Eunice
by Gita Ryaboy (2018)
Genres: Magical Realism

Eunice is a shadow of its former glory. Hope is lost, just a faint mem-ory Whatever might have brought you here, That Eunice needs you, it is clear. Type out simple commands, and Notice the changes in Eunice land. Odd creatures and strange places require your aid. You'll get as much out as the efforts you made.

action: %
response: Fording seas of boredom, weathering storms of grief, and floods of anger, you have arrived. This game is an introduction to research-based Positive Psychology tools. For more information about playing this game, type ABOUT.

You look north, south, east, and west. There is something missing here, as if all of nature is just ... sort of ... going through the motions. Her heart isn't really in it.

Welcome to Eunice.

Around you is a neglected garden. Where once a caring hand tended bushes and plants, now trash covers the garden. No one is left to tend it now.
Just north of you is an old, wooden house. At one time it was a dearly loved home, a place of comfort and laughter. Now it stands silent.

The porch of the old house ends abruptly as the stairs have rotted away beyond all use. There is a cracked flowerpot leaning against the old house.

A tattered note flutters, caught in one of the nearby bushes.
action: You read it
response: The note reads:

Eunice is a shadow of its former glory.
Hope is lost, just a faint mem-ory
Whatever might have brought you here,
That Eunice needs you, it is clear.
Type out simple commands, and
Notice the changes in Eunice land.
Odd creatures and strange places require your aid.
You'll get as much out as the efforts you made.
action: You examine trash
response: Some old junk lies abandoned in the garden.
action: You take it
response: Sometimes you can't take it with you. This is one of those times.
action: You examine the garden
response: You look closer and recognize ragged lavender and a tired rose. The plants have withered at the stem before ever blooming. Brown and gray, they are barely surviving among the junk left in the yard.
action: You examine pot
response: It is dusty, cracked. It rests against the front porch where stairs used to be. Those stairs are gone completely now, either torn up by some strong arm or simply rotted away.
action: You take the pot
response: It seems to be serving its intended purpose just where it is, thank you.
action: You examine the porch
response: The old wooden house is small and square. From out here, you can tell there is likely only one room inside. The front porch is rotting and slants away from the house, but the walls are strong. It looks as if someone just left it to fall into disrepair.
action: You go north
response: You can't walk up the stairs. They have rotted beyond all use.
action: About yourself
response: You look different in the Eunice light. A little more weather-beaten, a little darker from the sun, a little stronger from the walking, you look like an adventurer.
You look like you have grit.
action: You go to the south
response: The wind blows gently across the rolling meadow. This would be a sweet place to sit for an afternoon in a hammock and listen to the birds sing, except that there is no hammock and no birds singing.

A whisk lies on the meadowland, looking very out of place.
action: You look at the whisk
response: Clean curves of metal, the whisk looks very useful for whisking things.
action: You take it
response: You reach down to retrieve the whisk, but no matter how hard you pull it won't come up from the meadowland. Assuredly it doesn't belong, but it seems that other things need to be taken care of before you can return the whisk to its rightful place, wherever that might be.
action: You go to the south
response: Dry rustling grasses surround you.

The only thing breaking the continuity is a huge and gnarled tree, framed dark against the wide sky.

A spatula rests on some grass, looking very out of place.
action: You look at the spatula
response: It is bright purple and made of semi-flexible silicone.
action: You take it
response: You reach down to retrieve the spatula, but no matter how hard you pull it won't come up from the grassland. Assuredly it doesn't belong, but it seems that other things need to be taken care of before you can return the spatula to its rightful place, wherever that might be.
action: Go south
response: You start to wander south, but without the tree as a signpost you would easily become lost in ever-shifting green grasses. If you were lost, hope would never return to Eunice. Thankfully, you turn back.
action: Go west
response: You start to wander west, but without the tree as a signpost you would easily become lost in ever-shifting green grasses. If you were lost, hope would never return to Eunice. Thankfully, you turn back.
action: You go east
response: You start to wander east, but without the tree as a signpost you would easily become lost in ever-shifting green grasses. If you were lost, hope would never return to Eunice. Thankfully, you turn back.
action: You go west
response: The field is mostly dust and grime beneath dark mountains looming to the west.

A round tin rests on the Dusty Field, looking very out of place.
action: You look at the mountains
response: Tall and jagged, they look far off and faintly disapproving.
action: You look at tin
response: A round metal tin, nine inches in diameter.
action: You take it
response: You reach down to retrieve the round tin, but no matter how hard you pull it won't come up from the dusty field. Assuredly it doesn't belong, but it seems that other things need to be taken care of before you can return the tin to its rightful place, wherever that might be.
action: Go west
response: You are in a broad, rocky field. Boulders are scattered haphazardly all around.

There is a large notice board clearly placed with more intention than the rocks. On the notice board is a pad of paper and a few notes. Farther west, tall mountains loom over you, threatening to overwhelm the scene.
action: You examine the boulders
response: Heavy and oblong with weathered surfaces, they have been here a long time.
action: You examine the board
response: A large public notice board stands in the middle of the wide field. You wonder why the builder decided to put it out here, far from any road or town. Clearly some people came here, because there are colorful notes stuck to the board, as well as a large pad of paper.

Carved into the top of the board are the words:

Simply type "Today I am grateful for {your gratitude} " on the pad. Peace and serenity are yours to be had.
action: You look at the pad
response: The pad of paper is titled "Gratitude List: " in shimmering in gold leaf. The rest of the paper is inviting, ready to be typed in.
action: You examine the notes
response: You pick one of the notes to read: "Today I am grateful for smiles from strangers, dragon gold, my job".
action: You continue
response: You pick one of the notes to read: "Today I am grateful for my children, a morning commute free from trolls and dragons, sunny weather".
action: You climb the boulders
response: Little is to be achieved by that.
action: You go to the west
response: You walk on to explore west of the notice board in the field beneath rugged mountains.
Suddenly you see what the shadow of the mountains had hidden: the land falls away in a steep cliff so deep that the bottom is hidden from view. You scramble back from the edge. There is no way to go farther west. With a pounding heart, you turn back to the notice board.
action: You go north
response: The rocky field ends at the edge of a dark wood. The forbidding trees block your way.
action: You go to the south
response: You start to wander south into the prairie, but without a way to navigate you would easily become lost. If that happened, hope would never return to Eunice. Thankfully, you turn back.
action: You examine the trees
response: The trees seem to crowd in together as if they were keeping a secret. It is too dark to discover much from here.
action: Go east
response: The field is mostly dust and grime beneath dark mountains looming to the west.

A round tin rests on the Dusty Field, looking very out of place.
action: Today i am grateful for the peanuts
response: You write "peanuts" on the pad of paper.
Take a moment and look at the words that you wrote. Let the memory of peanuts soak in.
When you write your gratitude note, a tiny folded paper bird flutters down from above you and lands noiselessly in your hand.
The field looks a little greener.
The colorful gratitude notes posted on the board shine and twinkle.
action: You examine the bird
response: An expertly folded paper bird, the GIFT of GRATITUDE. The colors seem to change slightly in the Eunice light, but you think its blue. You remember your Gratitude List:
action: Today i am grateful for the shelter
response: You write "shelter" on the pad of paper.
Take a moment and look at the words that you wrote. Let the memory of shelter soak in.
When you add your gratitude note, you notice other notes pinned on the board, written by people or animals before you. It almost seems like there are more than before. The colorful notes add a trendy, party atmosphere to the sign.
action: Today i am grateful for the ifcomp
response: You write "ifcomp" on the pad of paper.
Take a moment and look at the words that you wrote. Let the memory of ifcomp soak in.
When you add your gratitude note, you notice other notes pinned on the board, written by people or animals before you. It almost seems like there are more than before. The colorful notes add a trendy, party atmosphere to the sign.
action: You examine the trees
response: The trees seem to crowd in together as if they were keeping a secret. It is too dark to discover much from here.
action: You go east
response: The field has a hint of green as if the imposing mountains were pushing up spring with their toes.

A round tin rests on the Dusty Field, looking very out of place.
action: You take the tin
response: You reach down and easily pick up the round tin. Though you aren't sure where it belongs, maybe a dancing rabbit needs a stage somewhere.
action: Go north
response: The dusty field ends at the edge of a dark wood. The forbidding trees block your way.
action: You go east
response: A broad field or plain with nothing particularly distinguishing about it, except for the profusion of flowers
action: You examine flowers
response: Some are just tiny dots of color, others grow clustered in towers or opened broad faces of brilliant color: blue sage and indigo, magenta, gold and violet.
action: Smell flowers
response: They are sweet and with a fresh lightness.
action: You go north
response: The dark pine wood is a solid wall. Yet, as you look you can see a break in the trees where a path of pine needles leads west deeper into the wood or south to an open field.
action: You examine the needles
response: The straight towering pine trees rise darkly above you. Decades of dropped pine needles thickly cover the path. Their strong scent fills in the air.
action: Smell needles
response: You bring your nose close to the pine needles and inhale deeply. The scent of pine fills your lungs. You inhale deeply for a count of 5, pausing for a moment at the top of your inhale:

Exhale completely, feeling refreshed.
action: Go west
response: You walk on with determination toward the light up ahead.

Your footfalls are silent in the thick carpet of pine needles. Sunlight quickly disappears, unable to penetrate through the wood. The path curves here and leads north or to the east.
action: You go north
response: Like the brave explorers of old, you move through the quiet dimness.

The ground changes elevation drastically here, making your hike considerable harder. The pines press in around you. The path leads north or south.

A measuring cup lies at the side of the path, looking very out of place.
action: You look at the cup
response: The cup is simply made and has a marking of "1 cup" on the side.
action: You take it
response: You reach down to retrieve the measuring cup, but no matter how hard you pull it won't come up from the steep trail. Assuredly it doesn't belong, but it seems that other things need to be taken care of before you can return the cup to its rightful place, wherever that might be.
action: You go to the north
response: With resolve and determination, you press on.

The pines have blocked all light and you can hardly see the trail. The comparative darkness halts your progress for a moment.
There is some light off to the northwest and the south.
action: You go northwest
response: You move forward out of the darkness and into a bright light.

A ray of sunshine cuts through the curtain of pines onto the path before you. The dense wood opens to a small glen of prickly grass

A dozen carved statues are placed around the little glen. They are worn and covered in lichen, bird droppings, and fallen leaves.
action: You lie on Grass
response: On second thought, you decide against lying on Grass.
action: Smell Grass
response: Even for all your sniffing efforts, it doesn't smell like much
action: You eat Grass
response: That's plainly inedible.
action: You look at the statues
response: The sculptures are all of people hunched over and staring at a small rectangles in their hands. Some are curled over themselves in office chairs.

Looking at them life-like and lifeless, frozen in various pretzel positions, makes you want to loosen your limbs.
action: You loosen limbs
response: Lift your shoulders up to your ears. Feel the muscles tense.
Then release.

Stretch your shoulders back as far as is comfortable, pushing your sternum forward and take a deep breath.
Then release.

Raise your arms over your head and feel your sides stretch.
Then release.

...
action: You keep going
response: ...The stone statues are cracking.The figures come to life. They brush the dust and rocks off of themselves. Everyone is hugging and laughing and chattering. "Hello," they say, "it's been so long! Good to see you," they celebrate. They notice you and bring you into the circle. Many hands pat you on the back, thanking you.

One gives you a little stone that broke off from his elbow.
action: You examine the stone
response: ...The happy group notices you stretching and jumps to join in. After a smiling round of calisthenics, the group noisily wishes you, "Good luck on your quest to free hope in Eunice!". Then they go back to their own stretches or sipping tea, and you remember your mission.
action: You look at the stone
response: The STONE of FLEXIBILITY is gray with little black specs. At this moment, it is an oval rock.
action: Look around
response: A ray of sunshine cuts through the curtain of pines onto the path before you. The dense wood opens to a small glen of soft grass. The sun shines strongly in the glen creating a little circle of bright against the dark forest.

The people who were statues are now enjoying the warm sun.
action: You examine the people
response: People are chatting and sipping tea.
action: You talk to the people
response: "Eunice has very particular conversational etiquette. You can ASK group chatting ABOUT something; TELL group chatting ABOUT something; or ANSWER something to group chatting.
action: You ask the people about the Eunice
response: You do a short sun salutation warm up before talking.

The group has a lot to say about Eunice.

"Our beautiful, beautiful home...though it looks just awful now." "That is only because Hope is trapped and we were frozen, but now we can move." A few of them do headstands in the grass.
action: You ask the people about Hope
response: "What happened to Hope?" you venture to ask.

The party falls silent for a surprising moment. Then someone says in a half whisper, "Only the troll knows." The group won't talk anymore about that.
action: You ask the people about the troll
response: "What do I need to face the troll," you ask, worried that you haven't seen any swords or shields or axes lying around.

"Do you have any taller shoes?" someone quips, "if you really want to be face to face..."

There are some snorts and elbowing, and then someone says, "He just disppeared and no one knows what happened."
action: You ask the people about rabbit
response: A few people begin to think about your comment and get distracted when others do  jumping jacks.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a round tin
stone of flexibility and origami bird
action: You ask the people about the stone
response: "This is a strange stone," you observe, looking at it. Before your eyes it changes momentarily into a donut shape, then back to a circle. "It's our gift to you, and it might be just the perfect thing," one of the group replies. Someone else adds, "it is one of those treasures needed in the quest to free Hope.
action: You ask the people about the bird
response: A few people begin to think about your comment and get distracted when others do cartwheels.
action: Look around
response: A ray of sunshine cuts through the curtain of pines onto the path before you. The dense wood opens to a small glen of soft grass. The sun shines strongly in the glen creating a little circle of bright against the dark forest.

The group chatting has created a happy little party.
action: You examine Grass
response: soft and inviting.
action: You lie on Grass
response: On second thought, you decide against lying on Grass.
action: You examine the trees
response: The straight towering pine trees rise darkly above you. Decades of dropped pine needles thickly cover the path. Their strong scent fills in the air.
action: Go north
response: The forbidding trees block your way.
action: You go to the southeast
response: The pines have blocked all light and you can hardly see the trail. The comparative darkness halts your progress for a moment.
There is some light off to the northwest and the south.
action: You go to the south
response: The ground changes elevation drastically here, making your hike considerable harder. The pines press in around you. The path leads north or south.

A measuring cup lies at the side of the path, looking very out of place.
action: You take the cup
response: You reach down and easily pick up the measuring cup. Though you aren't sure where it belongs, maybe a cat needs a hat somewhere.
action: You go south
response: Your footfalls are silent in the thick carpet of pine needles. Sunlight quickly disappears, unable to penetrate through the wood. The path curves here and leads north or to the east.
action: You go east
response: Around you is a neglected garden. Where once a caring hand tended bushes and plants, now trash covers the garden. No one is left to tend it now.
Just north of you is an old, wooden house. At one time it was a dearly loved home, a place of comfort and laughter. Now it stands silent.

The porch of the old house ends abruptly as the stairs have rotted away beyond all use. There is a cracked flowerpot leaning against the old house.

A tattered note flutters, caught in one of the nearby bushes.
action: You go east
response: The air smells of mud and rotting plants. Flies buzz around your ears and eyes. All your energy to explore is gone, as if sucked away by one of the mosquitos you are trying to swat. You stand on the web of marsh plants. There is some green here, but it is only a sparse layer over deep, cold, dark waters.
Nearby is a dented park sign, titled "Quaking Bog Rules and Regulations".

You hear a muffled "ccrroOOAAAaakk" off to the east.

You sink a little lower into the bog, feeling the cold water on your skin. What can you do, stuck here without Hope?
action: You look at the sign
response: Quaking Bog Rules and Regulations:
- Swimming is allowed and impossible
- Jumping is allowed and possible
- Take time to Appreciate Nature
- You can thank any bog creature

You hear a muffled "ccrroOOAAAaakk" off to the east.

You sink a little lower into the bog, feeling the cold water on your skin. What can you do, stuck here without Hope?
action: You jump
response: You muster the energy to jump a little, and come down hard on the marsh moss and grasses. More cold water collects around you.

You hear a muffled "ccrroOOAAAaakk" off to the east.

You sink a little lower into the bog, feeling the cold water on your skin. What can you do, stuck here without Hope?
action: Appreciate the nature
response: You look around and notice that everywhere around you is full of living, growing things. Dragonflies and butterflies and plain flies swoop between moss and grasses.

...
...Long-legged shorebirds poke around in the mud. The air smells green and rich. A sparkle catches your eye. A single dew drop balances on the edge of a curved grass leaf. Slowly it grows in fullness, glinting like a little star. The weight pulls the thin grass down, down until it drops silently into the watery green at your feet.

...
...You take a deep breath. Breathe in and feel the breath fill from your belly to your ribs to your collarbones.
Exhale; the grass flutters from the wind of your breath. You feel happier, more relaxed, and ready to continue your exploration.

...
...At the conclusion of your appreciation, an iridescent fly lying nearby catches your eye. It is colorful and shimmering, vaguely like sugarcoated hard candy.
Odd, but you keep it for later.

You hear a muffled "ccrroOOAAAaakk" off to the east.
action: Examine fly
response: Reflecting luminous colors, it is dead and rather large, about the size of a cracker.

You hear a muffled "ccrroOOAAAaakk" off to the east.
action: Smell mud
response: You smell nothing unexpected.

You hear a muffled "ccrroOOAAAaakk" off to the east.
action: You take mud
response: Sometimes you can't take it with you. This is one of those times.

You hear a muffled "ccrroOOAAAaakk" off to the east.
action: Look around
response: The air smells of mud and rotting plants. Flies buzz around your ears and eyes. All your energy to explore is gone, as if sucked away by one of the mosquitos you are trying to swat. You stand on the web of marsh plants. There is some green here, but it is only a sparse layer over deep, cold, dark waters.
Nearby is a dented park sign, titled "Quaking Bog Rules and Regulations".

You hear a muffled "ccrroOOAAAaakk" off to the east.
action: Go east
response: The ground quakes slightly with each footfall, in a pleasant undulating manner. You are walking on water - or above it - on many layers of moss that have grown over to form a living raft on the surface of the bog.

A toad is sleeping in the moss, as if he was nestled among many overstuffed pillows.

"ccrroOOAAAaakk".
action: You examine the toad
response: The toad is large and green and frowning. His protruding eyes are closed and he makes a loud "ccrroOOAAAaakk" noise every so often. He is snoring!

"ccrroOOAAAaakk".
action: You wake toad
response: It does seem like the thing to do, but how?

"ccrroOOAAAaakk".
action: Kiss toad
response: You place your lips on the toad's cool skin, in your best guess of where his cheek could be, and give a kiss.

The toad stirs.
His right eye opens a fraction of a sixteenth of an inch, and closes again. He spits just the tiniest bit, and then indulges in a terrific snore.

"ccrroOOAAAaakk".
action: You give the fly to the toad
response: You hold the iridescent fly in front of you. With perfect instinct, and eyes still closed, the toad's sticky tongue shoots out and lifts the fly from your palm.
The toad chews, snorts, and finally stirs. He fixes his large bulbous eyes on you as if he can see you to your heart.

"Thank you," he says, "though Hope is caged in Eunice, the flies are rather good." he pauses, considering you for a moment, "it has been quite a while since sightseers came to the bog. What we really need is an adventurer for a quest!"
action: You ask the toad about the quest
response: "I have taken on the quest to free Hope from its cage!" you proclaim, "can you help me?.

"Glad to see you aren't off to kill some terrible princess and romance a dragon horde, or whatever the kids do these days," the toad replies. "Five treasures are required to free Hope from its cage and you will have to explore Eunice to find them." he responds.
action: You ask the toad about the key
response: "About that key of appreciation," you say, shifting your weight from one foot to the other, "How would I find it?"

The toad actually smiles, "You are so, so close; practically on top of it. Search the water..."He shifts slightly and near his left forelimb you see a narrow deep well of crystal clear water.
action: You search the water
response: You peer into the crystal clear water for a moment seeing your reflection staring curiously back at you. Then its gone and far below you think you see something down there, so you reach in.
The water is cool against your hand. This is just the beginning.
action: Keep going
response: Past the slime and the mud of the bog, past any worries and judgements about whether you are doing enough or playing the game well, you go. Something slimy flits by, maybe a fish?

You are now in the bog up to your elbow.
action: Continue
response: You crouch down to reach farther still. The water is still, like a deep calmness in your own core. Then the tips of your fingers brush against something solid.

You are now in the bog up to your shoulder.
action: Continue
response: Straining, you stretch farther, bringing your face near the surface of the thick bog. Finally you grab something solid! Pulling it up to the surface, you see it is a heavy key. You keep the key for later.

As you put the key away, you can feel the toad's eyes on you and his wide mouth turns up in a slight smile.
action: You examine the key
response: One of the five treasures: the KEY of APPRECIATION! It's a house key. The key is heavy brass and old fashioned. It rests solidly in your hand.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a measuring cup
a round tin
house key, stone of flexibility and origami bird
action: You ask the toad about the tin
response: "I'd rather talk about bog politics than that," says the toad, "and I hate politics".
action: You ask the toad about the house
response: (the house key)
"It is the KEY of APPRECIATION," the toad admits, "I haven't had the confidence to look past my own reflection to search for it."
action: You examine the moss
response: Looks like a comfortable bed, for a toad.
action: You go east
response: The thick moss dissolves farther east into a dark pool. There is no way farther.
action: You go to the north
response: The thick moss dissolves farther north into a dark pool. There is no way farther.
action: You go south
response: The thick moss dissolves farther south into a dark pool. There is no way farther.
action: Go west
response: The toad sits quietly watching you go.

The air smells of mud and both the growing and decaying plants. Instead of being stuck, you notice how the whole bog is bursting with life.
Nearby is a dented park sign titled "Quaking Bog Rules and Regulations
action: You read the sign
response: Quaking Bog Rules and Regulations:
- Swimming is allowed and impossible
- Jumping is allowed and possible
- Take time to Appreciate Nature
- You can thank any bog creature
action: Go east
response: The ground quakes slightly with each footfall, in a pleasant undulating manner. You are walking on water - or above it - on many layers of moss that have grown over to form a living raft on the surface of the bog.

There is a clear pool of water near the toad's forelimb.

The large green toad is lounging on the moss, humming softly to himself.
action: Thank the toad
response: He nods his wide head. And if he had a bowler hat, he would have touched the brim as a jaunty "you're welcome". But things aren't as they should be in Eunice.
action: Go east
response: You start to wander east into the green grasses, but without a way to navigate you would easily become lost. If that happened, hope would never return to Eunice. Thankfully, you turn back..
action: You take the flowers
response: You wander through the field gathering wildflowers. The petals kiss softly against your skin.

After a while, your foot catches on a ridge of dirt and you catch yourself before falling. Bending down, you notice a small round hole of some little animal's home. After peering for a moment into the cool darkness you stand again, not wanting to pry where you haven't been invited.

You walk on farther, discovering rocks and seed pods and animal tracks, and then losing them again in your rambling.
A soft breeze smelling of high mountain air comes from the west and you remember your quest.

The flowers that you gathered were lost on your exploring, but it is fine. The seeds you spread will grow to more flowers next year.
action: You go west
response: The field has a hint of green as if the imposing mountains were pushing up spring with their toes.
action: Go west
response: You are in a broad, rocky field. Boulders are scattered haphazardly all around.

There is a large notice board clearly placed with more intention than the rocks. On the notice board is a pad of paper and a few notes. The field looks slightly greener than before, as if spring is coming soon. Farther west, tall mountains loom over you, threatening to overwhelm the scene.
action: You read the notes
response: You pick one of the notes to read: "Today I am grateful for a warm cup of tea, house elves, catching up with an old friend".
action: Continue
response: You pick one of the notes to read: "Today I am grateful for picnics, loving family, silly jokes." .
action: You tend the garden
response: You heft some of the larger pieces of trash to the side. Then you clear the dead leaves, dropping them on the ground for mulch cover to soak in the rain when it comes. As you clear and organize, your thoughts settle. Each thing in its place, simply and easily.

Soothing lavender sways in the breeze, now that the garden has been tended. Fragrant plants cover the ground. The rose bush is budding and will flower soon.

You find a little flute among the trash, like a gift from the garden. You decide to keep it for later.
action: You examine the flute
response: The little flute is simply carved. In the right moment it will play the SONG of ORDER.
action: You look around
response: Around you the garden is beginning to return to life. The rose bush has tiny pink buds, preparing to become flowers soon.
Just north of you is an old, wooden house. At one time it was a dearly loved home, a place of comfort and laughter. Now it stands silent.

The porch of the old house ends abruptly as the stairs have rotted away beyond all use. There is a cracked flowerpot leaning against the old house.

A tattered note flutters, caught in one of the nearby bushes.
action: You look at rose
response: The bushes and plants are green with life. You notice a rose bush with blush-pink buds, and not far away lavender scents the air.
action: Clean pot
response: You rub the cracked flowerpot.
action: You climb the pot
response: Little is to be achieved by that.
action: You search the pot
response: The cracked flowerpot is empty.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a measuring cup
a round tin
flute, house key, stone of flexibility and origami bird
action: You play the flute
response: You place the little flute to your lips and blow a few experimental notes. The sound is soft and a little melancholy.
action: You look at the bird
response: An expertly folded paper bird, the GIFT of GRATITUDE. The colors seem to change slightly in the Eunice light, but you think its blue. You remember your Gratitude List:

ifcomp
action: Kiss bird
response: You can only do that to something animate.
action: You go northwest
response: The old house blocks your way.
action: Go southeast
response: You start to wander southeast into the prairie, but without a way to navigate you would easily become lost. If that happened, hope would never return to Eunice. Thankfully, you turn back.
action: You go to the south
response: The wind blows gently across the rolling meadow. This would be a sweet place to sit for an afternoon in a hammock and listen to the birds sing, except that there is no hammock and no birds singing.

A whisk lies on the meadowland, looking very out of place.
action: You take the whisk
response: You reach down and easily pick up the whisk. Though you aren't sure where it belongs, someone always needs a whisk somewhere.
action: Go northwest
response: You start to wander southwest, but without the tree as a signpost you would easily become lost in ever-shifting green grasses. If you were lost, hope would never return to Eunice. Thankfully, you turn back.
action: Go north
response: The wind blows gently across the rolling meadow. This would be a sweet place to sit for an afternoon in a hammock and listen to the birds sing, except that there is no hammock and no birds singing.
action: You go northwest
response: The dark pine wood is a solid wall. Yet, as you look you can see a break in the trees where a path of pine needles leads west deeper into the wood or south to an open field.
action: You take the needles
response: Sometimes you can't take it with you. This is one of those times.
action: You go to the east
response: Around you the garden is beginning to return to life. The rose bush has tiny pink buds, preparing to become flowers soon.
Just north of you is an old, wooden house. At one time it was a dearly loved home, a place of comfort and laughter. Now it stands silent.

The porch of the old house ends abruptly as the stairs have rotted away beyond all use. There is a cracked flowerpot leaning against the old house.

A tattered note flutters, caught in one of the nearby bushes.
action: Dance
response: Lift your shoulders up to your ears. Feel the muscles tense.
Then release.

Stretch your shoulders back as far as is comfortable, pushing your sternum forward and take a deep breath.
Then release.

Raise your arms over your head and feel your sides stretch.
Then release.

...

Ahhh, that felt good.
action: You examine the tree
response: The tree is dark against the gray-green of the sky and mostly bare, with only a few yellow leaves. The trunk is thick and twisted. Low branches create a wide crown on the horizon.
action: You climb the tree
response: You hook your arm around a low branch and hoist yourself up. From there its an easy climb to the top with the wide horizontal branches forming an rough ladder.

The wind blows strongly this high up and you grasp a branch for stability. There are only a few leaves still holding on here and there.

The tree holds you high above Eunice in the palm of its dark branches.

You aren't sure what you are looking for, until you see it. A small yellow apple hangs on by a delicate twig which looks ready to snap in the wind at any moment.
action: You examine the apple
response: It is a small yellow apple. As you look closer, you notice shades of reds and browns and greens on the skin in a collection of all the colors of fall. Your mouth begins to water.
action: You take the apple
response: Taken.
action: You eat the apple
response: With full awareness of your hand moving toward your mouth, you appreciate the smell and colors of the fruit. Imagine what it took for this to get to your hands: sunshine, water, warmth, and time. You take a first bite and for a moment hold the tart sweet fruit in your mouth. As you chew, you notice it fully as if it were your first time ever eating an apple. Very slowly you chew, appreciating the change in texture and the nourishment. You continue until you finish the apple and feel completely sated.
A few brown seeds are all that is left. You keep them as a memory.
action: You examine the seeds
response: Some little brown SEEDS of MINDFULNESS that came from the apple you ate.

You remember holding it with full awareness of the weight in your hand, appreciating the smell and colors of the fruit. You imagined what it took for this to get to your hands: sunshine, water, warmth, and time. You felt the fruit against your teeth and you took the first bite. After chewing, you noticed the first burst of flavor and how it gradually faded. Paying attention fully as if it is your first time ever eating an apple.
Very slowly chewing, appreciating the change in texture and taste, you finished the apple and felt completely sated.
action: Go downwards
response: Many grasses - wild oat, foxtail, ryegrass, and buffalo grass make up an ocean of green rolling around you.

The only thing breaking the continuity is a huge and gnarled tree, framed dark against the wide sky.

A spatula rests on some grass, looking very out of place.
action: You take the spatula
response: You reach down and easily pick up the spatula. Though you aren't sure where it belongs, maybe a seafaring mouse needs a paddle somewhere.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a spatula
a whisk
a measuring cup
a round tin
seeds, flute, house key, stone of flexibility and origami bird
action: Go north
response: The wind blows gently across the rolling meadow. You can just make out the faint notes of far off birdsong, though you can see no birds here yet. This is a lovely spot to sit for a moment.

A hammock sways slightly in the breeze.
action: You examine the hammock
response: The hammock is wide and cozy.
action: You lie on it
response: You hold the hammock steady and climb awkwardly into it, thinking with some amusement that for all their comfort, hammocks are particularly uncomfortable to get into... But now you are lying down, every limb supported. Your skin warms in the sun. You are held and rocked gently. As you sway, looking up to the great wide sky of Eunice. All this cuddling into the hammock has succeeded in making you rather sleepy.
action: Sleep
response: You close your eyes for a moment. Thoughts that were loud and distracting become quiet. You can hear your breath grow deeper and more regular as you fall into a light sleep.
Birds and insects make a sweet lullaby around you.
After some unknown amount of time you wake up to Eunice, remembering your quest. A line from a poem alights on your mind, "Hope is the thing with feathers".
action: Go east
response: You start to wander east into the green grasses, but without a way to navigate you would easily become lost. If that happened, hope would never return to Eunice. Thankfully, you turn back..
action: You go to the north
response: (first getting off the hammock)

Around you the garden is beginning to return to life. The rose bush has tiny pink buds, preparing to become flowers soon.
Just north of you is an old, wooden house. At one time it was a dearly loved home, a place of comfort and laughter. Now it stands silent.

The porch of the old house ends abruptly as the stairs have rotted away beyond all use. There is a cracked flowerpot leaning against the old house.

A tattered note flutters, caught in one of the nearby bushes.
action: You put the seeds in the pot
response: You gently plant the seeds in the cracked flowerpot.
Quickly, tendrils sprout in the dirt. They grow into strong tangle of vines, twisting and turning around each other until they form stairs north to the porch.
action: Go north
response: You walk gingerly up the green vine stairs.

It was always a humble porch, now looking only slightly worse for wear, and it has been swept recently.

A metal mailbox sits off to one side and a mat lies near the front door.
action: You look at the mat
response: Woven grasses form a square mat in front of the door. It does not say "welcome". It does not even give a very welcoming impression.
action: You look under the mat
response: You find dust and dirt.
action: Clean mat
response: You rub the welcome mat.
action: You examine the mailbox
response: It is a metal box with the word "Mail" embossed on the front. It looks polished and clean, and a little out of place on the porch.
action: You open it
response: You pull open the front panel of the mailbox. A pair of beady eyes glare back at you from a tiny wrinkled face. The elf, for she has narrow pointy ears sticking up above a little green hat, screeches loudly: "BAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!"
action: You look at the elf
response: The elf is about five inches high and looks at you with an unyielding grumpiness.
action: You ask the elf about the elf
response: The elf glares at you.

"Bah, the elf," the elf yells, again. The elf is very yell-y.
Who knew elves would be so screechy.
action: You ask the elf about the mailbox
response: The elf rolls her eyes.
action: You ask elf about the Eunice
response: "You want to know about Eunice?" the elf asks, though clearly it is a rhetorical question, "it's dark, it's empty, and it's not going to change."

"That seems a little severe", you respond. Surprisingly, she doesn't yell but just shrugs, "I am not one to compromise. People have told me I need more flexibility, but where would I get that?"
action: You give the stone to the elf
response: The elf steps back to let you place the little stone inside the mailbox. She stands for a moment with hands on her hips, looking at it, and then with great effort she pushes it just slightly to the left. Now that it is in the perfect place, she sits on the stone of flexibility just like a bean bag chair. The elf is now grinning happily.
action: You ask the elf about the Eunice
response: "Can you tell me more about this place?" you inquire.

"I don't get around Eunice much," the elf admits, "though before the Troll shut himself away, this was a happy place - when Hope was free. I visited the group in the woods and the toad long, long ago back when Hope was here and we knew "how to kneel down in the grass, how to be idle and blessed"..." She clears her throat and awkwardly wipes her face with the back of her hand. "So much has changed since Hope was lost."."
action: You ask the elf about Hope
response: You mention Hope.

"Maybe things won't always be as they are now, maybe things can change for the better." she shrugs, "if you can succeed."
action: You ask the elf about Troll
response: "So do I have to fight the troll or something?" You ask worriedly.

""Fight the troll? why would you do that?" the elf gasps, "he is going through a really tough time right now, but I don't think he would ever fight anyone."
action: You ask the elf about the mat
response: "Sounds interesting. Haven't got the foggiest idea about that," replies the elf, "I'm just a tiny elf in a mailbox, after all."
action: You check what you're carrying
response: You are carrying:
a spatula
a whisk
a measuring cup
a round tin
flute, house key and origami bird
action: You unlock the door with the key
response: You unlock the front door.
action: You open the door
response: The door swings open.
action: Go north
response: The elf waves goodbye.

The whole house has the feeling of neglect and something more... as if the place were holding its breath.

The front door is open, letting in rays of golden light.

A huge troll looms in front of you.
action: You look at Troll
response: The troll is standing rock-like in the middle of the one room house. He is large and the house is rather little, so he takes up a lot of space.
action: You ask Troll about Troll
response: The troll can feel your eyes on him, and... s l o w l y... turns ... his head .... toward you.

"Hhhrrmmmm" says the Troll, "hhrrrmmmm" then he seems to forget what you were talking about.
action: You look at the bird
response: An expertly folded paper bird, the GIFT of GRATITUDE. The colors seem to change slightly in the Eunice light, but you think its blue. You remember your Gratitude List:

ifcomp
action: You ask Troll about Hope
response: After your long journey you can't resist asking, "what really happened to Hope?"
The troll looks at you and remains frozen.
action: You ask Troll about the Eunice
response: "Hhhrrmmmm" says the Troll, "hhrrrmmmm" then he seems to forget what you were talking about.
action: You ask Troll about the house
response: (the house key)
"Hhhrrmmmm" says the Troll, "hhrrrmmmm" then he seems to forget what you were talking about.
action: You go to the south
response: "Goodbye for now," you say. The troll watches you worriedly as you leave.

It was always a humble porch, now looking only slightly worse for wear, and it has been swept recently.

A metal mailbox sits off to one side and a mat lies near the front door.
action: You go south
response: You walk gingerly down the green vine stairs.

Around you the garden is beginning to return to life. The rose bush has tiny pink buds, preparing to become flowers soon.
Just north of you is an old, wooden house. At one time it was a dearly loved home, a place of comfort and laughter. Now it stands silent.

There is a cracked flowerpot leaning against the old house. A tangle of great, green vines is growing up to form stairs of the front porch.

A tattered note flutters, caught in one of the nearby bushes.
action: You look in the pot
response: The cracked flowerpot is empty.
action: Go north
response: You walk gingerly up the green vine stairs.

It was always a humble porch, now looking only slightly worse for wear, and it has been swept recently.

A metal mailbox sits off to one side and a mat lies near the front door.
action: You go north
response: The whole house has the feeling of neglect and something more... as if the place were holding its breath.

The front door is open, letting in rays of golden light.

A huge troll looms in front of you.
action: You greet Troll
response: "Hello," you squeak out a greeting.

The troll can feel your eyes on him, and... s l o w l y... turns ... his head .... toward you.

(You could ask him about Quest, Hope, Poem or Joke.)
action: You ask Troll about Quest
response: "I am still on a quest to free Hope!" you proclaim, "w-will you help me?" The troll stares at you unmoving which seems intimidating at first and then you see he really isn't able to move.

"Got frzen whin Hofe traffd." he says and hardly moves his lips as he talks.

"Oh no," your voice sounds weak and tiny in the little house. You don't have anything prepared for this. "How can I help?" you ask.

The Troll looks around, thinking, his eyeballs the only thing that has free movement, "Laughng...kno any gud jokes?
action: You tell Troll about the joke
response: You remember a few silly jokes, and tell one to the Troll. "What gets wetter the more it dries? A towel."

The Troll's belly shakes and he makes a barking-burping noise. He is laughing!
He shakes himself vigorously and begins puttering around the old house.

Things begin to look a little brighter in the old wooden house. The Troll makes a series of complicated taps on the wall and is able to open numerous little cupboards.
"Now that I can move about again I feel like celebrating." He talks at you from over his shoulder, "Hope might actually be freed with you here, and I know what would be perfect for a little celebration!"

The Troll begins to take out ingredients from all sorts of hidden places: bright red berries, a crock of butter, dark chocolate, a bowl of flour, and a jar of honey.
"Where did that cake tin go?" he wonders aloud.

...
...You take out the cake tin and put it on the table about to say something, when the Troll glances up, "ah ha!", he says, and then butters the tin, "to remove the cake easily," he explains, "now if you were a measuring cup, where would you be?"

...
...You take out the measuring cup and put it on the table about to say something, when the Troll glances up, "ah ha!", he says, and begins to measure out all the ingredients needed. When everything is in he wipes his hands on his pants, "now where is that whisk?"
Once again, you take out the whisk and put it on the table about to say something, when the Troll glances up, "ah ha!", he says, and begins to mix with an expert hand, "Now, now, now, one last thing...the spatula..."

...
...You take out the spatula and put it on the table without saying a word. When the Troll happens to glance up, he says "ah ha!" and takes the spatula in his hand. He uses it to transfer all the batter from the bowl to the baking tin. Then he puts the cake in a little oven hidden in a corner.
In no time at all, the utensils and ingredients are cleared away, and a wonderful smell of butter and sugar fills the air.

The smells coming from the hidden oven grow more and more delicious.
action: Smell
response: The house smells clean and fresher than before.

The smells coming from the hidden oven grow more and more delicious.

As you watch with your mouth watering, the Troll takes out a perfectly baked cake, removes it from the tin, and covers it in pale pink frosting.
"Please, don't wait on ceremony," the Troll graciously invites you toward the cake, and then proceeds to take a large handful of the dessert himself. It is only then that you notice something new has appeared from all of the Troll's puttering and opening of secret compartments.
action: Look around
response: The house feels comfortable and homey. Everything is better with cake.

Now you notice a large steamer trunk in one corner of the little house. It shouldn't be suspicious, even a troll needs some storage space...but there is no denying that it feels incredibly suspicious. The snake coiled on top might be adding to your discomfort.

A beautifully frosted and perfectly baked cake sitting atop an overturned round tin on the floor the Old House. Almost half is already gone and a few moist crumbs lie scattered around it.

The front door is open, letting in rays of golden light.

The troll is puttering around the little house.
action: You look at the snake
response: A coil of reptilian muscle, you shudder and decide not to disturb it.

"Bit intimidating," the Troll admits, "I'm much too afraid to do anything with him myself."
action: You ask the snake about the snake
response: "SSSSssssssss" saysss the ssnake.
action: You play the flute
response: You place the little flute to your lips and blow a few experimental notes. The sound is soft and a little melancholy.
The snake waves its head side to side as you play, turning jeweled eyes to you, and flicking his delicate tongue. Then he wiggles from off the steamer trunk and through the open window out into the perfumed garden.
action: You eat the cake
response: Since there isn't a dessert plate or a cake serving set handy, you wipe your hand on your pants and, as genteelly as possible, take a handful of pink frosted cake.

You remember mindfully eating the apple and again pause just one moment before taking a first bite, smelling the treat and even enjoying the feel of cake in your hand.

Then you take a bite. It is sweet and buttery and still warm from the oven. You imagined what it took for this to get to your hands: from growing the wheat and sugar cane to waiting while the troll frosted the layers. You notice the first burst of flavor and how it gradually fades at the end of each mouthful; paying attention fully as if it were your first time ever eating cake.
Very slowly chewing, appreciating the change in texture and taste, you finished the handful and felt completely satisfied
action: You open the trunk
response: You open the steamer trunk, revealing a bird's nest and an egg.
action: You examine the nest
response: A nest of paper and ribbons might seem nice, but this is part of Hope's prison. It was built from starving gratitudes until they shriveled up and died. Though an inanimate object, it seethes with resentment.
action: You examine egg
response: The egg is cream colored and the size of a ball. The shell is dimpled slightly all over. Part of Hope's prison, the longer you look at it the colder you feel.
action: You take the nest and the egg
response: bird's nest: You don't want to get too close to that tangle.
egg: That's fixed in place.
action: You ask Troll about Hope
response: After your long journey you can't resist asking, "what really happened to Hope?"
The troll pauses a moment thinking, "it wasn't any one thing thing in particular. All of Eunice slowly grew grayer and darker. I thought that it was just happening to me alone, so I didn't say anything, and began to think maybe it was my fault. I didn't know what to do. I guess none of us did. It got worse. It got to where I couldn't do any of the things I used to love, like reading poetry."
action: You ask Troll about the Poem
response: You mention poetry and troll recites in a pleasing deep voice, "For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils." he sighs, "good stuff, good stuff."
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
flute, house key and origami bird
action: You put the bird on the egg
response: You carefully take the folded paper bird, remembering some things you were grateful for, and place the little paper bird on top of the enormous egg. It balances, just a little lopsided. For the moment, nothing happens.

Then the paper bird flutters and settles in to warm the egg. Slowly the egg begins to wobble, then shake. The paper bird flaps away through the window and out into Eunice.

...
...A crack forms in the shell. The crack expands and spreads.

After what feels like hours, you can see a tiny beak poking through. As Hope breaks free of its prison, sunlight fills the house.

...
...The hatchling is a delicate thing with feathers. It makes a shrill chirp and shuffles its baby bird body. Slowly, it spreads its wings. Before your eyes it grows and grows. It flies across all of Eunice like a cloud, yet filling it with sunlight. Hope has returned to the land.
action: You tell Troll a the joke
response: "Hhhrrmmmm" says the Troll, "hhrrrmmmm" then he seems to forget what you were talking about.
action: You tell Troll about the joke
response: You remember a few silly jokes, and tell one to the Troll. "A wizard was driving down the street, what went wrong? He turned into a driveway!"

The Troll's belly shakes and he makes a barking-burping noise. He is laughing!
He shakes himself vigorously and begins puttering around the old house.
action: Continue
response: You remember a few silly jokes, and tell one to the Troll. "What did the 0 say to the 8? Nice belt."

The Troll's belly shakes and he makes a barking-burping noise. He is laughing!
He shakes himself vigorously and begins puttering around the old house.
action: You continue
response: You remember a few silly jokes, and tell one to the Troll. "What bow can't be tied? A rainbow."

The Troll's belly shakes and he makes a barking-burping noise. He is laughing!
He shakes himself vigorously and begins puttering around the old house.