerned. You, however, come to the abrupt realization that you're hanging about thirty feet above a rushing stream in the middle of the Aotearoan bush, and decide to retreat to the trunk.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a field radio
a leaky bucket, currently empty

Naginata watches you intently from her perch on the branch across the stream. She watches you taking stock of your possessions, then starts looking at herself and patting her fur in a pretty good impersonation of you. Her search reveals a flea, which she pops in her mouth and crunches with gusto.
action: Look around
response: You are perched on a fairly thick branch of a kauri tree about thirty feet above the ground, which is about as high as you can climb, and higher than you feel truly comfortable with anyway. Above this level the bark is too smooth to climb, and you can't imagine trying to climb any higher even if it wasn't. The branch extends north out over the river.

Naginata stands on her hind legs on the far bank, watching you intently and mimicking your every move.
action: You hit yourself
response: That might hurt!
action: You take the bark
response: (the chunk of bark)
Taken.

Naginata watches you intently from across the stream. She notices you reaching for the chunk of bark and picks up a fairly heavy nearby rock, holding it with some difficulty in obvious mimicry.
action: You examine the bark
response: (the chunk of bark)
The bark is about a foot in diameter, thick and round, and there's a fair-sized blob of sticky sap or gum attached to it as well.

Naginata watches you intently from across the stream. She notices you looking at the chunk of bark and peers at it with exaggerated interest.
action: You fix the bucket with the bark
response: (the chunk of bark)
You can't fix the bucket with that.
action: You eat the bark
response: (the chunk of bark)
Eating that doesn't make sense.
action: You examine sap
response: You see nothing special about the blob of sticky gum.

Naginata watches you intently from across the stream. She notices you looking at the blob of sticky gum and peers at it with exaggerated interest.
action: You take the gum
response: You peel the gum from the bark, getting some on your hands in the process. It's very sticky.

Naginata watches you intently from across the stream. She notices you reaching for the blob of sticky gum, but since she already has a possession she just continues to watch you.
action: You fix the bucket with the gum
response: You push the sticky gum into the hole in the bucket, mashing it around with increasingly sticky fingers until you get a good seal. It looks like the leak is plugged!

Naginata watches you intently from across the river. She makes a few halfhearted motions, trying to imitate plugging the bucket with the blob of sticky gum, but quickly gives up and returns to watching you.
action: You fill the bucket
response: You dunk the bucket into the stream, and pull it up brimming with fresh water.

Naginata watches you intently from across the stream. She peers with interest at the sight of you filling the bucket with the stream. Although she lacks a bucket of her own, she moves to the water's edge and mimes scooping water out, shaking drops off her wet paws as she stands.
action: You go south
response: The ground cover has been pushed aside by passing animals just enough to make this weaving trail the path of least resistance. There is a very tall kauri tree here, its thick roots snaking in and out of the ground. You can hear swiftly running water from somewhere off to the north. To the southwest you can see the forest lighten as it thins out, and the trail forks here, continuing to both the northeast and the north.

Dina, who stands no taller than your shin, is nearby. She stares at you with intense, beady eyes, tensed to spring away.

A shiny battery, apparently discarded or lost by someone, lies half-hidden by a pile of leaves that Dina is using as a nest.
action: You show bucket to Dina
response: Dina looks at the bucket briefly, then turns away, uninterested.
action: You turn on the radio
response: You press the transmitter button. "Can I ask you a question, Eruera?"

"Sure, Tim. What would you like to talk about?"

(You could ask him about himself or your vision.)
action: Go northeast
response: You release the transmitter as you walk, ending the conversation.

Here a mountain stream reaches the headwall and plunges over. The water falls forty feet or so, splattering off a black rock ledge below before reforming and flowing into the ocean. The cliff is too sheer to descend on this side, but you can see that there's a rockfall just past the north bank that you might be able to scramble down -- if you could get to it.
action: You go southwest
response: The ground cover has been pushed aside by passing animals just enough to make this weaving trail the path of least resistance. There is a very tall kauri tree here, its thick roots snaking in and out of the ground. You can hear swiftly running water from somewhere off to the north. To the southwest you can see the forest lighten as it thins out, and the trail forks here, continuing to both the northeast and the north.

Dina, who stands no taller than your shin, is nearby. She raises her head to issue a warbling call that sounds remarkably like a bird's, while continuing to watch you out of the corner of her eye.

A shiny battery, apparently discarded or lost by someone, lies half-hidden by a pile of leaves that Dina is using as a nest.
action: Up
response: You approach the giant kauri and look up. It's impressively tall, and the first branches that look like they'd support your weight look like they could be almost thirty feet up. But you've seen this done; you know you can do it, and you force yourself to start climbing, not looking at the ground. You make some progress, but the bark gets your hands sticky with gum and tends to flake off at the same time, making climbing both dangerous and messy, and you head down again.
action: Describe the surroundings
response: The ground cover has been pushed aside by passing animals just enough to make this weaving trail the path of least resistance. There is a very tall kauri tree here, its thick roots snaking in and out of the ground. You can hear swiftly running water from somewhere off to the north. To the southwest you can see the forest lighten as it thins out, and the trail forks here, continuing to both the northeast and the north.

Dina, who stands no taller than your shin, is nearby. She slowly moves from tree to tree, searching for something while always managing to keep you in view.

A shiny battery, apparently discarded or lost by someone, lies half-hidden by a pile of leaves that Dina is using as a nest.
action: You pour the water on the nest
response: (first taking the fresh water)
(using the bucket)
There's nothing here to fill the bucket with.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a chunk of bark
a field radio
a bucket, repaired with a wad of kauri gum, which is full of some
fresh water
action: Things
response: Nearby are the fresh water, the chunk of bark, the bucket, the leafy nest, the tall kauri, Dina, the battery, the animal trails, the kauri forest, the ferns, the hole in the bucket, the blob of sticky gum, the field radio, and the call button.
action: You search the kauri
response: Which do you mean, the 1) kauri forest or the 2) tall kauri?
action: You give the bark to Dina
response: (the chunk of bark to Dina)
You hold the chunk of bark out to Dina, letting it fall to see whether it is interested in it.

Dropped.
action: You give the water to Dina
response: You hold the bucket out to Dina. Dina wants nothing to do with you, and doesn't even approach the bucket.
action: You take the bark
response: (the chunk of bark)
Taken.
action: Go south
response: The undergrowth is really thick in that direction. It's probably best to stick to the animal trails, faint as they are, to avoid getting lost or getting hurt walking over ground you can't really see.
action: Up
response: You are perched on a fairly thick branch of a kauri tree about thirty feet above the ground, which is about as high as you can climb, and higher than you feel truly comfortable with anyway. Above this level the bark is too smooth to climb, and you can't imagine trying to climb any higher even if it wasn't. The branch extends north out over the river.

Across the river, you notice Naginata watching you climb with great interest. She hops onto what looks like a dead or dying kauri on the north bank, juggling her rock to try to keep hold of it. Naginata's tree appears to have some sort of major trunk damage near the ground, but she ignores it and climbs up the trunk to a branch about at your level that reaches south across the stream.
action: You jump
response: Even the faintest thought of jumping from the tree makes you grip the trunk more tightly.
action: You look at the trunk
response: Nearby are Naginata, the fresh water, the chunk of bark, the bucket, the old kauri, the irregular kauri, the bark, the branch, the sharp rocks, the kauri forest, the ferns, the stream, the streambank, the hole in the bucket, the blob of sticky gum, the field radio, and the call button.

>(the irregular kauri)
The irregular kauri on the south side of the stream looks climbable, its rougher, more wavy bark offering you more footholds than most of this type of tree you've seen.

Naginata watches you intently from across the stream. She notices you looking at the irregular kauri and peers at it with exaggerated interest.
action: You look at the branch
response: The gnarled branch is about thirty feet up, but looks like it could support your weight. It extends a good way over the stream.

Naginata watches you intently from across the stream. She notices you looking at the branch and peers at it with exaggerated interest.
action: You throw the bark at Naginata
response: (the chunk of bark at Naginata)
You'd never be able to hit something that agile from all the way across the stream.
action: You put the bark on the tree
response: Which do you mean, the 1) irregular kauri or the 2) old kauri?
action: 2
response: (the chunk of bark on the old kauri)
Putting things on the old kauri would achieve nothing.
action: You cut the old kauri with bark
response: I only understood the first part of that-- trying anyway.

(retrying as if you'd typed "cut old.")
You can't cut that, since you can't reach it.
action: You cut the irregular kauri with the bark
response: I only understood the first part of that-- trying anyway.

(retrying as if you'd typed "cut irregular.")
Cutting that up would achieve little.
action: You look at the rocks
response: The slick, sharp rocks make trying to cross the stream on foot too dangerous.

Naginata watches you intently from across the stream. She notices you looking at the sharp rocks and peers at them with exaggerated interest.
action: You take rock
response: The last time you saw it, the tumble of volcanic rock was at Strand.
action: You look at the ferns
response: Ferns with fluffy leaves are found among the grasses on the ground, softening the sounds you hear.
action: You look at the trees
response: The tall, narrow cones of the kauri trees are striking, but several other species of broadleaf that you don't recognize are also scattered through the forest. Shorter fern-like plants fill much of the space between the larger trees, and a few different kinds of grass covers the ground. The scent of the recent rainfall combines with a strong piney fragrance from the trees -- it smells wonderful, but it's so sharp that it's all you can do not to sneeze.
action: You examine the cliff
response: The last time you saw it, the headwall was at Top of Falls.
action: Things
response: Nearby are the rope, the fresh water, the chunk of bark, the floating junk, the black volcanic cliffs, the bucket, the kauri forest, the ocean, the hole in the bucket, the blob of sticky gum, the field radio, and the call button.
action: You go south
response: You stand on a thin strip of black sand lining the shallow curve of a bay to the east. A few seabirds fly overhead, and various clumps of driftwood, seaweed, and other shore debris litter the shore, the only visible evidence of the recent storm. A steep tumble of volcanic rock looms over the beach to the west and south, blocking travel in all directions except into the forest to the north.

Eruera lies under a makeshift debris shelter a ways up the beach, relatively calm and alert.
action: You examine Eruera
response: Eruera is dry and resting in a makeshift debris shelter that he's scraped together, making the best of his limited mobility. He looks about as comfortable as he's going to get without serious medical attention, and there's a quiet calm in his dark face that you're pretty sure you wouldn't be able to find if you were in his position.
action: You examine the cliff
response: The last time you saw it, the headwall was at Top of Falls.
action: You take the rock
response: That's hardly portable.
action: Things
response: Nearby are Eruera, the fresh water, the chunk of bark, the splint, Eruera's broken left leg, the driftwood, the seaweed, the debris, the tumble of volcanic rock, the seabird, the bucket, the kauri forest, the ocean, the hole in the bucket, the blob of sticky gum, the field radio, and the call button.
action: You look at the driftwood
response: You pick through the piles of driftwood. One stick looks both straight and strong, and you set it aside.
action: You look at the stick
response: A straight piece of green tree branch, thin and flexible.
action: You show the stick to Dina
response: Dina looks at the stick briefly, then turns away, uninterested.
action: You throw the stick
response: Dropped.
action: Go northeast
response: Here a mountain stream reaches the headwall and plunges over. The water falls forty feet or so, splattering off a black rock ledge below before reforming and flowing into the ocean. The cliff is too sheer to descend on this side, but you can see that there's a rockfall just past the north bank that you might be able to scramble down -- if you could get to it.
action: You examine the rockfall
response: A loose tumble of rocks from a collapsed section of the cliff face. It looks as though you could climb it, if you could get to the north bank.
action: You look at the water
response: (the fresh water)
There's some fresh water sloshing around in the bucket.
action: Things
response: Nearby are the stick, the fresh water, the chunk of bark, the bucket, the headwall, the basalt ledge, the rockfall, the kauri forest, the ferns, the ocean, the stream, the streambank, the hole in the bucket, the blob of sticky gum, the field radio, and the call button.
action: You examine the stream
response: The fast-moving stream falls steeply from the mountains to the west and flows generally southeast. Although it's not particularly wide, the fast current and rapids make it far too dangerous to try to wade or swim across.
action: You examine the headwall
response: The stream plunges straight over the sheer cliff. Even a quick look confirms that it's far too slick and sheer to attempt to climb down from here.
action: You examine the ledge
response: The ledge is a narrow outcrop of dark, volcanic stone that serves to break the falling stream into an impressive spray before it reaches the bottom of the falls.
action: Exits
response: The only obvious exit is southwest.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a stick
a chunk of bark
a field radio
a bucket, repaired with a wad of kauri gum, which is full of some
fresh water

Naginata watches you intently from across the stream. She watches you taking stock of your possessions, then starts looking at herself and patting her fur in a pretty good impersonation of you. Her search reveals an unidentifiable bit of something, which she pops in her mouth and crunches with gusto.
action: Rename Naginata to Nagi
response: You address the Nanakia, who draws herself up with a look of interest. "I'm going to call you 'To Nagi'."

To Nagi's eyes gleam, and she preens with the attention.
action: Rename naginata nagi
response: You address the Nanakia, who draws herself up with a look of interest. "I'm going to call you 'Nagi'."

Nagi's eyes gleam, and she preens with the attention.
action: You turn on the radio
response: You click the transmitter. "Can I ask you a question, Eruera?"

"Sure, Tim. What would you like to talk about?"

Nagi watches you intently from across the river. She makes a few halfhearted motions, trying to imitate calling Eruera on the field radio, but quickly gives up and returns to watching you.

(You could ask him about himself, the stream, or your vision.)
action: You ask Eruera about Nanakia
response: "I'm sorry, Tim. I don't think I can help you much with that."

(You could ask him about himself, the stream, or your vision.)
action: You ask Eruera about the stream
response: "There's a stream up north, a little way past the ridge."

"Yes, you'll likely encounter several such streams on your journey north. Take care, it can sometimes be difficult to cross safely."
action: You ask Eruera about the vision
response: "There was something else in my vision -- a young boy about my age that looked like he could have been Mori. He encouraged me when I had trouble swimming the first time."

Eruera clicks his tongue and sounds more interested. "Did he now? The tohunga ahurewa, back in my village, would say you may have had a vision of Mui." He pauses for a second. "I didn't see your vision, so
I wouldn't know. But certainly a vision of Mui is no bad thing."
action: Keep going
response: "About my vision..."

Eruera interrupts you as you start talking. "It is certainly very interesting, what you saw. But we must focus on the goal of getting you up north, to the station. After that we can talk more on this subject."
action: You ask Eruera about the kauri
response: Which do you mean, the 1) irregular kauri, the 2) tall kauri, or the 3) kauri forest?
action: 1
response: (the irregular kauri)
"I'm sorry, Tim. I don't know much about that."

(You could ask him about himself or Mui.)
action: You ask about mui
response: Though you're talking to Eruera, you can't physically reach him.

"I'm sorry, Tim. I don't think I can help you much with that."

(You could ask him about himself or Mui.)
action: You ask Eruera about Mui
response: Though you're talking to Eruera, you can't physically reach him.

"I'm sorry, Tim. I don't know much about that."

(You could ask him about himself or Mui.)
action: You ask Eruera about himself
response: (himself)
"Could you tell me a little about yourself?"

Eruera pauses for a moment, as if surprised by the question. "Sure, Tim... Hmmm, where to start? I grew up in Kkarauri, a small village on the west coast. My family was large -- I had five brothers and sisters. We were poor -- Kkarauri is not prosperous, and my parents were not well educated. I took advantage of a government scholarship program to go to college, and it required me to join the ADF -- the army -- for four years. The poacher problem on the coasts was getting bad at the time, so I spent two of those years on detached duty with the Conservation Service."

"Those first couple years were hardly as exciting as the events of the last few hours, but they were enough to make me see that I wanted to stay in. When my duty to the ADF was discharged, I signed up with the Conservation Service full-time."

You can hear the smile in his voice. "Twelve more years and here we are."
action: You look at the rock
response: The last time you saw it, the tumble of volcanic rock was at Strand.
action: You check your inventory
response: You are carrying:
a stick
a chunk of bark
a field radio
a bucket, repaired with a wad of kauri gum, which is full of some
fresh water

Nagi watches you intently from across the stream. She watches you taking stock of your possessions, then starts looking at herself and patting her fur in a pretty good impersonation of you. Her search reveals a burr, which she pops in her mouth and crunches with gusto.
action: You ascend
response: You release the transmitter as you walk, ending the conversation.

You are perched on a fairly thick branch of a kauri tree about thirty feet above the ground, which is about as high as you can climb, and higher than you feel truly comfortable with anyway. Above this level the bark is too smooth to climb, and you can't imagine trying to climb any higher even if it wasn't. The branch extends north out over the river.

Across the river, you notice Nagi watching you climb with great interest. She hops onto what looks like a dead or dying kauri on the north bank, juggling her rock to try to keep hold of it. Nagi's tree appears to have some sort of major trunk damage near the ground, but she ignores it and climbs up the trunk to a branch about at your level that reaches south across the stream.
action: Go north
response: You carefully creep out along the branch as it sags more and more under your weight. Your deathgrip on the branch takes most of your attention, but out of the corner of your eye, you see Nagi approaching you, moving out over the river on her branch, cradling her rock with one arm. The damaged kauri sags and creaks dangerously under the weight of Nagi and her rock, but she seems oblivious to the danger.

Suddenly, her branch gives way! No, wait! It's the tree itself! The rotted section near the ground splinters under the leverage of both Nagi and her rock. Quickly, she dumps the rock and leaps back toward the trunk, but the tree is already falling! She sprints down the trunk towards the ground, and manages to jump off right before impact. She tumbles into a pile of debris and vanishes for a moment before popping out, shaking leaves and dirt off herself, and looking up at you with a gleam in her eye. You retreat backwards, closer to the trunk.
action: You descend
response: You stand at the south bank of a stream rushing down from the western mountains. The water flows over a tumble of rocks and its level drops steeply here, cutting into the ground and leaving steep, raw slopes on either side. An old, dead kauri tree has fallen across the stream here, its straight trunk making a narrow bridge to the north side.

As you reach the ground, the nanakia pops her head up from of a tangle of underbrush and peeps out at you, beady eyes sparkling.
action: Go north
response: You step out onto the fallen tree, balancing carefully with arms outstretched, walking slowly across the flowing water. The nanakia scampers onto the trunk as well, then raises herself to stand on her hind feet, splays her front paws out to the sides, and waddles forward in a surprisingly good impersonation of you. As you near each other, the nanakia drops back to all fours...

And then springs at you, scampering up your chest to your shoulder, where she perches as if she belongs there.

You immediately twist away in panic, but you can't go too crazy, because you're more afraid of falling off the log and into the river. In a moment, you realize Nagi isn't hurting you, and you try to relax and slow your heartbeat down again. Well, I guess I've made a new friend!
action: You go to the north
response: This is the north bank of the cascading stream. Water tumbles over rocks as it rushes through the forest down towards the shore. To the east, a shallow slope of rocks and debris leads down further into the forest, away from the western mountains. A relatively straight, dead kauri tree has fallen across the stream here, bridging the banks and allowing you to cross to the south.

Nagi scampers off to your side, curious to see what adventures you have planned next.

After touching your feet on the north side of the stream, you can't help pulling out the field radio and placing a call. "Eruera! I made it across the stream! Nagi -- sorry, that's a nanakia that I found -- was copying everything I did, so I got it to pick up a rock and climb up a dying tree on the far bank. The weight was just enough to make it tip over and fall across the stream!"

Eruera chuckles. "Very good, Tim! I'm not sure I followed all that, but I'm pleased you're making progress!"

"Me too! I actually climbed a tree on my side of the stream -- that was how I got Nagi to climb too!"
action: You examine the debris
response: The slope consists of small rock fragments and forest debris, falling away from the top of the small valley carved by the stream.

Nagi watches you, showing her interest by her twitching tail and unblinking stare. She notices you looking at the scree slope and peers at it with exaggerated interest.
action: Exits
response: The obvious exits are south and east.
action: Pet nagi
response: You reach over to pet Nagi, who preens happily.
action: You go east
response: To the west, a very shallow slope of mixed scree and debris leads up to the bank of the mountain stream. At the bottom, where you stand, the forest thickens again, with faint animal trails leading north into the deeper forest and east towards the thinner trees that line the coast. By keeping close to the streambank, you could also manage to follow the water southeast down toward the shore.

A large boulder stands out from the rest of the mixed rock and debris. It's remarkable for being particularly round.

Nagi saunters along in your wake, curious to see what you're up to.
action: You examine the boulder
response: A surprisingly round boulder, resting on the forest floor.

Nagi watches you, her interest indicated by her tilted head and fixed gaze. She notices you looking at the boulder and peers at it with exaggerated interest.
action: You look at the debris
response: The slope consists of small rock fragments and forest debris, falling away from the top of the small valley carved by the stream.

Nagi watches you, curiosity evident from her twitching tail and unblinking stare. She notices you looking at the scree slope and peers at it with exaggerated interest.
action: You go to the southeast
response: You walk parallel to the stream, then scramble down a rockfall that cuts through the cliff edge. You climb down as far as you can go, stopping at a deep ledge of dark rock that is slick with spray from the stream falling over the headwall above.

The falling stream splashes off a ledge of black volcanic rock here, filling the air with a haze of cool, fine droplets that weave the sunlight into a glory -- a circular rainbow -- about your head. There's only a small pool at the base of the falls -- the overflowing water spills over the lip and flows the short distance into the ocean.

Nagi scampers off to your side, curious to see what adventures you have planned next.
action: You examine the pool
response: The falling water has hollowed out a small depression in the rock, which has filled with water before it overflows into the ocean. It's likely only a foot or two deep at most.

Nagi watches you, showing her interest by her perked ears and unconscious chittering. She notices you looking at the small pool and peers at it with exaggerated interest.
action: Taste pool
response: The small pool tastes pretty much exactly as you might expect.

Nagi watches you, her interest indicated by her twitching tail and fixed gaze. She approaches, clearly hoping to share in whatever it is you've found that's tasty. After seeing what it is that you're tasting, however, she retreats, her yellow eyes downcast.
action: You look at the ledge
response: The ledge is a narrow outcrop of dark, volcanic stone that serves to break the falling stream into an impressive spray before it reaches the bottom of the falls.

Nagi watches you, curiosity evident from her tilted head and unconscious chittering. She notices you looking at the basalt ledge and peers at it with exaggerated interest.
action: Things
response: Nearby are the stick, Nagi, the fresh water, the chunk of bark, the bucket, the basalt ledge, the glory, the small pool, the waterfall, the rockfall, the ferns, the ocean, the stream, the streambank, the hole in the bucket, the blob of sticky gum, the field radio, and the call button.
action: You examine the glory
response: The glory is a circular rainbow that surrounds your head as you stand in the cloud of mist with the sun shining on you. You've heard about this phenomenon before, but never seen it. Time seems to slow as you stand transfixed, watching the colorful halo spread around you. A sense of peace and reassurance and confidence fills you as you turn your head from side to side and watch the play of light.

Nagi watches you, showing her interest by her perked ears and unblinking stare. She notices you looking at the glory and peers at it with exaggerated interest.
action: You wear the glory
response: (first taking the glory)
You can't take that since you can't even reach it.
action: You turn on the radio
response: You press the transmitter button. "Can I ask you a question, Eruera?"

"Sure, Tim. What would you like to talk about?"

Nagi watches you intently. She makes a few halfhearted motions, trying to imitate calling Eruera on the field radio, but quickly gives up and returns to watching you.

(You could ask him about the glory or Mui.)
action: You ask Eruera about the glory
response: "While I was exploring on the far side of the stream, I came across a waterfall. When I stood there I saw a circular rainbow surrounding my head."

"You saw a glory? Exciting! Those are quite rare -- the conditions need to be just right and it's still not very predictable when you'll see it and when you won't."

You fidget a bit. "Well, yes, it was really pretty, but there was something else. I seemed to feel a sense of calmness or confidence while I was standing there."

Eruera chuckles. "Well, that's a good sign, Tim. The niwaniwa can be a very good omen in Mori tradition, particularly when it is strong and unbroken. And a glory is about as unbroken as it gets."
action: You ask Eruera about the niwaniwa
response: Though you're talking to Eruera, you can't physically reach him.

"I'm sorry, Tim. I don't think I can help you much with that."

(You could ask him about the glory or Mui.)
action: You look at your surroundings
response: The falling stream splashes off a ledge of black volcanic rock here, filling the air with a haze of cool, fine droplets that weave the sunlight into a glory -- a circular rainbow -- about your head. There's only a small pool at the base of the falls -- the overflowing water spills over the lip and flows the short distance into the ocean.

Nagi is nearby, scratching happily and waiting for you to do something more interesting.
action: Swim
response: To swim, you should specify to where you are swimming: SWIM TO BOAT or something similar.
action: You go upwards
response: You release the transmitter as you walk, ending the conversation.

To the west, a very shallow slope of mixed scree and debris leads up to the bank of the mountain stream. At the bottom, where you stand, the forest thickens again, with faint animal trails leading north into the deeper forest and east towards the thinner trees that line the coast. By keeping close to the streambank, you could also manage to follow the water southeast down toward the shore.

A large boulder stands out from the rest of the mixed rock and debris. It's remarkable for being particularly round.

Nagi saunters along behind you, curious to see what you're going to do next.
action: Go east
response: The forest thins rapidly here as you approach the coast. It looks as though you could probably travel in the clear, walking parallel to the coast, and you'd go quite a bit faster if you did. A very narrow animal trail leads west.

Nagi scampers off to your side, curious to see what you're up to.
action: Go northeast
response: You head off across the field toward the coast, happy to no longer have to push through the buggy undergrowth of the forest. You get maybe fifty yards away from the treeline when you hear human voices and the rumbling sounds of a truck engine to the northeast. The voices seem to be arguing.

There's no way this could be the station -- there's no tower! But if it isn't a Conservation Service station...

You freeze, very conscious of how exposed you are, and desperately hope no one pokes their head over the slight ridge between you and their camp, which must be just out of sight to the northeast. All of a sudden the field radio squawks to life. "Tim? How's it going?"

Horrified, you drop to the ground and fumble for the radio, then hiss back. "Quiet for now -- someone's close!" You listen very carefully. The argument seems to have stopped, but you can't tell if that's because they heard you or if they resolved things themselves. Slowly, you creep back to the safety of the trees, and when you are confident you're screened from view you call Eruera back.

"OK, we can talk now."

Eruera responds quickly. "Tim, what was that?"

"I'm positive the poacher camp is just over a hill, not very far to the northeast. I could hear engines and loud voices."

Eruera's voice sounds very strained. "I beg you, take great care, Tim. I'm sorry it has to be you making this journey, but you must stay away from these men. Stick to the bush and keep heading north."

"OK, Eruera. Not a problem. I don't want to be caught by these guys either."

"Good luck, Tim. Stay safe." You stand still for a moment, breathing hard, trying to calm back down. But no one is coming, so you seem to be safe for now.
action: You go west
response: To the west, a very shallow slope of mixed scree and debris leads up to the bank of the mountain stream. At the bottom, where you stand, the forest thickens again, with faint animal trails leading north into the deeper forest and east towards the thinner trees that line the coast. By keeping close to the streambank, you could also manage to follow the water southeast down toward the shore.

A large boulder stands out from the rest of the mixed rock and debris. It's remarkable for being particularly round.

Nagi saunters along behind you, curious to see what adventures you have planned next.
action: Go north
response: The trail descends into a hollow here, free of trees. Centered in the valley floor is a large mound of volcanic rock, venting what looks like smoke or steam from a fumarole on top. The surrounding rock is riddled with cracks, crevices, and fissures, and hidden in one of the larger depressions is a very large bird's nest, which doesn't look completely intact. The forest trail leads upslope to both the north and south.

A huge flightless bird steps back and forth around her nest in agitation. She looks like she's at least twice your height -- maybe three times! She can't be anything but a nesting moa.

Nagi scampers in your wake, curious to see what you're going to do next.

After looking around, you decide this location is worth asking Eruera about, so you pull out the field radio and place a call. "Eruera, I've stumbled across a pretty strange area."

"Could you describe it, Tim?"

"Well, there's kind of a mini-volcano in the middle of a clearing here..."

Eruera interrupts you, sounding amused. "Well, it probably is! There is a great deal of volcanic activity all over Aotearoa, and it certainly wouldn't be unusual to run across hot springs or a fumarole."

"Oh! I didn't know they were that common. Are they safe?"

"Reasonably. Don't go jumping into one, but most of the time these aren't particularly active. They might lead to hot rock, somewhere below, but around here there's not much risk of a full-scale eruption."

"OK, thanks." You eye the moa as it paces back and forth, then click the transmitter again. "Um, Eruera? I had one more question. Can a moa be dangerous?"

"Ah! There's a moa there? Well, I'm sure if you ran right up to it you'd probably get attacked, but they're usually pretty cautious of people. As long as you keep a reasonable distance from it, you should be fine."

You continue watching the moa, which still seems to be staying near its nest. "OK, thanks again!"

"No problem, Tim. Good luck!"

The moa hops back and forth, obviously agitated.
action: You examine the moa
response: The moa has reddish-brown feathers with white tips, and her small head sits on top of a long neck that's probably as tall as you are. Her eyes, tiny, expressionless black beads, flick around the area but always seem to return to the large crevice in the mound of rock.

Nagi watches you, her interest indicated by her twitching tail and unconscious chittering. She notices you looking at the moa and peers at her with exaggerated interest.

The moa paces, fretful and silent.
action: You examine the nest
response: An enormous, flat nest of assorted grass and plant leaves sits close to the volcanic mound, likely in order to keep it warm. A shiny, yellow-colored object -- obviously not an egg -- rests on the nest. Upon closer examination, it looks like it could be a GPS unit.

Nagi watches you, curiosity evident from her perked ears and fixed gaze. She notices you looking at the flat nest and peers at it with exaggerated interest.

The moa hops back and forth, obviously agitated.
action: You look at the gps unit
response: I only understood the first part of that-- trying anyway.

(retrying as if you'd typed "x gps.")
You try to approach closely enough to look at the GPS, but the moa squawks and buffets you with her wings. Since she's almost three times as tall as you, you back away quickly.

Nagi watches you, her interest indicated by her twitching tail and unblinking stare. She notices you looking at the GPS and peers at it with exaggerated interest.

The moa makes a plaintive crooning sound while bobbing her head at the crevice.
action: You turn on the radio
response: You click the transmitter. "Can I ask you a question, Eruera?"

"Sure, Tim. What would you like to talk about?"

Nagi watches you intently. She makes a few halfhearted motions, trying to imitate calling Eruera on the field radio, but quickly gives up and returns to watching you.

The moa paces, fretful and silent.

(You could ask him about the glory, the GPS, the egg, or Mui.)
action: You ask Eruera about eps
response: Though you're talking to Eruera, you can't physically reach him.

"I'm sorry, Tim. I don't know much about that."

(You could ask him about the glory, the GPS, the egg, or Mui.)

The moa hops back and forth, obviously agitated.
action: You ask Eruera about the egg
response: "I mentioned the moa I saw across the stream. Well, it has an egg that apparently rolled off the nest and ended up stuck in a crevice in some volcanic rock. It can't get it out and I can't figure out how to do it either. It's too deep for me to reach."

Eruera sounds thoughtful. "Well, you wouldn't want to try to lever it out -- it might break." He thinks for a while longer. "I'm sure there's a way you can do it -- maybe more than one -- I'm just not thinking straight right now."

The moa makes a plaintive crooning sound while bobbing her head at the crevice.
action: You look at the egg
response: A moa egg, dappled and speckled like the face of the full Moon, and large enough and heavy enough to require two hands to carry.

Nagi watches you, curiosity evident from her tilted head and fixed gaze. She notices you looking at the egg and peers at it with exaggerated interest.

The moa paces, fretful and silent.
action: You examine the volcano
response: The black, congealed lava of the volcanic mound has a relatively mild slope. It vents steam or smoke from a number of fissures. Notable among these are a deep crack high up on the formation, and a large crevice near the ground. There's also a sizable fumarole on top -- a circular hole about two or three feet in diameter.

Nagi watches you, her interest indicated by her twitching tail and unblinking stare. She notices you looking at the mound of volcanic rock and peers at it with exaggerated interest.

The moa makes a plaintive crooning sound while bobbing her head at the crevice.
action: You look at the crevice
response: One of the crevices is particularly large, and slopes down gently into the mass of cooled lava. You can't tell for sure, but there appears to be something wedged down inside it. You peer closer -- it's an egg!

The moa hops back and forth, obviously agitated.
action: You examine the fumarole
response: The fumarole is a hole about as large as the circle your arms can make, located at the top of the mound of volcanic rock.

Nagi watches you, showing her interest by her tilted head and fixed gaze. She notices you looking at the fumarole and peers at it with exaggerated interest.

The moa makes a plaintive crooning sound while bobbing her head at the crevice.
action: You go south
response: You release the transmitter as you walk, ending the conversation.

To the west, a very shallow slope of mixed scree and debris leads up to the bank of the mountain stream. At the bottom, where you stand, the forest thickens again, with faint animal trails leading north into the deeper forest and east towards the thinner trees that line the coast. By keeping close to the streambank, you could also manage to follow the water southeast down toward the shore.

A large boulder stands out from the rest of the mixed rock and debris. It's remarkable for being particularly round.

Nagi saunters along behind you, curious to see what adventures you have planned next.
action: You plug the fumarole with the boulder
response: That doesn't seem to be something you can fix.

The moa makes a plaintive crooning sound while bobbing her head at the crevice.
action: You look at the nest
response: An enormous, flat nest of assorted grass and plant leaves sits close to the volcanic mound, likely in order to keep it warm. A shiny, yellow-colored object -- obviously not an egg -- rests on the nest. Upon closer examination, it looks like it could be a GPS unit.

Nagi watches you, her interest indicated by her twitching tail and unblinking stare. She notices you looking at the flat nest and peers at it with exaggerated interest.

The moa makes a plaintive crooning sound while bobbing her head at the crevice.
action: You take the gps
response: You move forward to take the GPS, only to be intercepted by the moa, who fixes you with a flat, unmoving glare. She opens her beak, makes a threatening sound, and advances a step. You slowly retreat.

The moa hops back and forth, obviously agitated.
action: Go north
response: The narrow forest trail opens onto a small clearing here, where the kauri gives way to unhealthy-looking ferns and thin, yellowish grass. The trail leaves the clearing to both north and south.

A folded sheet of what looks like notebook paper lies wedged up against a tree root at the edge of the clearing.

A small dinosaur similar to the one you saw before stands here. He opens his mouth to let out a tentative hiss.

Nagi scampers behind you, curious to see what adventures you have planned next.

Abruptly, the male oviraptor hisses threateningly at Nagi, stomping back and forth in an exaggerated threat display that's as earnest as it is ridiculous. Nagi seems unfazed.
action: You take the paper
response: You retrieve the paper, unfold it, and discover that it's a map!

Nagi watches you, showing her interest by her tilted head and fixed gaze. She notices you reaching for the map, but apparently she's decided she's had enough of carrying things around for now, as she just watches you calmly.

With a sudden lunge, the male oviraptor screeches at Nagi, rearing and skittering back towards the safety of a tree. Nagi makes a noise that sounds suspiciously like a laugh.
action: You go south
response: The trail descends into a hollow here, free of trees. Centered in the valley floor is a large mound of volcanic rock, with a large boulder plugging up a fumarole on top. The surrounding rock is riddled with cracks, crevices, and fissures, and hidden in one of the larger depressions is a very large bird's nest, which doesn't look completely intact. The forest trail leads upslope to both the north and south.

A huge flightless bird steps back and forth around her nest in agitation. She looks like she's at least twice your height -- maybe three times! She can't be anything but a nesting moa.

Nagi saunters along in your wake, curious to see what you're up to.

The moa makes a plaintive crooning sound while bobbing her head at the crevice.
action: You examine map
response: A rough sketch shows the surrounding area of coastline, from the brook in the south to something marked as "camp" along the coast to the north. They've also marked a path northwest from "camp" to a location marked with an "X" and the label "dinos". The map has little tree shapes surrounding the "X".

At the bottom of the map are two sets of GPS coordinates, written in terrible handwriting:

Camp: 46? 11' 97" S, 179? 12' 81" W
Dinos: 46? 10' 58" S, 179? 12' 33" W.

Nagi watches you, curiosity evident from her twitching tail and unblinking stare. She notices you looking at the map and peers at it with exaggerated interest.

The moa paces, fretful and silent.
action: You turn on the radio
response: You press the transmitter button. "Can I ask you a question, Eruera?"

"Sure, Tim. What would you like to talk about?"

Nagi watches you intently. She makes a few halfhearted motions, trying to imitate calling Eruera on the field radio, but quickly gives up and returns to watching you.

The moa makes a plaintive crooning sound while bobbing her head at the crevice.

(You could ask him about the glory, the GPS, the map, or Mui.)
action: You tell Eruera about the map
response: "Eruera, I've got what looks like a map of the area."

"Can you describe it to me, Tim?"

"Sure -- it has what looks like a sketch of the forest, and there are two places marked with what look like latitude and longitude. One says 'camp' and the other says 'dinos'".

Eruera is silent for a moment as he thinks. "It certainly sounds like a map that poachers might have made, Tim. No way of telling if they're the same ones that got our ship, but it seems reasonable. The 'dinos' entry sounds like they've located a group of taniwha, and I think 'camp' is pretty self-explanatory. If you can, try to go wide around that camp."

The moa paces, fretful and silent.
action: You open the crevice with stick
response: That doesn't seem to be something you can unlock.

The moa makes a plaintive crooning sound while bobbing her head at the crevice.
action: You take the egg
response: You can't quite reach the moa egg with your hand, even wedging yourself into the crevice up to your shoulder.

The moa hops back and forth, obviously agitated.
action: You take the egg with the stick
response: You reach the stick carefully into the crevice and prod at the egg, but the opening is just too narrow to get much leverage and you can't quite lever it out.

The moa makes a plaintive crooning sound while bobbing her head at the crevice.
action: You take the egg with the bark
response: You try to figure out a way to use the chunk of bark to retrieve the egg, but come up blank, so you just decide to take the direct approach.

You quickly check to see if the egg has shifted any, but it's still just out of your direct reach.

The moa paces, fretful and silent.
action: You examine the volcano
response: The black, congealed lava of the volcanic mound has a relatively mild slope. It vents steam or smoke from a number of fissures. Notable among these are a deep crack high up on the formation, and a large crevice near the ground. There's also a sizable fumarole on top -- a circular hole about two or three feet in diameter.

Nagi watches you, her interest indicated by her perked ears and fixed gaze. She notices you looking at the mound of volcanic rock and peers at it with exaggerated interest.

The moa hops back and forth, obviously agitated.
action: You look at the crack
response: This opening in the mound is no more than a small fissure or crack. It's situated higher up on the rock formation and looks quite deep, but it's much narrower than the large crevice.

Nagi watches you, showing her interest by her twitching tail and unconscious chittering. She notices you looking at the volcanic crack and peers at it with exaggerated interest.

The moa paces, fretful and silent.
action: You put the stick in the crack
response: The crack is very small. It won't fit.

The moa makes a plaintive crooning sound while bobbing her head at the crevice.
action: You look in the crack
response: You find nothing of interest.

The moa hops back and forth, obviously agitated.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a map
a stick
a chunk of bark
a field radio
a bucket, repaired with a wad of kauri gum, which is full of some
fresh water

Nagi watches you, her interest indicated by her tilted head and fixed gaze. She watches you taking stock of your possessions, then starts looking at herself and patting her fur in a pretty good impersonation of you. Her search reveals a flea, which she pops in her mouth and crunches with gusto.

The moa hops back and forth, obviously agitated.
action: You plug the crack
response: That doesn't seem to be something you can fix.

The moa makes a plaintive crooning sound while bobbing her head at the crevice.
action: You touch the crack
response: You feel nothing unexpected.

Nagi watches you, showing her interest by her twitching tail and unblinking stare. She approaches with caution, touching the volcanic crack as well, then looks at you.

The moa hops back and forth, obviously agitated.
action: You pour water in the crack
response: You pour the water from the bucket into the crack in the side of the volcanic mound. The water drains inside. Shortly thereafter, a puff of steam blasts back out the crevice, propelling the egg along with it and rolling it just outside the mouth of the crevice. The moa darts forward as the last of the water drains, snatching the egg away with a triumphant squawk! She carries the egg back to the nest and places it there gently, flipping the GPS aside into the surrounding grass without a second glance.

Nagi watches you, her interest indicated by her tilted head and unconscious chittering. She's fascinated by the pouring action and starts to jump around in excitement.

Nagi looks at you curiously. She seems to be impressed.
action: You take the gps
response: Taken.

Nagi watches you, showing her interest by her twitching tail and fixed gaze. She notices you reaching for the GPS, but apparently she's decided she's had enough of carrying things around for now, as she just watches you calmly.
action: You examine GPS
response: The GPS is bright yellow and labeled with the brand name "Amring". It's a very simple model, with just a single button to display coordinates. You push the button and nothing happens. Apparently the GPS is out of power.

Nagi watches you, her interest indicated by her tilted head and unconscious chittering. She notices you looking at the GPS and peers at it with exaggerated interest.
action: You go to the south
response: You release the transmitter as you walk, ending the conversation.

To the west, a very shallow slope of mixed scree and debris leads up to the bank of the mountain stream. At the bottom, where you stand, the forest thickens again, with faint animal trails leading north into the deeper forest and east towards the thinner trees that line the coast. By keeping close to the streambank, you could also manage to follow the water southeast down toward the shore.

Nagi ambles along off to your side, curious to see what adventures you have planned next.
action: You go west
response: This is the north bank of the cascading stream. Water tumbles over rocks as it rushes through the forest down towards the shore. To the east, a shallow slope of rocks and debris leads down further into the forest, away from the western mountains. A relatively straight, dead kauri tree has fallen across the stream here, bridging the banks and allowing you to cross to the south.

Nagi saunters along in your wake, curious to see what you're going to do next.
action: You go south
response: You stand at the south bank of a stream rushing down from the western mountains. The water flows over a tumble of rocks and its level drops steeply here, cutting into the ground and leaving steep, raw slopes on either side. An old, dead kauri tree has fallen across the stream here, its straight trunk making a narrow bridge to the north side.

Nagi scampers off to your side, curious to see what you're up to.

Suddenly, Nagi makes a lunge toward the GPS, and succeeds in knocking it out of your hands!

Nagi darts forward to grab the GPS as you drop it. Luckily, she doesn't run off with it; she just settles down to play with it right where it fell.
action: You go south
response: The ground cover has been pushed aside by passing animals just enough to make this weaving trail the path of least resistance. There is a very tall kauri tree here, its thick roots snaking in and out of the ground. You can hear swiftly running water from somewhere off to the north. To the southwest you can see the forest lighten as it thins out, and the trail forks here, continuing to both the northeast and the north.

Dina, who stands no taller than your shin, is nearby. She raises her head to issue a warbling call that sounds remarkably like a bird's, while continuing to watch you out of the corner of her eye.

A shiny battery, apparently discarded or lost by someone, lies half-hidden by a pile of leaves that Dina is using as a nest.

Nagi dawdles along in your wake, curious to see what you're going to do next.

Suddenly, Nagi makes a lunge toward the GPS, but you snatch it away before she can get it away from you.
action: You take the battery
response: Dina steps forward, lets out a violent hiss, and glares at you in rage as you approach her nest. You retreat empty-handed, not wanting to get bitten.
action: You climb the tree
response: You approach the giant kauri and look up. It's impressively tall, and the first branches that look like they'd support your weight look like they could be almost thirty feet up. But you've seen this done; you know you can do it, and you force yourself to start climbing, not looking at the ground. You make some progress, but the bark gets your hands sticky with gum and tends to flake off at the same time, making climbing both dangerous and messy, and you head down again.
action: You turn on the radio
response: You click the transmitter. "Can I ask you a question, Eruera?"

"Sure, Tim. What would you like to talk about?"

Nagi watches you intently. She makes a few halfhearted motions, trying to imitate calling Eruera on the field radio, but quickly gives up and returns to watching you.

(You could ask him about the glory, the GPS, or Mui.)
action: You ask Eruera about GPS
response: "Eruera! I found a GPS unit out in the forest! I haven't put a battery in it yet, though."

Eruera sounds enthusiastic. "Very good, Tim, but you'll need power. If you could find a battery that fits it, a GPS will be a great help in navigating the forest."
action: You ask Eruera about the glory
response: "You mentioned that the glory was a good sign. What did you mean?"

You can hear Eruera shifting a bit, trying to get more comfortable. "Let me tell you a quick story. Mori tradition tells of several different atua, or gods, of the rainbow. Kahukura is one of these -- he is the double rainbow that signifies that the storm has passed over. Another is Haere, and according to the stories he seeks to avenge the death of his father. At first he fails to properly respect tapu and is defeated, but later, with strong mana, they return to try again and are victorious."

"So, Tim, perhaps we can take heart from both stories. We've certainly been through a great storm, and if your glory tells us that it's over, no wonder you felt calm and reassured. And the story of Haere -- well, we were certainly beaten by the poachers at first, but perhaps our mana will prove the stronger in a second conflict."
action: You ask Eruera about the tapu
response: Though you're talking to Eruera, you can't physically reach him.

"I'm sorry, Tim. I don't think I can help you much with that."

(You could ask him about Mui.)
action: You ask Eruera about the atua
response: Though you're talking to Eruera, you can't physically reach him.

"I'm sorry, Tim. I don't know much about that."

(You could ask him about Mui.)
action: You go north
response: You release the transmitter as you walk, ending the conversation.

You stand at the south bank of a stream rushing down from the western mountains. The water flows over a tumble of rocks and its level drops steeply here, cutting into the ground and leaving steep, raw slopes on either side. An old, dead kauri tree has fallen across the stream here, its straight trunk making a narrow bridge to the north side.

Nagi saunters along off to your side, curious to see what adventures you have planned next.

Suddenly, Nagi makes a lunge toward the GPS, but you snatch it away before she can get it away from you.
action: Go north
response: This is the north bank of the cascading stream. Water tumbles over rocks as it rushes through the forest down towards the shore. To the east, a shallow slope of rocks and debris leads down further into the forest, away from the western mountains. A relatively straight, dead kauri tree has fallen across the stream here, bridging the banks and allowing you to cross to the south.

Nagi dawdles along behind you, curious to see what you're going to do next.
action: Exits
response: The obvious exits are south and east.
action: Go east
response: To the west, a very shallow slope of mixed scree and debris leads up to the bank of the mountain stream. At the bottom, where you stand, the forest thickens again, with faint animal trails leading north into the deeper forest and east towards the thinner trees that line the coast. By keeping close to the streambank, you could also manage to follow the water southeast down toward the shore.

Nagi scampers in your wake, curious to see what adventures you have planned next.
action: You go to the southeast
response: You walk parallel to the stream, then scramble down a rockfall that cuts through the cliff edge. You climb down as far as you can go, stopping at a deep ledge of dark rock that is slick with spray from the stream falling over the headwall above.

The falling stream splashes off a ledge of black volcanic rock here, filling the air with a haze of cool, fine droplets that weave the sunlight into a glory -- a circular rainbow -- about your head. There's only a small pool at the base of the falls -- the overflowing water spills over the lip and flows the short distance into the ocean.

Nagi saunters along behind you, curious to see what you're up to.
action: You ascend
response: To the west, a very shallow slope of mixed scree and debris leads up to the bank of the mountain stream. At the bottom, where you stand, the forest thickens again, with faint animal trails leading north into the deeper forest and east towards the thinner trees that line the coast. By keeping close to the streambank, you could also manage to follow the water southeast down toward the shore.

Nagi scampers off to your side, curious to see what you're going to do next.

Suddenly, Nagi makes a lunge toward the GPS, but you snatch it away before she can get it away from you.
action: Go north
response: The trail descends into a hollow here, free of trees. Centered in the valley floor is a large mound of volcanic rock, with a large boulder plugging up a fumarole on top. The surrounding rock is riddled with cracks, crevices, and fissures, and hidden in one of the larger depressions is a very large bird's nest, which doesn't look completely intact. The forest trail leads upslope to both the north and south.

The moa sits on her nest, calm and satisfied.

Nagi dawdles along in your wake, curious to see what you're up to.
action: You go to the north
response: The narrow forest trail opens onto a small clearing here, where the kauri gives way to unhealthy-looking ferns and thin, yellowish grass. The trail leaves the clearing to both north and south.

A small dinosaur similar to the one you saw before stands here. He divides his attention between glaring at Nagi and tracking every move you make with the shiny GPS unit.

Nagi ambles along behind you, curious to see what you're going to do next.

Suddenly, the male oviraptor hisses threateningly at Nagi, stomping back and forth in an exaggerated threat display that's as earnest as it is ridiculous. Nagi seems unfazed.
action: Name oviraptor tony
response: You address the male oviraptor. "I'm going to call you 'Tony'."

Tony seems utterly disinterested.

With a sudden lunge, Tony screeches at Nagi, rearing and skittering back towards the safety of a tree. Nagi leaps to your shoulder and chatters for a moment.
action: You hit tony
response: Violence has its place, but not here.

Abruptly, Tony hisses threateningly at Nagi, stomping back and forth in an exaggerated threat display that's as earnest as it is ridiculous. Nagi seems unfazed.
action: Ride tony
response: Tony is far too small for you to ride!

With a sudden lunge, Tony screeches at Nagi, rearing and skittering back towards the safety of a tree. Nagi leaps to your shoulder and chatters for a moment.
action: You take Tony
response: Tony dodges your grasp with a quick leap into a nearby fern. He hisses at you in hurt contempt.

Abruptly, Tony hisses threateningly at Nagi, stomping back and forth in an exaggerated threat display that's as earnest as it is ridiculous. Nagi makes a noise that sounds suspiciously like a laugh.
action: You check your inventory
response: You are carrying:
an a GPS (unpowered)
a map
a stick
a chunk of bark
a field radio
a bucket, repaired with a wad of kauri gum, currently empty

Nagi watches you, showing her interest by her perked ears and unblinking stare. She watches you taking stock of your possessions, then starts looking at herself and patting her fur in a pretty good impersonation of you. Her search reveals an unknown insect, which she pops in her mouth and crunches with gusto.

Suddenly, Tony screeches at Nagi, rearing and skittering back towards the safety of a tree. Nagi leaps to your shoulder and chatters for a moment.
action: You show the stick to Tony
response: Tony looks at the stick briefly, then turns away, uninterested.

With a sudden lunge, Tony hisses threateningly at Nagi, stomping back and forth in an exaggerated threat display that's as earnest as it is ridiculous. Nagi seems unfazed.
action: You show the stick to Nagi
response: Nagi looks at the stick briefly, then turns away, uninterested.

Abruptly, Tony screeches at Nagi, rearing and skittering back towards the safety of a tree. Nagi leaps to your shoulder and chatters for a moment.
action: You give the stick to Nagi
response: You hold the stick out to Nagi, letting it fall to see whether it is interested in it.

Dropped.

Nagi watches you, her interest indicated by her tilted head and fixed gaze. She notices you dropping the stick and checks her hands, as if looking to see whether she has something she can drop too. As she doesn't, she just sits back down and continues to observe you with interest.

Suddenly, Tony charges Nagi, spitting and hissing, before quickly retreating back to a nearby patch of undergrowth. Nagi seems unfazed.
action: You take stick
response: Taken.

Nagi watches you, showing her interest by her perked ears and unblinking stare. She notices you reaching for the stick, but apparently she's decided she's had enough of carrying things around for now, as she just watches you calmly.

Abruptly, Tony hisses threateningly at Nagi, stomping back and forth in an exaggerated threat display that's as earnest as it is ridiculous. Nagi makes a noise that sounds suspiciously like a laugh.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a stick
an a GPS (unpowered)
a map
a chunk of bark
a field radio
a bucket, repaired with a wad of kauri gum, currently empty

Nagi watches you, her interest indicated by her twitching tail and unconscious chittering. She watches you taking stock of your possessions, then starts looking at herself and patting her fur in a pretty good impersonation of you. Her search reveals a flea, which she pops in her mouth and crunches with gusto.

With a sudden lunge, Tony screeches at Nagi, rearing and skittering back towards the safety of a tree. Nagi seems unfazed.
action: Pet Tony
response: You try to approach Tony, hoping to look at him more closely and maybe even pet him. But the little dino explodes into hostile screeches and scrabbles away from you so desperately that he looks as if he's having a seizure.

Abruptly, Tony charges Nagi, spitting and hissing, before quickly retreating back to a nearby patch of undergrowth. Nagi leaps to your shoulder and chatters for a moment.
action: Things
response: Nearby are the stick, Nagi, the chunk of bark, the bucket, the GPS, the map, Tony, the kauri forest, the ferns, the hole in the bucket, the blob of sticky gum, the field radio, and the call button.
action: Go north
response: The forest gets really thick up ahead, and the animal trail vanishes into the undergrowth. Without some way of figuring out where you are and where you're going, you stand a good chance of getting lost, and you're not desperate enough to be willing to risk that. You have the map, but no way to fix your position.

Suddenly, Tony screeches at Nagi, rearing and skittering back towards the safety of a tree. Nagi makes a noise that sounds suspiciously like a laugh.
action: Go south
response: The trail descends into a hollow here, free of trees. Centered in the valley floor is a large mound of volcanic rock, with a large boulder plugging up a fumarole on top. The surrounding rock is riddled with cracks, crevices, and fissures, and hidden in one of the larger depressions is a very large bird's nest, which doesn't look completely intact. The forest trail leads upslope to both the north and south.

The moa sits on her nest, calm and satisfied.

Nagi scampers off to your side, curious to see what you're up to.

Tony, taking care to keep his distance, trails you with his eyes fixed on the GPS unit. He seems only partially aware of what he's doing.

With a sudden lunge, Tony charges Nagi, spitting and hissing, before quickly retreating back to a nearby patch of undergrowth. Nagi seems unfazed.
action: You go to the south
response: To the west, a very shallow slope of mixed scree and debris leads up to the bank of the mountain stream. At the bottom, where you stand, the forest thickens again, with faint animal trails leading north into the deeper forest and east towards the thinner trees that line the coast. By keeping close to the streambank, you could also manage to follow the water southeast down toward the shore.

Nagi ambles along in your wake, curious to see what adventures you have planned next.

Tony, moving with exaggerated caution, follows you with his eyes fixed on the GPS unit. He seems only partially aware of what he's doing.

Suddenly, Tony hisses threateningly at Nagi, stomping back and forth in an exaggerated threat display that's as earnest as it is ridiculous. Nagi leaps to your shoulder and chatters for a moment.
action: You go to the west
response: This is the north bank of the cascading stream. Water tumbles over rocks as it rushes through the forest down towards the shore. To the east, a shallow slope of rocks and debris leads down further into the forest, away from the western mountains. A relatively straight, dead kauri tree has fallen across the stream here, bridging the banks and allowing you to cross to the south.

Nagi dawdles along off to your side, curious to see what you're up to.

Tony, taking care to keep his distance, trails you with his eyes fixed on the GPS unit. He seems only partially aware of what he's doing.

With a sudden lunge, Tony screeches at Nagi, rearing and skittering back towards the safety of a tree. Nagi seems unfazed.
action: You go to the south
response: You stand at the south bank of a stream rushing down from the western mountains. The water flows over a tumble of rocks and its level drops steeply here, cutting into the ground and leaving steep, raw slopes on either side. An old, dead kauri tree has fallen across the stream here, its straight trunk making a narrow bridge to the north side.

Nagi ambles along in your wake, curious to see what you're going to do next.

Tony, moving with exaggerated caution, follows you with his eyes fixed on the GPS unit. He seems only partially aware of what he's doing.

Suddenly, Tony hisses threateningly at Nagi, stomping back and forth in an exaggerated threat display that's as earnest as it is ridiculous. Nagi makes a noise that sounds suspiciously like a laugh.
action: You go south
response: The ground cover has been pushed aside by passing animals just enough to make this weaving trail the path of least resistance. There is a very tall kauri tree here, its thick roots snaking in and out of the ground. You can hear swiftly running water from somewhere off to the north. To the southwest you can see the forest lighten as it thins out, and the trail forks here, continuing to both the northeast and the north.

Dina, who stands no taller than your shin, is nearby. She slowly moves from tree to tree, searching for something while always managing to keep you in view.

A shiny battery, apparently discarded or lost by someone, lies half-hidden by a pile of leaves that Dina is using as a nest.

Nagi dawdles along off to your side, curious to see what adventures you have planned next.

Tony stalks along behind you as he's done for some time, fixated on the GPS unit. But something -- possibly a scent or sound -- alerts him to his surroundings. He looks around the area near the trail with jerky head movements, until he spies Dina. The GPS is forgotten as Tony veers abruptly and sprints to Dina's side. Something very like a battle ensues, quick jabs of the dinos' heads as they peck at each other almost faster than you can track. Dina seems to win the fight, pinning Tony down and chirruping at him before releasing him to stand again. From there they move into some sort of complicated mating dance. From the intensity of their concentration, it seems almost everything else in the world takes second place to the performance.

Tony and Dina continue their flirtation, although the presence of a bored and mischievous Nagi keeps their mating dance from taking their full attention.
action: You take the battery
response: You approach the nest, but although Tony and Dina seem fixated with each other, the presence of Nagi, bored and inquisitive, keeps them alert and edgy. Both oviraptors hiss and peck at you as you approach their nest, and you retreat, frustrated.

Tony and Dina continue their flirtation, although the presence of a bored and mischievous Nagi keeps their mating dance from taking their full attention.
action: You go to the southwest
response: Low bushy ferns give way to towering kauri trees here. Their delicate cones and thin, green leaves cast deeper shadows as the forest thickens to the northeast. A steep break in the cliff rock here leads southeast, down to the beach, and a faint animal trail leads into the forest to the northeast.

Nagi scampers in your wake, curious to see what you're going to do next.
action: You drop GPS
response: Nagi again rushes forward to seize the GPS as you drop it. She settles down to fiddle with it again.
action: Go northeast
response: Nagi stays put as you leave, engrossed in playing with the GPS.

The ground cover has been pushed aside by passing animals just enough to make this weaving trail the path of least resistance. There is a very tall kauri tree here, its thick roots snaking in and out of the ground. You can hear swiftly running water from somewhere off to the north. To the southwest you can see the forest lighten as it thins out, and the trail forks here, continuing to both the northeast and the north.

The two dinosaurs are engaged in an intricate and extensive mating dance. Tony is fully engaged in demonstrating his many personal virtues to Dina, prancing with quick jerks of his neck and precise, circling footwork. Dina seems fascinated with the performance, and both appear unaware of their surroundings.

A shiny battery, apparently discarded or lost by someone, lies half-hidden by a pile of leaves that Dina is using as a nest.
action: You take the battery
response: Taken.
action: You examine Tony
response: Tony stands on his hind legs, his tiny head and sharp teeth about knee-high. His front arms are short and clawed, making him look like a very miniature T-Rex, except with a smaller, crested, almost birdlike head, and he has garish purple spots on his otherwise khaki skin. His beady eyes bulge out as he tries to figure out whether you're a threat or a source of food.
action: Go southwest
response: Low bushy ferns give way to towering kauri trees here. Their delicate cones and thin, green leaves cast deeper shadows as the forest thickens to the northeast. A steep break in the cliff rock here leads southeast, down to the beach, and a faint animal trail leads into the forest to the northeast.

Nagi busily plays with the shiny but inert GPS, continually turning it over and trying to manipulate it.
action: You take GPS
response: Taken.

Suddenly, Nagi makes a lunge toward the GPS, but you snatch it away before she can get it away from you.
action: You put the battery in GPS
response: You pop the battery cover open and slip the battery inside, then close the cover and press the button. Your current latitude and longitude display: 46? 12' 88" S, 179? 12' 87" W.

Nagi watches you, showing her interest by her tilted head and unblinking stare. She watches with great interest, trying to see where the battery is going.
action: You look at your surroundings
response: Low bushy ferns give way to towering kauri trees here. Their delicate cones and thin, green leaves cast deeper shadows as the forest thickens to the northeast. A steep break in the cliff rock here leads southeast, down to the beach, and a faint animal trail leads into the forest to the northeast.

Nagi is nearby, watching you with obvious disinterest and waiting for you to do something more interesting.
action: You go to the northeast
response: The ground cover has been pushed aside by passing animals just enough to make this weaving trail the path of least resistance. There is a very tall kauri tree here, its thick roots snaking in and out of the ground. You can hear swiftly running water from somewhere off to the north. To the southwest you can see the forest lighten as it thins out, and the trail forks here, continuing to both the northeast and the north.

The two dinosaurs are engaged in an intricate and extensive mating dance. Tony is strutting in spirals around Dina, demonstrating his fitness and virility. Unfortunately, Tony keeps turning to glare at the nearby Nagi (who seems to be fascinated with this behavior) and in consequence Dina appears less than impressed by the performance.

Nagi dawdles along behind you, curious to see what you're up to.

Tony and Dina continue their flirtation, although the presence of a bored and mischievous Nagi keeps their mating dance from taking their full attention.
action: You go northeast
response: Here a mountain stream reaches the headwall and plunges over. The water falls forty feet or so, splattering off a black rock ledge below before reforming and flowing into the ocean. The cliff is too sheer to descend on this side, but you can see that there's a rockfall just past the north bank that you might be able to scramble down -- if you could get to it.

Nagi saunters along off to your side, curious to see what adventures you have planned next.
action: You look at GPS
response: The GPS is bright yellow and labeled with the brand name "Amring". It's a very simple model, with just a single button to display coordinates. You push the button and your current latitude and longitude display: 46? 12' 26" S, 179? 12' 51" W.

In the GPS is a battery.

Nagi watches you, curiosity evident from her twitching tail and unconscious chittering. She notices you looking at the GPS and peers at it with exaggerated interest.
action: You go to the southwest
response: Low bushy ferns give way to towering kauri trees here. Their delicate cones and thin, green leaves cast deeper shadows as the forest thickens to the northeast. A steep break in the cliff rock here leads southeast, down to the beach, and a faint animal trail leads into the forest to the northeast.

Nagi saunters along off to your side, curious to see what adventures you have planned next.
action: You go to the southeast
response: The black sand beach transitions to stones and boulders here as the seashore lifts into the black cliffs. To the northwest a break in the volcanic stone leads upwards and into the depths of the forest. Where the water eddies at the north end of the beach a collection of light, floating junk has collected.

Shreds of what used to be a thick rope are here, washed up on the rocks at the north end of the beach and coated in black sand grains.

Nagi ambles along behind you, curious to see what you're up to.
action: You examine GPS
response: The GPS is bright yellow and labeled with the brand name "Amring". It's a very simple model, with just a single button to display coordinates. You push the button and your current latitude and longitude display: 46? 13' 09" S, 179? 12' 61" W.

In the GPS is a battery.

Nagi watches you, her interest indicated by her perked ears and fixed gaze. She notices you looking at the GPS and peers at it with exaggerated interest.
action: Go northwest
response: Low bushy ferns give way to towering kauri trees here. Their delicate cones and thin, green leaves cast deeper shadows as the forest thickens to the northeast. A steep break in the cliff rock here leads southeast, down to the beach, and a faint animal trail leads into the forest to the northeast.

Nagi dawdles along in your wake, curious to see what you're going to do next.
action: You go northeast
response: The ground cover has been pushed aside by passing animals just enough to make this weaving trail the path of least resistance. There is a very tall kauri tree here, its thick roots snaking in and out of the ground. You can hear swiftly running water from somewhere off to the north. To the southwest you can see the forest lighten as it thins out, and the trail forks here, continuing to both the northeast and the north.

The two dinosaurs are engaged in an intricate and extensive mating dance. Tony is strutting in spirals around Dina, demonstrating his fitness and virility. Unfortunately, Tony keeps turning to glare at the nearby Nagi (who seems to be fascinated with this behavior) and in consequence Dina appears less than impressed by the performance.

Nagi scampers behind you, curious to see what adventures you have planned next.

Suddenly, Nagi makes a lunge toward the GPS, but you snatch it away before she can get it away from you.

Tony and Dina continue their flirtation, although the presence of a bored and mischievous Nagi keeps their mating dance from taking their full attention.
action: You examine GPS
response: The GPS is bright yellow and labeled with the brand name "Amring". It's a very simple model, with just a single button to display coordinates. You push the button and your current latitude and longitude display: 46? 12' 43" S, 179? 12' 69" W.

In the GPS is a battery.

Nagi watches you, curiosity evident from her tilted head and unblinking stare. She notices you looking at the GPS and peers at it with exaggerated interest.

Tony and Dina continue their flirtation, although the presence of a bored and mischievous Nagi keeps their mating dance from taking their full attention.
action: You go to the north
response: You stand at the south bank of a stream rushing down from the western mountains. The water flows over a tumble of rocks and its level drops steeply here, cutting into the ground and leaving steep, raw slopes on either side. An old, dead kauri tree has fallen across the stream here, its straight trunk making a narrow bridge to the north side.

Nagi saunters along in your wake, curious to see what you're up to.
action: Go north
response: This is the north bank of the cascading stream. Water tumbles over rocks as it rushes through the forest down towards the shore. To the east, a shallow slope of rocks and debris leads down further into the forest, away from the western mountains. A relatively straight, dead kauri tree has fallen across the stream here, bridging the banks and allowing you to cross to the south.

Nagi ambles along off to your side, curious to see what you're going to do next.

Suddenly, Nagi makes a lunge toward the GPS, and succeeds in knocking it out of your hands!

Nagi again rushes forward to seize the GPS as you drop it. She settles down to fiddle with it again.
action: You go east
response: To the west, a very shallow slope of mixed scree and debris leads up to the bank of the mountain stream. At the bottom, where you stand, the forest thickens again, with faint animal trails leading north into the deeper forest and east towards the thinner trees that line the coast. By keeping close to the streambank, you could also manage to follow the water southeast down toward the shore.

Nagi dawdles along in your wake, curious to see what you're up to.
action: Go north
response: The trail descends into a hollow here, free of trees. Centered in the valley floor is a large mound of volcanic rock, with a large boulder plugging up a fumarole on top. The surrounding rock is riddled with cracks, crevices, and fissures, and hidden in one of the larger depressions is a very large bird's nest, which doesn't look completely intact. The forest trail leads upslope to both the north and south.

The moa sits on her nest, calm and satisfied.

Nagi scampers behind you, curious to see what adventures you have planned next.
action: Go north
response: The narrow forest trail opens onto a small clearing here, where the kauri gives way to unhealthy-looking ferns and thin, yellowish grass. The trail leaves the clearing to both north and south.

Nagi ambles along in your wake, curious to see what you're up to.
action: You go to the north
response: Armed with your map and the powered GPS, you strike out into the deeper forest and head north, hoping the station is where Eruera thinks it is. Unfortunately, after just a few short minutes of travel, you hit a wall. Literally. Extending as far as you can see to the east and west is what must be about a twenty-foot volcanic ridge, the remnant of some long-ago eruption. You spend an hour or so scouting it out, trying to find a climbable spot, and eventually you find a place where the stone has crumbled and left a steep defile that you could probably scramble up.

The problem is that there's an obstacle in the way -- a large, bony-headed dinosaur that is rubbing itself energetically against the broken rocks, trying to contort itself to reach a particular spot on its back.

The breeze blowing the tops of the thickly-clustered kauri makes the few flashes of light dance and whirl around you. The trail is all but lost here. A tall, sheer, charcoal-gray ridge stretches as far as you can see from the east to the west.

Standing alone in the shadow of the stone ridge is a huge animal. Its giant, bony head and squat, powerful body mark it immediately as a notoceratops mori -- the largest species of dinosaur in Aotearoa, and therefore the biggest dinosaur in the world! It's hanging around near a steep defile in the rock wall, rubbing against it like it's desperate. It notes your presence without reaction, obviously completely unthreatened by your presence.

Nagi scampers behind you, curious to see what adventures you have planned next.

The notoceratops flails its head towards its back frustratedly.
action: Name notoceratops fred
response: You address the notoceratops. "I'm going to call you 'Fred'."

Fred seems utterly disinterested.

Fred rubs against a nearby rock outcrop in distress.
action: You examine Fred
response: Fred is an impressive animal, standing seven feet high at the shoulder and probably measuring twenty feet from nose to tail. Its large, bony head lacks the flattened, shield-like flange that the more commonly-known triceratops sports, but the bulbous knob the notoceratops has instead looks just as impressive. The dinosaur's skin is mostly a dull gray, similar to a hippopotamus, but it has dark brown spots on its torso as well. It is currently standing near the defile, attempting to scratch itself against the rough rocks, but apparently failing to reach the right spot.

Nagi watches you, her interest indicated by her twitching tail and unconscious chittering. She notices you looking at Fred and peers at it with exaggerated interest.

Fred flops on the ground and writhes around in obvious frustration.
action: You look at the defile
response: A tall barrier, the ridge seems to be broken by a steep defile here that might allow you to climb up. If you can survive getting to it.

Nagi watches you, curiosity evident from her tilted head and unblinking stare. She notices you looking at the ridge and peers at it with exaggerated interest.

Fred flails its head towards its back in distress.
action: You examine GPS
response: The GPS is bright yellow and labeled with the brand name "Amring". It's a very simple model, with just a single button to display coordinates. You push the button and your current latitude and longitude display: 46? 10' 58" S, 179? 12' 33" W.

In the GPS is a battery.

Nagi watches you, her interest indicated by her perked ears and unconscious chittering. She notices you looking at the GPS and peers at it with exaggerated interest.

Fred snorts in obvious irritation.
action: You turn on the radio
response: You press the transmitter button. "Can I ask you a question, Eruera?"

"Sure, Tim. What would you like to talk about?"

Suddenly, Nagi makes a lunge toward the GPS, but you snatch it away before she can get it away from you.

Nagi watches you intently. She makes a few halfhearted motions, trying to imitate calling Eruera on the field radio, but quickly gives up and returns to watching you.

Fred flails its head towards its back in distress.

(You could ask him about Fred or Mui.)
action: You ask Eruera about Fred
response: "There's one of the big dinosaurs up here. The notoceratops."

Eruera chuckles a bit. "I hope you didn't run into it literally, Tim." You smile, even though it's not that funny. "And the great one did not chase you away?"

"No, it didn't." There's a slight pause before he continues.

"That is -- surprising. It takes both a special attitude and strong mana to approach the great taniwha. It is normally something that must be cultivated over time. That you have this gift is... interesting."

You continue. "It looks like it might be itchy or something -- it keeps rolling around and rubbing against the rocks in the same area I need to climb up."

"That is odd, Tim. It might have a fungus or other skin condition. You could probably try to scratch it. That won't fix the taniwha's problem permanently, but it might give it some relief so you could get past it."

"Yeah, Eruera, I thought of that. But... it's... so big! It could crush me like a bug if it wanted to."

Eruera is silent for a moment. "I think I see. Let me tell you a brief story that might help you out. It's a legend about how the Mori first learned to tame the taniwha."

You wait, and in a moment he starts. "Long ago, the people came to Mui with a problem. 'Every year we plant kkmara -- sweet potatoes -- and take great care to guard them. We build tall fences to keep away the pkkeko -- the swamp hen -- and the old men chase them away night and day. Every year the kkmara grow, and every year we prepare for the harvest. And every year, the great taniwha come, break down the fences, and ravage our crop. We try to fight and chase them away, but they charge with heads down and scatter us like raindrops!'

They pleaded with Mui to help them. 'We cannot continue to live when the taniwha eat most of our crops. Please, slay these taniwha and you may have anything you want as a reward.'

Mui agreed, saying 'I will end the threat of these taniwha for you,' for he had heard stories of the giant taniwha and had a plan."

Eruera pauses for a moment to catch his breath, then continues. "Mui lived among the people of the village as their honored guest all year, and there was much grumbling as the year went on, for Mui ate very
well indeed and food was scarce.

But finally the harvest drew near, and Mui set forth for the fields to confront the taniwha. The villagers were confused, as he took no weapon, only a large sack. 'How can he slay the taniwha without a spear?' they asked themselves, and the grumbling grew greater. Finally the villagers sent a small boy to follow Mui to make sure he did what he had agreed to do and didn't just run away.

The boy saw something amazing. As the first of the taniwha approached, Mui stood still and silent. The taniwha stopped. Mui moved very
slowly and smoothly, giving no offense to the great beast, and it didn't charge. Mui was able to walk right up to it and put his hand on it. Then Mui opened the bag, and inside were the kkmara he'd pretended to stuff himself with all year. As the boy watched, Mui pulled out a kkmara and fed it to the taniwha."

Eruera pauses for a few moments. "Hours later, the boy came running back into the village. But before he could explain what he had seen to the elders, Mui appeared, riding proudly on the back of the great taniwha, and tossed down the empty sack. The elders were furious. 'You agreed to slay the taniwha, and you bring it here into our village?'

'I never promised to slay the taniwha,' Mui responded. 'I have done what I promised. Remember my words. I have ended the threat of these taniwha to you.' The elders remembered, and although they were still furious, they had to agree that Mui had succeeded."

Eruera concludes, "So the point of that story is that these taniwha react well to friendliness. Approach them slowly and respectfully, and work out a way to scratch this one's itch, and you should be quite safe."

"Wow, Eruera, that's a cool story." You pause for a moment, thinking. It makes sense. But you do have one question. "So what did Mui choose as his reward?"

You can hear the smile in Eruera's voice. "That is a story for another time, Tim. Good luck to you!"

Fred snorts desperately.
action: You touch fred
response: Fred is thrashing around too much for a close approach.

Fred flails its head towards its back in obvious irritation.
action: You examine the head
response: Fred is an impressive animal, standing seven feet high at the shoulder and probably measuring twenty feet from nose to tail. Its large, bony head lacks the flattened, shield-like flange that the more commonly-known triceratops sports, but the bulbous knob the notoceratops has instead looks just as impressive. The dinosaur's skin is mostly a dull gray, similar to a hippopotamus, but it has dark brown spots on its torso as well. It is currently standing near the defile, attempting to scratch itself against the rough rocks, but apparently failing to reach the right spot.

Suddenly, Nagi makes a lunge toward the GPS, but you snatch it away before she can get it away from you.

Fred rubs against a nearby rock outcrop in obvious frustration.
action: You look at the bark
response: The bark is about a foot in diameter, thick and round.

Nagi watches you, showing her interest by her twitching tail and unblinking stare. She notices you looking at the chunk of bark and peers at it with exaggerated interest.

Fred snorts in distress.
action: Go west
response: You've already walked quite a ways to the west, and found no other places to scale the ridge.

Fred flops on the ground and writhes around in obvious frustration.
action: You go to the east
response: You've already walked quite a ways to the east, and found no other places to scale the ridge.

Fred snorts in distress.
action: You examine the rocks
response: You aren't sure where the sharp rocks are at the moment.

Fred flops on the ground and writhes around frustratedly.
action: Things
response: Nearby are Eruera, the stick, Nagi, the chunk of bark, the bucket, the battery, the GPS, the map, the ridge, Fred, the kauri forest, the ferns, the hole in the bucket, the blob of sticky gum, the field radio, and the call button.
action: You look at the ridge
response: A tall barrier, the ridge seems to be broken by a steep defile here that might allow you to climb up. If you can survive getting to it.

Nagi watches you, her interest indicated by her perked ears and fixed gaze. She notices you looking at the ridge and peers at it with exaggerated interest.

Fred flails its head towards its back in distress.
action: Scratch fred
response: (with your fingers)
You consider scratching Fred, but you don't have the reach required to get at Fred's itchy spot.

Fred rubs against a nearby rock outcrop in obvious irritation.
action: Scratch fred with stick
response: You approach Fred very slowly and deliberately with the stick, ready to back away if it shows any aggression. But it doesn't seem to treat you as a threat. Your heart pounds as you get close to the twitching beast, but finally you're in range. You reach upwards with the stick, toward where you've deduced the itchy spot must be. It seems that you've guessed correctly, as the huge beast immediately flops down on the ground and tilts its back towards you to improve the angle. Once your heart settles down after the huge dinosaur's abrupt movement, you scratch away as hard as you can, and Fred's satisfied grunts indicate that it, at least, thinks you're doing a good job. You study the impressive creature as you work, fascinated with its sheer size and power.

Nagi looks at you curiously. She seems to be impressed.

...but you're completely surprised when a deep voice from behind you says "Awww, isn't that cute?"

You whirl around to see who it could be and end up with a rifle barrel pressed into your stomach by a tall, brown-haired man in jungle camouflage. "Just stay right there, boy," the man says. "You speak English?" He plucks the radio out of your hands and looks at it briefly, noting the identifying markings on it. "Working with the Conservation Service, eh? I don't know where you came from, but you aren't going to be going back to tell them about us."

He flicks one hand at the dinosaur without taking his eyes off you, and several other men in similar clothing move around you toward Fred, who lumbers to its feet, far too slow to avoid capture. Or so it seems. One of the men raises what looks like another rifle and points it at the beast, but at the last moment Nagi rushes from the undergrowth and hurtles onto him, scrambling up his back before leaping to the lower branches of a nearby tree and disappearing again. The man jerks as he pulls the trigger, and a tranquilizer dart goes wide, flying into the forest in a high arc.

Fred surges to its feet, bellows, and crashes off through the forest as the leader curses. With a curt gesture, he motions for the men to return and tie you up instead. "Those bloody pests! Well, at least we know that big dino's still around here. It won't escape us for long. In the meantime, you can take its spot in the cages." He smiles. "You never know when a Conservation Service hostage might come in handy." The man's rifle butt whips up towards the side of your head, and you see a blinding, red flash of pain, followed by blackness.

You awaken with a pounding headache, and your friend Nagi licking your temple with a raspy tongue. You can't tell whether it's the sandpaper sensation or the rank smell of her breath that succeeded in waking you, but you stagger to your feet and look around.

You're in a large, solidly-constructed steel cage. If the roka on the ground wasn't enough to tell you what these cages normally contain, the intermittent bellowing from the captured notoceratops in the four other cages makes it crystal clear. The locked door of the cage leads north, if you could somehow get it open.

Nagi is nearby, sprawled out on the ground in a funk. She glances at you every once in a while to see what you are going to do next.
action: You examine the door
response: (the cage door)
The cage door, like the cage itself, is sturdy and solid, if not quite new. The bars are just slightly bent, which makes sense since they've been keeping live, agitated notoceratops in them. Unfortunately, the bend in the bars isn't enough to allow you to slip through like Nagi can. There's a lock mechanism on the door that looks like you could reach it.

As you take a step you notice something flash at your feet. Nagi pounces on it and comes up with something that looks like a snippet of thick copper wire.
action: You examine lock
response: You can't see the lock mechanism, but you feel around the outside enough to find the keyhole. It seems simple -- turn the key and the lock bolt should slide back and unlock the door. But you don't have the key.
action: You examine the roka
response: The roka litters the ground in the cage. Apparently notoceratops have a healthy appetite.
action: Things
response: Nearby are Eruera, Nagi, the wire snippet, the cages, the steel bars, the newer tent, the campfire, the piles of roka, the cage door, and the cage door lock.
action: You examine the cages
response: A row of cages occupies the south side of the camp. Yours is in the middle, with similar cages to your east and west. The other cages contain sad-looking notoceratops, bored and waiting until they get shipped off to wherever their final destination might be.
action: You examine the tent
response: This tent's heavy, waterproof canvas seems in the best condition of anything in the camp. It's smaller than the army-surplus tent to the southwest, but still looks roomy enough to provide a good amount of living space and headroom.
action: You pick the lock with the wire
response: You wait for a moment when no one is watching and start to work. With determination, you insert the copper wire and fiddle with the lock. The wire snippet is pretty stiff, and long enough to access the lock mechanism, but you have no real idea how to pick a lock, and all your fumbling does is attract attention. Nagi watches you intently, head cocked, trying to figure out what you're doing. And unfortunately, you're so engaged in trying to open the lock and fending off the "assistance" of Nagi that you don't notice the apparent leader of the poachers -- the man who hit you -- approach.

"Well now, what's this?" He grabs your hand, painfully twisting the piece of wire free. "Oho, we've got Junior MacGyver here!"

He grips your hand, holding on effortlessly as you try to twist away, and considers. "Amusing, son. But if I see you doing that again I'm going to shoot you, just on the off chance you might get lucky." He drops the piece of copper wire onto the ground, out of your reach.

"Now behave, hear?" He turns on his heel and walks off.
action: You examine Nagi
response: Nagi looks kind of like a lemur, with spotted brown fur, delicate arms, and a long, thin tail. Her head is the big tipoff that she's not a lemur or a monkey -- two scooped ears that swivel around when she listens, beady yellow eyes, and a ratlike snout make it obvious that this creature has to be related to bats in some way. Nagi is nearby, slipping back and forth through the bars to demonstrate to you how to leave the cell. She periodically looks at you, hoping you'll do something interesting.

Nagi seems drawn to the piece of copper wire. She slips through the bars of the cage, unnoticed, and picks the snippet up. She then turns it over and over in her hands, watching how it shines in the light.
action: Wait
response: You pause for a moment, idly watching Nagi, and think about how you might get out of here...

Nagi moves over to the door lock and inserts the piece of wire, imitating what she saw you do before. She wiggles the wire around for a while, but to no effect, and she finally sits down in confusion.
action: Lock
response: You can't see the lock mechanism, but you feel around the outside enough to find the keyhole. It seems simple -- turn the key and the lock bolt should slide back and unlock the door. But you don't have the key.

Nagi cocks her head and looks quizzically at the door, considering its lock and the piece of wire. You can almost see the wheels turning in her head. After a while, she glances over at the tent the leader entered.
action: You examine the tent
response: This tent's heavy, waterproof canvas seems in the best condition of anything in the camp. It's smaller than the army-surplus tent to the southwest, but still looks roomy enough to provide a good amount of living space and headroom.

All of a sudden, Nagi takes off across the center of the camp to the north and disappears into the tent there.
action: Wait
response: You wait near the door of the cage to see what Nagi is going to do next...
action: Wait
response: You wait near the door of the cage to see what Nagi is going to do next...

Nagi bounds out of the tent, carrying something shiny! You squint to look more closely as she approaches, and realize with a start that it's the key to the lock! Nagi must have stolen it without being detected! She sprints across the central area of camp and leaps up onto the door of your cell, then jams the key into the lock and starts moving it around. Somewhere in all the twisting and poking, you hear a "click".

Nagi looks up at you and wiggles in excitement. She keeps making scooting motions with her head to try to direct you toward the cage door.
action: You go to the north
response: (first opening the cage door)

You slip out the cage door with care, grateful that the door hadn't made much noise when you opened it. Nagi jumps excitedly as you come out, and then scoots over to the other cages and quickly unlocks those as well. The notoceratops in the other cells waste little time pushing through the doors and heading for the hills. Unfortunately, they trumpet and bellow in triumph as they go. You can hear shouts from the alerted poachers around camp as the notoceratops scatter, but in the confusion no one has yet noticed your escape. You look to the east, towards the boats, but in a stroke of very bad luck you notice two men off in that direction pointing at the dinosaurs and starting to run in your direction.

This seems to be the center of the poachers' encampment. A banked campfire is in the center of a small cleared space here, a small, newer tent is set up to the north, and a collection of large cages is set to the south. To the east, a short trail leads down a slope to a beach, where the poachers keep their boats.

Nagi is nearby, zigzagging back and forth as you run and occasionally surging towards the west before returning to circle you again.

The formerly-imprisoned notoceratops spread out quickly and rampage around camp, trying to find their way out and avoiding the poachers who are trying to round them back up. Luckily, no one seems to have spotted you yet, although the men from the east are steadily approaching.
action: You look at the campfire
response: The campfire isn't burning right now, but looks like it's used for cooking to judge by the flat, stained rocks nearby.

Nagi is nearby, trying to lead the way to the west as she flies over obstacles with amazing speed.

The formerly-imprisoned notoceratops continue to roam about and rampage around camp, trying to find their way out and avoiding the poachers who are trying to round them back up. Luckily, no one seems to have spotted you yet, although the men from the east are steadily approaching.
action: Go north
response: You attempt to duck into the leader's tent to hide and wait out the chaos, but run headlong into the leader himself as you approach. He reacts quickly, pulling out his pistol and shooting you down as you turn to try to run. "I told you I'd shoot you again if you tried to escape, boy..."
action: Go south
response: You duck back into one of the cages, figuring that it should be safe from the rampaging notoceratops. Unfortunately, it also neatly traps you, and in a further display of bad luck one of the poachers sees you slip into the cage. He approaches, a sneer on his face. "Trapped yourself, eh? No ransom is worth losing our dinos." He reaches for his sidearm...
action: Things
response: Nearby are Nagi, the newer tent, the campfire, the poachers, the cages, the herd of rampaging notoceratops, the cage door, and the cage door lock.

Nagi is nearby, trying to lead the way to the west as she flies over obstacles with amazing speed.
action: You go west
response: You set out to the west, hoping to use the exodus of the dinosaurs to cover your escape, and staying low. As you near the outskirts of camp, you duck behind a partially-disassembled jeep for some cover.

The poachers' camp borders the wilderness here. Deep ruts in the ground mark the likely spot where their vehicle is parked when it's not in use. One large tent lies to the south. To the northwest a crude road leads back into the forest, and you could also reach the forest to the southwest over a short rise and across a stretch of open field. The main portion of the camp is to the east.

Nagi is nearby, zigzagging back and forth as you run and occasionally surging towards the southwest before returning to circle you again.

The dinosaurs are fleeing the camp, pursued by poachers with guns, who are piling into a jeep. Apparently (and certainly fortunately), no one has yet seen you.
action: You look at the tent
response: This khaki barracks tent looks really old -- your best guess is it's army surplus from three or four wars ago. Its canvas is patched and worn, and you suspect it's not even waterproof.

Nagi is nearby, alternating between chittering anxiously at you and scampering up your leg to your shoulder, looking towards the southwest.

The dinosaurs are fleeing up the trail, pursued by poachers with guns roaring off up the trail after them. Apparently (and certainly fortunately), no one has yet seen you. Unfortunately, not all the poachers drove off in the jeep; there are a few still rounding up stragglers.
action: You go south
response: Nagi heads for the treeline to the southwest, and you realize that you probably should have followed her. Instead, you make a move toward the tent, hoping to hide inside. As you approach, however, you hear loud arguing from inside and quickly retreat back behind the jeep.

The dinosaurs are fleeing up the trail, pursued by poachers with guns roaring off up the trail after them. Apparently (and certainly fortunately), no one has yet seen you. Unfortunately, not all the poachers drove off in the jeep; there are a few still rounding up stragglers.
action: Go northwest
response: Nagi heads for the treeline to the southwest, and you realize that you probably should have followed her. Instead, headed up the trail toward the forest, and you're quickly apprehended by a group of poachers. This time you're thoroughly tied up before being thrown back in your cage, and escape proves impossible.
action: Go southwest
response: You set out across the open space to the southeast, staying low and heading for the treeline, still unseen. And it seems to be going well until one of the men gets bowled over by a notoceratops and sees you as he gets back to his feet.

"Hey! That kid's loose! He's getting away! Get him!"

You've never been happier to see the thick forest -- you've got a good chance of losing your pursuers in here, you figure. The grasses of the slope to the northeast give way to ferns and kauri trees as the animal trail leads off into the shaded forest to the west.

Nagi is nearby, alternating between chittering anxiously at you and scampering up your leg to your shoulder, looking towards the west.

You hear shouts from your pursuers. "He's getting away! Faster, dammit!"
action: You go to the west
response: You dash up the animal trail, trying to keep distance over your pursuers, but they're much fresher and do a good job of keeping up with you. You burst from the undergrowth near the slope of scree.

To the west, a very shallow slope of mixed scree and debris leads up to the bank of the mountain stream. At the bottom, where you stand, the forest thickens again, with faint animal trails leading north into the deeper forest and east towards the thinner trees that line the coast. By keeping close to the streambank, you could also manage to follow the water southeast down toward the shore.

Nagi is nearby, trying to lead the way to the north as she flies over obstacles with amazing speed.

The pursuing men aren't shouting any more, but you can hear them crashing through the ferns and undergrowth. They're not far behind you.
action: You go north
response: Turning abruptly, you head for the north at a dead sprint, bursting into the moa's hollow, causing her to squawk in alarm before she recognizes you. Your lungs are burning and you aren't sure how long you can keep this pace up.

The trail descends into a hollow here, free of trees. Centered in the valley floor is a large mound of volcanic rock, with a large boulder plugging up a fumarole on top. The surrounding rock is riddled with cracks, crevices, and fissures, and hidden in one of the larger depressions is a very large bird's nest, which doesn't look completely intact. The forest trail leads upslope to both the north and south.

Nagi is nearby, alternating between chittering anxiously at you and scampering up your leg to your shoulder, looking towards the north.

The moa seems alert and agitated, but sticks near her nest and egg.

Behind you, a group of pursuers rushes into the hollow. This second disruption alarms the moa, who stands, draws herself up to her full twelve feet of height, and challenges the newcomers from her nest. The poachers ignore the bird, instead pointing at you and calling out in excitement. "There he is! Grab that kid!"
action: You go north
response: You skirt the fumarole, heading farther up the trail toward the deeper forest, and although your exhausted body keeps telling you there's no way you'll make it, you keep pushing forward anyway. Unfortunately, the main danger isn't behind you.

"Kai a te kur+! Gotcha, you little troublemaker!" A tall Mori man wearing camouflage clothing and carrying a rifle rounds the corner directly ahead of you and grabs your shoulder, crunching the bones painfully. Almost before you realize what's happening, Nagi leaps onto your shoulder with a great bound and sinks her sharp little teeth into the man's hand! "hah, what the hell?"

He whips his hand off your shoulder to smack little Nagi, evoking a screech of rage. You twist free, sprinting towards the forest to the north, hoping there aren't any more poachers ahead of you on the trail.

The narrow forest trail opens onto a small clearing here, where the kauri gives way to unhealthy-looking ferns and thin, yellowish grass. The trail leaves the clearing to both north and south.

As you continue, you hear a shout of rage, and then a horrible, high-pitched squeal of pain. Despite your desperation, you slow for a second and risk a quick glance behind you. No sign of Nagi.

I hope she's OK. If she can just get into the trees she should be fine...
action: You go north
response: You keep running, glancing to the side and over your shoulder, hoping to catch a glimpse of brown fur or beady yellow eyes, but you don't see anything. The forest seems silent, aside from the breath burning in and out of your lungs as you keep running north, heading for the defile you found earlier.

The breeze blowing the tops of the thickly-clustered kauri makes the few flashes of light dance and whirl around you. The trail is all but lost here. A tall, sheer, charcoal-gray ridge stretches as far as you can see from the east to the west.

Fred stands here, complacent and slowly munching plants with its powerful jaws as it watches you arrive, at a run and out of breath. It holds your gaze for a few eternal seconds, then slowly kneels down, as if in invitation.

You stumble to a stop in front of the dinosaur. Maybe it's the fatigue blurring your vision, but you seem to see it with a strange kind of double vision -- as the powerful lord of the forest, but also as the Mori do -- as an avenging spirit, the taniwha, the protector of the land. You and Fred hold motionless, watching each other for what seems like hours, but eventually the sounds of cursing men crashing through the ferns breaks the spell.
action: Ride fred
response: As you approach Fred -- the taniwha -- it feels inevitable. Even destined. You may be running for your life, but as you near the massive dinosaur there's a timeless moment when you can forget that -- can feel something like what those Mori warriors of legend must have felt
before charging into battle on the backs of beasts just like this one.

As if in a dream, you climb up onto the taniwha's back. It seems high up, and that's before it stands, but for once you aren't afraid, and it feels so good to leave that fear back on the ground. You can actually see that little Mori boy from your visions sitting on the beast's back along with you, even though you know he can't be real. He has a wild grin on his face, and when you see it, you feel a thrill of contagious excitement. As it rises, the power and size of the beast you ride makes you feel like a superhero, or a Greek demigod like Hercules.

(While riding Fred, you can try to control its movements. Use the command FASTER to urge it to greater speed, SLOWER to try to slow it down, and LEFT and RIGHT to try to shift the direction it's moving in.)

Deep Forest (on Fred, facing east and stopped)
The breeze blowing the tops of the thickly-clustered kauri makes the few flashes of light dance and whirl around you. The trail is all but lost here. A tall, sheer, charcoal-gray ridge stretches as far as you can see from the east to the west.
action: Go east
response: You can't directly make Fred move to a compass direction. Use FASTER, SLOWER, LEFT, and RIGHT instead.
action: Faster
response: With some nervousness, you give Fred's flanks a bit of a kick, like you were riding a horse. For a moment, Fred doesn't move -- just stands there -- and a moment of doubt creeps in. What if the poachers find you while you're still just standing here? But then the beast lurches and you grab for a better handhold. It's stomping the ground with massive impacts, alternating sides and tossing its head, dancing a war-dance -- its own haka. It starts walking at a meandering pace, paralleling the rock wall.
action: Left
response: You reach forward, lean to your left, and try to pull the bony plate of Fred's head to get it to go to the left. It reluctantly turns to the northeast. It snorts in mild irritation.
action: Left
response: You reach forward, lean to your left, and try to pull the bony plate of Fred's head to get it to go to the left. It slowly complies, turning to the north. It then lowers its head to munch a few ferns.
action: Faster
response: Although you're somewhat afraid of irritating it, you give Fred's flanks a bit of a kick, like you were riding a horse. Unfortunately, it's currently looking in the direction of the rock wall, and so it just sits there, unmoving.
action: Right
response: You reach forward, lean to your right, and try to pull the bony plate of Fred's head to get it to go to the right. It reluctantly comes around to the northeast. It tosses its head a bit in apparent frustration.
action: Right
response: You reach forward, lean to your right, and try to pull the bony plate of Fred's head to get it to go to the right. It grumpily veers to the east, parallel to the rock wall. Then it shakes its head and knocks your hand loose.
action: Faster
response: With determination, you give Fred's flanks a bit of a kick, like you were riding a horse. For a moment, Fred doesn't move -- just stands there -- and a moment of doubt creeps in. What if the poachers find you while you're still just standing here? But then the beast lurches and you grab for a better handhold. It's stomping the ground with massive impacts, alternating sides and tossing its head, dancing a war-dance -- its own haka. It starts walking at a meandering pace, paralleling the rock wall.
action: Faster
response: Although you're somewhat afraid of irritating it, you urge Fred to greater speed with another kick. It speeds up to a trot, jolting your body with each impact of its feet, still paralleling the rock wall.
action: Faster
response: With determination, you kick again, hoping to spur Fred out of its jolting trot. Unfortunately, the notoceratops doesn't seem to want to go any faster in the thick forest.
action: Look around
response: Deep Forest (on Fred, facing east and trotting)
The breeze blowing the tops of the thickly-clustered kauri makes the few flashes of light dance and whirl around you. The trail is all but lost here. A tall, sheer, charcoal-gray ridge stretches as far as you can see from the east to the west.
action: You wait a while
response: You hold on and allow Fred to continue doing what it's doing.
action: Right
response: You reach forward, lean to your right, and try to pull the bony plate of Fred's head to get it to go to the right. It reluctantly comes around to the southeast, crashing through undergrowth and jarring you with each step. As you continue, you come across ruts in the ground that were obviously made by vehicles, and before long you're following the wide trail back toward the poacher camp.

They almost got me in the forest; my only chance is to get through to the shore where their boats are...

From up ahead, you see the glow of headlights. In a moment, it resolves into one of the poachers' jeeps bouncing over the rutted trail.
action: You look around
response: Wide Trail (on Fred, facing southeast and trotting)
This makeshift dirt road has obviously seen heavy use by large vehicles. Deep, bare ruts push through a jumble of slashed plants and trees. The trail leads from the forest to the northwest to the poachers' camp to the southeast.

The jeep closes, almost upon you. You can see the men on the sides moving frantically, likely getting their guns ready to shoot.
action: Left
response: You reach forward, lean to your left, and try to pull the bony plate of Fred's head to get it to go to the left. It grumpily turns to the east, leaving the ruts and bashing back into the forest. Unfortunately, you don't manage to disappear into the forest quite quickly enough to avoid a lucky shot from one of the men in the jeep, and you tumble to the forest floor, fatally injured.
action: Wait
response: You hold on and allow Fred to continue doing what it's doing. Unfortunately, it's not moving quickly enough to outpace the jeep, which quickly slews around. The armed men inside get several good shots off as you trot down the trail, and one of them gets lucky.
action: Faster
response: Although you're somewhat afraid of irritating it, you kick again, hoping to spur Fred out of its jolting trot. It responds, speeding up to a full, charging run! You can barely hold on as it hurtles onward toward the poacher camp.

Poacher Camp (on Fred, facing southeast and running)
The poachers' camp borders the wilderness here. Deep ruts in the ground mark the likely spot where their vehicle is parked when it's not in use. One large tent lies to the south. To the northwest a crude road leads back into the forest, and you could also reach the forest to the southwest over a short rise and across a stretch of open field. The main portion of the camp is to the east.

One of the remaining jeeps roars into life, several armed men hanging on as the driver spins the wheel and tries to cut you off. The jeep is just to the left of Fred's head, blocking the way into the center of the poacher encampment.
action: Right
response: You reach forward, lean to your right, and try to pull the bony plate of Fred's head to get it to go to the right. For a moment you're not sure it's going to cooperate, but at the last minute Fred veers off to the south, headed for the large barracks tent. You hear a few gunshots behind you, but they don't seem to hit you. You barrel though the tent, pulling the heavy fabric down and quickly ensnaring even the powerful notoceratops. You don't get a chance to find out what the poachers might do to you, as Fred, in its futile thrashing attempts to escape, crushes the life out of you.
action: Left
response: You reach forward, lean to your left, and try to pull the bony plate of Fred's head to get it to go to the left. For a moment you're not sure it's going to cooperate -- that it's finally had enough of you tugging and prodding at it -- but at the last minute Fred lowers its massive head, puts on an extra burst of speed, bellows in fury, and charges to the left. You catch one glimpse of the men on the jeep, eyes wide, raising their hands in a futile instinctive attempt to ward off the charging beast. And then you're upon them, Fred's bony head slamming into the side of the jeep with a tremendous crash as you brace against the shock. The impact knocks the jeep clear over onto its side and sends men sprawling in all directions! You're thrown forward by the impact and take quite a thump from the back of the dinosaur's bony head plate. You start to slip off to the right, but manage to hang on -- barely -- with one hand.

The jeep's engine cuts out with a heavy sound of clunking metal, and before any of the men can even lift their heads from the ground, you and Fred barrel east into the center of the camp.

Fred barrels into the center of the camp in a berserk fury, charging at the tents and lashing out at the cages, whirling and stomping in a frenzy. You hold on for dear life, but when the taniwha rears and twists almost completely around, your grip loosens and you spin to the ground in a painful heap. You scramble to the side to avoid being trampled.

This seems to be the center of the poachers' encampment. A banked campfire is in the center of a small cleared space here, a small, newer tent is set up to the north, and a collection of large cages is set to the south. To the east, a short trail leads down a slope to a beach, where the poachers keep their boats.

In the general chaos you think you might again slip away unnoticed, but one of the cowering poachers to the west has apparently spotted you and is moving to intercept as Fred continues its destructive frenzy. You quickly shift to the side to avoid being stepped on, and consider your possible escape routes.
action: Go north
response: You duck into the remains of the private tent to the north, hoping to hide and wait out the destruction. However, the notoceratops decides that the tent is not flat enough yet, and charges again, trampling you as well as a footlocker and camp stove.
action: Go south
response: You duck into one of the cages, figuring that it should be safe from the rampaging notoceratops. Unfortunately, it also neatly traps you, and the poacher quickly slams shut the door and locks it again. Once order is restored, you don't stay a prisoner for long. However, you don't stay alive for long either.
action: Go east
response: You scramble in what seems to be the only safe direction -- down towards the beach. In all the confusion, you can't see whether you're being followed or not, but the chaos won't last forever. You scan the shoreline, evaluating your possible escape options.

This thin beach of grey sand curves around a shallow bay, with rough, broken rock blocking travel to the north and south. Waves lap at the shore in the mild breeze, rocking the boats moored here. A path rises up to the west towards the poachers' camp.

A fairly large and weathered transport ship is here, partially hidden under frayed camouflage netting.

A small speedboat, patched and covered with camouflage netting, is beached on the strand nearby.

As you move toward the shoreline, the poacher you noticed earlier crests the top of the ridge, rifle slung over his back. He scans the shore, stops when he sees you, and starts down at a jog, unlimbering his weapon.
action: You enter the speedboat
response: You climb into the speedboat and glance around to familiarize yourself with the controls.

The speedboat looks like it's seen better days -- its hull has been patched in numerous places and it's been covered with camouflage netting to keep it hidden. The motor looks pretty big, though. You're in a bit too much of a hurry to take much time going over the controls at this point, but the obvious ones include an ignition button and a steering wheel. A life preserver and attached coil of line sit at the aft end of the boat.

The armed man starts to run, visibly agitated. "Get away from the boats, kid!" He snaps a shot at you, but he's not that good at shooting on the run, and he misses.
action: You pull the line
response: Another shot sings past your ear as you pull the line, life preserver, and Nagi into the boat. Wasting no time, you hunch back to the seat, plant yourself, and slam the lever all the way to "H". The boat leaps forward, throwing water into the sky and pushing a huge wake out to the sides as you rocket out into the bay, leaving the poacher on shore with no shot but wild ones. You can feel a power -- strong mana surrounding you with destiny, and you know somehow that his shots will lack all potency against you.

Nagi scampers forward and leaps onto your shoulder, dripping seawater and chattering in ecstasy as you slew the craft towards the south. You know how it's going to be -- you'll make it back to Eruera, pick him up, and head for the closest Conservation Service coastal watch station. You know it, and as the air and sea rush past you, you seem to see the little Maori boy off on the horizon, smiling his wild, triumphant smile. You can feel his presence all the way as you roar down to the familiar shore where Eruera waits for you, waving and laughing in amazement, ready to hear your tale and leave this coast with you to find the station and rescue and, with luck, some justice.
action: Epilogue
response: "The helicopter's just ahead, Tim." Eruera's crutch slows him down just a bit, but you still have to trot a little to keep up. You stop at the edge of the clearing, and Eruera turns to you and gently lifts Nagi from your shoulder. "I'll take care of Nagi for you until next year, OK?" He smiles reassuringly and claps your shoulder. "And don't worry, she'll remember you! These little ones do not often take a liking to people, but once they do their loyalty is legendary."

You pet Nagi for a while, and she chirps and bleeks contentedly as you blink away some dust the helicopter must have kicked up when it landed. It's time, I guess. You shake Eruera's hand, turn away, and push through the growing wind as the helicopter's blades begin to spin up. As you approach, the pilot pushes the cockpit door open and beckons you aboard, a lopsided smile on his face. You step up, fasten your harness, and put on your helmet. Once the intercom is enabled, the pilot speaks. "So, you are the notorious Tim Cooper? The pkeh toa that caught the taniwha raiders?"

"Yes, I'm Tim."

The helicopter rises into the air and you wave at Eruera and Nagi as you tilt forward and pick up speed. "Kia ora, Tim! Good to have you aboard! We'll get you over to headquarters in about 45 minutes!" Very little time before you get to New Port Nelson and start your long hours of official debriefing and depositions.

You take a moment to reflect back on the last two weeks. The memories blur together, but your almost unrecognizable Program t-shirt reads like a diary -- rips and green stains from the amazing adventure of that first day, grease spots from the paua skewers you scarfed down at the crazy celebratory beach barbecue after your rescue, the giant mudstain when you skidded down thirty steep feet of Te Apiti ravine on your back and side, in hot pursuit of a group of spiny-backed taniwha.

The clearing is nothing but a light green dot in the darker green of the forest, far behind you, and you slump back in your seat. You can't believe it's over already; it seems like only a day or two since you got here. But you hold tight to one hope. Eruera was sure you could come back next year. "They're going to remember the name 'Tim Cooper'," he said, grinning. "I'll make sure of that! All you have to do is get your application in next year and you'll be on your way back." Back in the forest, back working with the taniwha and the Conservation Service. Back with Nagi. A year isn't so long to wait, right?

Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, QUIT, UNDO the last command, or read the EPILOGUE?