Sparkle
by Juhana Leinonen (as Karly Di Caprio) (2014)
Genres: Fantasy

My search for the Pattern has brought me to Mount Shanshan. Now it's just a matter of a short cable car ride up to the top.

action: %
response: Several weeks of travel have brought me to Mount Shanshan. The last ride I was able to get was a goods truck to a small village at the base of the mountain. Then it was a long hike up the mountain along badly maintained roads and footpaths.

The road ends here at an abandoned cable car platform. The cableway leads directly to my destination. I must get it running, somehow.





A rickety wooden platform is built on the edge of a cliff to serve as an station for a cable car ride up to the mountain. It overlooks a beautiful waterfall rumbling below.

The road leads back east and the cableway's engine is in a shack just to the south.

A cable car is docked to the platform.
action: You look at the cable car
response: The cable car is large enough to comfortably fit about four passengers. The red paint coating is peeling away in large flakes and rust is corroding the body.

It's hard to see through the dirty windows but it seems like there's a simple control panel inside.

A iron bar attaches the car to the platform and at the same time locks the door.
action: You open door
response: The iron bar blocks the door from opening.
action: You move the bar
response: It's attached with large bolts. It can't be removed without tools.
action: You examine the platform
response: The wooden platform serves as a docking and embarkment area for the cable car.
action: You examine the waterfall
response: The waterfall rumbles down the mountainside and raises a cloud of mist where it hits the water.
action: Go south
response: The wooden shack houses a large diesel generator that moves the cableway. The shack's walls are rotten and patchy. The exit leads back out to the north.

The diesel generator looks like it hasn't been used in quite some while.
action: Examine generator
response: The diesel generator is currently switched off.
action: You turn on the generator
response: The engine coughs a few times but refuses to start. A quick troubleshooting indicates that the cylinders are so dirty that the engine can't run. They need to be cleaned first.
action: Clean cylinders
response: (with the shack walls)
The shack walls isn't suitable for cleaning the cylinders with.
action: You go north
response: A rickety wooden platform is built on the edge of a cliff to serve as an station for a cable car ride up to the mountain. It overlooks a beautiful waterfall rumbling below.

The road leads back east and the cableway's engine is in a shack just to the south.

A cable car is docked to the platform.
action: Go east
response: I walk the road back to an old hotel I passed on the way here.

I am at the gates of an old country-style mansion that has at some point served as a hotel. At the moment there are no signs of it being in use. The garden has overgrown, there are no cars about and the building itself is in a dilapidated state.

The hotel gates are to the north, the cable car platform to the west, and the hiking path leading back down the mountain is to the east.

An angry dog is barking at me behind the gate.
action: You examine the dog
response: The dog is big and menacing, a mutt or perhaps even a Chongqing. He's barking viciously behind the gates. His short fur is filthy and largely covered in dirt.

There must be a way.

(Find a quiet place to MEDITATE.)
action: You meditate
response: The rumbling of the waterfall makes it impossible to meditate here.
action: Go south
response: The wooden shack houses a large diesel generator that moves the cableway. The shack's walls are rotten and patchy. The exit leads back out to the north.

The diesel generator looks like it hasn't been used in quite some while.
action: Go east
response: I am at the gates of an old country-style mansion that has at some point served as a hotel. At the moment there are no signs of it being in use. The garden has overgrown, there are no cars about and the building itself is in a dilapidated state.

The hotel gates are to the north, the cable car platform to the west, and the hiking path leading back down the mountain is to the east.

An angry dog is barking at me behind the gate.
action: Go east
response: A scenic hiking path leads back down the mountain. I know it all too well, having walked it up here in the first place. The way back to the hotel is to the west.

Two small stone statues depicting a lion and a dragon are greeting visitors on both sides of the path.
action: You examine the lion
response: The statue is not very tall and is carved from solid black stone. It's set here by the path as a decoration for passersby. This one depicts a lion.
action: You look at the dragon
response: The statue is not very tall and is carved from solid black stone. It's set here by the path as a decoration for passersby. This one depicts a dragon.
action: You meditate
response: cheapglulxe quit with exit status: 1
action: %
response: Several weeks of travel have brought me to Mount Shanshan. The last ride I was able to get was a goods truck to a small village at the base of the mountain. Then it was a long hike up the mountain along badly maintained roads and footpaths.

The road ends here at an abandoned cable car platform. The cableway leads directly to my destination. I must get it running, somehow.





A rickety wooden platform is built on the edge of a cliff to serve as an station for a cable car ride up to the mountain. It overlooks a beautiful waterfall rumbling below.

The road leads back east and the cableway's engine is in a shack just to the south.

A cable car is docked to the platform.
action: Go south
response: The wooden shack houses a large diesel generator that moves the cableway. The shack's walls are rotten and patchy. The exit leads back out to the north.

The diesel generator looks like it hasn't been used in quite some while.
action: You meditate
response: "What do you seek?"

"I seek the truth, shifu."

She hit me on the fingers with the head of her cane, like many
times before.

"You say you seek the truth, but only lies come out your own
mouth. What do you seek?"

The memory fades and the mind is silent.

Meditation revealed the following truth:

(With this information you can CHANGE things INTO their
counterpart identities. You can also THINK to recall previously learned information.)
action: Go west
response: I am at the gates of an old country-style mansion that has at some point served as a hotel. At the moment there are no signs of it being in use. The garden has overgrown, there are no cars about and the building itself is in a dilapidated state.

The hotel gates are to the north, the cable car platform to the west, and the hiking path leading back down the mountain is to the east.

An angry dog is barking at me behind the gate.
action: You change the dog into the flute
response: I clear my mind and concentrate on the dog, imagining its counterpart nature. The truth becomes obvious -- a dog is a flute, and a flute is a dog, and there is no difference between the two. Sparkles start flying from all over the dog as the Universe bends to accept the reality I have discovered.

The sparkling stops and where the dog used to stand, there's a small koudi flute lying on the grass.
action: You take the flute
response: The flute is in the garden behind the gate, beyond my reach.
action: You open gate
response: I open the gate.
action: Go north
response: Weeds have taken over the garden, which seems to have been designed in a distinctly Japanese style. It must have been very beautiful in its heyday.

The hotel entrance is to the north and the gates to the south.

A flute lies on the grass near the gate.

In the center of the garden is a murky pond.
action: You take flute
response: Taken.
action: You examine the pond
response: The pond is full of muddy water, but I can see a fish, probably a koi, swimming around in it.
action: You look at the koi
response: The koi swims around in the pond, looking a bit lonely.
action: You wash flute in the pond
response: I clean the flute the best I can using the water from the pond.
action: You play the flute
response: Remembering what it used to be, I reluctantly put the flute on my lips and blow. The air escapes through the fingerholes. There must be a blockage inside the flute somewhere.
action: You go north
response: The view in the hotel lobby confirms that the establishment has been deserted for a long time. The lobby has an abandoned reception desk, some sofas and dead house plants. There's a layer of dust everywhere.

There's a staircase to the north leading up and a closed door leading east.

A large wardrobe for coats has fallen over near the entrance.
action: You look at the plants
response: The leaves have fallen off the plants and are now only dead branches. They're beyond resuscitation.
action: You open the wardrobe
response: It's fallen over on its door. I can't open it.
action: You meditate
response: "What do you seek?"

"I seek power, shifu."

There is no slap on the fingers this time.

The memory fades and I am ready to learn.

Meditation revealed the following truths:
action: Go up
response: This is the corridor where the hotel's guest rooms are. There are seven doors in total. To the south the staircase leads back down.
action: You open the door
response: Which do you mean, door 101, door 102, door 103, door 104, door 105, door 106 or door 107?
action: You open 101
response: The door seems to be locked. Brief testing confirms that the same is true for every door here.
action: You go D
response: The lobby has an abandoned reception desk, some sofas and dead house plants. There's a layer of dust everywhere.

There's a staircase to the north leading up and a closed door leading east.

A large wardrobe for coats has fallen over near the entrance.
action: You go east
response: (first opening the door)
I try the doorknob, but the door is locked.
action: You change the doorknob into the umbrella
response: The doorknob sparkles and turns into an umbrella. The umbrella is now sticking out the door where the knob used to be.
action: Go east
response: (first opening the door)
I pull on the umbrella, but it comes loose.

The door's lock mechanism has nothing to support it anymore and falls apart. The door should be unlocked now.

A large dining hall full of empty tables is a sad sight. Some rays of light filter in through the dirty windows.

There's a pair of dumbwaiters on the farthest wall and a hand crank in the space between them.
action: You examine the dumbwaiter
response: Which do you mean, the left dumbwaiter or the right dumbwaiter?
action: You examine the left dumbwaiter
response: The dumbwaiters are an old elevator system for lifting food from the kitchen and then lowering dirty dishes back. They are small wooden compartments running inside the wall and supported by a rope.

The single crank on the wall suggests that they are connected with a common rope and pulley system and lowering one will raise the other.

In the left dumbwaiter is a chopstick.

There's a closed grid door in front of the compartment.
action: You take chopstick
response: I put a finger through one of the holes in the grid door, manage to reach the chopstick and pull it out.
action: You put the chopstick in the flute
response: (clearing the flute with the chopstick)
Using the chopstick, the wad of dirt that was blocking the flute pops cleanly out. That must be a relief to the dog as well.

[Achievement unlocked: Veterinarian]

(Command ACHIEVEMENTS to see a list of your achievements.)
action: You open the door
response: (the grid door)
The door is rusted stuck. It's unlikely that I can get it open.
action: You remember
response: Meditation has revealed the following truths:

doorknob equals umbrella
action: You go to the west
response: The lobby has an abandoned reception desk, some sofas and dead house plants. There's a layer of dust everywhere.

There's a staircase to the north leading up and a door leading east to the dining hall.

A large wardrobe for coats has fallen over near the entrance.
action: You go east
response: A large dining hall full of empty tables is a sad sight. Some rays of light filter in through the dirty windows.

There's a pair of dumbwaiters on the farthest wall and a hand crank in the space between them.
action: You go south
response: Weeds have taken over the garden, which seems to have been designed in a distinctly Japanese style. It must have been very beautiful in its heyday.

The hotel entrance is to the north and the gates to the south.

In the center of the garden is a murky pond.
action: You change the koi into the tornado
response: The fish starts to sparkle under the water. It soon disappears and a tall water spout forms in its place. The spout makes it out of the pond and manages to travel a meter or two before dissipating and releasing the water as a rain on the garden, getting my clothes wet.

I look in the now almost empty pond and see a glint of metal. There seems to be a key stuck in the mud. Some hotel guest must have dropped it there by accident.
action: Unlock 101
response: (with the room key)
That doesn't seem to fit the lock.
action: Unlock 102
response: (with the room key)
I unlock door 102.
action: You examine the key
response: A wooden key fob is attached to the key. Water has turned it almost illegible but I can still make out the number "102".
action: Open 102
response: I open door 102.
action: Inside
response: The hotel room is spartan, with only the most necessary furniture. The scene through the window is beautiful, though. There's a direct view to the waterfall I saw earlier.

I can see a bedside table (on which are a sanitary napkin and a tube of lipstick) here.
action: You take all
response: sanitary napkin: Taken.
lipstick: Taken.
action: You meditate
response: "The Universe has shown you some of its secrets," she says,
casually turning a flower into a guitar, as if to underline a point. "But the key to true enlightenment is to observe the Pattern and to understand it."

Finally I push aside the distracting memories.

Meditation revealed the following truth:
action: You remember
response: Meditation has revealed the following truths:

doorknob equals umbrella
sanitary napkin equals monkey wrench
action: You examine the bed
response: The bed is made and a layer of dust is on the covers.
action: You leave
response: This is the corridor where the hotel's guest rooms are. There are seven doors in total, of which I've unlocked door 102. To the south the staircase leads back down.
action: You go south
response: I am at the gates of an old country-style mansion that has at some point served as a hotel. At the moment there are no signs of it being in use. The garden has overgrown, there are no cars about and the building itself is in a dilapidated state.

The hotel gates are to the north, the cable car platform to the west, and the hiking path leading back down the mountain is to the east.
action: You play the flute
response: The flute has a low, dark sound to it.
action: You drop the flute
response: Dropped.
action: You close the gate
response: I close the gate.
action: You turn the flute into the Dog
response: The flute sparkles and is soon changed back into the dog, who resumes barking after noticing me.

[Achievement unlocked: Clean Dog]
action: Examine pad
response: The sanitary napkin is, thankfully, unused.
action: You turn the pad into the wrench
response: The sanitary napkin sparkles for a brief moment before changing into a monkey wrench.
action: You remove the bar
response: The iron bar is attached to the cable car and to the platform with large bolts.
action: You turn the bolts with the wrench
response: I put the monkey wrench on a bolt, adjust it to fit and turn. The bolt snaps with a cloud of rust flakes and starts to turn free. The nut on the other side turns with the bolt. I try to hold the nut still but can't get a good grip; I need a glove or something.
action: You check your inventory
response: I am carrying:
a monkey wrench (which equals sanitary napkin)
a tube of lipstick
a room key
a chopstick
an umbrella (which equals doorknob)

I have some information about the nature of the universe.
action: You turn wrench into the pad
response: The monkey wrench sparkles for a brief moment before changing into a sanitary napkin.
action: Clean the generator with the pad
response: The sanitary napkin would be perfect for cleaning the cylinders, but the grit is too sturdily stuck. I need something to soften it first.
action: Wet pad
response: What do you want to wet the sanitary napkin with?
action: Waterfall
response: The waterfall is too far away.
action: You turn the Dog into the flute
response: The dog sparkles for a brief moment before changing into a flute.
action: You open gate
response: I open the gate.
action: You go north
response: Weeds have taken over the garden, which seems to have been designed in a distinctly Japanese style. It must have been very beautiful in its heyday.

The hotel entrance is to the north and the gates to the south.

In the center of the garden is a murky pond.

I can also see a flute here.
action: Wet pad with water
response: There's still enough water in the pond to wet the sanitary napkin. It's now soaked with muddy pond water.
action: Clean generator with the pad
response: The dirt is stuck to the parts too hard. I need something stronger than water to clean it.
action: You look at the crank
response: The crank is placed so that it's evidently used to raise and lower the dumbwaiters.
action: You turn the crank
response: The crank seems to be stuck and after applying some more force it snaps off into my hand. I place it down and curse my bad luck.
action: You look at the crank
response: The crank was apparently used to raise and lower dumbwaiters in the dining hall. Now it's broken.
action: Inside
response: The hotel room is spartan, with only the most necessary furniture. The scene through the window is beautiful, though. There's a direct view to the waterfall I saw earlier.

I can see a bedside table here.
action: You examine the waterfall
response: The waterfall rumbles down the mountainside and raises a cloud of mist where it hits the water.
action: You check your inventory
response: I am carrying:
a crank
a flute (which equals dog)
a sanitary napkin (which equals monkey wrench)
a tube of lipstick
a room key
a chopstick
an umbrella (which equals doorknob)

I have some information about the nature of the universe.
action: You play the flute
response: The flute has a low, dark sound to it.
action: You look at the window
response: There's a view of the waterfall through the window.
action: You examine the dust
response: There's a layer of dust on every surface.
action: You look at the lipstick
response: It's a tube of red lipstick, a bit too bright shade for my tastes.
action: You examine the wardrobe
response: A wardrobe, presumably meant for storing casual visitors' coats, has fallen over.

A single leather glove has been pinned under the top corner of the wardrobe.
action: You take the glove
response: The glove is pinned under the wardrobe. I can't get it loose.
action: You meditate
response: Meditation revealed the following truth:
action: You change the glove into the cantaloupe
response: I concentrate and focus on changing the glove. There's more resistance than usual, but finally the glove gives in. A cantaloupe appears in its place and half of it is immediately squashed under the wardrobe.
action: You take all
response: cantaloupe: Taken.
action: You change the cantaloupe into the glove
response: The cantaloupe sparkles for a brief moment before changing into a glove.
action: You examine the glove
response: A part of the glove is cut off, but most of it is still intact. Wearing it won't be very fashionable, though.
action: Wear glove
response: I put on the glove.
action: You examine the bolt
response: Large bolts attach the iron bar to the platform.
action: You turn the bolt with the wrench
response: The sanitary napkin sparkles for a brief moment before changing into a monkey wrench.

With the gloved hand holding the nuts opposite the bolts in place I am able to unscrew the bolts and free the car.
action: You look at the car
response: The cable car is large enough to comfortably fit about four passengers. The red paint coating is peeling away in large flakes and rust is corroding the body.

It's hard to see through the dirty windows but it seems like there's a simple control panel inside.
action: You open the door
response: I open the cable car.
action: You enter car
response: I get into the cable car.

A control panel has been set to the wall opposite the door. It has a lever that most likely gets the thing moving.
action: You examine panel
response: A control panel has been set to the wall opposite the door. It has a lever that most likely gets the thing moving.
action: You pull the lever
response: Nothing happens. I must get the engine that moves the cableway running first.
action: You leave
response: I get out of the cable car.

A rickety wooden platform is built on the edge of a cliff to serve as an station for a cable car ride up to the mountain. It overlooks a beautiful waterfall rumbling below.

The road leads back east and the cableway's engine is in a shack just to the south.

A cable car is docked to the platform.
action: You put the lipstick on the pad
response: (applying the lipstick to the sanitary napkin)
There's no real reason to smear the lipstick on the sanitary napkin.
action: You turn the glove into the cantaloupe
response: The glove sparkles for a brief moment before changing into a cantaloupe.
action: You examine the cantaloupe
response: The other half of the cantaloupe has been crushed by a wardrobe, after it had already been toppled. Deep.
action: You go north
response: The lobby has an abandoned reception desk, some sofas and dead house plants. There's a layer of dust everywhere.

There's a staircase to the north leading up and a door leading east to the dining hall.
action: You examine the wardrobe
response: A wardrobe, presumably meant for storing casual visitors' coats, has fallen over.
action: You go east
response: A large dining hall full of empty tables is a sad sight. Some rays of light filter in through the dirty windows.

There's a pair of dumbwaiters on the farthest wall.
action: You examine the dumbwaiters
response: Which do you mean, the left dumbwaiter or the right dumbwaiter?
action: You examine right dumbwaiter
response: The dumbwaiters are an old elevator system for lifting food from the kitchen and then lowering dirty dishes back. They are small wooden compartments running inside the wall and supported by a rope.

The single crank on the wall suggested that they are connected with a common rope and pulley system and lowering one will raise the other.

The right dumbwaiter is lowered beyond reach.
action: You fix the crank
response: The crank is beyond repair.
action: You examine the left dumbwaiter
response: The dumbwaiters are an old elevator system for lifting food from the kitchen and then lowering dirty dishes back. They are small wooden compartments running inside the wall and supported by a rope.

The single crank on the wall suggested that they are connected with a common rope and pulley system and lowering one will raise the other.

The left dumbwaiter is empty.

There's a closed grid door in front of the compartment.
action: You check your inventory
response: I am carrying:
a cantaloupe (which equals glove)
a sanitary napkin (which equals monkey wrench)
a crank
a flute (which equals dog)
a tube of lipstick
a room key
a chopstick
an umbrella (which equals doorknob)

I have some information about the nature of the universe.
action: You put the flute in the left dumbwaiter
response: I put the flute into the left dumbwaiter.
action: You change the flute into the Dog
response: The flute sparkles and turns back into the dog. The dog seems a bit confused, but before he can orient himself his weight pushes the dumbwaiter down and the right dumbwaiter rises. There's a sausage on a plate and a bottle in the revealed compartment.

I can hear the dog barking somewhere below.
action: You take all
response: bottle of gin: Taken.
plate: Taken.
sausage: Taken.
action: You examine the gin
response: There's still some gin left in the bottom of the bottle.
action: You examine the plate
response: The plate is tastefully decorated with a flower theme.
action: You meditate
response: It's some kind of long salami-style sausage. Salt has preserved it comparably well, but it's still rancid enough to not be edible.

The barking of the dog makes it impossible to meditate here.
action: You change the Dog into the flute
response: The dog is in the left dumbwaiter, which is out of my reach at the moment.
action: You check what you're carrying
response: I am carrying:
a sausage
a plate
a bottle of gin
a cantaloupe (which equals glove)
a sanitary napkin (which equals monkey wrench)
a crank
a tube of lipstick
a room key
a chopstick
an umbrella (which equals doorknob)

I have some information about the nature of the universe.
action: You pour the gin on the pad
response: I squeeze the water out of the sanitary napkin and pour what's left of the gin on it. It soaks it all up.
action: Clean cylinder with pad
response: Cleaning the generator is hard work, but after a while the moving parts look clean enough. After spending some considerable amount of additional tinkering the generator starts to look like it could work again.
action: You turn on the generator
response: The generator makes some suspicious noises but then comes to life. The cableway starts moving again.
action: Go north
response: A rickety wooden platform is built on the edge of a cliff to serve as an station for a cable car ride up to the mountain. It overlooks a beautiful waterfall rumbling below. The cableway is moving.

The road leads back east and the cableway's engine is in a shack just to the south.

A cable car is docked to the platform.
action: Go inside
response: (inside the cable car)
I get into the cable car.

A control panel has been set to the wall opposite the door. It has a lever that most likely gets the thing moving.
action: You pull the lever
response: The mechanism on top of the car latches on to the cableway and the car jolts on moving.

After a brief but scenic ride the car stops.

Mountain top (in the cable car)
The cable car has reached its destination.
action: Go outside
response: (first opening the cable car door)
I step out the cable car and see the shrine a short way from the platform. To my surprise the Master is sitting cross-legged in front of the shrine.

"Shifu," I greet and bow deep.

"Welcome, apprentice," she says. "Have you learned the Pattern?"

1) Everything has both good and evil in them
2) Things can be turned into their exact opposites
3) Reality is an illusion
4) There is no pattern
5) I don't know the answer

?
action: 3
response: She swings her cane faster than I can react and hits me hard on my left shin.

"Did that feel like an illusion? What is the Pattern?"

1) Everything has both good and evil in them
2) Things can be turned into their exact opposites
3) Reality is an illusion
4) There is no pattern
5) I don't know the answer

?
action: 4
response: "I really don't know," I say. "I turned a dog into a flute, and a fish into a tornado, and a sanitary pad into a monkey wrench, and I just can't see what the pattern is. There's nothing that connects them, it's as if it's all completely random. Anything can be changed into anything and..."

The Master closes her eyes and nods.

Understanding comes to me. "Anything can be changed into anything."

At that moment I am enlightened.
action: Achievements
response: You have unlocked the following achievements:

Clean Dog: Washed the dog.
Veterinarian: Cured the dog.

These achievements are still unlocked:

- Art Collector
- Clown Dog
- First Guess
- Full Belly
- Not a Drop
- Ride with a Friend
- Wet Dog

Unlock all achievements for a bonus extended ending.

Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, QUIT, UNDO the last command or list your ACHIEVEMENTS?
action: You enter the car
response: [Please answer with a number between 1 and 5]

?
action: 5
response: She closes her eyes. "You do know the answer. Try again."

1) Everything has both good and evil in them
2) Things can be turned into their exact opposites
3) Reality is an illusion
4) There is no pattern
5) I don't know the answer

?