C:\GAMES\IMPRO\SOH> soh (N)ew game, or (C)ontinue? C Eastern Tower Landing This is the mid-point of the long spiraling staircase, and the stairs end momentarily in a small semi-circle shaped landing before continuing once again, upwards and downwards. An open window looks out into a dark sky, and strong winds enter through, chilling the area. An iron portcullis is lowered down upon the top of the downward stairs, preventing entrance. Suzume is here. >INVENTORY You are carrying: a silver pendant (worn) servant's clothing (worn) arrows pocky a brown leather purse (jingles when shaken) a tattered map a tension bar a metal cup a torch (burning white-hot) a black-painted keyring and key >DIAGNOSE You are in good health, but feel a bit tired. You are a bit hungry. You are a bit thirsty. Your arms, neck, and face are itchy, and might break into a rash soon. Your skin is a mottled blue-green. However, one of your hands is "human"-colored. >SCORE You have gained 79 points out of a possible 2000. This earns you the rank of: Unenlightened Neophyte. >UNDO "Regret will lead you nowhere, other than to a quick death," Suzume intones. Suzume looks pensive. >VERSION = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = SPIRITS OF HOPE An Improtext Adventure Lead Programmer: Brian Stricklin Module Programmer: Nikholas "Switch" F. Toledo Version 1.92 - Death and Loss = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = >LOOK AT SUZUME Suzume is a woman of refinement, both in manner and appearance. Her figure is slim and delicate, with fine hair a shade of silvery grey and skin milky and pale. Her eyes, lavender in colour, carry great intelligence and soulful emotion within, though layered with a sense of reserve. She wears a formal kimono, sky-blue in colour, and decorated with a pattern of embroidered swans. Suzume is standing, and stroking the purring Aoi in her hands. "You would do better to find a way to depart," Suzume intones, not meeting your eyes. Suzume looks pensive. >LOOK AT AOI Aoi is a small, very thin, blue-and-white striped kitten. Its ribs are clearly visible, and its coat looks dull. Aoi is in Suzume's hands and seems content to rub its head against Suzume's fingers. "I hope that you aren't planning anything desperate," Suzume intones. Suzume looks pensive. You hear faint footsteps coming from the downward stairwell. >LOOK AT PORTCULLIS It is just wide enough to block the downward staircase. It is currently lowered, barring the entrance to and exit from the landing. >AOI, FIND A WAY OUT Aoi raises its head in your direction at the sound of its name, but returns to Suzume's minstrations. "How can you expect Aoi to find a way out?" Suzume asks. Suzume looks pensive. You hear more faint footsteps and some distant shouts coming from the downward stairwell. >SUZUME, FIND A WAY OUT Suzume shakes her head ruefully. You hear many footsteps and shouts coming from the downward stairwell. >GIVE POCKY TO SUZUME Suzume shakes her head ruefully, whispering, "Sentimentality will not save us now, no matter how much we miss home." You hear many close footsteps and loud shouts coming from the downward stairwell. >HINT Someone must have set the trap. This kind of thing must happen often, or expected to happen often enough. >WAIT "You seem all too willing to face death," Suzume intones. Suzume looks resigned. Aoi seems disturbed, hissing from its perch within Suzume's arms. You hear many close footsteps and loud shouts coming from the downward stairwell. >WAIT "Who goes there?" someone from within the darkness of the downward stairwell shouts. The footsteps continue toward the portcullis, led by torchlight, which reveals the leader of the nightguard in the head of the pack. "Lady Suzume!" The blue-skinned titan turns its stare at you as he growls in a manner that would indicate that you would soon be as low as his diaphragm seems to be. The rest of the night guard appear behind him and similarly snarl, in distinctly differing pitches. The leader pushes beyond the guards and steps off to the far side of the stairwell. >LOOK AT GUARD Which one? >LEADER The leader carries the torch, so it is easy to see that he taps a particular stone on the wall. The iron portcullis rises slowly. You hear the hinges of the door to Suzume's room creak as the weights set in the roof of the tower are reset. You are immediately beset by the six remaining guards, and you cannot even muster a quick, temporary verbal defense for a slight, but handy retreat, as they rend you from limb to limb. *** You have died. *** Quit, Restore, or Undo? RESTORE Eastern Tower Landing This is the mid-point of the long spiraling staircase, and the stairs end momentarily in a small semi-circle shaped landing before continuing once again, upwards and downwards. An open window looks out into a dark sky, and strong winds enter through, chilling the area. An iron portcullis is lowered down upon the top of the downward stairs, preventing entrance. Suzume is here. >LOOK AT STAIRS Up or down? >DOWN The downward stairwell is cloaked in darkness. You can hear very faint voices and footsteps. >INVENTORY You are carrying: a silver pendant (worn) servant's clothing (worn) arrows pocky a brown leather purse (jingles when shaken) a tattered map a tension bar a metal cup a torch (burning white-hot) a black-painted keyring and key >THROW ARROW AT STAIR WALL You heft one shaft lightly in your hand, aiming it to go through the grill of the portcullis without snagging on the colorful feathers, and you hear it make contact with the cold rock of the wall. *ding* Suzume seems piqued. "What are you doing?" You hear faint footsteps coming from the downward stairwell. >THROW ARROW AT STAIR WALL You heft one shaft lightly in your hand, aiming it to go through the grill of the portcullis without snagging on the colorful feathers, and you hear it make contact with the cold rock of the wall. *ding* Suzume seems piqued, but pensive. Even Aoi regards you with seeming askance, large eyes unblinking. You hear more faint footsteps and some distant shouts coming from the downward stairwell. >THROW ARROW AT STAIR WALL You heft one shaft lightly in your hand, aiming it to go through the grill of the portcullis without snagging on the colorful feathers, and you hear it make contact with the cold rock of the wall. *ding* You hear many footsteps and shouts coming from the downward stairwell. ** MORE ** The iron portcullis rises slowly. You hear the hinges of the door to Suzume's room creak as the weights set in the roof of the tower are being reset. [You have gained 1 point!] Suzume turns to you with some amazement, only in her eyes. She says, "I do not think that that route will lead to freedom." >SAVE [Game saved.] >UP Eastern Tower Top The staircase upwards ends here, at a short landing. The wooden door banded with steel set in the east wall is slowly closing. Suzume arrives from downstairs. You hear many footsteps and shouts coming from the downward stairwell. >E Allowing Suzume to enter first, you barely squeeze in-between the closing door and the wall as the door settles into place. Suzume's Room The top of the tower is a small bedroom. There is a quilted bed tucked cozily against one wall, a round rug in the middle, and a desk against the other wall. A tiny window with iron bars criss- crossing against it looks out to the night sky, it being the only detail to remind you that this is a cell, instead of some private retreat. Suzume is here. >SEARCH ROOM Where? >BEHIND DESK You hand the torch to Suzume. After much effort, you pull the desk from its location. You look behind the desk to find... a blank wall. "I believe that I would have found an exit through there," Suzume intones. Suzume looks pensive. >SEARCH UNDER BED After much effort, you aren't able to move the bed more than an inch. "I believe that the bed is bolted to the floor," Suzume intones. Suzume looks pensive. You arms are now unbearably itchy. You hear footsteps outside the door. >SEARCH UNDER RUG You kick away the rug to find... the floor. Suzume looks pensive. "The guards are really close. You should leave," she says as a loud clatter is heard outside the door. Your arms and shoulders are now unbearably itchy. >HIDE BEHIND SUZUME You try your best to move, but by now the unbearable itchiness has reached your neck. You fall to the floor, clutching your neck, convulse and spasm, as your lungs constrict painfully. You choke to death as the rash covers your face. *** You have died. *** Quit, Restore, or Undo? RESTORE Eastern Tower Landing This is the mid-point of the long spiraling staircase, and the stairs end momentarily in a small semi-circle shaped landing before continuing once again, upwards and downwards. An open window looks out into a dark sky, and strong winds enter through, chilling the area. An iron porticullis is raised above the top of the downward stairs. You hear many footsteps and shouts coming from the downward stairwell. Suzume is here. >LOOK AT WINDOW The window has no pane to it - it's just a hole cut in the stone wall. Out through, you have a wide view of the city of Waypoint, and its darkened houses and buildings. Nearly an entire half of the city can be seen here - Despise's pagoda rested on top of a hill to begin with, and this tower rises up even higher. As you look out, it vaguely occurs to you that a stone tower is not usually part of Japanese architecture, and that you did not see any such thing when looking at Despise's pagoda from the outside. You hear many footsteps and shouts coming from the downward stairwell. >JUMP OUT WINDOW And leave Suzume alone to face the wrath of the horrible hordes? You think not. >SUZUME, GO BACK TO YOUR ROOM She considers your request for terrible moments as the noises gain ferocity and proximity, then nods. She extends her arms toward you, and you tentatively receive the small kitten. Surprisingly, Aoi has shown the same trust her owner has, and cuddles into the heel of your palm. [You have gained 2 points!] "Keep her safe for me, Keigo," Suzume whispers into your ear, "find her sisters, and you'll find me again." Suzume quickly glides up the stairs. You hear the door slam into place. Aoi purrs into your hand. You hear many close footsteps and loud shouts coming from the downward stairwell. >JUMP OUT WINDOW Raising a quick prayer, and clutching the unusually calm Aoi to your chest, you clamber onto the window, battling against the strong wind emanating from the orifice. "Halt!" a rumbling voice orders behind you. No time for that, you think, and no need for this. You quickly toss the torch behind you, as you close your eyes and jump through... ** MORE ** You are caught off guard, and slightly out of breath as you are not, as expected, greeted by a wall of rushing air, but, instead plunged into a wall of water. [You have gained 2 points!] The Well The murky water surrounding you is warm, calm and comfortable. There is barely enough light to make out a cylinder of blocks surrounding you in a radius of three to five yards. You have no trouble distinguishing up from down, as down seems much murkier, and the water up is much lighter. The window you have just jumped out of is just behind you, where you can make out shadowy figures in flickering torchlight. You know that Aoi doesn't think much of the water, as she struggles in your grasp. >DIAGNOSE You are in good health, but tired. You are a bit hungry. You are a bit thirsty. Your arms, neck, and face are itchy. You are slightly out of breath. >SAVE [Game saved.] >UP You swim up, where the well water is less murky. There is no indication of how much further the well goes upward. Aoi is still struggling in your grasp. >UP You swim up, where the well water is less murky. There is no indication of how much further the well goes upward. Aoi is still struggling in your grasp. >UP You swim up, where the well water is less murky. There is no indication of how much further the well goes upward. Aoi is still struggling in your grasp. >UP You swim up, where the well water is less murky. There is no indication of how much further the well goes upward. Aoi is now frantically struggling in your grasp. >UP You swim up, where the well water is less murky. There is no indication of how much further the well goes upward. Aoi is now scratching your hand fiercely. You notice it from the small mist of blood in that area. >UP You swim up and realize why the water here is bright: moss at the bottom of what now seems to be the bottom of the well. [You have gained 2 points!] Aoi has now stopped struggling in your grasp, drowned. *** You have died. *** Quit, Restore, or Undo? RESTORE The Well The murky water surrounding you is warm, calm and comfortable. There is barely enough light to make out a cylinder of blocks surrounding you in a radius of three to five yards. You have no trouble distinguishing up from down, as down seems much murkier, and the water up is much lighter. The window you have just jumped out of is just behind you, where you can make out shadowy figures in flickering torchlight. You know that Aoi doesn't think much of the water, as she struggles in your grasp. >LET AOI GO The kitten immediately heads downward. You soon lose her in the inky darkness below. >FOLLOW AOI You swim down, where the well water is murkier. There is no indication of how much further the well goes downward, and your field of vision has shrunk to half. Aoi is here. She swims downward. >FOLLOW AOI You swim down, where the well water is murkier. There is no indication of how much further the well goes downward, and your field of vision has shrunk to nothingness. You have no idea where Aoi is. >FOLLOW AOI Where? You can't see further than two inches from your face. >DOWN You swim down, where the well water is murkier. There is no indication of how much further the well goes downward, and your field of vision has shrunk to nothingness. You have no idea where Aoi is. You feel refreshed! >DIAGNOSE You are in good health, but very tired. You are hungry. You are thirsty. >SAVE [Game saved.] >UP You swim up, where the well water is less murky. There is no indication of how much further the well goes upward. Your field of vision has increased to about a few feet around. >UP You swim up, where the well water is less murky. There is no indication of how much further the well goes upward. Your field of vision has accommodated the walls of well. >UP You swim up, where the well water is less murky. There is no indication of how much further the well goes upward. You see the window where you had jumped out of the eastern tower. >LOOK AT WINDOW You swim over to the window and peer inside. The same shadowy figures are still there, dancing in torchlight. Upon closer inspection, however... they don't signify and creatures lying in wait of your return. Through the murky water, you see the same view of Waypoint you had seen before, easily half of the city. >DIAGNOSE You are in good health, but very tired. You are hungry. You are thirsty. You are slightly out of breath. >DOWN You swim down, where the well water is murkier. There is no indication of how much further the well goes downward, and your field of vision has shrunk to half. >DOWN You swim down, where the well water is murkier. There is no indication of how much further the well goes downward, and your field of vision has shrunk to nothingness. >DOWN You swim down, where the well water is murkier. There is no indication of how much further the well goes downward, and your field of vision has shrunk to nothingness. >DOWN You swim down, and finally break through the water's surface. [You have gained 3 points!] The Eastern Garden You gasp, as you realize that you are nearly out of breath. You try to suck in air, but your need seems to only grow deeper. You struggle to find the edge of the well. "Well, well," a familiar nasal voice croons, "what do we have here?" You clamber over the well's edge, sloshing water, and still find yourself gasping and wheezing. From a far away place, a prolonged wail of a kitten has begun. You begin to feel air coming in, and you take three deep gasps. "I remember you," the half-spider/half-man scientist wheezes. You vaguely sense Aoi is here. >DIAGNOSE You are slightly nightblind, slightly deaf, and very tired. You are hungry. You are thirsty. You are slightly out of breath. >INVENTORY You are carrying: a silver pendant (worn) servant's clothing, soaked (worn) arrows pocky a brown leather purse, soaked (jingles when shaken) a tattered map, soaked a tension bar a metal cup a black-painted keyring and key >SCORE You have gained 87 points out of a possible 2000. This earns you the rank of: Unenlightened Neophyte. >SAVE [Game saved.] >QUIT C:\GAMES\IMPRO\SOH>_ ---------- Author's notes: Thanks to Sean Duggan for reminding me that although we are trying to simulate an old-style text based game, we have a little more humanity on our side. ^_^ One of your lines is here... Thanks for that, too. I hoped that I could help run the story and immerse Keigo into the magic that lies around and under the surface of the pagoda, but I don't think I could handle a fight now. I had mentioned an alternative solution to the locked landing scenario, but good points were made, so I chose to have Aoi useful in another way. I hoped you liked this segment as much as I had excruciated in writing it. ^_^ But, it was a blast, really. Thanks, guys. Switch