John's Fire Witch
by John Baker (1995)
Genres: Fantasy

A small, witty text adventure. You've come to visit your old friend John Baker, but he's missing, and a blizzard has rolled in outside while you were asleep waiting for him.

action: %
response: GlkTADS - A text-only TADS 2.5.3 Interpreter.

Maintained by Stephen Granade <sgranade@phy.duke.edu>

It's a cold weekend in December of 1990, and it's been far too long since you have seen your friend John Baker! But you've finally managed to take some time out of your schedule to drive to Columbus and spend some "quality time" together. Quality time, of course, means that you and he are going to sample every bar that Ohio State University's High Street has to offer.

John was to meet you at a favorite pizza and beer spot to start off the evening, but he hasn't showed up. John's always been rather spontaneous (read that as 'erratic'), so you think he'll show up eventually. But as the night wears on and you tire of downing beers by yourself, you decide to drive to his place and see if he's left a note or something for you there.

You find his front door unlocked and John nowhere to be found. Pretty tired from your earlier drive, and also buzzing a bit from the beer you drank, you quickly doze off in the living room.

It is now morning. A terrible snow storm is raging outside, the worst you've ever seen. You can't believe how much snow has piled up over the night. You still haven't heard from John, and you seem to now be trapped in his apartment.

John's Fire Witch, Version 1.01 (02/04/95)

This is John's Living Room. It is in its usual state of disarray, littered with junk (old copies of alternative newspapers, empty beer cans and bottles, dirty plates and glasses, and so on). What a complete sloth! To the north is the dining area. There is a door leading outside to the south. One set of stairs leads down to the basement, while another set leads upstairs.
action: You look at the junk
response: There is a fairly large amount of junk here, consisting mostly of empty beer cans and bottles, dirty plates and glasses, old copies of alternative newspapers, etc. There is very little of it that you would consider touching.
action: You go to the south
response: You are outside the apartment on Red Robin Road. It is bitterly
cold, and the storm drives snow into your face. Huge drifts of snow block your way in every direction you look. The door back into the apartment is to the north.
action: You dig in the snow
response: What do you want to dig in it with?
action: Yourself
response: The snow isn't important.

You know, it really is quite cold out here. Perhaps you should step back in to the apartment and warm up. You already can't feel your fingers and toes.
action: You wait a while
response: Time passes...
action: You wait awhile
response: Time passes...

It is so cold that you are beginning to feel sleepy. You remember reading somewhere that this is a really bad sign. Perhaps you should step back into the apartment, unless you're really intent on freezing to death.
action: You go north
response: This is John's Living Room. It is in its usual state of disarray, littered with junk (old copies of alternative newspapers, empty beer cans and bottles, dirty plates and glasses, and so on). What a complete sloth! To the north is the dining area. There is a door leading outside to the south. One set of stairs leads down to the basement, while another set leads upstairs.
action: You go north
response: This is the Dining Area, inaptly named here since it is never used
for that purpose. This room is less cluttered than the living room, but that's not saying much. The kitchen is to the east, while the living room lies to the south.
Sitting on the dinner table is a handwritten letter.
action: You examine the letter
response: It appears to be a letter from John to his landlord. It seems to display a lot of anger.
action: You read the letter
response: Dear Pig:

There is no way that I am going to pay any more rent than I already do for this hole you call an apartment. The rent you're already charging is paramount to extortion for a struggling student like myself. You don't do a thing I ask, you don't answer maintenance calls, and you have refused to fix the hole that has opened up in the basement. So bugger off.
action: You get the letter
response: Taken.
action: You look at the table
response: It's your everyday dinner table. You notice numerous nicks and scratches in the surface, as though someone had repeatedly bounced a coin off of it.
action: You go to the east
response: the rest of the apartment. This puzzles you for a moment, until you figure out that John probably eats out all the time. A door leads outside to the north, and the dining area is to the west.
You see a stove and a refrigerator here. Sitting on the stove is a
big pan. Sitting on the refrigerator is a typed letter.
action: You examine it
response: It appears to be a letter to John from his landlord telling him that his rent is going up. The landlord sounds really greedy.
action: You read it
response: Dear Tenant:

As some of you may know, I have recently purchased a third sports car. This one was exceptionally expensive, and in order to maintain my extravagant lifestyle, I am going to have to increase your rent again. I can't exactly remember what I charge you now (my accountant handles all that stuff), but whatever it is, add $50 a month from now on.
action: You examine the stove
response: There is a thin layer of dust on the stove; further evidence that this room is not used much. Continued inspection shows that the stove does not even work. You wonder if John is aware of this or if he even cares. On the stove you see a big pan.
action: You examine the pan
response: This big pan appears to have been filled with lasagna at one time, but it is now empty. John told you yesterday on the phone that he was making it for the both of you. He has got to be one of the biggest gluttons you know.
action: You open the fridge
response: You open the refrigerator, and find it completely empty. John never ceases to amaze you. You close it back up, shaking your head.
action: You open the stove
response: The oven door seems to be stuck. It does open just a little bit, and you catch the pleasant odor of cooked fish, possibly herring.
action: You go north
response: You are outside the apartment, on a patio enclosed by fencing. The storm wails around you, driving snow into your face. It is bitterly cold. A fence door leads north out into the apartment complex parking lot, but there is so much snow piled against it that you doubt you could open it. The door back into the apartment is to the south.
action: You look at the fence
response: That's not important.

You know, it really is quite cold out here. Perhaps you should step back in to the apartment and warm up. You already can't feel your fingers and toes.
action: Go south
response: the rest of the apartment. This puzzles you for a moment, until you figure out that John probably eats out all the time. A door leads outside to the north, and the dining area is to the west.
You see a stove and a refrigerator here.
action: You go to the west
response: This is the Dining Area, inaptly named here since it is never used
for that purpose. This room is less cluttered than the living room, but that's not saying much. The kitchen is to the east, while the living room lies to the south.
action: Inventory
response: You have a handwritten letter, a typed letter, and a big pan.
action: You go upward
response: This is the landing at the top of the steps. A laundry chute is in
the wall here. To the north is John's bedroom, while the bathroom lies to the east. The stairs lead down.
action: You examine the chute
response: This is a laundry chute. It most likely travels from here down into the basement.
action: Go east
response: The bathroom is typical for an apartment like this. The floor is
tiled and bare. The shower curtain is a striking blend of wild colors. It is just beginning to show the first signs of mold. The landing lies to the west.
Sitting on the sink is a flashlight.
action: You examine it
response: The flashlight is off. There seems to be no battery in it.
action: You look at the mold
response: Pretty gross.
action: You examine the sink
response: It's a typical bathroom sink. What did you expect to find?
action: About yourself
response: You look about the same as always.
action: You go to the west
response: This is the landing at the top of the steps. A laundry chute is in
the wall here. To the north is John's bedroom, while the bathroom lies to the east. The stairs lead down.
action: You go north
response: This is John's bedroom. You are immediately surprised by the sheer volume of dirty clothes that cover the floor. The room itself is furnished with rather spartan furniture. You can exit back to the landing to the south.
You see a bed here.
action: You examine the clothes
response: There is a terrific volume of dirty clothes here, completely covering the floor to a depth of about three inches. Who knows what all could be mixed in among them?
action: Search clothes
response: You find a crystal card! What else could be in here?
action: Search clothes
response: You find a picture! What else could be in here?
action: Search clothes
response: You find a modem! What else could be in here?
action: You examine picture
response: This is a picture of a rather lusty-looking girl. She must be very important to John, for him to have left the picture all mixed in with his important clothes like that.
action: You examine the crystal card
response: This card is about the size of a playing card. It is made out of some type of gleaming crystal, and is grey in color.
action: Rub card
response: Nothing happens.
action: You look at the bed
response: It looks like an ordinary bed. You would have been disappointed in John if it had been made, but it's not.
action: You look under the bed
response: You find a battery and a book!
action: You make the bed
response: You start to make the bed, and then decide that John might get upset about it.
action: You put battery in the flashlight
response: Done.
action: Examine book
response: The book appears to be a diary, probably John's. You're not going to read it are you?
action: You read book
response: The diary goes on about mundane personal matters, as diaries are wont to do, for quite some time. A recurring theme seems to be how envious John is of people who are out "living life". This puzzles you a bit, since John has done more crazy shit than any 10 people you know, with the possible exception of some of his psycho friends.

The last couple of pages are really strange. Apparently a few days ago, a hole opened in John's basement due to some water damage. John has been having dreams about a "Fire Witch" and an "Ice Wizard" that live down this hole. Here's the part that's really weird: he thinks the dreams are real. The ice wizard has imprisoned the fire witch, and John seems almost obsessed with freeing her. He also talks about a "magic crystal card" that the fire witch gave him in a dream. By rubbing it and saying the "magic word" necken-sway, John thinks that he can find the fire witch. He talks about the card as if he actually has it in his possession.

Obviously, years of heavy drinking have finally destroyed his mind.
action: Rub card
response: Nothing happens.
action: You rub the card and sathe necken-sway
response: Nothing happens.

I don't understand that sentence.
action: You look around
response: This is John's bedroom. You are immediately surprised by the sheer volume of dirty clothes that cover the floor. The room itself is furnished with rather spartan furniture. You can exit back to the landing to the south.
You see a bed, a crystal card, a picture, a modem, and a book here.
action: You take all
response: crystal card: Taken.
picture: Taken.
modem: Taken.
book: Taken.
action: You go to the south
response: This is the landing at the top of the steps. A laundry chute is in
the wall here. To the north is John's bedroom, while the bathroom lies to the east. The stairs lead down.
action: Go downwards
response: This is John's Living Room. It is in its usual state of disarray, littered with junk (old copies of alternative newspapers, empty beer cans and bottles, dirty plates and glasses, and so on). What a complete sloth! To the north is the dining area. There is a door leading outside to the south. One set of stairs leads down to the basement, while another set leads upstairs.
action: Go downwards
response: This is the basement of the apartment. It is unfinished, and there
is no furniture here. There is a large hole in the west wall, probably large enough for you to fit through, and a set of stairs lead up.
You see a board here.
action: You examine the board
response: This is a 2x4 board. It appears very sturdy.
action: You take the board
response: Taken.
action: You look at the hole
response: The hole leads west.
action: You go west
response: and the basement of one of his neighbors. You are pretty cramped; you can barely fit in here. It is also kind of dark, making you strain to see. A dark, forbidding hole leads down, while you can return to the basement to the east.
action: You go downwards
response: You carefully climb down the hole into darkness. It goes straight down for at least 100 feet; luckily it is pretty rough and there are many handholds and places to position your feet. Finally, you drop down into a room below.

It's pitch black.
action: You look around
response: You have entered a grotto made entirely of some type of gleaming red-tinted crystal. The crystal achieves the effect of appearing both natural and crafted. Floors, ceiling, and walls all smoothly blend together. The light from your flashlight is reflected back to you both from the direction you are pointing it and from other parts of the room, as gleams of red light seem to travel through the crystal to emerge elsewhere.

The overall effect is quite beautiful.

A hole in the ceiling, just reachable, leads up. To the south, the crystal slowly turns into some type of grey stone and becomes a tunnel.
action: Rub card
response: As you rub the card, its color changes to grey.
action: You examine the crystal
response: This card is about the size of a playing card. It is made out of some type of gleaming crystal, and is grey in color.
action: Necken-swnecken-sway
response: Perhaps you should try saying that word like this: say "necken-sway".
action: Rub card
response: As you rub the card, its color changes to red.
action: You examine the card
response: This card is about the size of a playing card. It is made out of some type of gleaming crystal, and is red in color.
action: You go upwards
response: You jump up and manage to get yourself at least partly into the hole. Pulling yourself into it, you start your long climb upwards. You arrive in the hollow space out of breath.

and the basement of one of his neighbors. You are pretty cramped; you can barely fit in here. It is also kind of dark, making you strain to see. A dark, forbidding hole leads down, while you can return to the basement to the east.
action: Go downwards
response: You carefully climb down the hole into darkness. It goes straight down for at least 100 feet; luckily it is pretty rough and there are many handholds and places to position your feet. Finally, you drop down into a room below.

You have entered a grotto made entirely of some type of gleaming red-tinted crystal. The crystal achieves the effect of appearing both natural and crafted. Floors, ceiling, and walls all smoothly blend together. The light from your flashlight is reflected back to you both from the direction you are pointing it and from other parts of the room, as gleams of red light seem to travel through the crystal to emerge elsewhere.

The overall effect is quite beautiful.

A hole in the ceiling, just reachable, leads up. To the south, the crystal slowly turns into some type of grey stone and becomes a tunnel.
action: Go south
response: Long Tunnel (1)
This is a long tunnel leading north and south. It has definitely
been purposefully made, being tiled with crafted stone. It looks like something that would have been created centuries ago. You can see the Red Crystal Grotto to the north, and a side corridor leads off to the east.
action: You go to the east
response: This room, tiled with the same stone as the long tunnel, smells a
bit dank. Moisture must get in here somewhere. The room appears to be a cell block, mainly because there are jail cells with entrances on the northern, eastern, and southern walls. The exit is to the west.

The northern cell appears to be completely filled up by something massive.
action: Go north
response: The northern cell is completely filled with ice. You can't enter it.
action: You examine the ice
response: The ice completely fills the northern cell. It feels cold and slick to the touch, but does not appear to be melting. Something is frozen in the center of the ice, a human figure. As you continue to peer through the frozen mass, you realize with a shiver that it looks a lot like John.
action: You look at John
response: John appears to be frozen in the center of the ice in the northern cell. You are worried about his health.
action: You go east
response: You are in a non-descript 10 x 10 room of tiled stone. It has the appearances of a cell, but has no door. There is an exit to the west.
action: You go west
response: As you try to move west through the exit, you feel as though you are pushing yourself through thick molasses. It takes quite a bit of effort and no small amount of time to get yourself back out into the cell block.

This room, tiled with the same stone as the long tunnel, smells a
bit dank. Moisture must get in here somewhere. The room appears to be a cell block, mainly because there are jail cells with entrances on the northern, eastern, and southern walls. The exit is to the west.

The northern cell appears to be completely filled up by something massive.
action: You go to the south
response: You are in a non-descript 10 x 10 room of tiled stone. It has the appearances of a cell, but has no door. There is an exit to the north.
action: Go north
response: As you try to move north through the exit, you feel as though you are pushing yourself through thick molasses. It takes quite a bit of effort and no small amount of time to get yourself back out into the cell block.

This room, tiled with the same stone as the long tunnel, smells a
bit dank. Moisture must get in here somewhere. The room appears to be a cell block, mainly because there are jail cells with entrances on the northern, eastern, and southern walls. The exit is to the west.

The northern cell appears to be completely filled up by something massive.
action: You go west
response: Long Tunnel (1)
This is a long tunnel leading north and south. It has definitely
been purposefully made, being tiled with crafted stone. It looks like something that would have been created centuries ago. You can see the Red Crystal Grotto to the north, and a side corridor leads off to the east.
action: Go south
response: Long Tunnel (2)
The long tunnel continues to lead north and south. The same tiling
is present here as in the rest of the tunnel. A side corridor leads off to the west.
action: Go south
response: Long Tunnel (3)
The long tunnel continues to lead both north and south. The carefully-crafted stone tile appears to be a darker grey here. Your way to the south appears to be blocked by a deep pit, but there is a side corridor leading off to the east.
action: Go west
response: This is a side corridor leading east and west. It is somewhat
smaller than the long tunnel, which lies to the east. An archway lies to the west. You can't put your finger on it, but you have a very strange feeling about that archway.
action: You look at the archway
response: The archway is made of the same tiled stone as the rest of the construction seems to be made of. Shining your light through the archway reveals the dim outline of a room with a safe in the wall beyond it.

There is something that you can't put your finger on about the archway that bothers you.
action: Go west
response: As you are moving through the archway, you hear a sound much like that of breaking glass, and you suddenly become very disoriented. When you regain your senses a moment later, you are not where you thought you would be.

You are in a non-descript 10 x 10 room of tiled stone. It has the appearances of a cell, but has no door. There is an exit to the west.

There is a loud and horrible rushing noise in your ears, and the room appears to be filling up with what you would describe as steam if it were not so very very cold.
action: Go west
response: You frantically try to push out of the room, but moving through the doorway is like trying to push through thick molasses.

Your flesh feels like leather and your eyes like glass as a huge block of ice forms around you. Mysteriously you are not killed outright by this; instead you fall into a deep sleep. Unfortunately, within a few days without food you expire anyway.
action: You look at the pit
response: You can just make out the bottom of the pit with your flashlight; the floor is covered with sharp spikes pointing upwards. This is not something you want to fall into. The pit is pretty far across, too. Jumping it would be chancy, and you'd probably want to be carrying as little as possible.
action: Go east
response: The walls here are made of a mixture of stone and steel. The room
is completely dominated by a large metal vault whose door is almost the entire east wall. Light illuminates this room, but you can't tell where it is coming from. You can exit back to the long tunnel to the west.
You see a thin rod here.
action: You get the rod
response: You've already got your hands full.
action: You examine it
response: This thin rod is made of some indeterminite material and is black in color. It looks like a magician's wand. A word is written in a fancy looking script on the rod's side.
action: You examine the door
response: It is made of steel, and probably about three feet thick. There are three dials on the vault door, each one is notated with numbers ranging from 1 to 36. Some quick mental arithmetic tells you that means over 45,000 combinations. Who knows? Maybe you'll get a hunch.
action: Inventory
response: You have a handwritten letter, a typed letter, a big pan, a flashlight (providing light), a crystal card, a picture, a modem, a book, and a board. The flashlight seems to contain a battery.
action: You put all in pan
response: handwritten letter: You can't put anything into the big pan.
typed letter: You can't put anything into the big pan.
big pan: You can't put the big pan in itself!
flashlight: You can't put anything into the big pan.
crystal card: You can't put anything into the big pan.
picture: You can't put anything into the big pan.
modem: You can't put anything into the big pan.
book: You can't put anything into the big pan.
board: You can't put anything into the big pan.
action: You drop the board
response: Dropped.
action: Wave wand
response: As you wave the thin rod, blue sparkles appear in the air around it. The rod itself is glowing with a soft blue light.
action: Look around
response: The walls here are made of a mixture of stone and steel. The room
is completely dominated by a large metal vault whose door is almost the entire east wall. Light illuminates this room, but you can't tell where it is coming from. You can exit back to the long tunnel to the west.
You see a board, a thin rod, and a big pan here.
action: You get all
response: board: Taken.
thin rod: Taken.
big pan: You've already got your hands full.
action: You throw the wand
response: (at the archway)
You miss.

The thin rod is no longer glowing.
action: You check what you're carrying
response: You have a handwritten letter, a typed letter, a flashlight (providing light), a crystal card, a picture, a modem, a book, a board, and a thin rod. The flashlight seems to contain a battery.

You're feeling a bit run-down and tired. This always happens when you sleep on a floor! You get in the mood for a nap just a little while after getting up.
action: Status
response: In a total of 150 turns, you have achieved a score of 0 points out of a possible 10.
action: Go east
response: This is the basement of the apartment. It is unfinished, and there
is no furniture here. There is a large hole in the west wall, probably large enough for you to fit through, and a set of stairs lead up.
action: Go upwards
response: This is John's Living Room. It is in its usual state of disarray, littered with junk (old copies of alternative newspapers, empty beer cans and bottles, dirty plates and glasses, and so on). What a complete sloth! To the north is the dining area. There is a door leading outside to the south. One set of stairs leads down to the basement, while another set leads upstairs.
action: Sleep
response: Snuggling up in John's bed, you drift pleasantly off to sleep. During your comfortable sleep, you have a dream. You are wandering through a vast desert at night. The wind whips sand into you, and it is cold enough to make you shiver. You know that you are looking for something.

Finally, you come upon a cage just sitting out in the middle of the lonely expanse. Inside is a beautiful woman in crimson robes, who turns to face you as you approach.

She seems troubled. "You are not the one who usually comes," she says, and then drops her head. "I do not have the strength to continue very much longer. You must get this to the one who calls himself 'John'."

With what seems like a great amount of effort, she hands you a small slip of paper through the bars of the cage. Almost immediately the cage disappears, the woman with it.

You wake up some time later, feeling refreshed.
action: You examine paper
response: This small slip of paper holds some cryptic numbers.
action: You read the paper
response: "24-18-19"
action: Go east
response: The walls here are made of a mixture of stone and steel. The room
is completely dominated by a large metal vault whose door is almost the entire east wall. Light illuminates this room, but you can't tell where it is coming from. You can exit back to the long tunnel to the west.
You see a big pan here.
action: You turn the dial to 25
response: Which dial do you mean, the first dial, the second dial, or the third dial?
action: You open the vault
response: You pull on the vault door with all of your might. You hear a loud 'click', and then it swings open. Almost immediately, a huge glossy-black demon emerges from the vault; it looks *angry*. You are quite sure it intends to kill you.
action: You examine the demon
response: The demon is about 12 feet tall, has large leathery bat-like wings, and is heavily muscled. Its skin is glossy black. Large tusks protrude from its face, and it looks really angry. You suddenly realize that it may not have been a good idea to take time out to examine it more closely.

The demon's hand grabs your right shoulder, jerking you up off your feet like you were a rag doll. You hear it howling with glee as it rips you neatly in half.
action: You hit the demon with the pan
response: It's not very effective to attack with the big pan.

The demon's hand grabs your right shoulder, jerking you up off your feet like you were a rag doll. You hear it howling with glee as it rips you neatly in half.
action: Go west
response: Long Tunnel (3)
The long tunnel continues to lead both north and south. The carefully-crafted stone tile appears to be a darker grey here. Your way to the south appears to be blocked by a deep pit, but there is a side corridor leading off to the east.

The demon follows you here, anger and murder glowing in its evil eyes.
action: You go north
response: Long Tunnel (2)
The long tunnel continues to lead north and south. The same tiling
is present here as in the rest of the tunnel. A side corridor leads off to the west.

The demon follows you here, anger and murder glowing in its evil eyes.
action: You go west
response: This is a side corridor leading east and west. It is somewhat
smaller than the long tunnel, which lies to the east. An archway lies to the west. You can't put your finger on it, but you have a very strange feeling about that archway.

The demon follows you here, anger and murder glowing in its evil eyes.
action: You go to the west
response: As you are moving through the archway, you hear a sound much like that of breaking glass, and you suddenly become very disoriented. When you regain your senses a moment later, you are not where you thought you would be.

[Your score just went up by 1 point.]
Eastern Cell
You are in a non-descript 10 x 10 room of tiled stone. It has the appearances of a cell, but has no door. There is an exit to the west.

There is a loud and horrible rushing noise in your ears, and the room appears to be filling up with what you would describe as steam if it were not so very very cold.
action: Go south
response: Long Tunnel (1)
This is a long tunnel leading north and south. It has definitely
been purposefully made, being tiled with crafted stone. It looks like something that would have been created centuries ago. You can see the Red Crystal Grotto to the north, and a side corridor leads off to the east.
action: Go east
response: This room, tiled with the same stone as the long tunnel, smells a
bit dank. Moisture must get in here somewhere. The room appears to be a cell block, mainly because there are jail cells with entrances on the northern, eastern, and southern walls. The exit is to the west.

All of the cells appear to be individually filled by something massive.
action: You examine the demon
response: The demon appears to be trapped in the ice. Good thing, too.
action: You look at the eastern cell
response: As you come closer to examine the eastern cell, you see that it is completely filled with a huge block of ice.
action: You look at the eastern ice
response: The ice completely fills the eastern cell. It feels cold and slick to the touch, but does not appear to be melting.
action: You look at the southern ice
response: The ice completely fills the southern cell. It feels cold and slick to the touch, but does not appear to be melting. Something is frozen in the center of the ice, huge and massive. It looks to be the demon that was chasing you.
action: Go east
response: The walls here are made of a mixture of stone and steel. The room
is completely dominated by a large metal vault whose door is almost the entire east wall. Light illuminates this room, but you can't tell where it is coming from. You can exit back to the long tunnel to the west. You can enter the open vault door to the east.
You see a big pan here.
action: Go east
response: You are inside the vault. The interior is about 10 x 10 feet, and
all of the walls are made of dull grey steel. You are very sure that nothing gets in or out of here when the vault door is closed. The room appears bare for its size. The vault door is to the west.

Sitting forlornly on the floor, lost in the emptiness of the vault, is a single red gem.
action: You examine the gem
response: This brilliant red gem seems to almost sparkle with a light of its own. It feels slightly warm to the touch.
action: You get the gem
response: [Your score just went up by 1 point.]
You've already got your hands full.
action: You drop the letter
response: Which letter do you mean, the handwritten letter, or the typed letter?
action: Both
response: handwritten letter: Dropped.
typed letter: Dropped.
action: You get the gem
response: [Your score just went up by 1 point.]
Taken.
action: You go west
response: The walls here are made of a mixture of stone and steel. The room
is completely dominated by a large metal vault whose door is almost the entire east wall. Light illuminates this room, but you can't tell where it is coming from. You can exit back to the long tunnel to the west. You can enter the open vault door to the east.
You see a big pan, a handwritten letter, and a typed letter here.
action: You examine the gem
response: This brilliant red gem seems to almost sparkle with a light of its own. It feels slightly warm to the touch.
action: You drop all
response: flashlight: Dropped.
crystal card: Dropped.
picture: Dropped.
modem: Dropped.
book: Dropped.
board: Dropped.
thin rod: Dropped.
slip of paper: Dropped.
red gem: Dropped.
action: You jump over the pit
response: You back up about a dozen feet, and with a loud exhale you start on a dead-sprint straight at the pit. You leap into the air at its edge, straining for the edge on the other side. You immediately know you're not going to make it.

*** WHACK ***

Your body smacks the side of the pit, and you claw at the edge, just barely in your grasp. Your scrambling hands find some loose stone tiles and dig in. With an effort much-aided by terror, you pull yourself up over the edge, and worm your way to the safety of the floor beyond. You DO NOT want to try that again.

It's pitch black.
action: You jump over the pit
response: You back up about a dozen feet, and with a loud exhale you start on a dead-sprint straight at the pit. You leap into the air at its edge, straining for the edge on the other side. You immediately know you're not going to make it.

*** WHACK ***

Your body smacks the side of the pit, and you claw at the edge, just barely in your grasp. Your scrambling hands find some loose stone tiles and dig in. With an effort much-aided by terror, you pull yourself up over the edge, and worm your way to the safety of the floor beyond. You DO NOT want to try that again.

Long Tunnel (4)
This is a long tunnel leading north and south. It is tiled with carefully-crafted stone. Your way to the north appears to be blocked by a deep pit, but there is a side corridor leading west.
action: You go west
response: You are on a small ledge (barely big enough to hold you) looking out over a huge cavern. The floor of the cavern (if there is one) lies so far down that you cannot see it, while the ceiling is about 40 feet above you. You can return to the long tunnel to the east.

To the west, hanging by a chain from the ceiling, is a large wooden disk. The chain is attached to the center of the disk, which looks to be about 5 feet wide. You think that you could probably jump to the disk from here. It's not nearly as long a distance to have to jump as the pit was.
action: You examine the disk
response: You've already seen all of the disk that you can make out from here.
action: You go to the west
response: You back up a bit in order to get some speed, and take off running towards the disk at your best sprint. At the edge of the ledge, you leap out into the cavern towards the disk. You make it fairly easily, but the disk tilts sickeningly as you land on it. You begin a mad scramble towards the chain as gravity tries to slide you off the edge. Many frightening seconds later, your hands grasp the chain and you pull yourself to the center of the disk. Whew!

You are precariously standing on a wooden disk, hanging suspended
from the cavern ceiling by a chain. You cannot see the floor of the cavern. To both the east and west, you can see ledges in the middle of the cavern walls. The problem is, although it was easy to jump *to* the disk, you don't have enough room for a running start to jump *off* the disk.
action: Swing
response: (the disk)
Using your own body, you begin swinging the disk from east to west. After about a minute, you've got quite an arc going.

The disk swings to the east.
action: You wait
response: Time passes...

The disk is swinging to the west, but is in a neutral position.
action: You wait awhile
response: Time passes...

The disk swings to the west.
action: You go west
response: As the disk reaches the point closest to the west ledge, you make your leap! No problem! You land with a thud that takes your breath away for a few seconds, but you are safe and sound.

You are on a small ledge (barely big enough to hold you) looking out over a huge cavern. The floor of the cavern (if there is one) lies so far down that you cannot see it, while the ceiling is about 40 feet above you. The ledge leads a short distance into the cavern wall and immediately turns south.

To the east, hanging by a chain from the ceiling, is a large wooden disk. The chain is attached to the center of the disk, which looks to be about 5 feet wide. The disk is a little farther away from here than it was from the east ledge; although you could jump to it from here, you don't know if you could stay on it when you got there or not.

The disk comes to rest.
action: You go to the south
response: You have entered a grotto made entirely of some type of gleaming green-tinted crystal. The crystal achieves the effect of appearing both natural and crafted. Floors, ceiling, and walls all smoothly blend together. The light from your flashlight is reflected back to you both from the direction you are pointing it and from other parts of the room, as gleams of green light seem to travel through the crystal to emerge elsewhere.

The overall effect is quite beautiful.

To the north, the crystal turns to stone and turns immediately east.
An opening in the crystal leads south.
action: You examine the card
response: This card is about the size of a playing card. It is made out of some type of gleaming crystal, and is green in color.
action: Rub card
response: As you rub the card, its color changes to green.
action: Go south
response: Long Tunnel (3)
The long tunnel continues to lead both north and south. The carefully-crafted stone tile appears to be a darker grey here. Your way to the south appears to be blocked by a deep pit, but there is a side corridor leading off to the east.
You see a picture, a modem, a book, a board, a thin rod, a slip of paper, and a red gem here.
action: You get all
response: picture: Taken.
modem: Taken.
book: Taken.
board: Taken.
thin rod: Taken.
slip of paper: Taken.
red gem: Taken.
action: Rub card
response: As you rub the card, its color changes to green.
action: You go to the south
response: A small rather non-descript grey-stone cavern, this location does
have one thing that makes it distinct: an ornate archway leading south. You can see the green crystal grotto to the north.
There is a small, fierce guardian creature blocking your way to the south. For some reason, the name 'goblin' pops into your head.

The goblin charges you, but you dodge aside.
action: You examine the goblin
response: The goblin is a little smaller than you are, but it appears very fierce. Small tusks protrude from its pig-like face, and razor-sharp talons spring from its hands. The goblin appears to be wearing a large lead key around its neck.

The goblin snarls at you like a mad dog.
action: Attack goblin
response: (with the board)
You ram the end of the board into the goblin's stomach, knocking it back several feet. It looks hurt, but also more than a little furious.

The goblin charges you, but you dodge aside.
action: You continue
response: Holding the board like a baseball bat, you crack the goblin upside the head. A lead key (previously unseen) flies from a chain around the goblin's neck. While the goblin staggers back dazed, you take advantage of the situation and crack it in the head again. This time you hear a sickening snap, and it drops to the ground dead.
action: You look at key
response: The key is about two inches long and pretty thick for a key. It is made of lead; this puzzles you as you would expect a key to be made of a stronger metal.
action: You examine the archway
response: The archway is made entirely of marble. It leads south.
action: Go north
response: You have entered a grotto made entirely of some type of gleaming green-tinted crystal. The crystal achieves the effect of appearing both natural and crafted. Floors, ceiling, and walls all smoothly blend together. The light from your flashlight is reflected back to you both from the direction you are pointing it and from other parts of the room, as gleams of green light seem to travel through the crystal to emerge elsewhere.

The overall effect is quite beautiful.

To the north, the crystal turns to stone and turns immediately east.
An opening in the crystal leads south.
action: Inventory
response: You have a flashlight (providing light), a crystal card, a picture, a modem, a book, a board, a thin rod, a slip of paper, and a red gem.
The flashlight seems to contain a battery.
action: Go south
response: A small rather non-descript grey-stone cavern, this location does
have one thing that makes it distinct: an ornate archway leading south. You can see the green crystal grotto to the north.
You see a dead goblin and a lead key here.
action: You look at goblin
response: It's definitely dead, apparently from a cracked skull. Its pig-like face still holds an expression of anger and stupidity.
action: You go to the south
response: This tiny room is made entirely of smooth, polished marble. The
only feature is a small marble pedestal in the southern portion of the room. It appears to be firmly attached to the floor, or perhaps even a part of it. The only exit is north.
Sitting on the marble pedestal is a blue gem.
action: You get the gem
response: [Your score just went up by 1 point.]
Taken.
action: You examine it
response: This brilliant blue gem seems to almost sparkle with a light of its own. It feels slightly cool to the touch.
action: You examine the pedestal
response: The pedestal is made entirely of marble. It appears to be firmly attached to the floor, possibly even a part of it. There's nothing on the marble pedestal.
action: You go to the north
response: A small rather non-descript grey-stone cavern, this location does
have one thing that makes it distinct: an ornate archway leading south. You can see the green crystal grotto to the north.
You see a dead goblin here.
action: Go north
response: You have entered a grotto made entirely of some type of gleaming green-tinted crystal. The crystal achieves the effect of appearing both natural and crafted. Floors, ceiling, and walls all smoothly blend together. The light from your flashlight is reflected back to you both from the direction you are pointing it and from other parts of the room, as gleams of green light seem to travel through the crystal to emerge elsewhere.

The overall effect is quite beautiful.

To the north, the crystal turns to stone and turns immediately east.
An opening in the crystal leads south.
You see a modem, a slip of paper, and a book here.
action: Go north
response: You are on a small ledge (barely big enough to hold you) looking out over a huge cavern. The floor of the cavern (if there is one) lies so far down that you cannot see it, while the ceiling is about 40 feet above you. The ledge leads a short distance into the cavern wall and immediately turns south.

To the east, hanging by a chain from the ceiling, is a large wooden disk. The chain is attached to the center of the disk, which looks to be about 5 feet wide. The disk is a little farther away from here than it was from the east ledge; although you could jump to it from here, you don't know if you could stay on it when you got there or not.
action: Go east
response: The disk is a little farther away from the West Ledge as it is from the East Ledge. You know that you could jump to it, but after the way it tilted last time, the thought of making a longer jump kind of worries you. If you want to jump to the disk from here, you'll have to tell me so explicitly by saying 'jump'.
action: You jump
response: You back up a bit in order to get some speed, and take off running towards the disk at your best sprint. At the edge of the ledge, you leap out into the cavern towards the disk. You make it fairly easily, but the disk tilts sickeningly as you land on it. You don't have as good of a position as you have had before, and after a few moments of mad scrambling, you slide off the disk to begin a long plummet to the cavern floors below.
action: You examine the gem
response: Which gem do you mean, the red gem, or the blue gem?
action: Blue
response: This brilliant blue gem seems to almost sparkle with a light of its own. It feels slightly cool to the touch.
action: Go east
response: This room, tiled with the same stone as the long tunnel, smells a
bit dank. Moisture must get in here somewhere. The room appears to be a cell block, mainly because there are jail cells with entrances on the northern, eastern, and southern walls. The exit is to the west.

The northern and southern cells are individually filled up by something massive.
action: Go north
response: The northern cell is completely filled with ice. You can't enter it.
action: Melt northern ice
response: What are you going to do? Breathe on it?
action: You throw the red gem at it
response: You miss.
action: You drop all except card and the flashlight
response: picture: Dropped.
board: Dropped.
thin rod: Dropped.
lead key: Dropped.
blue gem: Dropped.
red gem: Dropped.
action: You jump over the pit
response: You back up about a dozen feet, and with a loud exhale you start on a dead-sprint straight at the pit. You leap into the air at its edge, straining for the edge on the other side. You immediately know you're not going to make it.
action: You get all
response: picture: Taken.
board: Taken.
thin rod: Taken.
lead key: Taken.
blue gem: Taken.
red gem: Taken.
action: You jump
response: (the pit)
You back up about a dozen feet, and with a loud exhale you start on a dead-sprint straight at the pit. You leap into the air at its edge, straining for the edge on the other side. You immediately know you're not going to make it.

*** WHACK ***

Your body smacks the side of the pit, and you claw at the edge, just barely in your grasp. Your scrambling hands find some loose stone tiles and dig in. With an effort much-aided by terror, you pull yourself up over the edge, and worm your way to the safety of the floor beyond. You DO NOT want to try that again.

Long Tunnel (4)
This is a long tunnel leading north and south. It is tiled with carefully-crafted stone. Your way to the north appears to be blocked by a deep pit, but there is a side corridor leading west.
action: Go south
response: You have entered a grotto made entirely of some type of gleaming blue-tinted crystal. The crystal achieves the effect of appearing both natural and crafted. Floors, ceiling, and walls all smoothly blend together. The light from your flashlight is reflected back to you both from the direction you are pointing it and from other parts of the room, as gleams of blue light seem to travel through the crystal to emerge elsewhere.

The overall effect is quite beautiful.

To the north, the crystal slowly turns into some type of grey stone and becomes a tunnel. A doorway cut right out of the crystal leads south.
action: Go south
response: This small cavern appears completely natural. The rock is very
rough, and stalactites hang from the ceiling. To the north there is an exit laced with gleaming blue crystal. To the south, the cavern opens up into a much larger cavern, with a drop-off that leads down farther than you can see. Spanning the vast emptiness of the large cavern is a bridge that appears to be made entirely of ice. A chill comes from that direction.
A red tinted devil stands casually against the cavern wall here. He appears to be ignoring you.
action: You look at the devil
response: The devil is about your size, and mostly human in appearance. The only thing that gives him away are two small horns protruding from his head and a slight reddish tint to his skin. Quite a handsome fellow actually. He is leaning casually against the cavern wall.
action: You ask the devil about the devil
response: "Well, I'm *a* devil, but not *the* devil. But I am due for a promotion. And I'm better than him anyway."
action: You attack the devil
response: What do you want to attack it with?
action: You ask the devil about the task
response: "Glad you asked. Hmmmm....".

The devil produces a small leather bag from the folds of his clothes and throws it at your feet.

"That's a magic bag that can hold as much of anything that you can fit into the opening. You take it, fill it full of all of the sins, and bring it back to me. If you've got all of the sins in there, and nothing but sin, I'll let you by. BUT - if you have anything in there that isn't a sin, or you don't have them all, I get your soul."

The devil flashes you a quick smile.

[Your score just went up by 1 point.]
action: You examine the bag
response: This small leather bag smells faintly of sulphur. You can sense power emanating from it. There's nothing in the small bag.
action: Go north
response: Long Tunnel (4)
This is a long tunnel leading north and south. It is tiled with carefully-crafted stone. Your way to the north appears to be blocked by a deep pit, but there is a side corridor leading west.
action: You go west
response: You are on a small ledge (barely big enough to hold you) looking out over a huge cavern. The floor of the cavern (if there is one) lies so far down that you cannot see it, while the ceiling is about 40 feet above you. You can return to the long tunnel to the east.

To the west, hanging by a chain from the ceiling, is a large wooden disk. The chain is attached to the center of the disk, which looks to be about 5 feet wide. You think that you could probably jump to the disk from here. It's not nearly as long a distance to have to jump as the pit was.
action: You go to the west
response: You back up a bit in order to get some speed, and take off running towards the disk at your best sprint. At the edge of the ledge, you leap out into the cavern towards the disk. You make it fairly easily, but the disk tilts sickeningly as you land on it. You begin a mad scramble towards the chain as gravity tries to slide you off the edge. Many frightening seconds later, your hands grasp the chain and you pull yourself to the center of the disk. Whew!

You are precariously standing on a wooden disk, hanging suspended
from the cavern ceiling by a chain. You cannot see the floor of the cavern. To both the east and west, you can see ledges in the middle of the cavern walls. The problem is, although it was easy to jump *to* the disk, you don't have enough room for a running start to jump *off* the disk.
action: Swing
response: (the disk)
Using your own body, you begin swinging the disk from east to west. After about a minute, you've got quite an arc going.

The disk swings to the east.
action: You wait
response: Time passes...

The disk is swinging to the west, but is in a neutral position.
action: You wait awhile
response: Time passes...

The disk swings to the west.
action: You enter the bag
response: I don't know how to enter the small bag.

The disk comes to rest.
action: Go west
response: It would be pure suicide to try to jump to the west ledge.
action: Go west
response: (the disk)
Using your own body, you begin swinging the disk from east to west. After about a minute, you've got quite an arc going.

The disk swings to the east.

Time passes...

The disk is swinging to the west, but is in a neutral position.

Time passes...

The disk swings to the west.

As the disk reaches the point closest to the west ledge, you make your leap! No problem! You land with a thud that takes your breath away for a few seconds, but you are safe and sound.

You are on a small ledge (barely big enough to hold you) looking out over a huge cavern. The floor of the cavern (if there is one) lies so far down that you cannot see it, while the ceiling is about 40 feet above you. The ledge leads a short distance into the cavern wall and immediately turns south.

To the east, hanging by a chain from the ceiling, is a large wooden disk. The chain is attached to the center of the disk, which looks to be about 5 feet wide. The disk is a little farther away from here than it was from the east ledge; although you could jump to it from here, you don't know if you could stay on it when you got there or not.

The disk comes to rest.
action: You go to the south
response: Long Tunnel (1)
This is a long tunnel leading north and south. It has definitely
been purposefully made, being tiled with crafted stone. It looks like something that would have been created centuries ago. You can see the Red Crystal Grotto to the north, and a side corridor leads off to the east.

Long Tunnel (2)
The long tunnel continues to lead north and south. The same tiling
is present here as in the rest of the tunnel. A side corridor leads off to the west.

Long Tunnel (3)
The long tunnel continues to lead both north and south. The carefully-crafted stone tile appears to be a darker grey here. Your way to the south appears to be blocked by a deep pit, but there is a side corridor leading off to the east.
You see a picture, a modem, a book, a board, a thin rod, a slip of paper, and a red gem here.
action: You get all
response: picture: Taken.
modem: Taken.
book: Taken.
board: Taken.
thin rod: Taken.
slip of paper: Taken.
red gem: You've already got your hands full.
action: You put the picture in the bag
response: Done.
action: You take all
response: red gem: Taken.
action: Go east
response: You are inside the vault. The interior is about 10 x 10 feet, and
all of the walls are made of dull grey steel. You are very sure that nothing gets in or out of here when the vault door is closed. The room appears bare for its size. The vault door is to the west.
action: You get the pan
response: big pan: You've already got your hands full.
handwritten letter: You've already got your hands full.
typed letter: You've already got your hands full.

You've already got your hands full.
action: Oops bag
response: picture: The picture is already in the small bag!
small bag: You can't put the small bag in itself!
modem: Done.
book: Done.
board: Done.
thin rod: Done.
slip of paper: Done.
red gem: Done.
action: You get all
response: handwritten letter: Taken.
typed letter: Taken.
action: You put the letters in the bag
response: handwritten letter: Done.
typed letter: Done.
action: You examine picture
response: This is a picture of a rather lusty-looking girl. She must be very important to John, for him to have left the picture all mixed in with his important clothes like that.
action: You look at the typed letter
response: It appears to be a letter to John from his landlord telling him that his rent is going up. The landlord sounds really greedy.
action: You examine the handwritten letter
response: It appears to be a letter from John to his landlord. It seems to display a lot of anger.
action: Examine book
response: The book appears to be a diary, probably John's. You're not going to read it are you?
action: You read book
response: The diary goes on about mundane personal matters, as diaries are wont to do, for quite some time. A recurring theme seems to be how envious John is of people who are out "living life". This puzzles you a bit, since John has done more crazy shit than any 10 people you know, with the possible exception of some of his psycho friends.

The last couple of pages are really strange. Apparently a few days ago, a hole opened in John's basement due to some water damage. John has been having dreams about a "Fire Witch" and an "Ice Wizard" that live down this hole. Here's the part that's really weird: he thinks the dreams are real. The ice wizard has imprisoned the fire witch, and John seems almost obsessed with freeing her. He also talks about a "magic crystal card" that the fire witch gave him in a dream. By rubbing it and saying the "magic word" necken-sway, John thinks that he can find the fire witch. He talks about the card as if he actually has it in his possession.

Obviously, years of heavy drinking have finally destroyed his mind.

The diary goes on about mundane personal matters, as diaries are wont to do, for quite some time. A recurring theme seems to be how envious John is of people who are out "living life". This puzzles you a bit, since John has done more crazy shit than any 10 people you know, with the possible exception of some of his psycho friends.

The last couple of pages are really strange. Apparently a few days ago, a hole opened in John's basement due to some water damage. John has been having dreams about a "Fire Witch" and an "Ice Wizard" that live down this hole. Here's the part that's really weird: he thinks the dreams are real. The ice wizard has imprisoned the fire witch, and John seems almost obsessed with freeing her. He also talks about a "magic crystal card" that the fire witch gave him in a dream. By rubbing it and saying the "magic word" necken-sway, John thinks that he can find the fire witch. He talks about the card as if he actually has it in his possession.

Obviously, years of heavy drinking have finally destroyed his mind.
action: You examine the board
response: This is a 2x4 board. It appears very sturdy.
action: You examine the card
response: This card is about the size of a playing card. It is made out of some type of gleaming crystal, and is red in color.
action: You look in the bag
response: This small leather bag smells faintly of sulphur. You can sense power emanating from it. In the small bag you see a picture, a modem, a book, a board, a thin rod, a slip of paper, a red gem, a big pan, a handwritten letter, and a typed letter.
action: You look around
response: The walls here are made of a mixture of stone and steel. The room
is completely dominated by a large metal vault whose door is almost the entire east wall. Light illuminates this room, but you can't tell where it is coming from. You can exit back to the long tunnel to the west. You can enter the open vault door to the east.
action: Rub card
response: As you rub the card, its color changes to blue.
action: Rub card
response: As you rub the card, its color changes to green.
action: You go south
response: A small rather non-descript grey-stone cavern, this location does
have one thing that makes it distinct: an ornate archway leading south. You can see the green crystal grotto to the north.
There is a small, fierce guardian creature blocking your way to the south. For some reason, the name 'goblin' pops into your head.

Rushing at your feet, the goblin springs up and plants its shoulder into your stomach. You painfully exhale all the air in your lungs.
action: You examine the slip
response: This small slip of paper holds some cryptic numbers.

Rushing at your feet, the goblin springs up and plants its shoulder into your stomach. As you double over in pain, it brings its knee up to smash you agonizingly in the face.
action: Attack goblin
response: (with the board)
You ram the end of the board into the goblin's stomach, knocking it back several feet. It looks hurt, but also more than a little furious.

The goblin charges you, but you dodge aside.
action: Attack goblin
response: (with the board)
Holding the board like a baseball bat, you crack the goblin upside the head. A lead key (previously unseen) flies from a chain around the goblin's neck. While the goblin staggers back dazed, you take advantage of the situation and crack it in the head again. This time you hear a sickening snap, and it drops to the ground dead.
action: Oops board
response: board: Done.
lead key: Done.
action: Rub card
response: As you rub the card, its color changes to grey.
action: You take the junk
response: You collect a handful of the junk, being careful not to touch anything too gross. After gathering a small amount, you decide that nothing else here meets that criteria.
Taken.
action: You look at the junk
response: This is some junk from the Living Room. This is the only junk from there that you can bring yourself to touch. John is such a sloth.
action: You get them
response: clothes: You can't have the clothes.
action: You search them
response: clothes: There's nothing else in the clothes.
action: Go east
response: The bathroom is typical for an apartment like this. The floor is
tiled and bare. The shower curtain is a striking blend of wild colors. It is just beginning to show the first signs of mold. The landing lies to the west.
action: You examine the flashlight
response: The flashlight is on, providing light. The flashlight seems to contain a battery.
action: You look at the battery
response: It looks like an ordinary battery to me.
action: Inventory
response: You have a flashlight (providing light), a crystal card, and a small bag. The flashlight seems to contain a battery.
action: You put the bag in the chute
response: The small bag drops into the laundry chute, but appears to get stuck maybe half-way down. You have a feeling you will never see it again.
action: You put the modem in the chute
response: The modem drops into the laundry chute, but appears to get stuck maybe half-way down. You have a feeling you will never see it again.
action: You put the slip in the chute
response: The slip of paper drops into the laundry chute, but appears to get stuck maybe half-way down. You have a feeling you will never see it again.

The thin rod is no longer glowing.
action: You put board in the chute
response: The board drops into the laundry chute, but appears to get stuck maybe half-way down. You have a feeling you will never see it again.
action: Go downwards
response: This is John's Living Room. It is in its usual state of disarray, littered with junk (old copies of alternative newspapers, empty beer cans and bottles, dirty plates and glasses, and so on). What a complete sloth! To the north is the dining area. There is a door leading outside to the south. One set of stairs leads down to the basement, while another set leads upstairs.

This is the basement of the apartment. It is unfinished, and there
is no furniture here. There is a large hole in the west wall, probably large enough for you to fit through, and a set of stairs lead up.
action: You put the pan in the chute
response: This is John's Living Room. It is in its usual state of disarray, littered with junk (old copies of alternative newspapers, empty beer cans and bottles, dirty plates and glasses, and so on). What a complete sloth! To the north is the dining area. There is a door leading outside to the south. One set of stairs leads down to the basement, while another set leads upstairs.

This is the landing at the top of the steps. A laundry chute is in
the wall here. To the north is John's bedroom, while the bathroom lies to the east. The stairs lead down.

The big pan drops into the laundry chute, but appears to get stuck maybe half-way down. You have a feeling you will never see it again.
action: Wave wand
response: This is John's Living Room. It is in its usual state of disarray, littered with junk (old copies of alternative newspapers, empty beer cans and bottles, dirty plates and glasses, and so on). What a complete sloth! To the north is the dining area. There is a door leading outside to the south. One set of stairs leads down to the basement, while another set leads upstairs.

This is the basement of the apartment. It is unfinished, and there
is no furniture here. There is a large hole in the west wall, probably large enough for you to fit through, and a set of stairs lead up.

As you wave the thin rod, blue sparkles appear in the air around it. The rod itself is glowing with a soft blue light.
action: You go to the north
response: This is John's Living Room. It is in its usual state of disarray, littered with junk (old copies of alternative newspapers, empty beer cans and bottles, dirty plates and glasses, and so on). What a complete sloth! To the north is the dining area. There is a door leading outside to the south. One set of stairs leads down to the basement, while another set leads upstairs.

This is the Dining Area, inaptly named here since it is never used
for that purpose. This room is less cluttered than the living room, but that's not saying much. The kitchen is to the east, while the living room lies to the south.

You can't go that way.

You can't go that way.
action: You go to the north
response: the rest of the apartment. This puzzles you for a moment, until you figure out that John probably eats out all the time. A door leads outside to the north, and the dining area is to the west.
You see a stove and a refrigerator here.

You are outside the apartment, on a patio enclosed by fencing. The storm wails around you, driving snow into your face. It is bitterly cold. A fence door leads north out into the apartment complex parking lot, but there is so much snow piled against it that you doubt you could open it. The door back into the apartment is to the south.
action: Oops fence
response: There is way too much snow piled against the door for you to open it.

You know, it really is quite cold out here. Perhaps you should step back in to the apartment and warm up. You already can't feel your fingers and toes.
action: Wave wand
response: the rest of the apartment. This puzzles you for a moment, until you figure out that John probably eats out all the time. A door leads outside to the north, and the dining area is to the west.
You see a stove and a refrigerator here.

As you wave the thin rod, blue sparkles appear in the air around it. The rod itself is glowing with a soft blue light.
action: You examine the stove
response: There is a thin layer of dust on the stove; further evidence that this room is not used much. Continued inspection shows that the stove does not even work. You wonder if John is aware of this or if he even cares. There's nothing on the stove.
action: You open it
response: The oven door seems to be stuck. It does open just a little bit, and you catch the pleasant odor of cooked fish, possibly herring.
action: You look in the bag
response: This small leather bag smells faintly of sulphur. You can sense power emanating from it. In the small bag you see a picture, a modem, a book, a slip of paper, a red gem, a big pan, a handwritten letter, a typed letter, a blue gem, a board, a lead key, and some junk.
action: Go upwards
response: This is John's Living Room. It is in its usual state of disarray, littered with junk (old copies of alternative newspapers, empty beer cans and bottles, dirty plates and glasses, and so on). What a complete sloth! To the north is the dining area. There is a door leading outside to the south. One set of stairs leads down to the basement, while another set leads upstairs.

This is the landing at the top of the steps. A laundry chute is in
the wall here. To the north is John's bedroom, while the bathroom lies to the east. The stairs lead down.
action: You put the slip in the chute
response: The slip of paper drops into the laundry chute, but appears to get stuck maybe half-way down. You have a feeling you will never see it again.
action: You look in the chute
response: This is a laundry chute. It most likely travels from here down into the basement.
action: Inventory
response: You have a flashlight (providing light), a crystal card, a small bag, a thin rod, a slip of paper, a blue gem, a lead key, and a red gem. The flashlight seems to contain a battery.
action: Wait
response: As you are moving through the archway, you hear a sound much like that of breaking glass, and you suddenly become very disoriented. When you regain your senses a moment later, you are not where you thought you would be.

You are in a non-descript 10 x 10 room of tiled stone. It has the appearances of a cell, but has no door. There is an exit to the west.

There is a loud and horrible rushing noise in your ears, and the room appears to be filling up with what you would describe as steam if it were not so very very cold.

Time passes...

Your flesh feels like leather and your eyes like glass as a huge block of ice forms around you. Mysteriously you are not killed outright by this; instead you fall into a deep sleep. Unfortunately, within a few days without food you expire anyway.
action: Go west
response: You frantically try to push out of the room, but moving through the doorway is like trying to push through thick molasses.

Your flesh feels like leather and your eyes like glass as a huge block of ice forms around you. Mysteriously you are not killed outright by this; instead you fall into a deep sleep. Unfortunately, within a few days without food you expire anyway.
action: You go to the west
response: As you are moving through the archway, you hear a sound very much like that of breaking glass, but it sounds muffled and far away. You continue through the archway into the room beyond.

[Your score just went up by 2 points.]
Safe Room
The side corridor ends in a compact little room with walls made of a mixture of stone and steel. A dim light illuminates the area, but you can't tell where it's coming from. A key-lock safe is set into the west wall. The exit is through an archway to the east.
action: You examine safe
response: The safe is set very firmly into the west wall, and has a keyhole in the very center of it. From the looks of it, you can pretty much forget trying to open it if you don't have the key that fits that keyhole.

The safe is closed.
action: You get the key
response: You already have the lead key!
action: You unlock safe with it
response: Unlocked.
action: You open safe
response: Opening the safe reveals a glass bottle.
action: You examine bottle
response: The bottle is about the right size to hold 2 liters of liquid. There is no opening to the bottle; it appears to be sealed air-tight. It does look fairly fragile though. In the glass bottle you see a metallic ring.
action: You open the bottle
response: There is no opening to the glass bottle. To open it you'll have to break it.
action: You examine the ring
response: The metallic ring is quite beautifully crafted, but you can't tell what kind of metal it is made out of. It has an empty inset about right for a medium sized gemstone. It is about your size.
action: Break bottle
response: With a simple motion, you toss the bottle to the ground. It shatters immediately, freeing the ring. It also seems to have released some sort of noxious green gas which quickly fills the surrounding area. With a burning sensation in your throat and lungs, you expire.
action: You put the bottle in the pit
response: The glass bottle drops to the bottom of the pit and shatters. You hear a hissing sound, like gas rapidly expanding.
action: Wave wand
response: As you wave the thin rod, blue sparkles appear in the air around it. The rod itself is glowing with a soft blue light.
action: You examine the ring
response: The metallic ring is quite beautifully crafted, but you can't tell what kind of metal it is made out of. It has an empty inset about right for a medium sized gemstone.
action: You wear it
response: Okay, you're no longer wearing the metallic ring.

Okay, you're now wearing the metallic ring.
action: You examine the ring
response: The metallic ring is quite beautifully crafted, but you can't tell what kind of metal it is made out of. There is an inset on it that currently contains a red gem. You notice that it seems to be providing you with a feeling of warmth.
action: Go east
response: Long Tunnel (2)
The long tunnel continues to lead north and south. The same tiling
is present here as in the rest of the tunnel. A side corridor leads off to the west.

Long Tunnel (1)
This is a long tunnel leading north and south. It has definitely
been purposefully made, being tiled with crafted stone. It looks like something that would have been created centuries ago. You can see the Red Crystal Grotto to the north, and a side corridor leads off to the east.

This room, tiled with the same stone as the long tunnel, smells a
bit dank. Moisture must get in here somewhere. The room appears to be a cell block, mainly because there are jail cells with entrances on the northern, eastern, and southern walls. The exit is to the west.

The northern and southern cells are individually filled up by something massive.
action: Go north
response: The northern cell is completely filled with ice. You can't enter it.
action: Northern
response: What are you going to do? Breathe on it?
action: Yes
response: I figured as much.
action: Look around
response: This room, tiled with the same stone as the long tunnel, smells a
bit dank. Moisture must get in here somewhere. The room appears to be a cell block, mainly because there are jail cells with entrances on the northern, eastern, and southern walls. The exit is to the west.

The northern and southern cells are individually filled up by something massive.
action: Wait
response: Time passes...

Your flesh feels like leather and your eyes like glass as a huge block of ice forms around you. Mysteriously you are not killed outright by this; instead you fall into a deep sleep. Unfortunately, within a few days without food you expire anyway.
action: Go north
response: You are outside the apartment, on a patio enclosed by fencing. The storm wails around you, driving snow into your face. It is bitterly cold. A fence door leads north out into the apartment complex parking lot, but there is so much snow piled against it that you doubt you could open it. The door back into the apartment is to the south.

The ring (being worn) is providing you with a feeling of warmth.
action: You open the door
response: There is way too much snow piled against the door for you to open it.

The ring (being worn) is providing you with a feeling of warmth.
action: You move the snow
response: The snow isn't important.

The ring (being worn) is providing you with a feeling of warmth.
action: You go north
response: You can't go that way.

The ring (being worn) is providing you with a feeling of warmth.
action: Go south
response: You are outside the apartment on Red Robin Road. It is bitterly
cold, and the storm drives snow into your face. Huge drifts of snow block your way in every direction you look. The door back into the apartment is to the north.

The ring (being worn) is providing you with a feeling of warmth.
action: You examine the snow
response: The huge drifts of snow block your path in every direction.

The ring (being worn) is providing you with a feeling of warmth.
action: Inventory
response: You have a flashlight (providing light), a crystal card, a small bag, a thin rod, a slip of paper, a blue gem, a lead key, and a metallic ring (being worn). The flashlight seems to contain a battery.
action: Go south
response: This small cavern appears completely natural. The rock is very
rough, and stalactites hang from the ceiling. To the north there is an exit laced with gleaming blue crystal. To the south, the cavern opens up into a much larger cavern, with a drop-off that leads down farther than you can see. Spanning the vast emptiness of the large cavern is a bridge that appears to be made entirely of ice. A chill comes from that direction.
A red tinted devil stands casually against the cavern wall here. He looks at you expectantly, to see if you have brought him all of the sins.
action: You go to the south
response: The devil reaches out and pushes you back by the shoulder. "I'm not letting you by until you give me the bag with all of the sins in it. Scared to give it a shot?" he asks with a grin.
action: You ask the devil about the sin
response: "Now then, you're just going to have to figure that out, aren't you?" the devil says with a self-satisfied smile.
action: You look in the bag
response: This small leather bag smells faintly of sulphur. You can sense power emanating from it. In the small bag you see a picture, a modem, a book, a big pan, a handwritten letter, a typed letter, a board, and some junk.
action: You give bag to the devil
response: The devil takes the bag and shakes it.

"Hmmm... I'm going to have to look through this bag," the devil mumbles. Peering inside at the contents, the devil grins. "You have sin in this bag, but not everything in it is sin." With a wave of his hand you vanish in a puff of flame.
action: You give the bag to the devil
response: The devil takes the bag and shakes it.

"Hmmm... I'm going to have to look through this bag," the devil mumbles. Peering inside at the contents, the devil hands the bag back to you. "Fool! You've only got six sins in this bag. You're missing one! You should have realized that you couldn't outsmart me!" the devil cries with pride.
action: You put the devil in the bag
response: Immediately the devil's face turns ashen as he percieves his mistake. He starts to say something, but suddenly turns into smoke which is immediately drawn into the bag. Almost as soon as the bag has closed, it becomes extremely hot, causing you to drop it. A second later it vanishes in a puff of flame, leaving behind a pile of ash.

[Your score just went up by 2 points.]
action: You examine the ash
response: As you disturb the ash, you uncover a scroll. This small pile of ash is all that is left of the devil and his bag.
action: You examine it
response: The old scroll appears to have writing on it.
action: You read it
response: Let there be known seven deadly sins, each one most dangerous because it opens the door into further sin:

Envy/Jealousy
Gluttony
Greed/Avarice
Lust
Pride
Sloth
action: You look around
response: This small cavern appears completely natural. The rock is very
rough, and stalactites hang from the ceiling. To the north there is an exit laced with gleaming blue crystal. To the south, the cavern opens up into a much larger cavern, with a drop-off that leads down farther than you can see. Spanning the vast emptiness of the large cavern is a bridge that appears to be made entirely of ice. A chill comes from that direction.
You see a pile of ash here.
action: Inventory
response: You have a flashlight (providing light), a crystal card, a thin rod, a slip of paper, a blue gem, a lead key, a metallic ring (being worn), a board, a modem, and a old scroll. The flashlight seems to contain a battery.
action: Go south
response: Ice Bridge (1)
You are on a narrow bridge made entirely of ice. The footing is
slick but you have managed to keep your balance so far. You are colder than you can ever remember being; the bridge seems to be drawing your life right out of you. To the north the bridge ends in a small cavern. The bridge continues to the south for as far as your flashlight allows you to see.

The ring (being worn) is providing you with a feeling of warmth.
action: Go south
response: Ice Bridge (2)
You are on a narrow bridge made entirely of ice. The footing is
slick but you have managed to keep your balance so far. You are colder than you can ever remember being; the bridge seems to be drawing your life right out of you. The bridge continues both to the north and south for as far as your flashlight allows you to see.

The ring (being worn) is providing you with a feeling of warmth.
action: You look at the Bridge
response: The bridge is made entirely of ice.

The ring (being worn) is providing you with a feeling of warmth.
action: You go to the south
response: Ice Bridge (3)
You are on a narrow bridge made entirely of ice. The footing is
slick but you have managed to keep your balance so far. You are colder than you can ever remember being; the bridge seems to be drawing your life right out of you. The bridge continues to the north for as far as your flashlight allows you to see. To the south, the bridge ends in a small cavern. A dim reddish glow emerges from the cavern.

The ring (being worn) is providing you with a feeling of warmth.
action: Go south
response: This small cavern is uncomfortably warm. A bridge of ice spans a drop-off to the north. There is a large exit to the south, but it is completely filled with a roaring wall of fire. The entire room is lit by a bright reddish glow from the flames.
action: You get the red gem
response: You've already got your hands full.
action: You examine Fire
response: You have a flashlight (providing light), a crystal card, a thin rod, a slip of paper, a blue gem, a lead key, a metallic ring (being worn), a board, a modem, and a old scroll. The flashlight seems to contain a battery.

The roaring wall of fire blocks the exit to the south.
action: You drop slip
response: Dropped.
action: You look at what you're carrying with you
response: You have a flashlight (providing light), a crystal card, a thin rod, a metallic ring (being worn), a board, a modem, a old scroll, and a red gem. The flashlight seems to contain a battery.
action: You go to the south
response: You are entirely engulfed by flames. You can barely see through
them.

The ring (being worn) is providing you with a feeling of coolness.
action: Go south
response: You can't go that way.

The ring (being worn) is providing you with a feeling of coolness.
action: You go east
response: This room looks like it belongs in a modern home instead of some underground cavern complex. It is neatly square, about 20 feet wide by 25 feet long, and the walls are paneled with cedar wood. It looks unusual only due to its contents, and that the west wall is a wall of roaring flames. The room is of a comfortable temperature though.
An altar is on the northern wall, a desk lies against the eastern
wall, a table sits against the southern wall, and in the middle of the room sits a large crystal obelisk.
Sitting on the altar is a large black book. Sitting on the wooden table is a black rod. Sitting on the wooden desk is a tarot card and a small bowl.
A grey old man in dark blue robes is here. The Ice Wizard stops admiring his trophies and turns to face you as you enter. "This used to be the Fire Witch's trophy room," he mumbles. "Now she's a part of it."

The Ice Wizard snaps his fingers, and the thin rod appears in his hands. He fingers it lightly and places it within the folds of his robes.
action: You look at Ice
response: The Ice Wizard is a grey old man with a sinister look about him. A sense of power radiates from him, and he frightens you.

The Ice Wizard snaps his fingers, and the ring appears in his hands.
He rolls it in his fingers and places it within the folds of his robes.
action: You examine Witch
response: You can barely make out the Fire Witch inside of the obelisk, but it is obvious that she is very beautiful.

The Ice Wizard snaps his fingers, and the crystal card appears in his hands. "Damned Witch," he mumbles. "How did she get that to the mortal?"
action: You examine the obelisk
response: The large obelisk is made out of some type of purple crystal. There seems to be something inside the obelisk, the unmoving form of a beautiful woman in crimson robes.

"Didn't want you leaving me," the Ice Wizard mumbles as he rubs the crystal card and places it within the folds of his robes.
action: You look at the black book
response: The large black book is open to page 569.

"Well," mumbles the Ice Wizard. "It appears you don't have anything else that I would be interested in. Except perhaps your freeze-dried body." And those are the last words you ever hear.
action: You go east
response: This room looks like it belongs in a modern home instead of some underground cavern complex. It is neatly square, about 20 feet wide by 25 feet long, and the walls are paneled with cedar wood. It looks unusual only due to its contents, and that the west wall is a wall of roaring flames. The room is of a comfortable temperature though.
An altar is on the northern wall, a desk lies against the eastern
wall, a table sits against the southern wall, and in the middle of the room sits a large crystal obelisk.
Sitting on the altar is a large black book. Sitting on the wooden table is a black rod. Sitting on the wooden desk is a tarot card and a small bowl.
A grey old man in dark blue robes is here. The Ice Wizard stops admiring his trophies and turns to face you as you enter. "This used to be the Fire Witch's trophy room," he mumbles. "Now she's a part of it."

The Ice Wizard snaps his fingers, and the thin rod appears in his hands. He fingers it lightly and places it within the folds of his robes.
action: You look at the card
response: Which card do you mean, the crystal card, or the tarot card?
action: Crystal
response: This card is about the size of a playing card. It is made out of some type of gleaming crystal, and is purple in color.

The Ice Wizard snaps his fingers, and the ring appears in his hands.
He rolls it in his fingers and places it within the folds of his robes.
action: You wait for a while
response: Time passes...

The Ice Wizard snaps his fingers, and the crystal card appears in his hands. "Damned Witch," he mumbles. "How did she get that to the mortal?"
action: %
response: GlkTADS - A text-only TADS 2.5.3 Interpreter.

Maintained by Stephen Granade <sgranade@phy.duke.edu>

It's a cold weekend in December of 1990, and it's been far too long since you have seen your friend John Baker! But you've finally managed to take some time out of your schedule to drive to Columbus and spend some "quality time" together. Quality time, of course, means that you and he are going to sample every bar that Ohio State University's High Street has to offer.

John was to meet you at a favorite pizza and beer spot to start off the evening, but he hasn't showed up. John's always been rather spontaneous (read that as 'erratic'), so you think he'll show up eventually. But as the night wears on and you tire of downing beers by yourself, you decide to drive to his place and see if he's left a note or something for you there.

You find his front door unlocked and John nowhere to be found. Pretty tired from your earlier drive, and also buzzing a bit from the beer you drank, you quickly doze off in the living room.

It is now morning. A terrible snow storm is raging outside, the worst you've ever seen. You can't believe how much snow has piled up over the night. You still haven't heard from John, and you seem to now be trapped in his apartment.

John's Fire Witch, Version 1.01 (02/04/95)

This is John's Living Room. It is in its usual state of disarray, littered with junk (old copies of alternative newspapers, empty beer cans and bottles, dirty plates and glasses, and so on). What a complete sloth! To the north is the dining area. There is a door leading outside to the south. One set of stairs leads down to the basement, while another set leads upstairs.
action: You go east
response: This room looks like it belongs in a modern home instead of some underground cavern complex. It is neatly square, about 20 feet wide by 25 feet long, and the walls are paneled with cedar wood. It looks unusual only due to its contents, and that the west wall is a wall of roaring flames. The room is of a comfortable temperature though.
An altar is on the northern wall, a desk lies against the eastern
wall, a table sits against the southern wall, and in the middle of the room sits a large crystal obelisk.
Sitting on the altar is a large black book. Sitting on the wooden table is a black rod. Sitting on the wooden desk is a tarot card and a small bowl.
A grey old man in dark blue robes is here. The Ice Wizard stops admiring his trophies and turns to face you as you enter. "This used to be the Fire Witch's trophy room," he mumbles. "Now she's a part of it."

The Ice Wizard snaps his fingers, and the thin rod appears in his hands. He fingers it lightly and places it within the folds of his robes.
action: Crystal
response: This card is about the size of a playing card. It is made out of some type of gleaming crystal, and is purple in color.

The Ice Wizard mumbles something about foolish mortals under his breath, making some sort of gesture with his hands.
action: You look at the obelisk
response: The large obelisk is made out of some type of purple crystal. There seems to be something inside the obelisk, the unmoving form of a beautiful woman in crimson robes.

The Ice Wizard mumbles something about foolish mortals under his breath, making some sort of gesture with his hands.
action: You examine wizard
response: The Ice Wizard is a grey old man with a sinister look about him. A sense of power radiates from him, and he frightens you.

The Ice Wizard snaps his fingers, and the ring appears in his hands.
He rolls it in his fingers and places it within the folds of his robes.
action: Go east
response: This room looks like it belongs in a modern home instead of some underground cavern complex. It is neatly square, about 20 feet wide by 25 feet long, and the walls are paneled with cedar wood. It looks unusual only due to its contents, and that the west wall is a wall of roaring flames. The room is of a comfortable temperature though.
An altar is on the northern wall, a desk lies against the eastern
wall, a table sits against the southern wall, and in the middle of the room sits a large crystal obelisk.
Sitting on the altar is a large black book. Sitting on the wooden table is a black rod. Sitting on the wooden desk is a tarot card and a small bowl.
A grey old man in dark blue robes is here. The Ice Wizard stops admiring his trophies and turns to face you as you enter. "This used to be the Fire Witch's trophy room," he mumbles. "Now she's a part of it."

The Ice Wizard mumbles something about foolish mortals under his breath, making some sort of gesture with his hands.
action: You examine the tarot card
response: This particular card is the Grim Reaper. A beautifully realistic picture. Hood, scythe, skeleton, implacable grin: yes, it's the Reaper all right.

The Ice Wizard mumbles something about foolish mortals under his breath, making some sort of gesture with his hands.
action: You look at the bowl
response: In the small bowl you see a smooth stone.

The Ice Wizard mumbles something about foolish mortals under his breath, making some sort of gesture with his hands.
action: You look at the smooth stone
response: It's a smooth, shiny piece of what might be obsidian. Scratched on it is a symbol.

The Ice Wizard snaps his fingers, and the thin rod appears in his hands. He fingers it lightly and places it within the folds of his robes.
action: You examine the symbol
response: The symbol, on close examination, appears to have been carved into the smooth stone, perhaps with a claw. The symbol is like nothing you've ever seen, and yet somehow you know it has meaning.

The Ice Wizard mumbles something about foolish mortals under his breath, making some sort of gesture with his hands.
action: You examine black rod
response: It's a three foot black rod with a rusty star on an end.

The Ice Wizard snaps his fingers, and the ring appears in his hands.
He rolls it in his fingers and places it within the folds of his robes.
action: You look at the altar
response: On the altar you see a large black book.

The Ice Wizard mumbles something about foolish mortals under his breath, making some sort of gesture with his hands.
action: You look at the black book
response: The large black book is open to page 569.

The Ice Wizard snaps his fingers, and the crystal card appears in his hands. "Damned Witch," he mumbles. "How did she get that to the mortal?"
action: You read the black book
response: Oh ye who go about saying unto each: "Hello sailor":
Dost thou know the magnitude of thy sin before the gods?
Yea, verily, thou shalt be ground between two stones.
Shall the angry gods cast thy body into the whirlpool?
Surely, thy eye shall be put out with a sharp stick!
Even unto the ends of the earth shalt thou wander and
Unto the land of the dead shalt thou be sent at last.
Surely thou shalt repent of thy cunning.

"Didn't want you leaving me," the Ice Wizard mumbles as he rubs the crystal card and places it within the folds of his robes.
action: Yes
response: Thanks for playing. Keep Text Adventures Alive!