Message-ID: <Pine.NEB.4.64.0702121534430.27597@panix3.panix.com>
From: Alan Sondheim <sondheim@panix.com>
To: Cyb <cybermind@listserv.aol.com>, Wryting-L <WRYTING-L@listserv.wvu.edu>
Subject: reconstructing adventure
Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2007 15:34:56 -0500 (EST)
reconstructing adventure (one of the first and best online interactive fiction/games; this is the stuff of legends) down a gully. rocky bed. down, but small ledge can be seen to the west across chasm. in rock. downstream streambed is bare dirt strong steel grate mounted concrete. a dry leads into depression. low crawl over cobbles inward west. at east end of passage. wide passage with becomes plugged mud and debris has scrawled, "magic word xyzzy". rivers orange stone. an awkward canyon good exit from sides chamber. staircase downward. the hall filled wisps white mist swaying fro almost as if alive. a cold wind blows up this room crude note on wall. says, directions. dome unclimbable. wall above pit this room. pool oil one corner pit. an e/w rock room's center. sight. a floor indistinctly visible feet below. traces cover pit, becoming thicker right. marks dust around window would seem indicate that enters exits through tiny slits. hall mists. continues another goes north. to south little off floor. dead up. maze level. chambers. to slants north round two foot hole down. joins narrow north/south higher make walking explore random select north, south, up, or go west, east, ne, nw. part occupied by large bedrock block. littered thin slabs, which it easy descend pits. passages, they are now boulders. low passages quickly bends boulders. se. tall other combined. crawl. get back seems open runs mass boulders -- dead end. stream flows out pair diameter sewer pipes. it advisable use exit. profusion leaves. leading north. lamp show it. cavernous lead south. on scrawled inscription, "fee fie foe foo" [sic]. sparkling waterfall roaring whirlpool disappears passages thick pile carpet. moss covers ceiling. oriental room. ancient oriental cave drawings walls. a gently sloping upward se, hands knees far below, heavy mist, strange splashing noises heard. the rises fissure path distance. extremely tight tunnel east. looks like very squeeze. an eerie light dark corridor ne. walls bits shells imbedded shallow proceeds downward, somewhat steeper remnants recent digging evident. proceed own risk. [witt construction company]" covered seeping extend for well feet. suspended some unseen point far midway between walls. (the mirror obviously provided either wall, fifty left. stalactite extends roof reaches fills rapidly upward. the lake fed stream, tumbles about giant appears repository "adventure" program. massive torches overhead bathe smoky oysters, bundle black rods rusty stars their ends, collection brass lanterns. off side great many dwarves sleeping floor, snoring loudly. notice nearby reads: "do not disturb dwarves!" immense hanging against sundry objects glimpsed dimly full fierce green snakes. row wicker cages, each contains sulking bird. in marks ends. number velvet pillows scattered grate, next sign reads, "treasure vault. keys main office. " below obscures all view side. sw away chasm winding corridor. heard louder direction. the right fork southeast gentle slope. roar, so loud entire trembling. another active volcano, gouts molten lava come surging out, cascading depths. glowing farthest cavern blood-red glare, giving every- thing eerie, macabre appearance. air flickering sparks ash smell brimstone. hot touch, thundering volcano drowns sounds. embedded jagged myriad twisted formations composed pure alabaster, scatter murky sinister apparitions upon deep gorge, bizarre chaos tortured have been crafted devil himself. river fire crashes depths burns its way right, geyser blistering steam erupts continuously barren island center sulfurous lake, bubbles ominously. aflame incandescence own, lends additional infernal splendor already hellish scene. a dark, foreboding warm, causing stifling heat. only heading coming rumbling. oddly shaped limestone formations. entrance "caution! bear room!" empty except dust. toward paths ledge. across clearing surrounded forest. rear roar water past dangerous. here base cliff lie remains several earlier adventurers who apparently failed tumble hundred join unlucky adventurers. set keys brass lantern *grate locked. open. wicker cage black rod three star lies nearby. mark *steps rough stone steps dome. little bird bird's singing quite melodious. does inclined sing while cage. joys forest home. thank information, flies *rusty door barred massive, rusty, iron door. velvet pillow *snake huge snake bars way! %! (chased away) hissing venomously. *fissure crystal bridge spans fissure. vanished! *stone tablet massive "congratulations bringing dark-room!" clam >grunt!< tight-mouthed a, er, clam. oyster > groan!< oyster. even though it's oyster, critter's says same did before. hm, maybe pun? "spelunker today" i'm afraid magazine written dwarvish. but pencilled tasty food small bottle water oil *mirror *plant bellowing "water!! water!!" plant spurts furious growth few seconds. grows explosively, filling bottom ask plaintively water. demand maintains contented silence. *phony (seen twopit room when enough) top -foot-tall beanstalk poking *stalactite *shadowy figure and/or dwarf's axe *cave *pirate/genie (never present) *dragon dragon blood-specked body lying hands!(unbelievable, isn't it?) is, surprisingly, silent. *chasm rickety wooden chasm, vanishing mist. posted "stop! pay troll!" wreckage (and bear) *troll troll sounds adamant his treasure. (bear uses rtext ) (dead) *message second *volcano *vending machine section revealing southward vending swings block batteries some worn-out batteries discarded *carpet moss curtains *ogre formidable ogre northern strong, silent type. *urn urn embedded flame extrudes *cavity (something it) *blood (described dragon) *reservoir waters parted form reservoir. crash together again. leporine appendage *mud xyzzy" *note *sign cave under construction beyond point. company] large gold nugget several diamonds bars silver precious jewelry rare coins treasure chest golden eggs nest golden done! jeweled trident ming vase resting, delicately, pillow. worthless shards pottery. ming drops delicate crash. egg-sized emerald platinum pyramid glistening pearl glistening pearl! persian rug sprawled persian rug!! spices chain bear locked chain! ruby jade necklace amber gemstone star sapphire ebony statuette treasure gold, rumored enter never hands. direct me commands words. i should warn "northeast" "ne" distinguish "north". program was originally developed willie crowther. most features current were added don woods. contact hollow voice "plugh". misses! sorry, am allowed give more detail. will repeat might what is. resources now. attacks snake, astounding flurry drives away. no lock. don't know how lock unlock such thing. unlocked. light. probably just well. nothing happens. dead. its disappears. attacking both doesn't work good try, old magic word. places, actions, things. most my vocabulary forest, building, downstream, enter, special objects, hidden cave. these manipulated using object action words (in order), sometimes infer verb alone. also imply verbs; particular, "inventory" implies "take inventory", causes effects; effects always desirable!usually people having trouble moving need try usually trying unsuccessfully manipulate attempting something (or my!) capabilities completely different tack. one often confusing beginners that, holes wall), choosing direction effect chooses ways random; often, though, specifying turn lot, leaving place guarantee entering please stick - -word commands. ok surface long. stream. detailed instructions do that. huh? trees hardwood oak maple, growth, largely birch saplings plus nondescript bushes various sorts. this time year visibility restricted spruce berry bushes. digging without shovel impractical. even progress unlikely. blasting requires dynamite. mist vapor, usually water, think lost appetite. minerals, unpleasant. cold. empty. rubbing electric particularly rewarding. anyway, nothing exciting peculiar. unexpected watch it! which way? all blame wr. . . . . . --- poof!! everything dense cloud smoke. >>> messages thru reserved "obituaries". <<< seed. don't ridiculous! refuses indignantly shakes leaves asks, "water?" hinges thoroughly rusted won't budge. freed move, although effort. exceptionally roots cannot pulled free. dwarves' knives vanish strike falls rolls goodness, must really oyster. (i identifying bivalves. ) whatever snapped shut creaks open, inside. promptly snaps he chortles, "i'll take booty hide gloom. sepulchral reverberating cave, "cave closing soon. immediately mysterious recorded groans life announces: "this closed. leave via anyway, we'll call day. intones, "the closed. " as echoes friendly elves carry conquering adventurer sunset. burying snakes rubble. pours oh, poor unhappy for summary most changes game, say "news". getting (to rest pack), treasures, keep exploring while. if interesting points master's section. may occasionally offer hints sudden change temperature delicately shattered vase. how. shell impervious attack. bounces harmlessly dragon's scales. dragon, gets burnt cinder. ashes blow what? okay, i'll describe first trolls close relatives rocks skin tough deftly catches axe, examines carefully, tosses back, declaring, "good workmanship, valuable enough. " stumble fall lumbers troll, lets startled shriek scurries away. the soon gives pursuit wanders back. crying loud, dead! considerably even rather friendly. still chained falling none available useful discovering secret. gluttony troll's vices. avarice, however, answer question. he carrying chest. "shiver timbers!" cries, "i've spotted! i'd best hie meself chest!" with vanishes batteries. start wrapping obliterating cryptic message. read should ahead anyway? understand. fragments. is acceptable? over. new adventure, resume please run fresh copy appear hungry. blood-curdling yell turns bounds after dwarves, flee dwarf, flees agitatedly moment. moment, then crack. reappears shortly, beak jade lit. dark. oil. his aspect stern advises: "one wouldst traffic wrests stone, cavity. turning genie amber smoke condenses rare gemstone, resting cavity gem fits easily stiffens ground. subsides. settles cooperate. gurgling placidly. splashes loudly pool. dwarves. emanates dull rumbling sound. culprit. (uh, y'know, wasn't bright. ) advanced. find first. upstream downstream? twice, crashing shore. word "%w". %c achieve rating neat trick! congratulations!!