To Lilly

Your are in a dense, dark woods. The only directions that there is enough room for you to pass are to the west, southwest, and east. Light pours in from the exit to the east.

If you always know that the worst can happen at any moment then you are very rarely surprised. - Me

AHH! DARK!

EAST EAST EAST!!! I'm afraid of the dark!

---------------

Fopsworth doesn't exist, he's really Aisling.

Lilly running scared

You are standing at the bottom of a short, grassy hill. To the north, up the hill, sits an imposing, brick manor. To the Northwest, up the hill, is the beginnings of a sprawling thorn bush. You think you can see a small path leading into it. To the west is a thick wood. To the south, southeast, and east is a worn dirt road that runs east and south. The grass is worn where several people have walked before.

If you always know that the worst can happen at any moment then you are very rarely surprised. - Me

Oops...

That got me nowhere... (I didn't realize I had gone back...)

I'll go back into the woods and try again... >.<

---------------

Fopsworth doesn't exist, he's really Aisling.

Lilly taking a deep breath and trying again

Your are in a dense, dark woods. The only directions that there is enough room for you to pass are to the west, southwest, and east. Light pours in from the exit to the east. There is a large stick lying on the ground here that you didn't notice before.

If you always know that the worst can happen at any moment then you are very rarely surprised. - Me

West

I'll go straight forward this time rather than straight back.

---------------

Fopsworth doesn't exist, he's really Aisling.

Lilly goes west

You are in a dense, dark forest. The only pathways you can possible fit through are to the west and to the east. There is a large, spreading oak with branches just low enough for you to grab here. There is also a large stick lying here. Would you like to pick it up?

If you always know that the worst can happen at any moment then you are very rarely surprised. - Me

All alone in the woods

If i can, I would like to climb the tree. Maybe I can see Ais from there.

---------------

Fopsworth doesn't exist, he's really Aisling.

Lilly climbs alone in the woods

You are up in the first few branches of a spreading oak. The ground isn't too far away but there's still a lot of tree left to climb.

PS. I couldn't fail to notice that you ignored the stick. I get the feeling that your afraid of me and I would like to assure you that I won't kill you randomly. AKA sticks don't bite!

If you always know that the worst can happen at any moment then you are very rarely surprised. - Me

Foppy is trying to kill me

It's a little hard to climb trees with one hand. Do you want me to fall or something -.^

I'll climb higher.

---------------

Fopsworth doesn't exist, he's really Aisling.

Lilly climbing higher

You are just about halfway up the tree. There is a hole the size of a bowling ball in the trunk here.

PS. I am not trying to kill you. In this dungeon lots of things are possible that aren't possible normally.

If you always know that the worst can happen at any moment then you are very rarely surprised. - Me

Who was bowling up here?

I examine the hole carefully and look for fun stuff inside it. I also hope this is not where an angry squirrel lives.

---------------

Fopsworth doesn't exist, he's really Aisling.

Lilly looking carefully

You look inside only to be startled back by a blue jay flying from the hole. Inside, in its nest, sit four eggs, one of which is golden and jewel encrusted.

If you always know that the worst can happen at any moment then you are very rarely surprised. - Me

Sweet!

I try to pick up the awesome jewled one.

---------------

Fopsworth doesn't exist, he's really Aisling.

Lilly egg swiping

The blue jay screams thief at you as you take the egg.

If you always know that the worst can happen at any moment then you are very rarely surprised. - Me

Bad birdie!

I examine the egg and continue up the tree.

---------------

Fopsworth doesn't exist, he's really Aisling.

Lilly examining :)

It's a golden, jewel encrusted egg about the size of a blue jay's egg. Is worth a small fortune, though there are probable bigger bucks for the bird that laid it...

You are very close to the top of the tree now. A rope ladder hangs down here from what looks like a wooden platform, although it's silhouetted against the sun so you can't quite tell.

If you always know that the worst can happen at any moment then you are very rarely surprised. - Me

Pockets egg

I climb up onto the platform and look around.

---------------

Fopsworth doesn't exist, he's really Aisling.

Lilly up in platform

You are standing on a wooden platform in the very tip-top branches of the oak. There are railings all around except to the northwest where a rope suspension bridge disappears into the distance. Beneath you is a trapdoor leading down. You can see over the railing for miles around. There is a small, weathered chest here. There is also a weathered sign tacked to the south railing.

If you always know that the worst can happen at any moment then you are very rarely surprised. - Me

The treehouse i never had

I look in the chest and read the sign, while avoiding the trapdoor.

Hmm... I'm considering going back for the stick... but then I would have to climb all the way back up the tree... or i could explore the woods... decisions decisions...

---------------

Fopsworth doesn't exist, he's really Aisling.

Lilly opening chests and reading signs

The chest is hard to open but after a few tugs it gives. Inside there is a small, rusty pocket knife and a scroll wrapped in twine.

Some of the writing on the sign has faded away, so it reads now: “S e m s s Be a ! e a t!” Would you like me to guess at what it said?

If you always know that the worst can happen at any moment then you are very rarely surprised. - Me

Finding awesome stuff

I take the pocket knife and the scroll. I try to read the scroll.

The sign sounds like it might say something important... yeah I'd like to know what it says.

---------------

Fopsworth doesn't exist, he's really Aisling.

Lilly doing assorted stuff

You take the pocket knife. It looks like the blade might turn to dust before it would pierce something but that's just a guess.

You take the scroll and open it. It's written in code. I can't understand a word of this can you?

Okay, maybe the sign said, “Shut eyes miss spies! Be wary! Be alert!” No... I don't know what it said.

If you always know that the worst can happen at any moment then you are very rarely surprised. - Me

planning ahead

I pull my notebook out of my purse and write down what the sign says.

Then I sit and think about what my next move should be....

After thinking about it I decide to check the trapdoor, if it is a fast way down I'll go back for the stick, if not then I'll try the bridge, watching the entire time for any danger that the sign could be alluding to.

---------------

Fopsworth doesn't exist, he's really Aisling.

Lilly being wise

I'm very sorry, Lilly, but as an adventurer in my dungeon you don't have your purse or or notebook. You only have an adventurer's satchel to carry the items you find here in. Not to fear though, I can remember what the sign says for you.

The trapdoor is the way you came up. It's not as fast as jumping but, hey, it works.

If you always know that the worst can happen at any moment then you are very rarely surprised. - Me

Alright,

I go back for the stick.

---------------

Fopsworth doesn't exist, he's really Aisling.

To Quartz

The worn, dirt path comes from the east and curves away to the south.

If you always know that the worst can happen at any moment then you are very rarely surprised. - Me

Starting To Play

Thank you! I think I’ll climb up the hill and knock on the mansion door.

-------

“… But as for me, I trust in [God.]” –Psalm 55:23

To Quartz

You are standing on a small, concrete patio in front of a large manor. To the north is a white door leading into the manor. To the west is a sprawling thorn bush. To the south is the base of the hill. To the east is a worn dirt road. There is an umbrella leaning against the wall here.

You wait for quite a while but there is no answer to your wooden summonses. I suggest a different approach.

If you always know that the worst can happen at any moment then you are very rarely surprised. - Me

Hmm...

In that case:

Can I take the umbrella?

I’ll try the door handle and go in if it’s open.

-------

“… But as for me, I trust in [God.]” –Psalm 55:23

To quartz

Yes you can and you do. It's a sleek, black umbrella with a pointy, silver end. It can be used for protection against the rain, the occasional bad guy, or just about anything else you can imagine. Not really, I lied.

The door is unlocked and complains vehemently as you open it. You find yourself standing in an expansive, two-story hall. The floor is tiled marble and the walls are goldish white. Everything is covered in dust. There are two stairs-ways up to a second floor balcony. There are doors to the north, west, and south. There is a small, light brown end table against the east wall with a small drawer. On top of the table stands a large vase of flowers.

If you always know that the worst can happen at any moment then you are very rarely surprised. - Me

Hmm

I’ll go over and examine the vase to answer questions like these:

Are the flowers real, or sinthetic?

If the flowers are real, is there still any water left in the vase, or has it all evaporated since the last time it was filled?

If the flowers are real, how wilted or healthy do they look?

Is there anything in the vase besides water…?

Oh, and which floor is the north door on?

-------

“… But as for me, I trust in [God.]” –Psalm 55:23

To quartz

You find that that the flowers are fake cloth flowers and that there is no water in the vase, only dust. One of the flowers near the back catches your eye as it glints metallically.

The only doors that you can see are on the ground floor.

If you always know that the worst can happen at any moment then you are very rarely surprised. - Me

Okay

I’ll take the metal-looking flower.

I guess I’ll leave the end table drawer to the next person who comes through and go up the stairs to see if there are any doors on the balcony.

-------

“… But as for me, I trust in [God.]” –Psalm 55:23

To Quartz

It's a beautiful green letter opener decorated like a rose. Either that or it's a very pretty throwing knife.

You are up on an expansive balcony. The floor is tiled marble and the walls are goldish white. There are two doors to the north, a door to the west, and a door to the east.

If you always know that the worst can happen at any moment then you are very rarely surprised. - Me

Alrighty

I’ll go in the northern door to the left.

-------

“… But as for me, I trust in [God.]” –Psalm 55:23

To Quartz

It is pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a grue.

If you always know that the worst can happen at any moment then you are very rarely surprised. - Me

Uh-oh

I’ll go back and try the right-side northern door.

-------

“… But as for me, I trust in [God.]” –Psalm 55:23

Quartz going back

It is pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a grue.

If you always know that the worst can happen at any moment then you are very rarely surprised. - Me

This time...

I’ll feel a few feet along the walls to either side in case there’s a lightswitch to flip.

Also I’ll peek out the door around Thompson to see if there are any windows in the main hall (particularly in the west wall).

-------

“… But as for me, I trust in [God.]” –Psalm 55:23

Quartz investigates

I find no lightswitchs but you do feel the dripping wet teeth of a grue. Luckily Tomphson opened the door or you would have been a goner.

You see two rather big windows. Both are in the south wall and very high up.

If you always know that the worst can happen at any moment then you are very rarely surprised. - Me

Oop

I hustle out of the room, and go west to see if that room is dark too.

-------

“… But as for me, I trust in [God.]” –Psalm 55:23

Quartz hustling

You are standing in what must be a hunting trophy room. The floor is a light brown wood with what was once a white rug on it. The walls are plain white and covered in animal heads and the like. There are doors leading to the north and to the east. Against the wall beside the door to the north is a writing desk with a chair. The only light coming into the room is from a large window in the south wall. High up on the west wall is a hunting rifle sitting on a rack.

If you always know that the worst can happen at any moment then you are very rarely surprised. - Me

Ooh

I try to reach the rifle on the rack.

I examine the writing desk more closely. If there is a convenient amount of paper and a writing utensil, I take it. Never know when pencil (or pen) and paper can come in handy.

Are there any drawers in the desk?

My curiosity has gotten the better of me. I inspect a few of the animal heads to see if there’s anything hidden in their mouths, and I peek under the rug that was once white.

Oh and I see if I can open the window in the left wall and stick my head out to look around (particularly westward).

-------

“… But as for me, I trust in [God.]” –Psalm 55:23

Quartz being active

The rifle is to high up for you to reach.

There is a stack of paper on the writing desk. Beside it lays a fountain pen. You take a sheet of paper and the pen.

No, there are no drawers.

After carefully going over an elephant, a deer, a wolf, a cheetah, and a bear you have found nothing and have run out of animals to search within your reach. There is nothing except dust and bugs underneath the rug.

You can open the window and you do. To the west is a sprawling thorn bush maze. You think you can see two people walking through it. To the southwest is a dense woods. To the south, southeast, and east is the base of the hill and you can just make out the worn dirt road beyond.

If you always know that the worst can happen at any moment then you are very rarely surprised. - Me

Okay

Well I bring the chair from the writing desk over to the rifle and stand on it to reach.

-------

“… But as for me, I trust in [God.]” –Psalm 55:23

Quartz doing the right thing

You can reach fine now. It's a beautiful rifle with a stock of carved cherry wood and a dusty barrel. There is a box of thirty bullets sitting on the rack beside it.

If you always know that the worst can happen at any moment then you are very rarely surprised. - Me

Well

I get that too and get down from the chair. I put the chair back in front of the writing desk.

So right now I have an umbrella, a flowery letter-opener, a piece of paper, a fountain pen, a rifle, and thirty bullets?

I guess I’ll go through the north door.

-------

“… But as for me, I trust in [God.]” –Psalm 55:23

Quartz recapping

Yes you do.

It is pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a grue.

If you always know that the worst can happen at any moment then you are very rarely surprised. - Me

Okay

I didn’t forget anything in my inventory?

Gee… It’s like the whole north side of the house is hanging off the edge of reality into some dark netherworld…

I’ll go back through the trophy room to the balcony. Since I see Leela just disappearing into the door across from me, I’ll go downstairs instead. Maybe into the west door.

-------

“… But as for me, I trust in [God.]” –Psalm 55:23

Quartz going south,east,down,andwest

You are standing in what appears to be a den. The walls are a dark blue and the floor is a grayish tan carpet. The gray might be from dust but I'd rather not find out. There are doors leading to the north, west, and east. There is a light brown bay window to the south. There are four bookshelves around the room with very little left on them except dust. There are two armchairs and a couch of matching, scarlet cloth here. There is a small, light brown desk in the southeast corner with a reading lamp on it.

If you always know that the worst can happen at any moment then you are very rarely surprised. - Me

Okay

I examine the desk for any drawers. If there is a middle drawer that contains a lighter, I take the lighter.

I’ll go west.

-------

“… But as for me, I trust in [God.]” –Psalm 55:23

Cool

Thanks.

-------

“… But as for me, I trust in [God.]” –Psalm 55:23

To SangMing

You are standing in front of a massive, dense thorn bush. The thorns are very large and look potentially deadly. A small passageway runs northwest into the thorn bush. To the south is a dense wood. To the southeast is the base of the hill. To the east is the front door of the Manor.

If you always know that the worst can happen at any moment then you are very rarely surprised. - Me

Retreat

I go e to the manor.

---------------

I get up, I walk, I fall down. Meanwhile, I keep dancing. - Hillel

To SangMing

You are standing on a small, concrete patio in front of a large manor. To the north is a white door leading into the manor. To the west is a sprawling thorn bush. To the south is the base of the hill. To the east is a worn dirt road. There is an obvious lack of an umbrella here.

If you always know that the worst can happen at any moment then you are very rarely surprised. - Me

To SangMing

Leela has come up beside you and says hello.

If you always know that the worst can happen at any moment then you are very rarely surprised. - Me

To Aisling

I must say, your wording is somewhat obtuse. But I shall do the best I can.

You are standing in front of a massive, dense thorn bush. The thorns are very large and look potentially deadly. A small passageway runs northwest into the thorn bush. To the south is a dense wood. To the southeast is the base of the hill. To the east is the front door of the Manor.

If you always know that the worst can happen at any moment then you are very rarely surprised. - Me

NW!

Into the thorn bush! CHARGE!

---------------

"He speaks of Meow."

"Just feed the cat."

Starting the Awesome game.

I had decided to go North to the manor before I saw that Quartz had so, Northward I go!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Call 1-800-555-1234 for questions, comments, or snotty remarks.

To Leela

You are standing on a small, concrete patio in front of a large manor. To the north is a white door leading into the manor. To the west is a sprawling thorn bush. To the south is the base of the hill. To the east is a worn dirt road. There is an obvious lack of an umbrella here. The adventurer SangMing is standing here.

If you always know that the worst can happen at any moment then you are very rarely surprised. - Me

Quartz...

Quartz...I mutter darkly as I stare at the space where the umbrella had been.

I look over at Sangming and say, "Hello!"

I turn and knock briskly at the door, not even really expecting the answer.

If the door is answered, I ask if I can stay the night.

If the door isn't answered, I try the door to see if it's locked and go in.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Call 1-800-555-1234 for questions, comments, or snotty remarks.

To Aisling

You are in a passageway surrounded by thorn bushes. The thorns are very large and look potentially deadly. There are passage ways to the northeast and to the southeast.

If you always know that the worst can happen at any moment then you are very rarely surprised. - Me

Potentially deadly thorns.

I examine the thorns closely.

---------------

"He speaks of Meow."

"Just feed the cat."

Aisling examining thorns

They are curved wickedly and turn from green to a wet pink from the base to the point.

If you always know that the worst can happen at any moment then you are very rarely surprised. - Me

Idea

I try carefully to pick a thorn.

---------------

"He speaks of Meow."

"Just feed the cat."

Aisling picking thorns

Given their thickness it is impossible to do with you bare hands. After trying for several minutes you give up in frustration.

If you always know that the worst can happen at any moment then you are very rarely surprised. - Me

NE!

I charge!

---------------

"He speaks of Meow."

"Just feed the cat."

Aisling's obtuse charging

You are in a passageway surrounded by thorn bushes. The thorns are very large and look potentially deadly. There are passage ways to the northeast, northwest, and southwest.

If you always know that the worst can happen at any moment then you are very rarely surprised. - Me

Making a map...

So I won't get lost.

NW!

---------------

"He speaks of Meow."

"Just feed the cat."

posting on the wrong string

That's a good idea Ais!

---------------

Fopsworth doesn't exist, he's really Aisling.

Aisling not getting lost

You are in a passageway surrounded by thorn bushes. The thorns are very large and look potentially deadly. There are passage ways to the southwest and southeast.

If you always know that the worst can happen at any moment then you are very rarely surprised. - Me

Unintentionally following Dragon

Southwest! To Zanzibar! To meet the Zanzibarbarians!

---------------

"He speaks of Meow."

"Just feed the cat."

Aisling unintentionally stalking

You are in a passageway surrounded by thorn bushes. The thorns are very large and look potentially deadly. There are passage ways to the Northwest and northeast. DragonManJ13 is standing here, being antisocial.

If you always know that the worst can happen at any moment then you are very rarely surprised. - Me

Running on ahead

North by NW! Or just NW! That's fine too!

---------------

"He speaks of Meow."

"Just feed the cat."

Aisling trying to get ahead

You are in a passageway surrounded by thorn bushes. The thorns are very large and look potentially deadly. There are passage ways to the northwest, southwest, southeast, and northeast. DragonManJ13 has followed you unintentionally.

If you always know that the worst can happen at any moment then you are very rarely surprised. - Me

Why change now?

NW again!

---------------

"He speaks of Meow."

"Just feed the cat."

Aisling sticking to old way

You are in a passageway surrounded by thorn bushes. The thorns are very large and look potentially deadly. There are passage ways to the northwest and the southeast

If you always know that the worst can happen at any moment then you are very rarely surprised. - Me

Guess what?

NW!

---------------

"He speaks of Meow."

"Just feed the cat."

Aisling being predictable

You are in a passageway surrounded by thorn bushes. The thorns are very large and look potentially deadly. There are passage ways to the northwest and the southeast

If you always know that the worst can happen at any moment then you are very rarely surprised. - Me

Watch me be stubborn!

NW!

---------------

"He speaks of Meow."

"Just feed the cat."

Aisling being stubborn?

You are in a passageway surrounded by thorn bushes. The thorns are very large and look potentially deadly. There are passage ways to the northwest and the southeast.

If you always know that the worst can happen at any moment then you are very rarely surprised. - Me

DejaVu

NW!

---------------

"He speaks of Meow."

"Just feed the cat."

But

I might’ve heard her knocking.

-------

“… But as for me, I trust in [God.]” –Psalm 55:23

No

You did not hear the knocking.

If you always know that the worst can happen at any moment then you are very rarely surprised. - Me

well...

lets go north.

---------------

"Join the army they say, it'll be fun they say!"

Flowers.

I walk over to the pot of flowers and examine them.

(To see if they're all still there, as in: is the one Quartz take still gone?)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Call 1-800-555-1234 for questions, comments, or snotty remarks.

Leela examining flowers

The flowers are all made of cloth except for one near the back which seems to be made of metal.

If you always know that the worst can happen at any moment then you are very rarely surprised. - Me

Ooh!

I take the metal flower with no regrets!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Call 1-800-555-1234 for questions, comments, or snotty remarks.

Leela taking flower

You take the letter opener decorated like a rose.

If you always know that the worst can happen at any moment then you are very rarely surprised. - Me

Ooh!

I swing it around a few times playfully before I Examine/open the drawer in the desk on which the pot of flowers are located.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Call 1-800-555-1234 for questions, comments, or snotty remarks.

Leela opens drawer