Ether
by MathBrush (2015)

For the first time in centuries, something is different. Your tentacles tingle as you float to the east past icebergs and whirlwinds. You skirt a pocket of hot air, bounce through a field of ice, and finally come upon a massive stormcloud filling the sky to the east.

action: %
response: "Year after year beheld the silent toil
That spread his lustrous coil;
Still, as the spiral grew,
He left the past year's dwelling for the new,
Stole with soft step its shining archway through,
Built up its idle door,
Stretched in his last-found home, and knew the old no more."

--From "The Chambered Nautilus", by Oliver Wendell Homes

For the first time in centuries, something is different. Your tentacles tingle as you float to the east past icebergs and whirlwinds. You skirt a pocket of hot air, bounce through a field of ice, and finally come upon a massive stormcloud filling the sky to the east.

There it is. Glinting red below you and heading this way.

A jet through the atmosphere. Version 2. by Brian Rushton

The wild sky stretches off forever in all directions. To the far east, storm clouds boil. To the far west, the sky is gentle and open. To the far north, icebergs float amid the clouds. To the far south, patches of steam whirl in vortices. Far above you, the air becomes thinner near the top of the world. Far below you lies a blanket of thicker air.

The temperature is pleasant and mild. You feel a mild breeze. The air pressure matches your natural buoyancy.

A chunk of glowing red ice shoots out of the frozen clouds to the north, far below you, and starts to slowly rise. The ice glows strangely.

[If you are playing Ether for the first time, you are strongly encouraged to type in ABOUT].
action: About yourself
response: Your tentacles wiggle with excitement. Your shell gleams in the bright glow from the south.

The chunk of red ice bobs upward. It now lies far to the north and far below you.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying nothing except a relentless sense of determination.

The chunk of red ice bobs upward. It now lies far to the north and below you.
action: M.
response: You burst west through a small patch of cloud.

There is a faint breeze.

The chunk of red ice bobs upward. It now lies far to the north, slightly to the east, and slightly below you.
action: M.
response: You lazily swim west through the air.

The wind here is slower and mild. Unlike the other directions, you notice that the west is peaceful, clear, and free, with gentle air and thick, pillowy cloud formations that drift slowly by. You realize when you see it how deeply tired you are. You shake yourself, determined to press on.

The chunk of red ice bobs upward. It now lies far to the north and to the east.
action: M.
response: You lazily swim west through the air.

The air flows slowly here, with torpid spirals that you idly spin in.

The chunk of red ice lies far to the north and far to the east.
action: M.
response: You jet swiftly west.

The air is still and peaceful. You find yourself tired, your tentacles drooping. Any further west and you might fall asleep.

The chunk of red ice lies far to the north and far to the east.
action: M.
response: You lazily swim west through the air.
action: Nd
response: You lazily swim northdown through the air.

The air is cool and fresh. You pause in awe at the wintry spectacle to the north. Massive pillowy clouds blot out the horizon, shedding enormous snowflakes that hurl about in blizzards to the northeast and clump together in snowbergs and icebergs to the northwest. Even here, close to you, a few small snowflakes spill out and dance around you. The air becomes noticeably chiller to the north.

The air weighs on your shell a bit more than usual.

The chunk of red ice bobs upward. It now lies far to the north and below you.
action: Nd
response: You lazily swim northdown through the air.

You feel a chill in the air.

You notice that the air is thicker than usual down here. The air far below you is so compressed and thick that it has become liquid, its surface constantly bubbling and popping. Even here, much higher, you can feel a slight, uncomfortable pressure on your shell..

The chunk of red ice bobs upward. It now lies to the north.
action: You go north
response: You lazily swim north through the air.

Thin snowflakes litter the air here. Puffs of mist come from your gills.

The chunk of red ice bobs upward. It now lies slightly to the north and slightly above you.
action: Nu
response: You burst northup through a small patch of cloud.

Thick frost clusters on your shell and sticks your tentacles together. You may not be able to go any further to the north.

The air weighs on your shell a bit more than usual.

The chunk of red ice bobs upward. It now lies slightly above you.
action: You go upwards
response: You jet swiftly up.

The air pressure matches your natural buoyancy.

The chunk of red ice is right next to you.
action: You take the ice
response: Taken.

You have it! You still remember the day you gave it up, streams of red magic flowing out of you, coalescing into this form. You threw it deep into the icy maelstrom of the world, knowing you would fear to come here until you had mastered this airy realm.

You just need to melt the ice to release the energy. The hot air to the south should do the trick.
action: Go south
response: You recklessly coast about as you fly south.

Thin snowflakes litter the air here. Puffs of mist come from your gills.
action: Go south
response: You lazily swim south through the air.

You feel a chill in the air.
action: Go south
response: You jet swiftly south.

The air is cool and fresh.
action: Go south
response: You spin slightly as you glide south.

The temperature is pleasant and mild.
action: You go to the south
response: You burst south through a small patch of cloud.

The air is warm and moist.

The chunk of red ice is melting slowly.
action: Go south
response: You jet swiftly south.

The air is hot and humid here, in stark contrast to the north. The southern horizon is filled with nebulous masses that glow red and churn slowly, occasionally flaring out bursts of steam. A dry heat bakes your tentacles, only to be suddenly replaced by a shell-drenching humidity that is quickly swept away. The air gets quite a bit hotter to the south, although it is still manageable.

The chunk of red ice is melting rapidly.
action: You examine the ice
response: A small chunk of cold red ice pulsing with magical power. You remember...

You were new to this world, and its strong winds and extreme environment frightened you at first. You felt out of control and lost. You thought of leaving, of giving up, of admitting you had made a mistake. You even began preparing the great door to your next home.

But you changed your mind at the last minute. You would make a home here, and you would not leave until you mastered this realm. So you took the power, the world-power, the summoning-power, the mind-power, and bound it in this crystal until it was time.

But the time is now.

The chunk of red ice is partially melted.

The chunk of red ice is melting rapidly.
action: Wait
response: Time passes.

The chunk of red ice has now melted completely.

The now-free magic flows in blood-red streams into you. You feel the power coursing through your veins, more than you can remember feeling in a long, long time. Enough to summon what you need. It is time to move on. You exert your will, and the world answers.

Nervously, you wait. You never know what the portal to the next world will be like. Once, it was just a door. The next time, it was a seed that grew into a hollow tree. Once, it was a mechanical crocodile; you spent weeks in its belly as it voyaged between worlds.

Slowly, out of the top of the storm cloud to the east, a shape coalesces. The world has chosen to represent the way out as a scroll.

The scroll, a small piece of paper, is thrown violently into your view by the storm. It lies close to the top of the storm cloud. You find it odd that the scroll formed so far from you.
action: Up
response: You burst up through a small patch of cloud.

The air is a bit thin up here.

The scroll sinks lower in the air. It now lies to the north, far to the east, and above you.
action: Neu
response: You lazily swim northeastup through the air.

The air is warm and moist.

The brisk wind ruffles your tentacles.

The atmosphere is weak and thin here. You look up, and far above you, the clouds and snowflakes and all other details that enrich this world slowly phase out into empty nothingness. Here, where you are, the air is thin, but you can still manage to go up a bit further.

The scroll sinks lower in the air. It now lies slightly to the north and far to the east.
action: You go to the northeast
response: You jet swiftly northeast.

The temperature is pleasant and mild.

The stiff wind blows you off course for a moment. You struggle to remain in place. A particularly nasty blast of wind comes from the east, whose vast space is filled by colossal black stormclouds constantly shredded by small tornadoes and gales. Occasional lightning bolts flash, followed by deep grumbling thunder. Even this far away, the wind is still uncomfortably strong.

The scroll sinks lower in the air. It now lies to the east and slightly below you.
action: Ed
response: You lazily swim eastdown through the air.

A gale blows here, making it difficult to fly. You feel your shell trembling.

The air is a bit thin up here.

The scroll sinks lower in the air. It now lies slightly to the east and slightly below you.
action: Ed
response: You lazily swim eastdown through the air.

Terrifying winds buffet you about. You revel in the excitement, but know that you may not be able to withstand stronger winds.

The air pressure matches your natural buoyancy.

The scroll is right next to you.
action: You get the scroll
response: Taken.

The strong wind whips the scroll about violently. You need to find a quieter location if you want to read it. The scroll looks odd.

The howling storm threatens to rip the scroll from your tentacles.
action: You go to the south-west
response: You jet swiftly southwest.

The air is warm and moist.

A gale blows here, making it difficult to fly. You feel your shell trembling.

The gale twists the paper about, rendering it impossible to read.
action: You go west
response: You spin slightly as you glide west.

The stiff wind blows you off course for a moment. You struggle to remain in place.

The stiff wind flips the paper here and there.
action: You go southwest
response: You spin slightly as you glide southwest.

The air is hot and humid.

The brisk wind ruffles your tentacles.

The breeze rustles the scroll about.
action: M.
response: You burst west through a small patch of cloud.

You feel a mild breeze.

Your tentacles have difficulty keeping the paper still in the light breeze.
action: Go west
response: You jet swiftly west.

There is a faint breeze.

The scroll is calmer now, but still flits fitfully.
action: You go to the west
response: You jet swiftly west.

The wind here is slower and mild. Unlike the other directions, you notice that the west is peaceful, clear, and free, with gentle air and thick, pillowy cloud formations that drift slowly by. You realize when you see it how deeply tired you are. You shake yourself, determined to press on.

Frustratingly, the scroll is so fragile that it ripples slightly in the wind. You can almost make out a word or two.
action: You go to the west
response: You jet swiftly west.

The air flows slowly here, with torpid spirals that you idly spin in.

The scroll lies still, and can now be read.
action: You read the scroll
response: Finally, the scroll stops fluttering long enough for you to read it. It has taken the appearance of an old roll of vellum, ripped at the edges and slightly musty.

It contains a list of items and requirements to travel to your next world. As you continue to read, you realize with surprise that you will not just be travelling to the next world.

You will be creating it.

You read to the end. Nervously, you begin the first step. With a snap of your tentacles, the scroll disappears. To begin your world, you have to have something, and you have to have nothing; the light and the dark. Again you call on the red magic, and the world responds grudgingly.

Slowly, a ball of pure light forms far below you. Simultaneously, a smear of pure darkness forms far above you. In a short time, the ball of light resolves into a glowing jellyfish, in form like those you used to hunt worlds ago. The darkness resolves into an ebony chunk of coral.

The jellyfish of light bobs upward. It now lies far to the east and far below you.

The coral of darkness sinks lower in the air. It now lies to the north, far to the east, and far above you.
action: You go to the jellyfish
response: You spin slightly as you glide eastdown.

The wind here is slower and mild.

The air weighs on your shell a bit more than usual.

The jellyfish of light bobs upward. It now lies far to the east and slightly below you.

The coral of darkness sinks lower in the air. It now lies to the north, to the east, and far above you.
action: You go to the jellyfish
response: You lazily swim eastdown through the air.

There is a faint breeze.

You notice that the air is thicker than usual down here.

The jellyfish of light bobs upward. It now lies far to the east and slightly above you.

The coral of darkness sinks lower in the air. It now lies to the north, slightly to the east, and far above you.
action: You go to jellyfish
response: You lazily swim eastup through the air.

You feel a mild breeze.

The air weighs on your shell a bit more than usual.

The jellyfish of light bobs upward. It now lies far to the east and slightly above you.

The coral of darkness sinks lower in the air. It now lies to the north and slightly above you.
action: You go to the jellyfish
response: You spin slightly as you glide eastup.

The brisk wind ruffles your tentacles.

The air pressure matches your natural buoyancy.

The jellyfish of light bobs upward. It now lies to the east and slightly above you.

The coral of darkness sinks lower in the air. It now lies to the north, slightly to the west, and slightly below you.
action: You examine the self
response: Your tentacles wiggle with excitement. Your shell gleams in the bright glow from the south.

The jellyfish of light bobs upward. It now lies to the east and above you.

The coral of darkness sinks lower in the air. It now lies to the north, slightly to the west, and below you.
action: You go to the jellyfish
response: You burst eastup through a small patch of cloud.

The stiff wind blows you off course for a moment. You struggle to remain in place.

The air is a bit thin up here.

The jellyfish of light bobs upward. It now lies slightly to the east and above you.

The coral of darkness sinks lower in the air. It now lies to the north, to the west, and far below you.
action: Again
response: You jet swiftly eastup.

A gale blows here, making it difficult to fly. You feel your shell trembling.

The atmosphere is weak and thin here.

The jellyfish of light bobs upward. It now lies above you.

The coral of darkness sinks lower in the air. It now lies to the north, far to the west, and far below you.
action: Again
response: You burst up through a small patch of cloud.

You find yourself slightly drowsy in the thin air.

The jellyfish of light bobs upward. It now lies above you.

The coral of darkness sinks lower in the air. It now lies to the north, far to the west, and far below you.

The jellyfish sails out of your reach above you. You summon another, but you feel resistance from this world, and your power grows weaker. Slowly, grudgingly, another jellyfish forms, far below you, and begins to rise.

The coral sinks into the darkness below. You summon another, but you feel resistance from this world, and your power grows weaker. Slowly, grudgingly, another coral forms, far above you, and begins to sink down.
action: Down
response: You spin slightly as you glide down.

The atmosphere is weak and thin here.

The jellyfish of light bobs upward. It now lies far below you.

The coral of darkness sinks lower in the air. It now lies to the north, far to the west, and slightly above you.
action: Down
response: You burst down through a small patch of cloud.

The air is a bit thin up here.

The jellyfish of light bobs upward. It now lies far below you.

The coral of darkness sinks lower in the air. It now lies to the north, far to the west, and slightly above you.
action: Down
response: You lazily swim down through the air.

The air pressure matches your natural buoyancy.

The jellyfish of light bobs upward. It now lies slightly below you.

The coral of darkness sinks lower in the air. It now lies to the north, far to the west, and slightly above you.
action: Down
response: You burst down through a small patch of cloud.

The air weighs on your shell a bit more than usual.

The jellyfish of light bobs upward. It now lies slightly above you.

The coral of darkness sinks lower in the air. It now lies to the north, far to the west, and slightly above you.
action: Up
response: You spin slightly as you glide up.

The air pressure matches your natural buoyancy.

The jellyfish of light bobs upward. It now lies slightly above you.

The coral of darkness sinks lower in the air. It now lies to the north, far to the west, and slightly below you.
action: You wait
response: Time passes.

The jellyfish of light bobs upward. It is right next to you.

The coral of darkness sinks lower in the air. It now lies to the north and far to the west.
action: You get jellyfish
response: As you grab the jellyfish, it pulses a bright flash of light, and the coral pulses a deep black echo. When it sees the dark flash, the jellyfish begins to wiggle and squirm, almost escaping. You can feel in it an overwhelming urge to rush towards the coral, to combine violently with it.

Unexpectedly, a tongue of black, smoky cloud from the east bursts towards the coral, engulfing it. When it withdraws, you see that the coral has become a nautilus, like you, but dark and nebulous, with glints of red ice for eyes.

The jellyfish squirms and wiggles in your tentacles. It pulls towards the black nautilus so hard that you have to use all your strength to restrain it.

The nautilus flees upward! Now it lies to the north, to the west, and above you.
action: You go to Nautilus
response: You jet swiftly northwestup.

The air is warm and moist.

The stiff wind blows you off course for a moment. You struggle to remain in place.

The air is a bit thin up here.

The jellyfish squirms and wiggles in your tentacles. It pulls towards the black nautilus so hard that you have to use all your strength to restrain it.

The nautilus flees upward! Now it lies to the north, to the west, and above you.
action: Nwu
response: You burst northwestup through a small patch of cloud.

The temperature is pleasant and mild.

The brisk wind ruffles your tentacles.

The atmosphere is weak and thin here.

The jellyfish squirms and wiggles in your tentacles. It pulls towards the black nautilus so hard that you have to use all your strength to restrain it.

The nautilus flees upward! Now it lies to the west and above you.
action: Wu
response: You jet swiftly westup.

You feel a mild breeze.

You find yourself slightly drowsy in the thin air.

The jellyfish squirms and wiggles in your tentacles. It pulls towards the black nautilus so hard that you have to use all your strength to restrain it.

The nautilus is too close to the jellyfish to escape. The jellyfish is ripped from your tentacles.

The jellyfish drifts uncontrollably closer to the nautilus, accelerating rapidly. You cringe and turn away, and an explosion hurls you about as a loud *CRACK* echoes through the sky as the two violently combine, releasing their energy.

You blink wearily and shake your tentacles. You blink again, closing your eyes, and they open somewhere else. At first there is nothing, and then you start to sense pulses and waves. Clouds of potential swarm around you, spiking in brilliant flashes here and there. Clouds rip into millions and billions and trillions of tiny pieces, rearrange, combine, flip in and out of reality. Your new world in its infant form lies before you.

You open your eyes, and they slowly adjust, returning to the world your body resides in. Slowly, a number of objects fade into view, archetypes summoned by this old world as building blocks and food for your new world. Vacuum, liquid, solid and gas lay before you.

But there is something odd; each is encased in a thick shell of a different kind. The vacuum is encased in a crystalline bottle; the solid metals are contained in a thick treasure chest, like the one you used on the desert world; the argon gas is contained in an organic flask, made from some sort of dense wood; and the liquid toluene is in a tea kettle, like the one you used on your birth world.

Your tentacles squirm uncomfortably. It is supposed to be much easier than this. Something about this world seems off today. You look at the maelstrom to the east, to the burning heat of the south and the freezing cold of the north. Then you understand...

This world doesn't want you to leave.

The bottle of vacuum lies to the south, far to the east, and far below you.

The chest of solid gold lies far to the south and far to the west.

The insulated flask of argon gas lies far below you.

The sealed kettle of liquid toluene lies slightly to the north, slightly to the west, and slightly below you.
action: You go to the flask
response: You spin slightly as you glide down.

The atmosphere is weak and thin here.

The bottle of vacuum bobs upward. It now lies to the south, far to the east, and far below you.

The chest of solid gold sinks lower in the air. It now lies far to the south and far to the west.

The insulated flask of argon gas bobs upward. It now lies far below you.

The sealed kettle of liquid toluene sinks lower in the air. It now lies slightly to the north, slightly to the west, and slightly below you.
action: You go to the flask
response: You spin slightly as you glide down.

The air is a bit thin up here.

The bottle of vacuum bobs upward. It now lies to the south, far to the east, and below you.

The chest of solid gold sinks lower in the air. It now lies far to the south and far to the west.

The insulated flask of argon gas bobs upward. It now lies slightly below you.

The sealed kettle of liquid toluene sinks lower in the air. It now lies slightly to the north, slightly to the west, and slightly below you.
action: You wait
response: Time passes.

The bottle of vacuum bobs upward. It now lies to the south, far to the east, and slightly below you.

The chest of solid gold sinks lower in the air. It now lies far to the south, far to the west, and slightly below you.

The insulated flask of argon gas lies slightly below you.

The sealed kettle of liquid toluene lies slightly to the north, slightly to the west, and slightly below you.
action: You wait
response: Time passes.

The bottle of vacuum bobs upward. It now lies to the south and far to the east.

The chest of solid gold sinks lower in the air. It now lies far to the south, far to the west, and below you.

The insulated flask of argon gas lies slightly below you.

The sealed kettle of liquid toluene lies slightly to the north, slightly to the west, and slightly below you.
action: You go to the flask
response: You jet swiftly down.

The air pressure matches your natural buoyancy.

The bottle of vacuum bobs upward. It now lies to the south, far to the east, and above you.

The chest of solid gold sinks lower in the air. It now lies far to the south, far to the west, and below you.

The insulated flask of argon gas is right next to you.

The sealed kettle of liquid toluene lies slightly to the north and slightly to the west.
action: You get the flask
response: Taken.

The bottle of vacuum bobs upward. It now lies to the south, far to the east, and far above you.

The chest of solid gold sinks lower in the air. It now lies far to the south, far to the west, and far below you.

The sealed kettle of liquid toluene lies slightly to the north and slightly to the west.
action: You go to vacuum
response: You burst southeastup through a small patch of cloud.

The air is warm and moist.

The brisk wind ruffles your tentacles.

The air is a bit thin up here.

The bottle of vacuum lies slightly to the south, far to the east, and above you.

The chest of solid gold sinks lower in the air. It now lies to the south, far to the west, and far below you.

The sealed kettle of liquid toluene lies to the north, to the west, and slightly below you.
action: You go to vacuum
response: You burst southeastup through a small patch of cloud.

The air is hot and humid.

The stiff wind blows you off course for a moment. You struggle to remain in place.

The atmosphere is weak and thin here.

The bottle of vacuum lies to the east and slightly above you.

The chest of solid gold lies slightly to the south, far to the west, and far below you.

The sealed kettle of liquid toluene lies far to the north, far to the west, and below you.

The flask creaks a little.
action: You go to vacuum
response: You jet swiftly eastup.

A gale blows here, making it difficult to fly. You feel your shell trembling.

You find yourself slightly drowsy in the thin air.

The bottle of vacuum lies slightly to the east.

The chest of solid gold lies slightly to the south, far to the west, and far below you.

The sealed kettle of liquid toluene lies far to the north, far to the west, and far below you.

The flask cracks and pops a bit as the pressure inside builds up.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
an insulated flask of argon gas

The bottle of vacuum lies slightly to the east.

The chest of solid gold lies slightly to the south, far to the west, and far below you.

The sealed kettle of liquid toluene lies far to the north, far to the west, and far below you.

The flask cracks and pops a bit as the pressure inside builds up.
action: Getyerflask
response: SAVEOk.
action: You look
response: The wild sky stretches off forever in all directions. To the far east, storm clouds boil. To the far west, the sky is gentle and open. To the far north, icebergs float amid the clouds. To the far south, patches of steam whirl in vortices. Far above you, the air becomes thinner near the top of the world. Far below you lies a blanket of thicker air.

The air is hot and humid. A gale blows here, making it difficult to fly. You feel your shell trembling. You find yourself slightly drowsy in the thin air.

The bottle of vacuum lies slightly to the east.

The chest of solid gold lies slightly to the south, far to the west, and far below you.

The sealed kettle of liquid toluene lies far to the north, far to the west, and far below you.

The flask cracks and pops a bit as the pressure inside builds up.
action: Go east
response: You lazily swim east through the air.

Terrifying winds buffet you about. You revel in the excitement, but know that you may not be able to withstand stronger winds.

The bottle of vacuum is right next to you.

The chest of solid gold lies slightly to the south, far to the west, and far below you.

The sealed kettle of liquid toluene lies far to the north, far to the west, and far below you.

The flask cracks and pops a bit as the pressure inside builds up.
action: You get the vacuum
response: Your tentacles have difficulty carrying that many objects at once.

The bottle of vacuum is right next to you.

The chest of solid gold lies slightly to the south, far to the west, and far below you.

The sealed kettle of liquid toluene lies far to the north, far to the west, and far below you.

The flask cracks and pops a bit as the pressure inside builds up.
action: Up
response: You lazily swim up through the air.

You struggle mightily to keep alert and aloft in the thin atmosphere. You may not be able to go any higher.

The bottle of vacuum lies slightly below you.

The chest of solid gold lies slightly to the south, far to the west, and far below you.

The sealed kettle of liquid toluene lies far to the north, far to the west, and far below you.

The pressure of the gas ruptures the flask. The gas fluoresces fitfully as sparks of lightning consume it and the flask.

Again, you sense the new world. A strong atmosphere springs into place, like the world you are in now. You see powerful storms sending down torrents of rain. You see enormous clouds floating in the sky. You see light spreading and filling the world, turning the sky blue or red.

You return to the old world. The gas flows and surrounds you, then is sucked into your shell. You now have the ability to rocket about;
type "ROCKET [DIRECTION]" to go as far as you can in that
direction.

This world rumbles and shakes, grudging you your success. The maelstrom to the east boils up in massive black clouds. Lightning strikes out in several directions, some smashing icebergs, others lighting up the underbellies of clouds.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying nothing except a relentless sense of determination.

The bottle of vacuum lies slightly below you.

The chest of solid gold lies slightly to the south, far to the west, and far below you.

The sealed kettle of liquid toluene lies far to the north, far to the west, and far below you.

A thick finger of black cloud stretches out from the east and flicks at you. The cloud narrowly misses you, cracking the air to your side.
action: Down
response: You spin slightly as you glide down.

You find yourself slightly drowsy in the thin air.

The bottle of vacuum is right next to you.

The chest of solid gold lies slightly to the south, far to the west, and far below you.

The sealed kettle of liquid toluene lies far to the north, far to the west, and far below you.

A thick finger of black cloud stretches out from the east and flicks at you. The cloud narrowly misses you, cracking the air to your side.
action: You get the vacuum
response: Taken.

The chest of solid gold lies slightly to the south, far to the west, and far below you.

The sealed kettle of liquid toluene lies far to the north, far to the west, and far below you.
action: Rocket up
response: You rocket up as far as you safely can.

The air is hot and humid. Terrifying winds buffet you about. You revel in the excitement, but know that you may not be able to withstand stronger winds. You struggle mightily to keep alert and aloft in the thin atmosphere. You may not be able to go any higher.

The chest of solid gold lies slightly to the south, far to the west, and far below you.

The sealed kettle of liquid toluene lies far to the north, far to the west, and far below you.
action: Rocket down
response: You rocket down as far as you safely can.

The air is hot and humid. Terrifying winds buffet you about. You revel in the excitement, but know that you may not be able to withstand stronger winds. The thick air squeezes your shell from all sides. You find yourself somewhat uncomfortable, and wonder if your shell could take any more pressure.

The chest of solid gold lies slightly to the south and far to the west.

The sealed kettle of liquid toluene lies far to the north, far to the west, and far above you.

The intense pressure crushes the crystal bottle. With a loud "pop", the vacuum collapses, and the crystal shards are compressed to a small point, vanishing.

As the bottle shatters, the vision of the new world springs into your view again. Like an explosion, the bounds of the world shatter, and a vacuum-filled space expands exponentially faster and faster away from your world, sprouting stars, nebulae, and suns. This new world will be bigger than any you have created before.

You absorb the power of the vacuum inside of you. You can now draw
all objects towards you. Type "VACUUM" to attract objects. The air around you starts slowly drifting towards you, absorbing into your shell, increasing in speed until a steady stream of air is pulling all visible objects to you.

You sense intense anger as you take yet another step towards leaving. The blanket of thick air below you begins to bubble and boil. A thick globule of air rises slowly before popping uncomfortably close to you.
action: Vacuum
response: The sealed kettle of liquid toluene and chest of solid gold are pulled a bit closer to you.

The chest of solid gold moves northeast, towards you. It now lies far to the west.

The sealed kettle of liquid toluene moves southeast, towards you. It sinks lower in the air. It now lies to the north, far to the west, and far above you.
action: Vacuum
response: The sealed kettle of liquid toluene and chest of solid gold are pulled a bit closer to you.

The chest of solid gold moves east, towards you. It now lies far to the west.

The sealed kettle of liquid toluene moves southeast, towards you. It sinks lower in the air. It now lies slightly to the north, far to the west, and above you.

Another globule of air boils out from below and rushes at you. Before you can move, it pops, dazing you for a second.
action: Vacuum
response: The sealed kettle of liquid toluene and chest of solid gold are pulled a bit closer to you.

The chest of solid gold moves east, towards you. It now lies far to the west.

The sealed kettle of liquid toluene moves southeast, towards you. It sinks lower in the air. It now lies to the west and slightly above you.
action: Vacuum
response: The sealed kettle of liquid toluene and chest of solid gold are pulled a bit closer to you.

The chest of solid gold moves east, towards you. It now lies far to the west.

The sealed kettle of liquid toluene moves east, towards you. It sinks lower in the air. It now lies slightly to the west.
action: You go to the west
response: You lazily swim west through the air.

A gale blows here, making it difficult to fly. You feel your shell trembling.

The chest of solid gold lies far to the west.

The sealed kettle of liquid toluene bobs upward. It now lies slightly above you.
action: Go west
response: You burst west through a small patch of cloud.

The stiff wind blows you off course for a moment. You struggle to remain in place.

The chest of solid gold lies to the west.

The sealed kettle of liquid toluene bobs upward. It now lies slightly to the east and above you.
action: Vacuum
response: The sealed kettle of liquid toluene and chest of solid gold are pulled a bit closer to you.

The chest of solid gold moves east, towards you. It now lies slightly to the west.

The sealed kettle of liquid toluene moves west, towards you. It sinks lower in the air. It now lies slightly above you.
action: Vacuum
response: The sealed kettle of liquid toluene and chest of solid gold are pulled a bit closer to you.

The chest of solid gold moves east, towards you. It is right next to you.

The sealed kettle of liquid toluene sinks lower in the air. It is right next to you.

The stiff wind makes the hinges of chest creak.
action: You get the chest
response: Taken.

The sealed kettle of liquid toluene bobs upward. It now lies slightly above you.

The stiff wind makes the hinges of the chest creak.

Another globule of air boils out from below and rushes at you. Before you can move, it pops, sending everything you are carrying
flying.
action: You look
response: The wild sky stretches off forever in all directions. To the far east, storm clouds boil. To the far west, the sky is gentle and open. To the far north, icebergs float amid the clouds. To the far south, patches of steam whirl in vortices. Far above you, the air becomes thinner near the top of the world. Below you lies a blanket of thicker air. The world is agitated, with globules of thicker air floating from below and exploding, as violent eddies swirl from the east.

The air is hot and humid. The stiff wind blows you off course for a moment. You struggle to remain in place. The thick air squeezes your shell from all sides. You find yourself somewhat uncomfortable, and wonder if your shell could take any more pressure.

The chest of solid gold sinks lower in the air. It now lies to the south.

The sealed kettle of liquid toluene bobs upward. It now lies above you.

The stiff wind makes the hinges of chest creak.
action: Go south
response: You spin slightly as you glide south.

The chest of solid gold lies slightly to the south.

The sealed kettle of liquid toluene bobs upward. It now lies slightly to the north and far above you.

The stiff wind makes the hinges of chest creak.

Another globule of air boils out from below and rushes at you. It bursts in a loud explosion close to you. The explosion rocks you, but you avoid the brunt of it.
action: You go to the south
response: You lazily swim south through the air.

Thin strands of steam are leaking from your tentacles. You may not be able to withstand further heat.

The chest of solid gold is right next to you.

The sealed kettle of liquid toluene bobs upward. It now lies to the north and far above you.

The stiff wind makes the hinges of chest creak.
action: You get the chest
response: Taken.

The sealed kettle of liquid toluene lies to the north and far above you.

The stiff wind makes the hinges of the chest creak.

Another globule of air boils out from below and rushes at you. It bursts in a loud explosion close to you. The explosion rocks you, but you avoid the brunt of it.
action: Rocket west
response: You rocket west as far as you safely can.

Thin strands of steam are leaking from your tentacles. You may not be able to withstand further heat. The air is still and peaceful. You find yourself tired, your tentacles drooping. Any further west and you might fall asleep. The thick air squeezes your shell from all sides. You find yourself somewhat uncomfortable, and wonder if your shell could take any more pressure.

The sealed kettle of liquid toluene lies to the north, far to the east, and far above you.
action: Rocket east
response: You rocket east as far as you safely can.

Thin strands of steam are leaking from your tentacles. You may not be able to withstand further heat. Terrifying winds buffet you about. You revel in the excitement, but know that you may not be able to withstand stronger winds. The thick air squeezes your shell from all sides. You find yourself somewhat uncomfortable, and wonder if your shell could take any more pressure.

The sealed kettle of liquid toluene lies to the north, to the west, and far above you.

The extreme wind rips the hinges off the chest. Gold nuggets and coins spill out and spiral through the air before disappearing in a flash along with the chest.

The old world fades for a moment as the new world enters your view. You feel enormous weight as a thick core of iron builds up in the center of your world, hot and mobile. More and more molten rock piles on, the outsides cooling, popping and cracking into seams of quartz, basalt, silver, and gold. Your new world will have a solid foundation. The visions of the new world fade away.

As they disappear, you feel a power coursing through your tentacles. They strengthen and harden. You now have the ability to crush
objects instead of moving them around. To crush an object, type "CRUSH [OBJECT]". You must be carrying an object before you can crush it.

The world explodes in fury. An enormous bolt of lightning rockets from east to west, sending a thunderclap echoing throughout the world. A wave of steaming air rolls from the south to the north. You are tossed about for a second. The lightning bolt has temporarily blinded you, but it quickly wears off.

Another globule of air boils out from below and rushes at you. Before you can move, it pops, dazing you for a second.
action: Vacuum
response: The sealed kettle of liquid toluene is pulled a bit closer to you.

The sealed kettle of liquid toluene moves southeast, towards you. It sinks lower in the air. It now lies slightly to the north, slightly to the west, and far above you.
action: Vacuum
response: The sealed kettle of liquid toluene is pulled a bit closer to you.

The sealed kettle of liquid toluene moves southeast, towards you. It sinks lower in the air. It now lies above you.

The liquid boils in the kettle, causing intense pressure. However, the walls still hold. It may need a little something more to release the liquid.
action: Vacuum
response: The sealed kettle of liquid toluene is pulled a bit closer to you.

The sealed kettle of liquid toluene sinks lower in the air. It now lies slightly above you.

The liquid boils in the kettle, causing intense pressure. However, the walls still hold. It may need a little something more to release the liquid.
action: You get the kettle
response: That's too far away!

The sealed kettle of liquid toluene bobs upward. It now lies above you.

The liquid boils in the kettle, causing intense pressure. However, the walls still hold. It may need a little something more to release the liquid.
action: You go to the kettle
response: You lazily swim up through the air.

The air is soupy and uncomfortably thick down here.

The sealed kettle of liquid toluene bobs upward. It now lies above you.

The liquid boils in the kettle, causing intense pressure. However, the walls still hold. It may need a little something more to release the liquid.
action: You go to the kettle
response: You burst up through a small patch of cloud.

You notice that the air is thicker than usual down here.

The sealed kettle of liquid toluene bobs upward. It now lies above you.

The liquid boils in the kettle, causing intense pressure. However, the walls still hold. It may need a little something more to release the liquid.
action: You go to kettle
response: You lazily swim up through the air.

The air weighs on your shell a bit more than usual.

The sealed kettle of liquid toluene lies slightly above you.

The liquid boils in the kettle, causing intense pressure. However, the walls still hold. It may need a little something more to release the liquid.

Another globule of air boils out from below and rushes at you. It bursts in a loud explosion close to you. The explosion rocks you, but you avoid the brunt of it.
action: Vacuum
response: The sealed kettle of liquid toluene is pulled a bit closer to you.

The sealed kettle of liquid toluene sinks lower in the air. It is right next to you.

The liquid boils in the kettle, causing intense pressure. However, the walls still hold. It may need a little something more to release the liquid.
action: You get the kettle
response: Taken.

The liquid boils in the kettle, causing intense pressure. However, the walls still hold. It may need a little something more to release the liquid.
action: You crush kettle
response: You raise your hardened tentacles high in the air, and send the plummeting down onto the sealed kettle of liquid toluene. It smashes into dozens of pieces.
The kettle is smashed and explodes in a cloud of mist.

As the mist envelopes you, you feel the presence of the new world stronger than before. Rivers and oceans spill across it, lakes and streams. The Ocean... you have never seen a world with so much water. The ocean teems with life, but the deepest recesses of it are dark and empty. You watch it all with excitement. In this new world, the Ocean will be your home.

The liquid spreads all over your tentacles and shell, and is absorbed into your body. Your tentacles lengthen and become stickier. You
can now carry multiple objects at once.

There is a great pause in the air. Your world now is complete; you can sense it, waiting for you. But something is holding it back; a membrane between the worlds, or a dam.

Another bolt of lightning streaks from the east. You were turn away before the bolt strikes, and it doesn't affect you.
action: Up
response: You spin slightly as you glide up.

The air pressure matches your natural buoyancy.

Another globule of air boils out from below and rushes at you. Before you can move, it pops, dazing you for a second.

Suddenly, you feel it. You concentrate with all your might. Slowly, slowly, the membrane between the worlds stretches and thins out. With the tiniest sound in the world, a minuscule tear in the fabric of time appears, to the west. Through it, you can see a black field of stars.
action: Rocket west
response: As you reach towards the rift, the world around you bursts into activity. Streams of thick black clouds, tendrils of flame, and giant chunks of ice swirl to the west to surround the tear in space. The sky darkens considerably, and red glints of light flash far in the distance, all around you.

The churning mass to the left grows and grows, forming into an enormous shell of clouds and fire so large that you cannot see where it ends in any direction. Slowly, painfully, the cloud rotates, lightning exploding all around it, until a single red baleful eye stares at you, miles long in each direction.

A dark and black sky surrounds you. Unfamiliar flashes of red glint balefully in the distance. To the east, the maelstrom of black clouds spirals into a churning vortex. To the far north, icebergs clash and explode in violent, freezing confrontations. To the south, the sky has caught on fire. Far above you, the nakedness of an empty sky seeks your embrace. Far below you the thicker air churns and roils, sending out geysers unpredictably. To the far west lies the massive, gibbering stormbeast. Its enormous red eye glares balefully at you.

Thin strands of steam are leaking from your tentacles and flames lick your shell. You may not be able to withstand further heat. Terrifying winds buffet you about. You revel in the excitement, but know that you may not be able to withstand stronger winds. The air pressure matches your natural buoyancy.
action: Vacuum
response: You feel the air flow towards you.

A geyser of thick, deep air from below erupts. Your shell is stretched and pulled in different directions, and you are almost ripped from your shell. It subsides and you must pause for a moment until the pain becomes bearable.
action: Go northwest
response: You quickly dodge northwest.

Waves of heat roll at you from every direction and jets of flame scorch your shell from time to time.

A gale blows here, making it difficult to fly. You feel your shell trembling.

A blast of fire from the south rolls into you, singing your tentacles and blackening your shell.
action: You go to the north-west
response: You blast northwest.

The air is hot and humid.

The stiff wind blows you off course for a moment. You struggle to remain in place.

The great stormbeast roars and a torrent of pale green phosphorescent rain fills the air.
action: You go to the northwest
response: You quickly dodge northwest.

The air is warm and moist.

The brisk wind ruffles your tentacles.

A blast of fire from the south rolls into you, singing your tentacles and blackening your shell.

You begin to despair of your life. You turn to the west and notice a thin web of cracks in the eye. If you could rocket into it, perhaps you could break it open.
action: Rocket west
response: You rocket to the west with all your might, towards the eye. You impact the center with a mighty crash, and the eye splinters, forming a deep crack in the middle.

A geyser of thick, deep air from below erupts. Your shell is stretched and pulled in different directions, and you are almost ripped from your shell. It subsides and you must pause for a moment until the pain becomes bearable.
action: Rocket west
response: You rocket to the west with all your might, towards the eye. You impact the center with a mighty crash, and you smash through the eye into the center of the beast!

You are in a vast, empty blackness. Isolated red tendrils pulse throughout the darkness.

You fly into the eye and into a dark and empty scene. Behind you is a sheet of red ice with a crack in the center, dwindling as you fall further into the beast. There is nothing around you except empty blackness. Occasionally, you see thin tendrils of red energy.
action: You get the sheet
response: You can't reach into Battlezone.

You drift slowly through the darkness. A single snowflake passes by you.
action: Rocket west
response: You try to move, but you can't. Or maybe you do move; it is hard to tell.

Slowly, you sense something being pulled to you. A tiny red dot surrounded by tendrils appears in the distance.
action: You wait
response: Time passes.

The red dot increases in size as it is pulled towards you. More and more tendrils come into your view, leading towards the red dot. As you approach, you see that it is a massive, pulsing red ball, hundreds of times larger than yourself. As it pulses, energy swirls around it and out through the conduits. It is the heart of the stormbeast. In the center of it, encased in the thick swirls of energy, you see the entrance to your new world, a tear in the fabric of space with a field of stars behind it. The heart around it constricts, and the inner world trembles.
action: You wait
response: Time passes.

The tendrils pulse regularly. The rift to your world pulses wildly inside of the heart, but the red tendrils restrain it.
action: Vacuum
response: You feel the air flow towards you.

The tendrils pulse regularly. The rift to your world pulses wildly inside of the heart, but the red tendrils restrain it.
action: You get dot
response: The heart is too big to carry, but your tentacles latch onto the heart, ready to crush it.

The tendrils pulse regularly. The rift to your world pulses wildly inside of the heart, but the red tendrils restrain it.

The red forces constrict your new world. Helpless, you watch through the rift as an enormous asteroid hurtles through the void and smashes into your planet, killing billions of creatures.
action: Crush heart
response: You destroy the heart, and the red energy explodes around you in a violent red flash. As the light dims, you see the darkness around you crumbling and fading, until you are surrounded again by your familiar clouds. The red energy begins flowing into your new world at a quick pace. A crimson stream touches you, and images flash into your mind...

An image of your first entrance into this world, opening a mighty machine and flying out.

An image of you drowsily floating through the air, tickled by a zephyr of this world.

An image of you careening through a black storm cloud, exhilarated by the joy and excitement of the dangerous gale.

An image of you hesitating, turning away from both zephyr and whirlwind, drawn to inner contemplation.

You begin to realize that this world has always been alive, and that in its own way, the world has loved you. You see a last series of images, of the world bringing the red ice to you, bringing the scroll and the ingredients it needed.

Finally, you turn and see the blood of the world flowing into the next, strengthening it and making it real. Now you understand. This old world knew that the next could not live on its own. A sacrifice must be made; the old must die that the new may live. And only you could destroy the old world. Suddenly, a tremor runs through the area.

The wild sky stretches off forever in all directions. To the far east, storm clouds boil. To the west, the sky is gentle and open. To the far north, icebergs float amid the clouds. To the far south, patches of steam whirl in vortices. Far above you, the air becomes thinner near the top of the world. Far below you lies a blanket of thicker air.

The air is warm and moist. The air is still and peaceful. You find yourself tired, your tentacles drooping. Any further west and you might fall asleep. The air pressure matches your natural buoyancy.

The darkness clears, and you see the world around you again, slowly collapsing. Small bubbles float in the air around you. One bursts against you, misting your tentacles. The world, you realize, is kissing you goodbye.

A bubble moves southwest, towards you. It bobs upward. It now lies slightly to the north and far to the east.

Another bubble moves northwest, towards you. It sinks lower in the air. It now lies far to the east and above you.

Another bubble moves southwest, towards you. It bobs upward. It now lies slightly to the north, to the east, and slightly below you.

A pale green phosphorescent rain of tears fills the air. You cannot see the rift to your world, but you sense it near you. The
world around you slowly decays, and you feel its energy flowing into you.
action: You go to the rift
response: [GO TO only works on objects in the field of play]

A bubble lies slightly to the north and far to the east.

Another bubble sinks lower in the air. It now lies far to the east and slightly above you.

Another bubble bobs upward. It now lies slightly to the north and to the east.

A pale green phosphorescent rain of tears fills the air. You weep as the world around you slowly grows silent.
action: You wait
response: Time passes.

A bubble lies slightly to the north and far to the east.

Another bubble sinks lower in the air. It now lies far to the east.

Another bubble lies slightly to the north and to the east.

A pale green phosphorescent rain of tears fills the air. A shower of red glinting lights pours in around you, and you feel your strength increase.

The storm to the east builds up to an immense speed, and then rockets across to the west. Ice, steam, and strange sandlike debris whirl around you. When the wind settles, the storm is gone.
action: You wait
response: Time passes.

A bubble lies slightly to the north and far to the east.

Another bubble lies far to the east.

Another bubble lies slightly to the north and to the east.

A pale green phosphorescent rain of tears fills the air. The energy is building in you to almost unbearable levels. It is almost time.
action: You wait
response: Time passes.

A bubble lies slightly to the north and far to the east.

Another bubble lies far to the east.

Another bubble lies slightly to the north and to the east.

A pale green phosphorescent rain of tears fills the air. The world around you slowly decays, and you feel its energy flowing into you.
action: You wait
response: Time passes.

A bubble lies slightly to the north and far to the east.

Another bubble lies far to the east.

Another bubble lies slightly to the north and to the east.

A pale green phosphorescent rain of tears fills the air. A shower of red glinting lights pours in around you, and you feel your strength increase.

Now the blanket of thick air below you bubbles and boils before erupting in plumes of dense air that you sense rather than see. They bubble higher and higher as they diffuse, until they are gone. Now, all about you, the air pressure is equalized.
action: You wait
response: Time passes.

A bubble lies slightly to the north and far to the east.

Another bubble lies far to the east.

Another bubble lies slightly to the north and to the east.

A pale green phosphorescent rain of tears fills the air. A shower of red glinting lights pours in around you, and you feel your strength increase.
action: You wait
response: Time passes.

A bubble lies slightly to the north and far to the east.

Another bubble lies far to the east.

Another bubble lies slightly to the north and to the east.

A pale green phosphorescent rain of tears fills the air. You weep as the world around you slowly grows silent.
action: You wait
response: Time passes.

A bubble lies slightly to the north and far to the east.

Another bubble lies far to the east.

Another bubble lies slightly to the north and to the east.

A pale green phosphorescent rain of tears fills the air. A shower of red glinting lights pours in around you, and you feel your strength increase.

The icebergs from the north and the steam vortices from the north move together. You brace yourself for the impact. When they touch, the world explodes into steam.
action: You wait
response: Time passes.

A bubble lies slightly to the north and far to the east.

Another bubble lies far to the east.

Another bubble lies slightly to the north and to the east.

A pale green phosphorescent rain of tears fills the air. A shower of red glinting lights pours in around you, and you feel your strength increase.

Finally, you are ready. The magic bursts from you, then returns as you spin faster and faster. Shards of metal from the kettle, strands of emptiness from the vacuum, tentacles of light and polyps of dark, gold coins and strange-smelling gas unite around you.

You begin shrinking into a point of incredibly bright light, and then rocket into the tear in the fabric of this world. Everything fades.

Ocean (much, much later)
You are swimming near the bottom of a slope in a large reef, your home for untold years. Brightly-colored fish swim about, and polyps wave from the reef. The surface glimmers dimly, far above you, and the ocean stretches away to all sides.
action: About yourself
response: You are battered and slightly dazed. Your shell is dinged and one of your tentacles' tips is seared off.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying nothing except a relentless sense of determination.

Something splashes from far above. Through the murk, you dimly see a metal sphere slowly sinking to the ocean floor, attached to a cable stretching up high.
action: You examine the sphere
response: A sphere of metal with glass windows and a cable running above it. Inside the window is an oddly shaped being with knobbly tentacles at the end of its appendages peering at you through a small hole.

In the bathysphere is an oddly shaped being.
action: Wave
response: You wave.
action: You look at the being
response: An elongated being with eyes in the front of its head. Five fingers spring from each of two hands, and they are all pressed up against the window.
action: So we just had to sit around watching the doomsday
response: BECAUSE WE'D BEEN TOLD THAT THE NEW WORLD WAS CREATING ITSELF, SO WE JUST HAD TO SIT AROUND WATCHING DOOMSDAY

You seem to want to talk to someone, but I can't see whom.
action: Vacuum
response: You feel the water flow towards you sluggishly. You're not used to doing this anymore.
action: You get the sphere
response: You consider the sphere for some time, but you soon lose interest and swim slowly backwards, occasionally bumping a chunk of coral.

You swim slowly back down the slope, to where the reefs end, to where all life ends, except for you. This world has been good to you now for a long, long time. But maybe now it's time to go. It's time to start looking for a way out.

"This is the ship of pearl, which, poets feign,
Sails the unshadowed main,-
The venturous bark that flings
On the sweet summer wind its purpled wings
In gulfs enchanted, where the Siren sings,
And coral reefs lie bare,
Where the cold sea-maids rise to sun their streaming hair...

Build thee more stately mansions, O my soul,
As the swift seasons roll!
Leave thy low-vaulted past!
Let each new temple, nobler than the last,
Shut thee from heaven with a dome more vast,
Till thou at length art free,
Leaving thine outgrown shell by life's unresting sea!"
-Oliver Wendell Holmes