C:\GAMES\IMPRO\SOH> soh (N)ew game, or (C)ontinue? C Gate of Destiny This is a carved archway, inset with jewels. A flight of steps leads from a landing-stage up to the arch from the south. The landing-stage or quay is on the Underground River. There are four figures--two men, a woman, and a boy--carved right at the top. They seem to be joined together in a complicated dance, each with arms crossed over and passing either over or under to hold the hands of the figures at either side. Above them, a finely carved and polished starburst sparkles faintly. Large jewels set on either side of the arch--an amethyst and a peridot--are glowing brightly. The circles of light they make over- lap in the center of the arch. Two other jewels--a sapphire set into the floor of the arch, and something like a moonstone or opal at the apex--gleam in the light, but are not shining themselves. The area of overlapping light is glowing a faint red. Within it, you can see a large frame, like that of a picture. This is the Doorway. It is filled with shimmering silver, like a bowl of water, or a mirror. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = SPIRITS OF HOPE An Improtext Adventure Lead Programmer: Brian Stricklin Module Programmer: Lirazel Version 2.00 -- Restoration, Part 3 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Suzume is with you. Toshi is with you. The Resistance is right behind you. >INVENTORY a silver pendant (new and shiny) servant's clothing, damp (worn) pocky (surprisingly dry) a brown leather purse, damp (jingles a little when shaken) a tattered map, damp a potion recipe, damp a tension bar a metal cup a black-painted keyring and key Rojanosh's Hope (used) a piece of chalk, damp Suzume's Hope Teddy the Brick's Hope Yuki's Hope Meryl's Hope Rojanosh's Hope "Obaa-san's" Hope The Hope of the Resistance A lamp (lit) >DIAGNOSE You are just a bit hungry You are just a bit thirsty You are not tired Aoi is with you >EVERYONE, FOLLOW ME Suzume nods. "Yes, we are ready." >N You, Toshi, and Suzume move through the arch. A faint tingling sensation is all that remains of the force that resisted you earlier. You move closer to the Doorway. The surface of the silver material within it is roiled by hundreds of overlapping rings, as if a gentle rain was falling into a still pool. You raise your foot and step over the edge of the frame... Great Hall The large chamber is lined with marble walls. A large mirror adorns the eastern wall. The vaulted ceiling bears an intricate painting, reminiscent of the carvings you have seen in Creation's Crater, and again at the Gateway Arch. Their are exits in all four cardinal directions, and a wide stairway leads up to a balcony surrounding the chamber. As you emerge through the mirror on the eastern wall, you immediately notice the guards. Fortunately, they are all facing away from you, looking outward through each of the four exits. There are three to each doorway. Three of the four doorways have carved doors of heavy black oak. These are all open. The fourth door, to the south, has been wrenched from its hinges and now is propped against the wall. Fortunately, you were prepared for the long "step" down from the mirror to the floor of the Hall, and manage to make it quietly. Suzume and Toshi follow you. Suzume whispers, "I will take the north door. Toshi-chan, you take the east. Keigo-chan, you take the west. We need to get the doors closed and barred." You move quickly out into the center of the room as the Resistance comes through the mirror. Obaa-san comes through surprisingly quietly--the old lady clearly knows what she is about! The others are rather more noisy. The guards turn and see you! >W You make for the western exit. The three guards at the Western exit turn to face you. >SAVE GAME Game saved. >W You keep moving towards the western exit. Your heart is pounding, and you can feel the air burning in your lungs. You hear running feet and shouts. To your surprise, you catch sight of Obaa-san out of the corner of your eye. She seems to be keeping pace with you easily. If this is a grandmother, what must the mothers of Waypoint be like! The guards ready their weapons--two with spears ground the heels of the spears on the inlaid stones of the floor, while the third draws a wickedly-curved sword. >USE PENDANT Still running, you take the Pendant of Destruction out of its hiding-place inside your shirt. Aoi wriggles out from your shirt and leaps away! Keep running, or call Aoi? K/C >K You keep running. The guards are now grinning broadly at this skinny young man waving a medallion on a string and an ancient but spry granny running headlong towards them. Nearly there... >W Obaa-san surges past you with no apparent effort. Then, she launches herself skyward in a fantastic leap! As she leaps, she spins, shattering the weapons of the two spearsmen. She lands behind the trio of guards in a battle crouch. It looks as though you won't have to worry about her much. >SAVE GAME Game saved. (Glad to see you can take advice.) >STOP You pull up, just out of reach of the guard with the sword. Though taken aback by Obaa-san's performance, he is recovering quickly. His fellow-guardsmen have already dropped their useless spear-shafts and drawn short knives, determined to avenge themselves on this annoying old lady. The guard with the sword is free to deal with you. >EXAMINE You Examine the swordsman, but find nothing that you can usefully destroy. The swordsman senses your concentration, and gives an anxious glance at the glowing purple pendant dangling from your hand. He begins to circle you warily. >INTENSIFY You Intensify your examination, circling as the swordsman circles. A snapping sound and a sudden cry of pain behind you indicates that at least one of the other guards will not be much of problem in the near future. Under your Intense Examination the swordsman's belt buckle glows purple. >DESTROY BELT BUCKLE The swordsman's belt buckle suddenly crumbles into metallic dust. This causes his loose, baggy trousers to begin a most embarrassing downward slide. He grabs for them with one hand, but keeps his sword towards you and his eyes firmly focused on your face. >You have gained 7 points! At this point, you are facing due east. Across the room, you can see that the former guardsman and the young priest have subdued one of the guards Toshi was facing, and have the other two fully engaged. Toshi has managed to close the eastern exit. He has both hands on the wood, which is setting out little green tendrils, growing itself into the walls around it. Meryl suddenly appears behind your opponent! She is tousled and her dress is ripped across one shoulder, but she is grinning from ear to ear. Her cheeks are flushed, her chest is heaving, and her claws are fully extended. She mimes at you to "Shush," and then grins again. She looks incredible. You manage to keep a straight face. You hope the blush you can feel will pass unnoticed in the melee. >W Slowly, you step backwards towards the western door. The swordsman seems to be gathering himself... >W Slowly, you step backwards towards the western door. The swordsman leaps, but Meryl leaps first, by half a second. Claws rake across the swordsman's face, who drops both his weapon and his pants as he struggles with this demon cat-thing that seems to want to rip out his eyes. A loud "Mrrower!" fills the air. Note to self: Don't get Meryl mad, even if you enjoy the view. >W You turn, and run for the door. Western Exit A heavy door of blackened oak stands ajar. Through the doorway, you can see a wide hall, with rough beds and plank tables on either side. It seems to be in use as a barracks. A group of perhaps seven guards appear at the other end of the hall! They run towards you, shouting and drawing their weapons. >SHUT DOOR You put your shoulder to the door, and after a few groaning sounds it swings shut. >SAVE GAME Game saved. >LOCK DOOR There doesn't seem to be a lock here. You can hear running on the other side of the door. >DESTROY DOOR Are you sure? Y/N >N The running feet are nearly here... >EXAMINE You raise your pendant to Examine the doorway, but too much time has passed since you were spotted. The door burst open, and seven more guards burst into the room, cutting you down instantly as the first thing to oppose them. ***You have died.*** Quit, restore, or undo? >RESTORE Western Doorway This is a heavy, black oak door. It is shut, but not locked. You need to get it sealed up fast, as you can hear running feet on the other side, coming towards you. There is a battle--well, more of a melee, really--going on around you. Aoi is near you, but not in evidence. >EXAMINE You Examine the doorway. It consists of a black oak door and frame, with three great bronze hinges. The doorframe is set into the stone of the wall. A few small stones glow purple. You don't see much reason to do so, but again you stretch out your hands towards the doorway. The designated stones drop away into dust, and the building shakes slightly. The stones around the doorway collapse inward slightly. The doorway deforms a bit, squeezing the door shut. You have used magic. You have gained 15 points! You have learned spell Modulate. This spell helps make your magic proportionate to the task at hand. >SAVE GAME [First putting away the Pendant of Destruction.] Game saved. (I cut you a break. You'll need it.) >LOOK. You look around the room. The three boys are up in the gallery that encircles the room, throwing stones. They must have loaded up during the trek down the river. As you watch, one of them whaps a guard who is trying to close on Teddy the Brick right on the head. Near you, Obaa-san is sitting calmly on the prone form of the second spearsman. No knowing what finally knocked him out. Not a hair is out of place on her head. She is shouting encouragement and remarks on technique to the others, for all the world like a fan at a mildly disappointing soccer match. Further towards the center of the room, Meryl has the swordsman flat on his back, his arms pinned by her knees, while she methodically smashes him across the face. You feel a flash of envy for the swordsman, followed by a flash of pity. By the eastern exit, Toshi has tied one of the three guards that were there with a stray tendril. The door has developed into a mass of twisting vines bearing strange-colored fruit--nothing like an oak tree at all. The former guard and the priest are still fighting the two remaining guards. Hash has quietly relieved them of their smaller weapons. Suzume stands at the northern exit, smiling gently. Teddy the Brick has wedged the door shut with the tree-trunk, which he has lugged all the way from the Underground River. The guards are scattered about in various positions of out-coldness. One of the peasants is examining a spear. Yuki is trying to make a new bandage for Rojanosh, who really should not have been an active participant. The southern exit appears to be empty of guards. Uh-oh... >SAVE GAME Game saved. >EVERYONE, WATCH OUT TO THE SOUTH Everyone who is not otherwise occupied turns towards the south. The door there has been jerked from its hinges and now leans against the wall. You did it yourself--back when Despise used Aoi and Suzume to lead you into a trap. With a sigh, Obaa-san gets up and dusts off the seat of her britches. She begins shuffling towards the south door. Teddy launches himself at a flat run towards the south door. Toshi evades the fighting groups and trots towards the south door. >EVERYONE, STAY SPREAD OUT Good advice, but easier said than done. The priest deals a final blow with his pencase to the soldier he is battling, then sinks exhausted to the floor beside him. It will be a while before he can do much. The former guardsman has been hampered by his reluctance to take the life of a fellow guard, but finally he has had enough. He brings the pommel of his sword down on the other's head in a crushing blow. His opponent will be out for some time. He, himself, staggers a bit, then heads towards the south door. Meryl gets up, wiping her hands on the remains of her skirt. A growling sound is heard from the south door. >SAVE GAME Game saved. >USE PENDANT You remove the Pendant of Destruction from its hiding-place in your shirt. What do you want to do with the Pendant of Destruction? >WAIT You can hear a strange sound from the south door. The growling is nearly a howl; at the same time, you hear the sound of huge, clawed feet running toward the Great Hall. >EVERYONE, HELL-HOUNDS ARE COMING! Teddy the Brick has reached the south door. He lifts the huge oak door from where it leans against the wall, and pushes it into the doorway. Teddy puts his back against it, and braces himself with feet and hands against the doorway. "Dey'll hafta get t'rough me first, Boss!" Toshi has nearly reached the door. Barking such as you have never heard breaks out behind the door. Deep, deep voices, less like dogs than like souls in torment. The door shudders as a heavy body slams against it! Teddy's knees buckle, but he hangs on. He even manages a grin, which turns to a grimace. He must be in fearful pain. The barking intensifies. A heavy body slams into the door. The door shatters to splinters! Teddy's body is thrown halfway across the room as two Hell-hounds bolt into the room. Nearly as big as horses, black, with jaws that could tear your head from your shoulders and glowing red eyes, they are utterly terrifying. One of them leaps straight at Teddy, who, unbelievably, is beginning to struggle upward. >DESTROY HELL-HOUND A brilliant purple light flashes from the pendant, but seems to flow *around* the Hell-hound. Despise must have protected them with some sort of barrier! The first Hell-hound into the room leaps on Teddy! Its enormous jaw--each tooth glowing a sickly blue--closes on his throat! But Teddy's huge hands also have closed around the Hell-hound's neck. You quickly look for the other Hell-hound. It is fully engaged with Obaa-san. She plants a heel in its eye as you turn again. The Hell-hound is being pelted on every side by rocks from the boys in the gallery, but its grip does not relax. Poor Teddy's face is purple. The veins on his arms stand out like ropes. The former swordsman reaches the struggling group and plunges his sword into the Hell-hound's side! The sword *disappears*, dissolving into thin air. More magic! Teddy has about reached the end of his strength. He collapses, drawing the Hell-hound down with him. The beast twitches feebly, its jaws locked in a death-grip in Teddy's throat. As you watch in horror, they both die. Once again, a mist rises from the bodies. A sharp cry rings out! You jump, and turn towards the other battle. You feel a flash of shame at forgetting about Obaa-san. She is wincing with pain, and one wrist hangs at an odd angle, but the Hell-hound is dead at her feet. You can see the mist rising there, as well. You turn back to look at Teddy. Sobbing fills the room. Your own eyes mist over, but you can't help breathing in the mist as it rolls towards you. You see Toshi and Suzume breath deeply as well. You feel much stronger! >EVERYONE, WE NEED TO BLOCK THE SOUTH DOOR Toshi, Rojanosh, Hash, and the others turn towards the south door, and then... They freeze in place. The dim blueness of one of Despise' Stasis fields fills the air. You can still move. You step out into the center of the room and face the south. Despise steps through the door, his body in its swirling dark robes filling the doorway. He is so much taller and stronger than you are. His dark eyes have a dim, red spark, and his face is flushed with anger. A large gold ring with a black stone and a silver circlet with a white stone in the center are the only color about him. You can't help it--when you look at him, you feel hopeless. He stares at you without speaking, then looks slowly around the room. Finally, he laughs--a low, grim sound with no humor in it. >EXAMINE Your hand shakes as you raise the Pendant of Destruction to Examine Despise. The purple glow of the Pendant seems lost in his inky robes. There is nothing it would be helpful to destroy. "You dare..." The voice is a hiss. "You--*you*--dare to challenge me?" >YES, I CHALLENGE YOU Despise laughs again, longer this time. The sound is still mirthless. "Very well. Your *friends*--the sneer in his voice is indescribable--are trapped in my Stasis field. He saunters over to Meryl, who is frozen in a ready-to-spring pose, and eyes her speculatively, then shrugs. "As you know, this means death." >I KNOW "Destroy me. I will not even attempt to resist you physically. Destroy me, and you will save them. You have five minutes." >DESTROY DESPISE You raise the pendant and open your hands, but the purple light flashes around Despise, just as it did around the Hell-hound. SAVE GAME Game saved. >Despise laughs again, a low, mirthless sound. You seem to hear Toshi's voice inside your head; "Something from elsewhere." >INVENTORY a silver pendant (shiny and new) servant's clothing, damp (worn) pocky (surprisingly dry) a brown leather purse, wet (jingles a little when shaken) a tattered map, wet a potion recipe, wet a tension bar a metal cup a black-painted keyring and key a piece of chalk, dry >TAKE CHALK You take the chalk with the hand that is not holding the pendant. >DRAW DESPISE You begin to quickly draw the circles of Destruction, pushing towards whatever barrier protects Despise. The chalk shatters into millions of fragments. >THROW KEYS You throw the keys at Despise. They bounce against his chest, and fall at his feet. He bares his teeth at you and says, "Three minutes." >LOOK POCKY You look at the pocky you are carrying. Surprisingly, it is still quite dry. Pocky! Small, stick-like pieces of candy. This particular box of pocky is strawberry and coconut flavored. Yum. The box has been opened. There is quite a lot of pocky left inside. >THROW POCKY Despairingly, with no hope at all that this will work, you throw a stick of strawberry pocky at Despise. The world seems to slide into slow motion as you both watch the pocky turning end-over-end through the air. Pink, brown, pink, brown--the little twig of confectionary seems weighted with destiny. Despise' eyes widen with horror, and suddenly, unreasonably, you begin to hope. The stick of pocky bounces off the stone in the circlet, right between Despise' eyes, then falls to the floor with a faint "crunch". The tip breaks off. Despise slumps to the ground unconscious. The circlet falls off of Despise's head and rolls to Suzume's feet. She stoops and picks it up. Everyone is moving again. Meryl comes rushing up to you, yelling and yowling. She grabs you in an enthusiastic hug! Rojanosh does the same from the other side, and Hash appears to be pounding you on the back and kissing you at the same time. You have defeated Despise! You have gained 250 points! *****************YOU HAVE REACHED 1000 POINTS!************ >THAT'S ALL? Why don't you save the game and see what comes next? >SAVE GAME Game saved. Aoi rushes out from behind the stairs. You catch her up, and place her in your shirt. Suzume takes the circlet and puts it on her own head. The white stone, which was merely a dull, white oval when Despise wore it, begins to coruscate with every rainbow color, broken into a thousand flashing fragments. It is clearly a large and beautiful opal. By its light, Suzume seems transformed. Gone is the gentle, gray lady, and in her place is a sparkling young woman, glowing with vivacity, dressed in a many-colored kimono, with a scarf woven to look like a flight of butterflies. Clearly the circlet was her sigil, the Crown of Chaos. Everyone falls silent. >REPLACE PENDANT You return the Pendant of Destruction to its hiding-place in your shirt. You feel humbled, looking at Suzume. Clearly, she is far, far above you, a true princess. >BOW You bow deeply before Suzume. "Don't bow before me, Keigo-chan. We have been comrades. And besides, we still have much to do." >WHAT? Suzume beckons to the guards who have cautiously looked through the south door. They seem different as well--more human, as it were. Suzume points to Despise' body. "Please, carry my lord Despise out to the courtyard, and lay him on a bed there." She points to Teddy's body. "And please prepare a suitable resting-place for our friend." >TOSHI, WHAT ARE WE DOING? "We need to restore the Balance, Keigo-san. Follow along. You'll figure it out." You follow the others into the dreary, nearly lifeless, prison courtyard. It is filled with guards, lining the walls three deep. The Resistance joins them. Despise' body is already laid on a low bier, draped in black, his hands crossed on his chest. Suzume indicates that you and Toshi should stand on either side of Despise, while she stands at his feet. The young priest steps forward, his solemn manner slightly spoiled by his muttering under his breath, "I can't believe I really get to say this!" He clears his throat and then speaks loudly. "Chaos and Order, Creation and Destruction, we give you our Hope. Restore the Balance of our world." You feel the Hope of everyone present! Toshi and Suzume cross their hands. >CROSS HANDS You cross your hands. Suzume--Lady Chaos--leans toward you, fingers reaching. >TAKE HAND Whose hand will you take? >SUZUME There's no one by that name here. >TAKE HAND CHAOS You take Lady Chaos' left hand in your right. You feel a faint tingle as the hair on your head blows away from your face in a wind that seems to come from nowhere. >LOOK CHAOS You glance over at Lady Chaos. Her hair is blowing straight out behind her, but the gray scarf around her neck hangs motionless. She turns her head towards you and smiles faintly; you see that the pupils of her eyes are shifting color, from brown to blue to sea- green, to orange, to pink-silver mother-of-pearl. Lady Chaos reaches out with her right hand and takes the left hand of Lord Creation. The wind seems to increase. >LOOK CREATION You look straight ahead of you, into the eyes of your opposite and match, Lord Creation. His face is peaceful as the wind lifts his hair, but the pupils of his eyes are filled with shifting, changing, bubbling shapes-almost as if the reflection of worlds creating and dying from second to second was being shown to you in the mirror of his eyes. You wonder, for a moment, what your eyes look like. Lord Creation reaches down with his right hand to the body of Despise--Lord Order--and picks up his left hand where it lies crossed on his chest. The wind is really picking up. >SAVE GAME Game saved. >TAKE HAND ORDER You lean over as best you can while retaining your hold on Lady Chaos' hand and pick up the left hand of Order's body. The wind reaches what feels like gale force! Through it, you hear a voice--you can't say whose--scream, "Call him!" >CALL ORDER You call out, "Order!" Beside you, you feel Lady Chaos shake. Remembering what you felt like when she called Creation back into existence, you give her hand a sympathetic squeeze. But it's too late to stop now. >CALL ORDER You call out, "Order!" for the second time. Beside you, Lady Chaos is now shuddering and half bent over, resting her weight on you and Creation--but her grip does not fail. >CALL ORDER You call out, "Order!" for the third time. The body on the bed draws a shuddering breath! The body on the bed begins to breathe regularly. The eyes open-- eyes of unchanging black. You have awakened Despise. You gain 50 points! The wind lifts you and your companions high over the city, and you and they, locked together as you are by your interwoven arms, begin to spin slowly in a clockwise direction. Spread out below you and all around you, you can see the city of Waypoint and the fields and villages that surround it. As you spin, you catch glimpses of areas you know from below, as well as others that that are unfamiliar. There seems to be a university or temple complex to the west of town, beyond the ruins of the Temple of the Fifth Freedom. A farm to the south reminds you of the man you met in the marketplace, who gave you money and encouragement. You never did get to repay him. As you pass over the river, you see boats of different shapes and sizes, flying many flags. And, of course, there's the Pagoda, and the Tree, and the Great Hall, and the Hill, the Crater and the boiling lake, as well as many smaller places-the mill where you fought the hell-hound, the marketplace, the junk-shop, the library... The Library! You spare a thought for Meryl. Everything beneath you seems washed clean, as if it had been created just this minute. At the same time, everything has a mellow, golden look, as if it had aged into its place and was right and fitly set in order. Even the wreckage of the city gate seems appropriate, somehow. After all, if this is the happy ending you hope for, there won't be much of a need for city gates--and if it isn't, the lack of a gate won't make much difference anyway. >DOWN Do you really want to drop from this height by yourself? >SPEAK TO OTHERS I don't see anyone named "Others" here. >SPEAK TO SPIRITS OF HOPE What do you want to say? >DOWN? At your suggestion, the others in your complex little knot look at you. You see that Suzume--suddenly, you can think of her again as Suzume--has been crying. Despise looks pleased, in a grand sort of way. Only Toshi seems a bit dissatisfied. Despise nods. "Yes, the Balance has been restored." You begin to drift gently downward. **MORE** As you drift, you see that you are not returning to the prison courtyard, where you arose. Instead, when the four of you land, you find yourself standing in front of: The Spirit Tree The skeleton of an enormous tree stretches gaunt, white arms against the sky. This thing is truly huge--twenty people would be required to encircle its trunk, and it's well over 20 meters from the roots to where the first branch used to grow. Now, there's nothing there but a stub, the few remaining scraps of bark hang in ragged strips, and the trunk is full of holes. On closer inspection, it is clear that some of the holes you can see are not natural--like the one with all the carving around it, between two roots. Still, if this tree was once home to intelligent beings, it seems to be deserted now. There is a wide clearing at the foot of the tree. You can see that it once was heavily traveled--the grass is thinner where the pathways used to be. Suzume is here. Despise is here. Toshi is here. Aoi is here (in your shirt). >HINT You really need a hint? At this stage? >HINT OK, OK... I have no idea what you should do next. Why not ask the others? >SPEAK TO OTHERS What do you want to say? >WHAT ARE WE TO DO HERE? Suzume looks at you oddly, then smiles. "I keep forgetting that you are not your grandfather. We need to restore this tree." >WHAT IS THE TREE? Despise looks at you. "This is my tree, the place where I connect to the inner life of this world." >TOSHI, WHY DO WE RESTORE THE TREE? Toshi smiles at you. "It seems odd, doesn't it? We've spent all this time, and others have lost their lives, battling Despise. But without a balance between order and chaos, the same thing would happen again. We have restored the balance, but now we have to maintain it. >TREE MAINTAINS ORDER? Suzume smiles at you, the opal coruscating on her brow. "In a way... Join us." Toshi and Suzume walk carefully around the dead tree, searching in the tall grass for... something. You walk behind them, wondering what they are looking for. Despise just stands there, with that flat, dead look on his face. In a way, it's even more frightening than when he was wholly evil. >WAIT Time passes... Toshi and Suzume walk carefully around the dead tree, searching in the tall grass for... something. You walk behind them, wondering what they are looking for. Your eyes range over the grassy field. It looks sad. Unused. Like the ruin of a once-great city. Off to one side, you catch a gleam of silver! >LOOK You see a little tree--no more than a year-old sapling--with silver leaves. They really look metallic, at least on top. >SHOW OTHERS You call the others over and point out the little tree. Suzume smiles and claps her hands. Butterflies fly out from between them. "Oh my, Toshi-chan, we have to get you home quickly!" Toshi grins. "This is very good, Keigo-chan. This is what we need." Suzume runs over to Despise and brings him to the little tree. He stands there, with a flat, dead look on his face. Suzume stands across from him, and takes his hand, so that their hands meet over the tree. You and Toshi lay your hands over theirs. Suzume speaks gently, "Friends, give us your Hope." >GIVE HOPE SUZUME AND DESPISE You feel hope flowing out of you and into Suzume and Despise. The little tree begins to shimmer and glow with a gentle silver light, like moonlight seen reflected in a lake. You look curiously at Despise. As you watch, his eyes change from dead, light-swallowing blackness to midnight blue. Looking in his eyes you realize that this is not the Order of jack-booted thugs, regimented masses, and unremitting warfare. This is the Order of the natural world, the world that lives and blooms and dies and lives again--and, therefore, never dies. Despise smiles warmly at you. Amazed, you smile back. You have maintained the Balance. You have gained 50 points! >RELEASE HANDS You release your hands from the general clasp, and step back. The little tree doesn't appear to be growing any faster, or anything obviously magical, other than shedding that soft, silver light. Toshi also steps aside. Despise smiles at Suzume. "Thank you. I will take good care of it." Suzume smiles at Despise. "See that you do." She kisses him gently, then a bit more passionately. You turn to one side for a moment. >WAIT Toshi joins you. "Well, Keigo-san, will you be glad to get home?" Home? Are you not dead? "Oh, they have to send us back now. Otherwise, there'd be too many Forces in this world. You saw how Suzume was making butterflies when she claps? That's because I'm here." You look around to see if you are destroying anything. "I wouldn't stamp too hard, if I were you," says Toshi. You turn back towards the others. Suzume and Despise bow before you. Despise speaks for them both: "Thank you very much, dear friends, for your efforts on our behalf. Thank you for restoring us." You bow in return. Suzume speaks. "And now, it is time for you to depart." She bows to Toshi, who waves to you. "See you back home, Keigo-san!" He fades and is gone. Suzume turns and bows to you, and the world turns to white and gray snow. You find yourself back in what you think of as Dismal Field. But it has changed... Flowering Field You find yourself in the middle of a warm, sunny, tree-lined meadow. The short, green grass looks like velvet, spangled all over with many-colored flowers. A warm and gentle breeze blows over you, tossing the blossoms lightly, and a myriad of sweet, fleeting scents delights and teases your nose. A faint path leads off to the southeast. A small stream flows through the field, over where you remember the headstone being located. Meryl is here! Aoi mews faintly from her position inside your shirt. >SAVE GAME Do you really think that's necessary? She doesn't look at all threatening. >SAVE GAME All right. But be careful. You don't want to offend her... >LOOK MERYL Meryl blushes faintly under your gaze. "I--I just wanted to say good-by, Keigo-sama." She lowers her head and fidgets nervously with a small, pink flower she is holding. You don't know quite what to say. On the one hand, you hardly know her. On the other hand, she's quite attractive, and she certainly seems to like you. There's also that story about your grandfather and grandmother... TALK TO MERYL Y/N? >N You stand there, probably looking as stupid as you feel. Aoi mews faintly from her position inside your shirt. Meryl looks increasingly distressed. Suddenly, she holds out the flower to you. "Well. Here. To remember us by." TAKE FLOWER Y/N? >Y As you take the flower from Meryl's hand, she breaks into a sunny smile. "Oh, thank you, Keigo-sama!" She curtseys deeply, then turns away from you and walks back along the path to the town. You look after her with some regret. Aoi mews faintly from her position inside your shirt. You have gained 20 points! STEP INTO STREAM/RETURN TO TOWN? You step forward into the stream... As you half-expected, a whirling sensation overtakes you, and everything grows black before your eyes. Suddenly, you feel yourself falling forward, into the water! ******************************************* You awaken to find yourself soaked to the skin, kneeling in the stream behind your grandparents' house. A small gray kitten is mewing at you pitifully from the bank. As you clamber to your feet, you find that you are holding something in your hand. Half- fearfully, half-hopefully, you open your fist and find, lying on your palm, a small, pink flower. >RESTORE Ahh, trying to have it both ways, are you? All right, you're the hero... GAME RESTORED You find yourself back in what you think of as Dismal Field. But it has changed... You find yourself in the middle of a warm, sunny, tree-lined meadow. The short, green grass looks like velvet, spangled all over with many-colored flowers. A warm and gentle breeze blows over you, tossing the blossoms lightly, and a myriad of sweet, fleeting scents delights and teases your nose. A faint path leads off to the southeast. A small stream flows through the field, over where you remember the headstone being located. Meryl is here! Aoi mews faintly from her position inside your shirt. >LOOK MERYL Meryl blushes faintly under your gaze. "I--I just wanted to say good-by, Keigo-sama" She lowers her head and fidgets nervously with a small, pink flower she is holding. You don't know quite what to say. On the one hand, you hardly know her. On the other hand, she's quite attractive, and she certainly seems to like you. There's also that story about your grandfather and grandmother... Aoi mews faintly from her position inside your shirt. TALK TO MERYL Y/N? >Y What do you want to say? >HELLO, MERYL Meryl stops fidgeting for a moment and looks shyly at you. Then she lowers her gaze to the small pink flower again, and murmurs, "Hello, Keigo-sama." >WHY ARE WE SAYING GOOD-BY? Meryl looks slightly shocked. "Why? Because you have to go, Keigo- sama! You are the Spirit of Destruction! You don't want to stay and-- and--" Interesting point. You are, in fact, the Spirit of Destruction. If you stay, you will, presumably, end up destroying things. You recall that Creation--Toshi-san--had said something about seeing you later, just as he faded from view. So, presumably, he's gone as well, leaving Waypoint to the tension between Order and Chaos. >GOOD-BYE THEN, MERYL Meryl smiles shyly at you again, then, to your surprise, she walks up to you, puts her arms about your neck, and gives you a soft, lingering kiss! Then she steps away from you. Through your own blushes, you can see that she, also, has blushed a deep pink. She looks completely charming. You stand there, probably looking as stupid as you feel. Meryl suddenly grins impishly at you. "Well. Here. To remember us by." She holds out the flower to you. TAKE FLOWER Y/N? >Y As you take the flower from Meryl's hand, she grabs your wrist and closes your fingers over the flower. "Hang on to it. I shall hope to see you again, Keigo-sama." She looks deep into your eyes for a moment, then turns quickly away and rushes down the path that leads to the city. You look after her with some regret. Aoi mews faintly from her position inside your shirt. You have gained 120 points! STEP INTO STREAM/RETURN TO TOWN? >STEP You step forward into the stream... As you half-expected, a whirling sensation overtakes you, and everything grows black before your eyes. Suddenly, you feel yourself falling forward, into the water! ***************************************************** You awaken to find yourself soaked to the skin, kneeling in the stream behind your grandparents' house. A small gray kitten is mewing at you pitifully from the bank. As you clamber to your feet, you find that you are holding something in your hand. Half- fearfully, half-hopefully, you open your fist and find, lying on your palm, a small, pink flower. You step from the stream. The kitten dances out of range of any falling drops. You feel almost let down--there's no adventure any more, nothing to indicate that you'll ever see Waypoint again. And then you feel it. Deep, deep inside, a small and tender glow--Meryl's Hope that you will return. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = SPIRITS OF HOPE An Improtext Adventure Lead Programmer: Brian Stricklin Module Programmers: Sean Given Steven Scougall Tempest Scott Schimmel Ked Sharyna Tran Scott Johnson Lirazel Sean Given Switch StorytellerSJK Sharyna Tran/Paradox Aaron Nowack Ndebugger/Cameraman Aaron Nowack Lirazel Aaron Nowack Lirazel = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Final score: Total points: 1135 out of 2000, earning you the rank of Accidental Hero. Percent adventures discovered: 32% Percent adventures failed: 3% **Excellent!** Percent characters met: 27% Major reward points: 100 points -- None 500 points -- Medallion remade 1000 points -- Aoi returns with you 1100 points -- As you leave, Meryl gives you a small, pink flower, and, possibly, her Hope 1200 points -- Outrageous party in your honor at The Haunted Keg, with song by Teddy the Brick 1300 points -- Return with a leather coat made from genuine Grue- hide. 1400 points -- Return with some small Waypoint coins. These turn out to be made from a metal so rare scientists are not sure why it exists. 1500 points -- Congratulations! You have complete control over basic Magic. Receive a Tome of Hidden Power to write your spells in as you learn Destruction Magic. 1600 points -- Honorary doctorate in Mystik Arts from Waypoint University. 1700 points -- Suit of armor presented to you by Suzume 1800 points -- Statue raised in your honor at the rebuilt Temple of the Fifth Freedom, with associated street festival. 1900 points -- Meryl spends quite a bit of time with you one evening... 2000 points -- Meryl, who has journeyed with you for some time, decides to go home with you. Final Inventory: Medallion (polished, freshly minted) A small gray kitten Small pink flower Meryl's Hope Pocky Thoughtfully, yet hungrily, you take out a stick of strawberry pocky and start to nibble. You stoop to pick up the kitten, who purrs and pats you on the cheek. You head around to the front of the house and onto the porch. You know exactly where the big dictionary is where you can press this flower--and you know exactly what word you want to press it under... SPIRITS OF HOPE FIN >QUIT C:\GAMES\IMPRO\SOH>_ ****************************************** Sharyna Tran pre-read the first part of this, for which my thanks. She also suggested the Pocky of Hope as the ultimate weapon. Funny, funny person... It's 11:09 PM, so there's no time for more pre-reading. I'm sorry. I'm sure it would have been much better if more people had been involved. Special sorry to Nightguard, who promised to stand by--I didn't write the Big Fight until the last minute, really! This was hard to do, but fun. Stuffed zest, as it were. SIGN UP! If an old lady like me (47 in 4 hours!) can do it, so can you.