Half-Life 3 Confirmed
by Anssi Räisänen (2018)

The rays of the morning sun tickle your face, waking you up. That's a pleasant surprise - the forecast said it would be rainy for days. However, looking out of the window, you see that there are no clouds in the sky. How did they get it so wrong? It's quiet and peaceful. Out of habit, you reach for your mobile phone on the nightstand to browse through the morning headlines. Still lying down in your bed, covering your eyes from the sun with one hand, you start scrolling down the newsfeed when a headline catches your attention: "Half-Life 3 Confirmed!"

action: %
response: The rays of the morning sun tickle your face, waking you up. That's a pleasant surprise - the forecast said it would be rainy for days. However, looking out of the window, you see that there are no clouds in the sky. How did they get it so wrong?

It's quiet and peaceful. Out of habit, you reach for your mobile
phone on the nightstand to browse through the morning headlines. Still lying down in your bed, covering your eyes from the sun with one hand, you start scrolling down the newsfeed when a headline catches your attention: "Half-Life 3 Confirmed!"

Quickly, you sit  up. For a moment you feel a huge sense of happiness. The long-awaited sequel of your favourite action game is finally going to come true. More monsters to shoot! More headcrabs to bash with your crowbar! Finally expel the Combine from the
face of the Earth? Soon afterwards, however, you come to your senses. No way is any of that going to happen. Reality, you realize with sudden alarm, must be seriously warped.

You become fully awake and alert. This is no laughing matter. Your primary task is to get safely - or at least alive - out of the building. And if you're lucky enough, maybe sort out this reality enwarpment and restore matters to normal.

You get up and dressed quickly. There is no time to lose.

A yeah sure by Anssi Räisänen

Your bedroom looks normal enough. Well, now that you take a second look, maybe that black hole in the floor shouldn't really be there. Beside your bed is a small nightstand. A wardrobe stands opposite your bed and there's a writing desk by the window. There is a door in the northeastern corner of the room, leading to the hallway.
action: You look at the hole
response: It seems to be some kind of vortex that you might try to enter. The question is - would that be a wise thing to do?
action: You get the hole
response: That's hardly portable.
action: You open the wardrobe
response: You see a snowy landscape behind the clothes hanging inside the wardrobe. No, it's just the back wall, after all.

You close the wardrobe.
action: You examine the nightstand
response: The small white-painted nightstand has one drawer in it.
action: You open the drawer
response: It's locked.
Strange; you usually keep it open, with the key in the lock. But the key is not in the lock presently.
action: You check what you're carrying
response: You're carrying a mobile phone.
action: You look at the desk
response: Ordinarily nothing special. But today somebody has drawn a treasure map on it.
action: You examine the map
response: There is a big X on the right side, or the east side, of an irregular line which you take to be a river or a road. The X is inside a circle, but it is impossible to guess what the circle represents. The whole map is probably a hoax.
action: You get the map
response: That's hardly portable. Instead, you memorize the map. (To refer to the map, RECALL it.)
action: Inventory
response: You're carrying a mobile phone.

You can also recall a map drawn on your bedroom desk.
action: You go northeast
response: The hallway connects all the rooms in your apartment. The living-room is to the east while the kitchen is to the west and your bedroom is to the southwest. Rather unnervingly, the front door leading out, to the south, seems to have disappeared completely. Somewhat unexpectedly, there seems to be an extra room to the north.
action: Go west
response: On the kitchen table are some leftovers of the pizza that you ordered last night but couldn't finish. The hallway is to the east.

A pig is standing on its hind legs, leaning against the kitchen table and eating the leftovers of the pizza.

A stove stands in the corner.

You can also see a fridge (closed) here.
action: You look at the pig
response: A fat pig is standing on its hind legs, leaning against the kitchen table and eating away. Too bad you didn't bother putting the leftover bits of last night's pizza into the fridge. Then again, you didn't expect a pig.
action: You talk to the pig
response: Please ASK PERSON ABOUT THING or TELL PERSON ABOUT THING to converse with somebody.
action: You open the fridge
response: You cannot reach the fridge presently - the fat pig blocks the way. It makes an angry squeal when you make a gesture of approaching it.
action: You look at the stove
response: The four burners flash in bright neon colours - red, blue, green and orange. It is rather unsettling.
action: You examine table
response: There are some pizza leftovers on the table.
action: You go east
response: Normally it is of course a charming living-room. You see a sofa, a table and a television here. The exit is to the west.

On the table is a small key.

You can also see a mud monster here.
action: You examine the monster
response: It's little more than a pile of mud. It has no legs but  you are able to distinguish a pair of limbs that might pass as arms. It has a barely discernible face but you are not sure if it has eyes. It loiters silently in the middle of the room. Drops of mud are dripping from it onto your exquisite carpet. So not cool.
action: You take the key
response: The mud monster blocks the way.
action: Inventory
response: You're carrying a mobile phone.

You can also recall a map drawn on your bedroom desk.
action: You go north
response: This is a small featureless room, no bigger than a closet. There is a metal ladder ascending straight up into the darkness. The upper end of the ladder is not visible. The exit is to the south.
action: You turn on the tv
response: That's already on.
action: Examine tv
response: The television shows psychedelic, ever-changing kaleidoscopic images on the screen, accompanied by good old-style march music. Is that Sousa?
action: You examine the sofa
response: There's a time to relax and a time to save the world. This is the latter, and the sofa is not needed for that.
action: You examine table
response: On the table is a small key.
action: You eat the monster
response: He's plainly inedible.
action: Go upwards
response: You feel unsafe going up into the darkness without any kind of light.
action: Go southwest
response: Beside your bed is a small nightstand. A wardrobe stands opposite your bed and there's a writing desk by the window. There is an inexplicable black hole in the floor. There is a door in the northeastern corner of the room, leading to the hallway.
action: You look at the window
response: Through the tenth-floor window, you make out the outline of the city and its numerous high-rises, similar to the one you live in. The city looks the same as usual - well, not quite. There are a couple of tall buildings in the distance that weren't there yesterday. It's eerily quiet - no sounds of traffic.
action: You get the window
response: That's hardly portable.
action: You enter the hole
response: Something tells you it's not the time yet. You need to prepare yourself somehow first.
action: Inventory
response: You're carrying a mobile phone.

You can also recall a map drawn on your bedroom desk.
action: You examine the phone
response: The mobile phone screen shows presently the weather forecast for the moon. Seems to be clear skies with a low probability of rain. Warning for fog though.
action: You switch on the phone
response: That's already on.
action: You switch off the phone
response: You prefer to have it on.
action: Go south
response: That's a wall there.
action: Go west
response: On the kitchen table are some leftovers of the pizza that you ordered last night but couldn't finish. The hallway is to the east.

A pig is standing on its hind legs, leaning against the kitchen table and eating the leftovers of the pizza.

A stove stands in the corner.

You can also see a fridge (closed) here.
action: You examine the phone
response: The mobile phone screen shows presently the top 20 chart for this week. An actually good song is at #1.
action: You kill the pig
response: The pig turns to you angrily and flashes its fierce red eyes at you. Then it notices the tail of your T-shirt where you wiped your fingers last night - you ate a chocolate bar and wiped your messy fingers on the shirt. The pig smells the chocolate and starts tugging at your shirt. Ecch. Should have put on a clean shirt today.
action: You continue
response: You give a slap to the irritating creature, but it just starts tugging your shirt again. Now isn't that sweet.
action: You go to the east
response: The hallway connects all the rooms in your apartment. The living-room is to the east while the kitchen is to the west and your bedroom is to the southwest. Rather unnervingly, the front door leading out, to the south, seems to have disappeared completely. Somewhat unexpectedly, there seems to be an extra room to the north.

The pig follows you, tugging at your T-shirt.
action: Go east
response: Normally it is of course a charming living-room. You see a sofa, a table and a television here. The exit is to the west.

On the table is a small key.

You can also see a mud monster here.

The pig follows you, tugging at your T-shirt.

The pig sees the mud monster, becomes afraid and disappears back into the kitchen.
action: You go to the southwest
response: Beside your bed is a small nightstand. A wardrobe stands opposite your bed and there's a writing desk by the window. There is an inexplicable black hole in the floor. There is a door in the northeastern corner of the room, leading to the hallway.

The pig follows you, tugging at your T-shirt.
action: You go west
response: On the kitchen table are some leftovers of the pizza that you ordered last night but couldn't finish. The hallway is to the east.

A stove stands in the corner.

You can also see a fridge (closed) here.

The pig follows you, tugging at your T-shirt.
action: You open the fridge
response: You don't dare to open the fridge while the pig is in the kitchen. If it's this excited about your chocolate-stained shirt, who knows with what fervour it will attack the contents of the fridge once they are exposed. No, you need to get the pig out of the kitchen first.
action: Attack monster
response: That wouldn't be very wise. When you even approach it a bit more, it gives out a small zap and you feel an electric charge through your body. Got to think of something else.
action: Go north
response: This is a small featureless room, no bigger than a closet. There is a metal ladder ascending straight up into the darkness. The upper end of the ladder is not visible. The exit is to the south.

The pig follows you, tugging at your T-shirt.
action: You look at bed
response: It's your  plain but comfy and trusted bed. You already made it, although I didn't mention it specifically.
action: You look around
response: The hallway connects all the rooms in your apartment. The living-room is to the east while the kitchen is to the west and your bedroom is to the southwest. Rather unnervingly, the front door leading out, to the south, seems to have disappeared completely. Somewhat unexpectedly, there seems to be an extra room to the north.

The fat pig is here, tugging your T-shirt.
action: You examine the phone
response: The mobile phone screen shows presently your contact list: ExprezzPizza, Kate, Mr Furroughs (your college teacher), Mum, Chuck Norris.
action: You call Kate
response: There is no answer. Just like in normal reality.
action: You call the mr furroughs
response: There is an automatic message: "Sorry, I cannot take your call right now. Please leave a message after the beep. If you're one of my students making a prank call, please leave your message after the second beep." There's a beep. You wait for a while, but the second beep never comes. He got you alright.
action: You call Chuck Norris
response: Chuck Norris is not afraid of warped realities. On the contrary, if Chuck Norris is unsatisfied with reality, he warps it himself until he's happy with it.

Encouraged by remembering this, you dial his number, but there is no answer. Then you remember that Chuck Norris doesn't need to answer the phone. He already knows what you'd be going to say.
action: You call the ExprezzPizza
response: "Sorry, closed due to reality enwarpment." At least they're up to date with things. (And seems like "enwarpment" indeed is a word now.)
action: You call the Mum
response: Mum answers, of course.
"Mum, reality is warped!"
"Oh, really? Remember to dress warmly when you go out, then. I'm off to the hairdresser's. Byee!"
...
action: You examine the carpet
response: Your white, exquisite living-room carpet is stained with mud that has been dripping from the monster.
action: You pull the carpet
response: You pull the carpet forcefully. The mud monster loses its balance and form. Soon there is nothing else left but a puddle of mud on the floor. That was handled elegantly -- well, almost. You can't really be happy with the floor all covered in brown sludge.
action: You go east
response: Normally it is of course a charming living-room. You see a sofa, a table and a television here. The exit is to the west.

There is a big puddle of mud on the floor.

On the table is a small key.

The pig follows you, tugging at your T-shirt.

The pig sees the mud on the floor, approaches it and starts to wallow in it. It really seems to enjoy itself and forgets everything else.
action: You go west
response: On the kitchen table are some leftovers of the pizza that you ordered last night but couldn't finish. The hallway is to the east.

A stove stands in the corner.

You can also see a fridge (closed) here.
action: You open the fridge
response: You open the fridge, revealing a bottle of whiskey.
action: You get the whiskey
response: Taken.
action: Go east
response: Normally it is of course a charming living-room. You see a sofa, a table and a television here. The exit is to the west.

There is a big puddle of mud on the floor. A pig is wallowing happily in it.

On the table is a small key.
action: Unlock drawer
response: (with the small key)
You unlock the drawer.
action: You open it
response: You open the drawer, revealing a flashlight.
action: You switch on the flashlight
response: You switch the flashlight on.
action: Go upwards
response: You live in a normal condominium building with definitely no jazz club anywhere in it. Anyway, here you are, in a smoky, atmospheric club with a lazy crowd in murky tables - murky because of the thick cigarette smoke present. From here you can go down, back to your apartment.

Three accordion players are performing on a small stage.

A small birdcage stands near the stage.
action: You look at the cage
response: It's a small metal cage.

In the cage is a canary bird.
action: You look at the bird
response: It's a small yellow bird.
action: You open cage
response: But the small bird might fly away!
action: You get the cage
response: "Hey, you there." interrupts one of the players. "Isn't it a beautiful creature? You can have the bird, but just give us a bottle of whiskey in exchange. Fair, ha?"
action: You give the whiskey to the player
response: You give the bottle of whiskey to the band. They thank you and one of them says:

"Here, have this bird as a token of our gratitude. Take good care of it; it has accompanied us in some very dark places. May it bring you luck in your times of distress, too."

They hand the cage to you.
action: You look at your surroundings
response: You live in a normal condominium building with definitely no jazz club anywhere in it. Anyway, here you are, in a smoky, atmospheric club with a lazy crowd in murky tables - murky because of the thick cigarette smoke present. From here you can go down, back to your apartment.

Three accordion players are performing on a small stage.
action: Go downwards
response: You descend the ladder.

This is a small featureless room, no bigger than a closet. There is a metal ladder ascending straight up into the darkness. The upper end of the ladder is not visible. The exit is to the south.
action: Go southwest
response: The hallway connects all the rooms in your apartment. The living-room is to the east while the kitchen is to the west and your bedroom is to the southwest. Rather unnervingly, the front door leading out, to the south, seems to have disappeared completely. Somewhat unexpectedly, there seems to be an extra room to the north.

Beside your bed is a small nightstand. A wardrobe stands opposite your bed and there's a writing desk by the window. There is an inexplicable black hole in the floor. There is a door in the northeastern corner of the room, leading to the hallway.
action: You enter the hole
response: You feel now that you ready to enter the vortex. With the small bird as your companion, what harm could possibly happen to you?

You're standing outside your apartment, on the tenth floor landing of the condominium. In a way, finding yourself here is a sort of anticlimax; on the other hand, you're happy that you managed to escape from your apartment. Some doors leading to other apartments on this floor are visible, but the front door of your apartment is still nowhere to be seen. Ordinarily a flight of stairs, to the left of the elevator, leads down and another one, to the right of the elevator, leads up. Presently, however, both flights of stairs have disappeared and there are just two abysses that you feel dizzy gazing into. Well, there's always the elevator. Conveniently, it happens to be right here.
action: You examine the elevator
response: The elevator is empty.
action: You enter the elevator
response: Finding no other sensible alternative, you decide to enter the elevator.

You're inside the elevator. There are only two buttons, up and down. That should make things simple.
action: You go to the west
response: You deem it not worth starting to walk randomly in the knee-deep water. Also, entering any of the buildings around you looks highly unsafe.

Out of nowhere, a small boat without any oars floats into your reach.
action: You enter the boat
response: You get into the boat.

A strong current leads the boat forward between the towering buildings. Soon you're out of town. Even the highest buildings disappear into the horizon, and there's nothing but water in sight.

The current pushes the boat northward.
action: Wait
response: Time passes.

The current pushes the boat northward.
action: You look at the cage
response: It's a small metal cage.

In the cage is a canary bird.

The current pushes the boat northward.

You see a tiny island looming in the horizon, to the north.

A wedge of pigs, in a perfect V-formation, flies past far above your head and disappears into the horizon.
action: You wait awhile
response: Time passes.

The current pushes the boat northward.

The island is getting closer.
action: You wait a while
response: Time passes.

The current pushes the boat northward.

The island is getting closer.

Your boat reaches the island which now looks rather big; it must be over a mile wide. When the boat touches the ground, you get off it and wade to the shore. A yawning hippopotamus appears from nowhere. The boat disappears in its huge jaws and the hippopotamus swims away.

You are standing on the shore of an island. A path leads up the slightly ascending cliff to a wide red curtain, the kind you might see in a theatre. The shore continues to the west and to the east.
action: You go to the east
response: This is a particulary stony part of the shoreline. You can go back to the west to where you originally landed on the island, but the landscape becomes impassable in other direction due to thick vegetation.

The wreck of a small cargo ship lies on the stones here.

You can also see a crowbar here.
action: You examine it
response: It is a rusty old crowbar.
action: You examine wreck
response: It is an old cargo vessel. Some gunnysacks lie on the rocks around the wreck.
action: You examine the sacks
response: Sacks made of rough burlap. A couple have broken, revealing sunflower seeds inside.
action: You get the seeds
response: You take some sunflower seeds from an open sack.
action: You check your inventory
response: You're carrying some sunflower seeds, a crowbar and a cage.

You can also recall a map drawn on your bedroom desk.
action: You recall the map
response: You think about the treasure map you found drawn on your bedroom desk. There was an irregular line (a river or a road) going across the map , and to the right, or east, of it was a big X. The X was inside a circle, but it was difficult to guess what the circle could represent.
action: You go to the west
response: You are standing on the shore of an island. A path leads up the slightly ascending cliff to a wide red curtain, the kind you might see in a theatre. The shore continues to the west and to the east.
action: Go west
response: This is a small sandy stretch of the island shore. There's various flotsam and jetsam here. You can go back to the east to where you originally landed on the island, but the landscape becomes impassable in other directions due to steep cliffs.

You can see a bowler hat here.
action: You examine hat
response: It's a slightly worn but still usable bowler hat.
action: You get the hat
response: Taken.
action: You wear it
response: You put on the bowler hat.
action: Go north
response: You find a gap in the wide, red curtain and enter it.

You're standing alone on a large theatre stage. The house is full, with the audience waiting for your next move in the dark auditorium. Even the balconies, to the second and third floors, are seated to the last place. A fat, wealthy man sitting in one of the boxes eyes you through a pair of opera glasses. The red curtain is behind you.

The audience bursts into a wild applause seeing you. You feel you have to give them your best shot. Now, let's see... you can sing, dance and whistle. Or at least you think you can.

The audience shifts restlessly, waiting for your next move.
action: Dance
response: You start your Vaudeville act. Wearing the bowler hat and using the crowbar as a makeshift cane, you manage to convince the crowd to an extent, in spite of your lacking dancing abilities. However, you shouldn't have opened your mouth; your singing and whistling are still abominable. Maybe you should find someone who is better at it than you are.

You stop as the crowd boos angrily.

The audience shifts restlessly, waiting for your next move.
action: You examine the cage
response: It's a small metal cage.

In the cage is a canary bird.

The audience shifts restlessly, waiting for your next move.
action: You examine bird
response: It's a small yellow bird.

The audience shifts restlessly, waiting for your next move.
action: You give the seeds to the bird
response: The cage isn't open.

The audience shifts restlessly, waiting for your next move.
action: You open the cage
response: You open the cage carefully and give some seeds for the canary bird to eat. It pecks them for a while and starts then chirping happily from its heart's content.

The audience is stunned by the performance and is now waiting for you to complete the show.

The audience shifts restlessly, waiting for your next move.
action: Whistle
response: You start your Vaudeville act to the chirping of the bird. As it takes care of the singing/whistling part of the performance, your job is just to dance. Wearing the bowler hat and using the crowbar as a makeshift cane, you manage to convince the crowd in spite of your lacking dancing abilities. In fact, they are quite charmed, and the applause at the end of your one-man and one-bird show is deafening.

Someone who looks like the theatre manager comes to the stage and shakes your hand.

"That was absolutely fantastic", he congratulates, "now, please, let us escort you out."

A horse-drawn carriage drawn by two white horses appears from the backstage and you enter it. The horses then lead the carriage down a ramp from the stage and pull the carriage through the central aisle of the auditorium while the crowd on both sides of the aisle claps in a standing ovation and shouts bravo.

Once you're out of the main doors, you step out of the carriage. The horses disappear back into the theatre and the main doors close with a bang. Gosh, was that weird or what. Again, you're on your own.

You're on a north-south path in a forest. To the south is a theatre while to the north the path disappears into the trees. The theatre itself seems to be in the middle of the forest, a cultural oddity in the general wilderness of things.

Someone has left a shovel here.
action: You get the shovel
response: You try to pull the shovel out of the ground, but it is stuck surprisingly stubbornly. The task is made the more difficult as the handle is missing. As you keep pulling, the shaft of the shovel comes loose. The blade remains in the soil and cannot be retrieved. You take a look at the dark shaft you're holding. It has a white end that was not visible when the shovel still was intact. Hey, it's a magic wand!

There is a loud sound, and the ground is shaking. Somewhere nearby, a meteorite must have hit the ground.
action: You look at the wand
response: It is magic wand with a black shaft and a white end.
action: Wave wand
response: Nothing happens.

A bright ball of fire is seen falling from the sky in the distance and splashing into the sea far away from here.
action: You look around
response: You're on a north-south path in a forest. To the south is a theatre while to the north the path disappears into the trees. The theatre itself seems to be in the middle of the forest, a cultural oddity in the general wilderness of things.
action: You go north
response: This is a grassy stretch of land, near a lonely tree. To the south is a forest and to the northwest you see a small bare hill. A river flows from the north to the south, to your east. A path leads south. In other directions, the landscape becomes more difficult to pass.

A meteorite shoots across the sky and disappears into the horizon.
action: You examine the river
response: A river flows swiftly past.

In the bright daylight, you see a shooting star in the sky as a big meteor enters the atmosphere and burns.
action: You look at the ground
response: You notice nothing special about the ground here.

There is a loud sound, and the ground is shaking. Somewhere nearby, a meteorite must have hit the ground.
action: You examine the tree
response: It's a thin, leafy tree; you can't recognize the species. There is a small nest on one of the lower branches.
action: You look at the nest
response: The small nest, made of grass and leaves, is empty.

The canary bird starts chirping excitedly when you go nearer the nest.

A meteorite shoots across the sky and disappears into the horizon.
action: You open the cage
response: You open the cage. The small canary bird flies into the nest. After a moment you notice that it has started to hatch an egg. The egg grows abnormally big. A strong, sudden gust of wind blows the egg out of the nest and it falls onto the ground, breaking and revealing a human head. The small bird is startled and flies to the top of the tree. The head is that of an old man with orange hair and an orange beard. It quickly grows to a natural size and, jutting on the ground, starts to orate with a loud, pealing voice:

"Beware. These are perilous times. The asteroid belt is colliding
with the orbit of the Earth, and consequently the stars are falling. Only when the green crystal of Drunral is retrieved and returned to the pedestal on top of Mount Ganerva, can peace and order be restored. Go, fool!" the head almost screams. "There's no time to lose!"

The head stops talking. A passing eagle grabs it and as it is flying away, the head shouts: "Doom! Doom!" before disappearing altogether.
action: Go northeast
response: You can't go that way.

In the bright daylight, you see a shooting star in the sky as a big meteor enters the atmosphere and burns.
action: Go northwest
response: You're standing on the top of a small hill. This must be "Mount Ganerva" referred to by the talking head, as there are no other elevated places on the whole island. You can go southeast, down the slope. In other directions the slope is too difficult to climb down. In all directions you see a forested island, at least three miles wide.You see a couple of deep craters in the distance, billowing smoke.

A pedestal stands empty on top the hill.

A meteorite shoots across the sky and disappears into the horizon.
action: You go to the southeast
response: This is a grassy stretch of land, near a lonely tree. To the south is a forest and to the northwest you see a small bare hill. A river flows from the north to the south, to your east. A path leads south. In other directions, the landscape becomes more difficult to pass.

The canary bird is singing happily in the tree.
action: Wave wand
response: You would have liked to see something like a crystal bridge now spanning the river, but all that appears is a narrow wooden plank going across. Of course, it's better than nothing.

There is a loud sound, and the ground is shaking. Somewhere nearby, a meteorite must have hit the ground.
action: You go east
response: The grassy stretch of land continues here. The forest is some way off in all directions except to the west where you see open grassland and a lone tree across the river. There is a hut a short way to the north and a round structure to the southeast.

A narrow plank spans the river.
action: Go north
response: You are standing outside a small wooden hut that seems abandoned a long time ago. From here, you can go back south to where you crossed the river.

A meteorite shoots across the sky and disappears into the horizon.
action: You examine the hut
response: The small wooden hut must have been abandones years ago.
action: Open hut
response: It isn't something you can open.

In the bright daylight, you see a shooting star in the sky as a big meteor enters the atmosphere and burns.
action: You enter hut
response: It is clear that no-one has lived here in a long time. The floor of the single room here is littered with old junk. Mice are running about on the floor. It's really a place you don't want to stay long in.

You can see a shovel here.
action: You take the shovel
response: Taken.

There is a loud sound, and the ground is shaking. Somewhere nearby, a meteorite must have hit the ground.
action: You look at the mice
response: Some grey mice are running about on the dirty floor.
action: You ask the mice about the crystal
response: You can only do that to something animate.
action: You go south
response: You can't go that way.

A meteorite shoots across the sky and disappears into the horizon.
action: Go outside
response: You are standing outside a small wooden hut that seems abandoned a long time ago. From here, you can go back south to where you crossed the river.
action: Go south
response: The grassy stretch of land continues here. The forest is some way off in all directions except to the west where you see open grassland and a lone tree across the river. There is a hut a short way to the north and a round structure to the southeast.

A narrow plank spans the river.

A bright ball of fire is seen falling from the sky in the distance and splashing into the sea far away from here.
action: Go southeast
response: You are standing just outside an outdoor circus ring. There are low wooden railings, up to the height of one meter, around the arena, so it is rather easy to enter. Elephants are going in a circle in the ring, urged by their trainer in the middle. From here you can go northwest to the river crossing, or you could try to enter the arena proper.

You can see a trainer here.
action: You examine the trainer
response: He is urging the elephants to continue going around in the circus ring.

There is a loud sound, and the ground is shaking. Somewhere nearby, a meteorite must have hit the ground.
action: You examine the elephants
response: About ten elephants are going around the ring in a circle, urged by their trainer.
action: Inventory
response: You're carrying a shovel, a magic wand, some sunflower seeds, a crowbar and a cage.

You can also recall a map drawn on your bedroom desk.

A meteorite shoots across the sky and disappears into the horizon.
action: You enter the arena
response: You might get trampled by the elephants if you venture into the ring presently.
action: You ask the trainer about arena
response: He is too concentrated on his present task.

In the bright daylight, you see a shooting star in the sky as a big meteor enters the atmosphere and burns.
action: Go northwest
response: The grassy stretch of land continues here. The forest is some way off in all directions except to the west where you see open grassland and a lone tree across the river. There is a hut a short way to the north and a round structure to the southeast.

A narrow plank spans the river.
action: Go north
response: You are standing outside a small wooden hut that seems abandoned a long time ago. From here, you can go back south to where you crossed the river.

A meteorite shoots across the sky and disappears into the horizon.
action: Enter
response: It is clear that no-one has lived here in a long time. The floor of the single room here is littered with old junk. Mice are running about on the floor. It's really a place you don't want to stay long in.

A bright ball of fire is seen falling from the sky in the distance and splashing into the sea far away from here.
action: You take the mice
response: You manage to catch a couple of the mice.

In the bright daylight, you see a shooting star in the sky as a big meteor enters the atmosphere and burns.
action: Leave
response: You are standing outside a small wooden hut that seems abandoned a long time ago. From here, you can go back south to where you crossed the river.

There is a loud sound, and the ground is shaking. Somewhere nearby, a meteorite must have hit the ground.
action: You go to the south-east
response: You are standing just outside an outdoor circus ring. There are low wooden railings, up to the height of one meter, around the arena, so it is rather easy to enter. Elephants are going in a circle in the ring, urged by their trainer in the middle. From here you can go northwest to the river crossing, or you could try to enter the arena proper.

You can see a trainer here.

A meteorite shoots across the sky and disappears into the horizon.
action: You drop the mice
response: You set the mice free and they run onto the ring where the elephants, noticing them, go berserk and escape the arena in panic, without the trainer being able to do anything to stop them. The trainer runs after the elephants and soon all have disappeared from sight.
action: You enter the arena
response: You are standing inside a small circus ring with a soft, sandy floor. The ring is empty.

There is a loud sound, and the ground is shaking. Somewhere nearby, a meteorite must have hit the ground.
action: Dig
response: What do you want to dig?
action: Sand
response: You start digging in the middle of the circus ring and soon enough find a green crystal! It must be the green crystal of Drunral - whatever Drunral is.

You pick up the crystal from the ground and admire its brightness against the sunlight.
action: You examine the crystal
response: It is a beautiful crystal emanating green light.

In the bright daylight, you see a shooting star in the sky as a big meteor enters the atmosphere and burns.
action: Go outside
response: You are standing just outside an outdoor circus ring. There are low wooden railings, up to the height of one meter, around the arena, so it is rather easy to enter. From here you can go northwest to the river crossing, or you could try to enter the arena proper.
action: Go northwest
response: The grassy stretch of land continues here. The forest is some way off in all directions except to the west where you see open grassland and a lone tree across the river. There is a hut a short way to the north and a round structure to the southeast.

A narrow plank spans the river.

A bright ball of fire is seen falling from the sky in the distance and splashing into the sea far away from here.
action: Go west
response: You walk across the plank.

This is a grassy stretch of land, near a lonely tree. To the south is a forest and to the northwest you see a small bare hill. A river flows from the north to the south, to your east. A path leads south. In other directions, the landscape becomes more difficult to pass.

The canary bird is singing happily in the tree.

A narrow plank now spans the river.
action: Go west
response: You can't go that way.

A meteorite shoots across the sky and disappears into the horizon.
action: Go northwest
response: You're standing on the top of a small hill. This must be "Mount Ganerva" referred to by the talking head, as there are no other elevated places on the whole island. You can go southeast, down the slope. In other directions the slope is too difficult to climb down. In all directions you see a forested island, at least three miles wide.You see a couple of deep craters in the distance, billowing smoke.

A pedestal stands empty on top the hill.
action: You put the crystal on pedestal
response: You place the crystal onto the pedestal. It fits perfectly into a small, almost unnoticeable dent in it. Something clicks, and the crystal starts to glow a bright green light.

Soon, an alien vessel descends from the sky, zapping a couple of passing meteorites into dust as it approaches. A platform is lowered from the bottom of the craft, and two figures clad in grey costumes walk out.

"Greetings, earthling!" they say, "greetings from Drunral. You have summoned us and we have come. Our fleet will protect the Earth from further asteroids and meteorites; worry not. And as you did the heroic deed of summoning us, how about a cruise to our planet? We might be boring-looking but we sure know how to party! Oh, the endless disco nights and hot beach holidays! The unbelievable student bacchanals! We'll bring you back in a year's time. Don't you think you've deserved a break?!"

You can't argue that. Stepping onto the platform and ascending into the ship, you walk amidst the two strangers, putting your arms around their shoulders.

"Gentlemen," you say, "I think this the beginning of a beautiful friendship."
action: You wake up
response: The dreadful truth is, this is not a dream.

There is a loud sound, and the ground is shaking. Somewhere nearby, a meteorite must have hit the ground.