Backstage: ClubIF logs
Jul 15, 2015 0:13:44 GMT
Post by Mother Starlight on Jul 15, 2015 0:13:44 GMT
Starting with the logs from the first session. I'll post today's session once it ends.
Playing The Dreamhold.
Playing The Dreamhold.
<@linkhyrule5> Email to Jacqueline sent
<@linkhyrule5> Hello, MotherStarlight
<@linkhyrule5> Now I'm wondering if the /MWF/ would like an IC chat
<@linkhyrule5> :p
<@linkhyrule5> er
< Teceler> XD
<@linkhyrule5> IC clubIF
<@linkhyrule5> :p
<@linkhyrule5> I feel like Miles would be both really good at and really frustrated by IF
<@linkhyrule5> :p
< kappabeta> oh?
<@linkhyrule5> good at - sideways thinking, patience and persistence, etc
<@linkhyrule5> frustrated - can't always /use/ all tht sideways thinking, parser trouble, etc
< sonatagreen> IF has come a long way in the last 20 years. Presumably it will go even farther in the next howeny hundred.
<@linkhyrule5> haha
<@linkhyrule5> True
< Teceler> ha
<@linkhyrule5> I mean at some point
<@linkhyrule5> you're basically doing a roleplaying game
< kappabeta> haha
< sonatagreen> yep
<@linkhyrule5> except with the GM being a custom AI
< Andygal> heheheheehehe
<@linkhyrule5> making a communal twitch account
<@linkhyrule5> username: manyworldshypothesis
<@linkhyrule5> password: [redacted]
<@linkhyrule5> (I'm saving Ohr Ein Sof for a glowfic continuity name)
<@linkhyrule5> same user/pass for a gmail accout
< kappabeta> ohr ein sof?
<@linkhyrule5> Kabbalah mysticism
<@linkhyrule5> "Infinite Light", "Light beyond Limit"
<@linkhyrule5> It is both Luminescent and Truth-y.
<@linkhyrule5> So it'll be used if I ever do a glowfic continuity with Entelechy :p
< kappabeta> <3
<@linkhyrule5> (I might also end up using Keter-Light or something after all, but we'll see)
< sonatagreen> I'm gonna (lazily) redact the password out of the logs, I don't want it to be *so* easy to find bot might be able to pick it up
< sonatagreen> so, for log-readers: just ask someone, we'll tell you the password
<@linkhyrule5> haah, kay
<@linkhyrule5> right
<@linkhyrule5> so
<@linkhyrule5> For now, let's do our inauguration run with backseat driving, while I get the script set up
<@linkhyrule5> well, we could wait for the script too, depends
<@linkhyrule5> what do people prfer
< sonatagreen> Might as well try it both ways, see what works
< sonatagreen> With the script, is it possible to type differently so that I can talk to people without being ieted as a command?
<@linkhyrule5> yeah
<@linkhyrule5> well
<@linkhyrule5> that would be part of "setting up the script"
<@linkhyrule5> but I know enough python to edit it
<@linkhyrule5> so
< sonatagreen> ah
< sonatagreen> ok
< sonatagreen> Can you make the text bigger? Remember we're seeing your screen shrunk down to a little youtube-sized window.
<@linkhyrule5> oh, you're actually watching now?
<@linkhyrule5> I'm still flailing at settings
<@linkhyrule5> :p
<@linkhyrule5> Right now the upload rate is too high for me to maintain and still do other things, so I'm stillng that sorted
<@linkhyrule5> I haven't actually started on making the apperaance look good yet :p
< kappabeta> is there a, heh, link to this thing...?
< sonatagreen> it will eventually be at http://www.twitch.tv/manyworldshypothesis
< sonatagreen> currently the house lights are up and there are stagehands running around
<@linkhyrule5> hahaha
<@linkhyrule5> pretty much
<@linkhyrule5> I have been in tech theatre
<@linkhyrule5> it is sooooo annoying when the audience comes in and blarghs around your horrifically messy set ve you judging looks
<@linkhyrule5> :P
<@linkhyrule5> (jk)
<@linkhyrule5> (but actually)
<@linkhyrule5> ... on a side note, it is entirely possible that random music will be piped through this
<@linkhyrule5> I think I turned it off but
<@linkhyrule5> uh
<@linkhyrule5> if not, enjoy my taste in vocaloid?
<@linkhyrule5> :p
< sonatagreen> it occurs to me that because IF is turn-based, you could broadcast at like 1 fps and it would bectly usable
<@linkhyrule5> yeah, that's my plan
<@linkhyrule5> okay
<@linkhyrule5> try that
<@linkhyrule5> you can fullscreen these things btw
<@linkhyrule5> and then alt-tab away from them to chat
<@linkhyrule5> for now just backseat drive from the IRC
<@linkhyrule5> I'm definitely thinking we move to the IRCbot, though
< sonatagreen> that doesn't get us Nice Things, but okay
< sonatagreen> like, CM has that sidebar map
< kappabeta> nice things?
< sonatagreen> which requires twitch
< sonatagreen> typesetting, graphics, etc.
<@linkhyrule5> mm.
<@linkhyrule5> That is true.
<@linkhyrule5> *blink*
<@linkhyrule5> Oh, I am a silly.
<@linkhyrule5> ... well, maybe.
< kappabeta> ?
<@linkhyrule5> I had a really silly idea.
* sonatagreen wants to hear
<@linkhyrule5> an IRC bot
<@linkhyrule5> that takes commands from the IRC
<@linkhyrule5> and posts them to Twitch
<@linkhyrule5> so that the next script
< sonatagreen> that could work
<@linkhyrule5> can read them from Twitch
<@linkhyrule5> and write them on my computer
< Andygal> this does not seem to be a silly idea to me.
< kappabeta> oh nice
< sonatagreen> although I don't really see the advantage over taking commands from Twitch chat
<@linkhyrule5> It involves two scripts in the row and I suspect that I could commbine them
<@linkhyrule5> otherwise it's jsut mildly humorous
<@linkhyrule5> sonatagreen - fullscreen
< sonatagreen> ah
<@linkhyrule5> if you have two programs, you can swap between them without breaking fullscreen
<@linkhyrule5> otherwise you have to keep exiting fullscreen and reentering it
<@linkhyrule5> ...aaaalso I'm offline again.
<@linkhyrule5> huh.
* Andygal is feeling very lazy and does not want to log into Twitch.
< sonatagreen> My computer breaks fullscreen when I swap programs.
< sonatagreen> ...unless I popout and fullscreen the new window, instead of using Twitch's fullscreen button.
< sonatagreen> But then I can still switch between video and twitch chat just as easily as between video and ir31 < sonatagreen> so, like, do it if someone thinks it helps I guess
<@linkhyrule5> well
<@linkhyrule5> it works for me
<@linkhyrule5> shrug?
< sonatagreen> sure
<@linkhyrule5> sigh
< sonatagreen> oh, I do request that when you start streaming you make some noise -- say hi, or read the text aor play music -- so that if I'm in another window, following irc or reading tags or whatnot I won't miss it
<@linkhyrule5> mmkay
<@linkhyrule5> ...er
<@linkhyrule5> it should be music-ing now
<@linkhyrule5> well, not now now
<@linkhyrule5> but when I'm streaming
<@linkhyrule5> and last time I was streaming
< sonatagreen> thanks!
<@linkhyrule5> blargh
<@linkhyrule5> okay so FFsplit: not the best program to be using
< kappabeta> ?
<@linkhyrule5> the streaming program I was using
< sonatagreen> How goes the thinging?
-!- sonatagreen changed the topic of #clubIF to: http://www.twitch.tv/manyworldshypothesis
<@linkhyrule5> slowyness
<@linkhyrule5> I am downloadig a differentn thing
< sonatagreen> oh, suggestion: to distinguish chatting from commands-to-bot, commands could be prefixed with >
< sonatagreen> like >GET LAMP
< sonatagreen> (because tradition)
<@linkhyrule5> hahha
<@linkhyrule5> quite
<@linkhyrule5> oh
<@linkhyrule5> can you check the thing?
< sonatagreen> I can see you, including 'testing'
<@linkhyrule5> Apparently I have 3 viewers!
<@linkhyrule5> Okay,, I'm going to delete testing now
< sonatagreen> (the resolution is a little fuzzy, but I can read the text)
<@linkhyrule5> tell me when you see it
<@linkhyrule5> 3
<@linkhyrule5> 2
<@linkhyrule5> now
< sonatagreen> now
<@linkhyrule5> ....
<@linkhyrule5> pffffffff
<@linkhyrule5> um.
<@linkhyrule5> I'm thinking FloydIRC.
<@linkhyrule5> >.>
< sonatagreen> (I don't actually remember seeing it disappear, just noticing that it was gone. maybe test again15 <@linkhyrule5> oh, okay
<@linkhyrule5> just added it
<@linkhyrule5> (by the way, are you getting my music?)
< sonatagreen> yep
<@linkhyrule5> kay
<@linkhyrule5> good, you should be
<@linkhyrule5> please enjoy the vogon poetry :p
< sonatagreen> now
<@linkhyrule5> yyyyah we're getting a solid minute of lag
< sonatagreen> (says 'teting')
<@linkhyrule5> indeed it does
<@linkhyrule5> last one, on the off chance
<@linkhyrule5> now
<@linkhyrule5> meanwhile I will go google it
< sonatagreen> now
<@linkhyrule5> mmkay
<@linkhyrule5> pretty consistently 40-60s
< sonatagreen> dunno how much of that is my end
<@linkhyrule5> ...
<@linkhyrule5> it might be twitch
< sonatagreen> yeah
<@linkhyrule5> like I googled it
< sonatagreen> I vaguely remember having really long latency on other streams
<@linkhyrule5> and apparently twitch actually imposes a 60s delay
< sonatagreen> like, intentionally?
< sonatagreen> it occurs to me
< sonatagreen> we could *manually* floyd
<@linkhyrule5> yeah intentionally
<@linkhyrule5> and we could
<@linkhyrule5> but for some reason my Gargoyle doesn't always like me copying
<@linkhyrule5> and I dont' feel like retyping everything :p
< sonatagreen> huh
<@linkhyrule5> anyway I'm going to stop broadcasting for now
<@linkhyrule5> Mm. Well, it might have just been CM
<@linkhyrule5> it's intermittent, anyway
< sonatagreen> >
<@linkhyrule5> ....
<@linkhyrule5> We could also just do a conferance call
<@linkhyrule5> in like
<@linkhyrule5> Hangouts.
<@linkhyrule5> >.>
<@linkhyrule5> I think that does screen capture.
< sonatagreen> eeegh
<@linkhyrule5> lol
<@linkhyrule5> not a fan?
< sonatagreen> I really don't want to use g+ if I can help it
<@linkhyrule5> haha
< sonatagreen> linkhyrule5, http://www.hitbox.tv/sonatagreen
< linkhyrule5> Hm
< linkhyrule5> what's the lag like?
< sonatagreen> that's what I'm trying to find out
< linkhyrule5> (Also, I was doing something where I was capturing the window
< linkhyrule5> so it didn't swap around when I switched windows to do soemthing else or whatever
< sonatagreen> yeah, the software I'm using doesn't seem to support that
< linkhyrule5> also it captured more of the screen, this won't work for walls-o'-text)
< linkhyrule5> what are you usign?
< sonatagreen> ScreenStudio
< linkhyrule5> mm.
< linkhyrule5> I might download it and give it a shot then
< linkhyrule5> anyway, want to do a lag test?
< sonatagreen> I could capture more of the screen but I'm trying to fit the window to the broadcast area
< sonatagreen> sure
< sonatagreen> ready?
< linkhyrule5> yup
< sonatagreen> now
< linkhyrule5> now
< linkhyrule5> mm.
< linkhyrule5> Better.
< linkhyrule5> 20s
< linkhyrule5> er.
< linkhyrule5> wait
< sonatagreen> ?
< linkhyrule5> blargh
< linkhyrule5> I said "now" before I saw "Testing."
< linkhyrule5> I saw somethig else change and assumed tht was it
< linkhyrule5> okay, delete testing and I'll respond to that?
< sonatagreen> ok, try again?
< linkhyrule5> lol
< linkhyrule5> yeah
< sonatagreen> already deleted earlier
< linkhyrule5> wait it already vanished
< linkhyrule5> blargh
< linkhyrule5> ha
< linkhyrule5> okay
< sonatagreen> say when and I'll re-testing
< linkhyrule5> when
< sonatagreen> Now.
< linkhyrule5> N?
< linkhyrule5> now.
< linkhyrule5> okay
< linkhyrule5> ... yeesh.
< linkhyrule5> not much better than twitch, then.
< linkhyrule5> I'm starting to be tempted to code my own thing
< sonatagreen> I want to try some things to reduce lag.
< linkhyrule5> Hey, what are you running Mother Starlight off of?
< sonatagreen> What do you mean?
< sonatagreen> oh, irc?
< linkhyrule5> yeah
< sonatagreen> irssi in a screen session
< linkhyrule5> So you already have a computer on 24/7 running it?
< sonatagreen> yeah
< linkhyrule5> (If I made a webpage and coded my own verison of Floyd, would I have somewhere to put it, is theion)
< sonatagreen> ahh
< linkhyrule5> ('cause random web servers won't let us run Gargoyle, I'll bet)
< sonatagreen> dunno about serving a webpage from that machine
< linkhyrule5> oh?
< sonatagreen> just, seems like extra complications and stuff
< sonatagreen> I dunno if we even have a static IP
< sonatagreen> address
< linkhyrule5> haha
< linkhyrule5> fair
< sonatagreen> streaming again now, see if it lags less
< sonatagreen> (the main thing I changed is that I'm not watching my own channel in the background)
< sonatagreen> I also want to know if it looks okay, and if you can hear me typing
< linkhyrule5> I can't hear you, but that's probably because I have music playing
< linkhyrule5> anyway, want to try again?
< sonatagreen> sure
< sonatagreen> say when
< linkhyrule5> when
< sonatagreen> now
< sonatagreen> still not yet?
< linkhyrule5> nope?
< sonatagreen> yow
< linkhyrule5> Something probably broke
< sonatagreen> ugh
< sonatagreen> try reloading the page, maybe?
< sonatagreen> ...here, I'll put the irc window in the broadcast area, make it as direct as possible
< linkhyrule5> hey, sound's coming through
< sonatagreen> ugh
< sonatagreen> it's not *supposed* to be coming through
< linkhyrule5> pffff
< linkhyrule5> lol
< linkhyrule5> that just came through
< sonatagreen> I'll put on some music, maybe that will make the typing not make sounds
< sonatagreen> somehow
< linkhyrule5> ... the music showed up waaay before the music
< linkhyrule5> er
< linkhyrule5> the video
< sonatagreen> *sigh*
< sonatagreen> how's the video latency?
< linkhyrule5> c
< linkhyrule5> caught up
< linkhyrule5> so... 25s
< sonatagreen> not great.
-!- sonatagreen changed the topic of #clubIF to: http://www.hitbox.tv/sonatagreen
< linkhyrule5> ... is that... uh.
< linkhyrule5> Dang it.
< linkhyrule5> The guy who wrote Merry Christmas from Chiron Beta Five?
< linkhyrule5> Or something
< sonatagreen> ????
< linkhyrule5> Also the Zombie song.
< linkhyrule5> No?
< linkhyrule5> Okay, it kind of sounds like his style
< sonatagreen> I don't remember a zombie song?
< linkhyrule5> Johnathan Coulton
< sonatagreen> oh maybe
< linkhyrule5> Re: Your Brains
< sonatagreen> I think what was on previously was Blackout by Celestial Grounds, album Sweat of the Sun
< linkhyrule5> ah
< linkhyrule5> also I can still hear your typing
< sonatagreen> yeah
< kappabeta> wow that's kinda hard to read
< sonatagreen> how so? resolution? small?
< sonatagreen> (maybe try fullscreening?)
< kappabeta> both-ish, if i popout and blow it up it gets bigger but hurts my eyes because blurring
< sonatagreen> mmm, 1min
< sonatagreen> ok, broadcasting at higher resolution now
< linkhyrule5> mm.
< linkhyrule5> Meanwhile, I'm going to experiment with Quixe
< sonatagreen> Any improvement?
< linkhyrule5> which is a native browser interpreter
< linkhyrule5> setting that up to run in a multiplayer mode may be nontrivial, but we'll see
< sonatagreen> I'm not sure that's really... helpful? to what we're trying to do here
< sonatagreen> I think floyd is the base you want to work from
< sonatagreen> kappa? any improvement?
< kappabeta> oh nice that's way better
< sonatagreen> excellent!
< sonatagreen> for the sake of testing lag, please let me know when you want to scroll for -more-
< kappabeta> -more-
< kappabeta> it mored! <3
< sonatagreen> yay!
< sonatagreen> is this an acceptable amount of latency, or should we look into alternatives?
< kappabeta> it seemed a *little* long, but not bad for this purpose
< kappabeta> huh, it went black for a sec, then came back
< sonatagreen> huh
< linkhyrule5> sonatagreen - Floyd ultimately just takes messages and feeds them into a zmachine interpreter an6:42 < sonatagreen> right
< linkhyrule5> so like, any machine we run it on needs its own zmachine set up and access to save files and etc6:42 < linkhyrule5> (Also, it doesn't have its own zmachine interpreter I don't /think/, though I could be wron43 < linkhyrule5> (Also also the Floyd person hasn't gotten back to me yet >.>)
< sonatagreen> I was assuming the *hosts* were going to be moderately if-literate and effort-investing anyway
< linkhyrule5> Well, mostly it seems like either way we're going to need our own server
< linkhyrule5> though I guess we can run this on Starlight
< linkhyrule5> if we're just doing IRC
< sonatagreen> probably
< linkhyrule5> (Also, like, Floyd doesn't do graphics and styles and whatnot)
< linkhyrule5> (Quixe will, but it can be slow-ish)
< sonatagreen> right, and neither does IRC mostly
< sonatagreen> but I don't see an obvious path to multiplayering Quixe
< linkhyrule5> Well, I'd have to look at the source
< linkhyrule5> but it looks like you could do it pretty easily by throwing in another layer of indirection
< linkhyrule5> Quixe does the hard work of turning zmachine into html, I think
< linkhyrule5> And then you just build an interface that takes multiplayer data, feeds it to Quixe, and then di the same text for everyone
< linkhyrule5> it just makes a single html page for the website instead of a personal applet
< sonatagreen> mmmaybe
< linkhyrule5> (Er. Not Applet.
< linkhyrule5> Whatever the thing is called for Javascript apps)
< sonatagreen> I can kind of see what you're saying, but am not convinced that the Quixe code is really set up h a way as to make that sensible
< sonatagreen> i mean, maybe it'll work
< sonatagreen> i dunno
< linkhyrule5> Well, Plotkin likes open source
< linkhyrule5> so I'm reading his github now
< sonatagreen> true
< linkhyrule5> get back to you later
< sonatagreen> later.
< linkhyrule5> (er
< linkhyrule5> that's not a "I'm leaving" later, that's a "I'm starting the reading and don't read code instantter)
< sonatagreen> haha
< linkhyrule5> :p
< Teceler> "I'll let you know when I finish"? :P
< sonatagreen> sure.
< linkhyrule5> ha
< linkhyrule5> yeah
< sonatagreen> actually
< sonatagreen> you might want to check out the tworld code
< sonatagreen> as long as you're poking around zarf's github
< linkhyrule5> tworld?
< sonatagreen> aka seltani
< linkhyrule5> Mm. Yeah, maybe
< linkhyrule5> Mm. I think you're right about Quixe
< linkhyrule5> it's super duper designed to run in the browser, which is normally a good thing, but.
< linkhyrule5> Yeah, Quixe is an interpreter in itself
< linkhyrule5> we do want Floyd, though we may end up making our own >.>
< sonatagreen> Assume for the sake of argument that we're designing this from the ground up, and that time and are no object. What does the *ideal* solution look like?
< sonatagreen> Client runs in the browser.
< linkhyrule5> Mm.
< sonatagreen> Nice typography, full graphics support for stuff like Glulx.
< linkhyrule5> No, client needs to run in the server, or we can't have multiplayer
< linkhyrule5> Typography and graphics yes
< sonatagreen> er, by client I mean the thing that's not the server
< linkhyrule5> hah. Right, yeah.
< sonatagreen> People who want to join do so by going to a web page.
< linkhyrule5> Okay, yeah. Interpreter that runs on the server. Client runs in the browser and connects to a Flke Twitch-like setup.
< sonatagreen> Separate commands and chat, maybe?
< linkhyrule5> Honestly, something kind of like streaming might make sense, but cheating.
< linkhyrule5> ^ Sounds goos.
< kappabeta> the chat can be here
< linkhyrule5> *good
< sonatagreen> actally
< linkhyrule5> While we're discussing ideals, though, something we can put on github for career portfolio reasold be cool :p
< kappabeta> haha
< kappabeta> XD
< sonatagreen> I'm imagining the web page has the game in the left pane and the chat in the right pane
< linkhyrule5> Which means it'd be nice if it was more generally applicable
< linkhyrule5> And you can just type commands into the game directly?
< linkhyrule5> Maybe a "someone else is typing" light?
< sonatagreen> and possibly a combined text-entry field at the bottom where you prefix > to make it a command orwise it's chat
< sonatagreen> yes, show when someone's typing
< linkhyrule5> Well, when someone's typing a command
< sonatagreen> as for interpreter location...
< linkhyrule5> we can do chat as well, but the more important one is tryign to make coordinating commands easie1 < sonatagreen> well, for sake of lag we probably want to do *rendering* clientside
< linkhyrule5> Interpreter needs to be on the server, or we add an extra line of failure
< sonatagreen> yeah, don't want race conditions, I can see that
< linkhyrule5> Mm. Sense, but that sounds like we'd be recoding our own interpreter
< linkhyrule5> which sounds pretty nontrivial.
< linkhyrule5> Well, you did say ideal.
< sonatagreen> well, presumably not recoding from scratch
< sonatagreen> but sure, ideal.
< sonatagreen> It seems to me there must be a separate rendering layer, like the interpreter produces some sortrkup that the gui then renders, you know?
< sonatagreen> if we can send that unrendered markup to the client i think that would be ideal
< sonatagreen> because then we're basically sending text rather than streaming video?
< linkhyrule5> (FYI, we can get a VPS for like $2/month)
< sonatagreen> oh nice
< linkhyrule5> Hm. What if - like, something like the streaming option? But not even 1fps.
< linkhyrule5> You take a picture every time it updates, and send it over
< kappabeta> "Sending text rather than streaming video" seems to be very very much something to aim for
< sonatagreen> Possible. But I still think clientside rendering is a good idea, because different size screens and stuff
< kappabeta> like, the video stream with the higher resolution was *readable* but it was not exactly a joy to my eyes
< linkhyrule5> haha
< linkhyrule5> ^ kappabeta - Some things have, like, graphics, though. And those have to be video-ish.
< linkhyrule5> But yeah, clientside rendering.
< sonatagreen> kappa, please continue to let me know when things are less-than-ideal, I can turn up the resolution further
< sonatagreen> :)
< sonatagreen> and Quixe already provides clientside rendering code, right?
< sonatagreen> so basically we want serverside terp and clientside render with ajax between them
< kappabeta> I'm not sure the resolution will go high enough - I have an *enormous* screen, text rendered elsewhere and streamed to me is going to be either unreadably tiny or unpleasantly blurred
< sonatagreen> and yet text rendered on your computer seems to work okay, somehow?
< kappabeta> maybe i'm underestimating the maximum quality of these streaming services?
< sonatagreen> ...I bet the thing for me to do, for you, would be to make the text be huge on my screen
< sonatagreen> so it shrinks down to normal on yours
< kappabeta> yeah that makes some amount of sense
< linkhyrule5> Hm.
< kappabeta> but yeah the advantage of text rendered on my computer is that i get to play with its size without screwing up the scaling for anybody else or demanding that each frame of the stream be an exquisitely detailed masterwork
< linkhyrule5> haha
< sonatagreen> aha
< linkhyrule5> On a side note.
< linkhyrule5> ANDREW PLOTKIN USES COMMENTS.
* linkhyrule5 kowtows
* linkhyrule5 kowtows
* linkhyrule5 kowtows
< kappabeta> <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
< linkhyrule5> (The last three times I had to dig through someone else's code
< linkhyrule5> uh
< linkhyrule5> yeah
< sonatagreen> ~competent~
< linkhyrule5> just
< linkhyrule5> >.>)
< linkhyrule5> Yes. Competent.
< kappabeta> <3
< Kel> (Hi?)
< linkhyrule5> hi!
< Kel> Hi! I heard a group IF thing being planned?
< Kel> *there was
< linkhyrule5> sort of, yeah!
< linkhyrule5> We're dealing with technical difficulties atm, but yeah
< linkhyrule5> it is definitely a thing that is being driven :p
< Kel> okay, what category of tech difficulties?
< Teceler> medium
< Teceler> being able to collectively play the thing and get a single output in a way that is not awful
< Kel> You could always do TTP style?
< Kel> TPP
< kappabeta> ?
< kappabeta> oh that
< kappabeta> Using streaming video to distribute text is inefficient and unaesthetic though
< Kel> Maybe the democracy version instead of the anarchy version though
< Kel> yeah
< sonatagreen> our currently immediately available options are: TPP (moderately ugly, also ~30s latency); ifMUD (too complicated for kappabrain); manually copypaste (ugly)
< Kel> Could the copypaste be automated?
< linkhyrule5> TPP has like 60s latency >.>
< sonatagreen> Link is working on that.
< sonatagreen> *on automation
< linkhyrule5> ^
< sonatagreen> It's not ready *yet*, and may take unbounded time before it is.
< linkhyrule5> hahaha
< linkhyrule5> Halting problem!
< sonatagreen> So if we want to play today, it's probably not an option, and if we want to play this month, it might or might not be an option.
< linkhyrule5> I mean, that's not as bad as it sounds
< linkhyrule5> because "this month" is, uh, three days
< linkhyrule5> :p
< Kel> XD
< sonatagreen> haha
< linkhyrule5> (And actually I think that's not entirely unreasonable?)
< linkhyrule5> Thinking about things, most of the code's been done for us.
< sonatagreen> I mean, like, in the next 30 days
< Teceler> I think less 'by the end of the current month' and more 'under a month from now'
< kappabeta> it's theoretically possible i could help with some of the poking at code, but i often find these days that when i look at a new coding project my brain goes "why are you doing this to me" and rolls out the side of my head to make a bid for escape
< Teceler> ha
< Kel> I mean, we could just do slightly ugly copypasting in the meantime?
< sonatagreen> that's an option, yse
< sonatagreen> do you want to do a test run of that now?
< linkhyrule5> ^ Possible. Does anyone else have the problem with intermittent inability to cpy things?
< linkhyrule5> ...
< linkhyrule5> (I just realized that Dvorak might be part of my problem >.>)
< kappabeta> ...<3
< linkhyrule5> We have an interpreter, we have a renderer. We need something that feeds the interpreter to the renderer, and ... the entire front end, pretty much.
< linkhyrule5> the chat/command interface
< linkhyrule5> Though, actually, I bet I can steal bits of Twitch's interface for that...
< sonatagreen> paste incoming
< Teceler> any part of my clipboard and screen and stuff gives out on working frequently enough that I am probably non-ideal for cping things
< sonatagreen> Cell
< sonatagreen> Time shifts and flattens, days and decades folding aside like pages in a
< sonatagreen> book. You can see–
< sonatagreen> THE DREAMHOLD
< sonatagreen> A tutorial adventure by Andrew Plotkin. Copyright 2003-4.
< sonatagreen> First-time players should type “about”.
< sonatagreen> Release 5 / Serial number 041231 / Inform v6.21 Library 6/10
< sonatagreen> You wrench your eyes open. Rough grey stone. Grey stone ceiling. Your
< sonatagreen> head hurts, and – You’re lying on the floor. You’re staring at the ceiling,
< sonatagreen> and it’s rough and grey, and you don’t recognize it.
< sonatagreen> You roll slowly (smooth cold floor?) and try to sit up. It hurts. You crawl
< sonatagreen> upright. The walls, rough stone also, scrape your aching fingers. You
< sonatagreen> can’t – there was white agony, felt like raw light tearing you apart. You
< sonatagreen> can’t remember anything after that.
< sonatagreen> You can’t remember anything before that. Gone. You clutch at memory,
< sonatagreen> and there’s nothing but empty air.
< sonatagreen> Cell
< sonatagreen> This space, barely wider than outstretched arms, seems to have been
< sonatagreen> chopped raw and square from unfinished stone. Only the floor is smooth
< sonatagreen> – a fine white surface beneath your feet. There is a narrow gap in the
< sonatagreen> east wall.
< sonatagreen> [Don’t know how to get started? Type “help” and then hit enter.]
< sonatagreen> >
< kappabeta> "? You?re lying on the floor. You?re staring at the ceiling, "
< Teceler> that is even uglier than I expected, ick.
< linkhyrule5> (Coding discussion can move to #FloydianLands)
< Kel> Hm
< Teceler> and, kappa, those are smart apostrophes, or whatever those are called
< Kel> It's not elegant, but a quick find all � and then deleting?
< Kel> It's not just those, also sometimes between spaces
< linkhyrule5> I get random kanji instead
< sonatagreen> huh
< linkhyrule5> because I'm set to Japanese locale
< kappabeta> hahaha
< kappabeta> ilu link
< Kel> XD
< linkhyrule5> :D
< Teceler> XD
< linkhyrule5> I play enough VNs and Japanese indie games that it's worth it :p
< kappabeta> <3
< linkhyrule5> #FloydianLands is a thing, for those who missed it.
< linkhyrule5> (It's a pun on Floyd and Hadean Lands)
< linkhyrule5> (Because Hadean Lands is awesome and also we'll be stealing large quantities of Plotkins code
< linkhyrule5> and the other half is mostly Floyd-ian)
< Teceler> (They're on github, right? I don't think it qualifes as stealing as long as it's credited)
< sonatagreen> (there's generally a license that says what you can do)
< linkhyrule5> Hahah, yeah, I just say everything's "stealing"
< linkhyrule5> Should probably get out of that habit
< linkhyrule5> It's under the MIT license
< sonatagreen> adjusted terp settings, see if this looks prettier:
< sonatagreen> You wrench your eyes open. Rough grey stone. Grey stone ceiling. Your head hurts, and -- You're
< sonatagreen> lying on the floor. You're staring at the ceiling, and it's rough and grey, and you don't recognize
< sonatagreen> it.
< Teceler> nope, that's even worse. Although it's not doing the thing with the apostropes now, I think
< sonatagreen> where are there things?
< Kel> It looks great for me now
< linkhyrule5> Part of the thing for me is that you can't tell the difference between, like, normal chat and game chat
< kappabeta> yeah
< linkhyrule5> A macro that just inserted a line of
< linkhyrule5> -------------------------------------------------------------------
< kappabeta> Apostrophes work now tho
< linkhyrule5> between chat and game and game and chat
< linkhyrule5> would be great
< Kel> What is it doing for you guys?
< Teceler> it's the linebreaks, mostly
< Teceler> sonatagreen: can you get your interpreter to do soft newlines?
< linkhyrule5> ^ That has the opposite problem, though
< linkhyrule5> cut-off
< sonatagreen> test
< sonatagreen> test
* sonatagreen test
< sonatagreen> test
* sonatagreen test
* sonatagreen test
< sonatagreen> Maybe. Here's an attempt that I manually smoothed out the formatting:
* sonatagreen Time shifts and flattens, days and decades folding aside like pages in a book. You can see--
< sonatagreen> -
* sonatagreen THE DREAMHOLD
* sonatagreen A tutorial adventure by Andrew Plotkin. Copyright 2003-4.
* sonatagreen First-time players should type "about".
* sonatagreen Release 5 / Serial number 041231 / Inform v6.21 Library 6/10
< sonatagreen> -
* sonatagreen You wrench your eyes open. Rough grey stone. Grey stone ceiling. Your head hurts, and -- You're lying on the floor. You're staring at the ceiling, and it's rough and grey, and you don't recognize it.
* sonatagreen You roll slowly (smooth cold floor?) and try to sit up. It hurts. You crawl upright. The walls, rough stone also, scrape your aching fingers. You can't -- there was white agony, felt like raw light tearing you apart. You can't remember anything after that.
* sonatagreen You can't remember anything before that. Gone. You clutch at memory, and there's nothing but empty air.
< sonatagreen> -
* sonatagreen Cell
* sonatagreen This space, barely wider than outstretched arms, seems to have been chopped raw and square from unfinished stone. Only the floor is smooth -- a fine white surface beneath your feet. There is a narrow gap in the east wall.
< sonatagreen> -
* sonatagreen [Don't know how to get started? Type "help" and then hit enter.]
< sonatagreen> thoughts?
< linkhyrule5> Hm.
< Teceler> that ('Cell') was bold, how did you do that bold
< sonatagreen> ctrl-b
< Teceler> (I wasn't sure if you were done)
< linkhyrule5> Not bad, actually.
< linkhyrule5> Cell
< Teceler> test
< linkhyrule5> Test
< Teceler> ...huh
< linkhyrule5> Huh.
< sonatagreen> and ctrl-b again to turn it off.
< sonatagreen> so you can do partial lines.
< sonatagreen> to annoy your friends
< Kel> XD
< Teceler> XD
< sonatagreen> this can also be useful for steganography
< linkhyrule5> pfff
< Aestrix> I HAVE BEEN SUMMONED
< Kel> <4
< Kel> ack
< Kel> <3
< Kel> Hi!
< Aestrix> <3
-!- sonatagreen changed the topic of #clubIF to: Let's tell a story together.
-!- sonatagreen changed the topic of #clubIF to: Hopefully we want to play Dreamhold. What format/platform do people want? When are people available?
< sonatagreen> hi kappa <3
< sonatagreen> which formats do you like so far?
< kappabeta> idk
< kappabeta> afternoon is warm and i don't words
< kappabeta> but i want to see people talk
< sonatagreen> ugh, warm
< sonatagreen> did you water the kappa?
< kappabeta> yes
< linkhyrule5> Make sure to keep the kappa in shade. Ensure that the surroundings are cool and dark.
< linkhyrule5> :p
< kappabeta> correct
< sonatagreen> I did a manual-formatting copypaste test yesterday, do you remember that?
< kappabeta> yes. it was no
< sonatagreen> aww.
< sonatagreen> how so?
< kappabeta> difficult reading because things, didn't fit
< sonatagreen> can i try a slightly different thing in case it's better?
< kappabeta> sure
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> Time shifts and flattens, days and decades folding aside like pages in a
< GAME> book. You can see--
< GAME> -
< GAME> THE DREAMHOLD
< GAME> A tutorial adventure by Andrew Plotkin. Copyright 2003-4.
< GAME> First-time players should type "about".
< GAME> Release 5 / Serial number 041231 / Inform v6.21 Library 6/10
< GAME> -
< GAME> You wrench your eyes open. Rough grey stone. Grey stone ceiling. Your
< GAME> head hurts, and -- You're lying on the floor. You're staring at the ceiling,
< GAME> and it's rough and grey, and you don't recognize it.
< GAME> -
< GAME> You roll slowly (smooth cold floor?) and try to sit up. It hurts. You crawl
< GAME> upright. The walls, rough stone also, scrape your aching fingers. You
< GAME> can't -- there was white agony, felt like raw light tearing you apart. You
< GAME> can't remember anything after that.
< GAME> -
< GAME> You can't remember anything before that. Gone. You clutch at memory,
< GAME> and there's nothing but empty air.
< GAME> -
< GAME> Cell
< GAME> This space, barely wider than outstretched arms, seems to have been
< GAME> chopped raw and square from unfinished stone. Only the floor is smooth
< GAME> -- a fine white surface beneath your feet. There is a narrow gap in the
< GAME> east wall.
< GAME> -
< GAME> [Don't know how to get started? Type "help" and then hit enter.]
< GAME> ----------------
< kappabeta> oh nice. that's much more things
< linkhyrule5> That is much, much better.
< sonatagreen> Yay!
< sonatagreen> is there an if club member list? should we invite people to come play with us?
< linkhyrule5> Aestrix expressed interest in watching
< linkhyrule5> Teceler was interseted, but she's away
< linkhyrule5> mostly people are here, I think
< linkhyrule5> Oh, Andygal!
< sonatagreen> maybe Adelene? Or maybe I'm just confusing the Asevens again.
< kappabeta> are we gearing up to actually things rn?
< sonatagreen> possibly
< sonatagreen> I am available to do so if that's what people want
< kappabeta> i'd be interested in watching
< kappabeta> GAME makes readable things
< kappabeta> i could tap aestrix if actually things happening
< Andygal> I would be interested in watching as well.
< sonatagreen> possibly we should wait for Teceler
< kappabeta> is tec a place? do we know when tec?
< Andygal> I think Teceler will have to wait until he is not mobile.
< Andygal> since doing anything on a phone is a pain.
< linkhyrule5> *she
< linkhyrule5> but yeah
-!- Teceler|Away is now known as Teceler
* Teceler returns.
< sonatagreen> hi!
< Teceler> I am a she, but, what did you need?
< sonatagreen> we assumed you would want to participate in playing pseudofloyd-over-ic
< Andygal> I am sorry, I forgot your gender.
* Andygal loses track of genders sometimes, sorry.
-!- sonatagreen changed the topic of #clubIF to: Probably playing Dreamhold once we're not waiting for anyone else to join
< Teceler> Andygal: it's not a big deal, I just wanted to clarify and didn't see link already had before I did
< Teceler> re: Dreamhold, I am vaguely worried about ruining people's fun courtesy of having played it really recently
< linkhyrule5> Meh, I think we've all played it
< linkhyrule5> this is more "inaugaration" and "oh by the way cool funny things" with a side of "showing off for Aestrix"
< linkhyrule5> :p
< Aestrix> <3
< kappabeta> <3
< Aestrix> And I thank you for that last one!
< Teceler> pft, okay
< linkhyrule5> :D
< linkhyrule5> So yeah, I'm thinking "speedrun, plus silly jokes and the seven secrets"
< Teceler> mm, speedrun to which ending?
< linkhyrule5> I mean, we can save
< linkhyrule5> and do all three
< Teceler> ha
< Teceler> okay
< linkhyrule5> in pretty rapid succession
< Teceler> you're starting to get less 'speedrun' at that point though :P
< linkhyrule5> Enh, not really
< linkhyrule5> speedrun means, like, no derping around examining every possible item
< linkhyrule5> unless they're funny
< kappabeta> haha
< kappabeta> unless they're funny or somebody's interested
< linkhyrule5> yeah
< Aestrix> :D
< linkhyrule5> ... well, actually, we might just end up doing 100% completion at this rate
< Teceler> ahahaha
< linkhyrule5> sonatagreen - you in this for the long haul :p
< Aestrix> xD
< sonatagreen> hee
< Andygal> hahaa'
< sonatagreen> so we're doing this?
-!- sonatagreen changed the topic of #clubIF to: THE DREAMHOLD
< Aestrix> Eeeeee
< linkhyrule5> :D
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> Time shifts and flattens, days and decades folding aside like pages in a
< GAME> book. You can see--
< GAME> -
< GAME> THE DREAMHOLD
< GAME> A tutorial adventure by Andrew Plotkin. Copyright 2003-4.
< GAME> First-time players should type "about".
< GAME> Release 5 / Serial number 041231 / Inform v6.21 Library 6/10
< GAME> -
< GAME> You wrench your eyes open. Rough grey stone. Grey stone ceiling. Your
< GAME> head hurts, and -- You're lying on the floor. You're staring at the ceiling,
< GAME> and it's rough and grey, and you don't recognize it.
< GAME> -
< GAME> You roll slowly (smooth cold floor?) and try to sit up. It hurts. You crawl
< GAME> upright. The walls, rough stone also, scrape your aching fingers. You
< GAME> can't -- there was white agony, felt like raw light tearing you apart. You
< GAME> can't remember anything after that.
< GAME> -
< GAME> You can't remember anything before that. Gone. You clutch at memory,
< GAME> and there's nothing but empty air.
< GAME> -
< GAME> Cell
< GAME> This space, barely wider than outstretched arms, seems to have been
< GAME> chopped raw and square from unfinished stone. Only the floor is smooth
< GAME> -- a fine white surface beneath your feet. There is a narrow gap in the
< GAME> east wall.
< GAME> -
< GAME> [Don't know how to get started? Type "help" and then hit enter.]
< GAME> -
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< linkhyrule5> > i. x floor. x gap. x ceiling. e.
< linkhyrule5> (It seems like it'll be easier on sonatagreen, if we merge commands wherever possible)
< Aestrix> No complaints here
< Andygal> Sure.
< sonatagreen> it might be harder on watchers though?
< linkhyrule5> It depends on the commands?
< linkhyrule5> If it's just info-gathering, it should be fine
< linkhyrule5> we should probably split up actions
< linkhyrule5> that aren't "e. w. s. u."
< Teceler> yeah, that makes sense
< kappabeta> condense infogather, split up actions, sounds like a plan to me
< Teceler> and maybe break up first-time movement
< linkhyrule5> Yeah, that too.
< linkhyrule5> Actually, > verbose is probably a good idea
< linkhyrule5> ... >verbose is probably a good idea
* linkhyrule5 squees
* Teceler giggles.
< Andygal> heeee.
< Teceler> is there an equivalent of that for italics, sonatagreen?
< kappabeta> verbose?
< Teceler> gives the room descriptions every time, mostly
< Aestrix> Cool :D
< sonatagreen> No irc-italics that I know of.
< linkhyrule5> Italics works
< linkhyrule5> ctrl-i
< linkhyrule5> like so
< linkhyrule5> at least, in HexChat
< Aestrix> I see nothing in pidgin
< kappabeta> I see bolds but not italics
< Teceler> huh
< sonatagreen> ctrl-i in my hexchat pops out the tab
< kappabeta> and I can't accomplish either
< Andygal> I can see th bold and italics.
< Aestrix> Well, I saw the bold
< sonatagreen> and I can't see italics either.
< Andygal> but I don't think I can produce them in mIRC
< sonatagreen> I could just translate italics into bold?
< kappabeta> are italics important of the thing?
< kappabeta> if they are then sure
< Teceler> translating to bold should work for this
< linkhyrule5> `Bold should work
< Teceler> I don't think the italic/bold distinction is important
< linkhyrule5> Italics are used for memories and whatnot
< kappabeta> oh, large paragraphs in bold or italic won't good my brain
< Teceler> we can probably not bold/italic the memories, if that's not a ton more work for sonatagreen
< sonatagreen> right, just little italics for emphasis
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > inventory
< GAME> You are carrying a quill pen.
< GAME> -
< GAME> [You're carrying something unusual -- well, it's hard to say if it's unusual
< GAME> or not, just yet. Type "examine the pen" to take a close look at it.
< GAME> -
< GAME> Or just "x pen" will work. "Examine" can be abbreviated to one letter, and
< GAME> you can always leave out nonessential words like "a", "an", and "the".]
< GAME> -
< GAME> > examine floor
< GAME> The floor is also stone, but fine-grained and smooth -- not quite
< GAME> polished. It is very white; white enough to show faint smudges where
< GAME> you lay.
< GAME> -
< GAME> > examine gap
< GAME> You see a narrow, oblong opening in the east wall. Not much of a
< GAME> doorway, but big enough to get through.
< GAME> -
< GAME> > examine ceiling
< GAME> The stone ceiling is low, crowding roughly down on your head.
< GAME> -
< GAME> [This cell isn't very exciting. You can stay if you want... but life is probably
< GAME> more interesting outside.
< GAME> -
< GAME> Have you looked around for an exit? Type "look".]
< GAME> -
< GAME> > east
< GAME> You duck your head and push through the gap.
< GAME> -
< GAME> Narrow Hallway
< GAME> You are standing in a short windowless hallway. To the east is the foot
< GAME> of a flight of stairs, which rises out of sight. To the west, the hallway
< GAME> narrows, ending in a small gap of a doorway.
< GAME> -
< GAME> [Looks like you've taken the first step. Well done.
< GAME> -
< GAME> Let me introduce myself. I am the Voice of this tutorial. Most games don't
< GAME> have me; but in this game, I will watch over your shoulder and give you
< GAME> some help. With a little practice, you'll soon be moving around the text
< GAME> adventure world in style.
< GAME> -
< GAME> Back to the story. Remember what's going on? Actually, you don't. As the
< GAME> introduction said, you can't remember who you are or what you're doing
< GAME> here!
< GAME> -
< GAME> Amnesia. Yes, it's a cliché, but it'll do for a tutorial.
< GAME> -
< GAME> I'll let you go on exploring. The west corridor leads back to the cell where
< GAME> you started, so you'll want to try up the stairs instead. Type "up" or "climb
< GAME> stairs".]
< GAME> -
< GAME> > verbose
< GAME> THE DREAMHOLD is now in its "verbose" mode, which always gives
< GAME> long descriptions of locations (even if you've been there before).
< GAME> -
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< Andygal> Up!
< kappabeta> the tutorial personality is so friendly and helpful <3
< linkhyrule5> > xyzzy. x stairs. u.
< sonatagreen> I think that combining commands does not actually reduce my workload significantly.
< linkhyrule5> Oh? Are you not copying it a screen at a time?
< linkhyrule5> HexChat should handle linebreaks fine
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > xyzzy
< GAME> That's not a verb I recognize.
< GAME> -
< GAME> [Don't know what to do? Type "help" and then hit enter.]
< GAME> -
< GAME> > examine stairs
< GAME> You see nothing special about the stairs.
< GAME> -
< GAME> > up
< GAME> You begin climbing the stairs. They seem to go on for a long while...
< GAME> pressing between dim stone walls (where is the light coming from? You
< GAME> haven't seen a window yet)... climbing... (how far?)...
< GAME> -
< GAME> Until you pass through a doorway into warm candlelight.
< GAME> -
< GAME> Crowded Study
< GAME> You stand amid clutter, oddments, shelves and stacks. The chamber is
< GAME> comfortably broad, centered around a massive and well-worn wooden
< GAME> desk. But so much is jammed in, around the desk and up the panelled
< GAME> walls, that you barely find room to stand. Books; papers; dried plants;
< GAME> animals stuffed and preserved, antique instruments, candles of any hue.
< GAME> You don't recognize half of it, and you can't name half the rest.
< GAME> -
< GAME> There are wide doorways on the north and east sides of the room. A
< GAME> door of heavy wood stands closed to the south, and stairs descend into
< GAME> dimness to the west.
< GAME> -
< GAME> You see an immense book on the desk. Behind the desk is a tall
< GAME> glass-fronted cabinet. Beside that is a small brass trunk, which is closed.
< GAME> -
< GAME> If there were a quarter as much here, and a tenth as many books, you
< GAME> might be in any scholar's study. But this knowledge must represent
< GAME> lifetimes of work -- lifetimes under a single hand. You do not know
< GAME> where you are, but you know what this place is: a dreamhold. A wizard's
< GAME> high house.
< GAME> -
< GAME> You do not find yourself afraid. A dreamhold is more than merely
< GAME> dangerous.
< GAME> -
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< Teceler> there are lots of things to examine here!
< Andygal> x shelves, x book, x cabinet, x trunk
< sonatagreen> I paste it all in at once, but that's not the thing that takes time, it's manually editing for formatting and stuff
< linkhyrule5> Ahhhh
< linkhyrule5> Fair.
< Andygal> Ah
< linkhyrule5> Well, I think it saves us some time? So either way works
< linkhyrule5> Also, you can see some of the seeds of Entelechy's aesthetic here
< linkhyrule5> "<GAME> If there were a quarter as much here, and a tenth as many books, you
< linkhyrule5> <GAME> might be in any scholar's study. But this knowledge must represent
< linkhyrule5> <GAME> lifetimes of work -- lifetimes under a single hand. You do not know
< linkhyrule5> <GAME> where you are, but you know what this place is: a dreamhold. A wizard's
< linkhyrule5> <GAME> high house.
< linkhyrule5> <GAME> -
< linkhyrule5> <GAME> You do not find yourself afraid. A dreamhold is more than merely
< linkhyrule5> <GAME> dangerous."
< linkhyrule5> ^ that in particular is very much what I intend Mages and their Towers to be.
< Andygal> XD
< Teceler> yes, I did notice that thing once you pointed it out XD
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > examine cabinet
< GAME> The cabinet is a tall and ornate affair; its feet and edges are carved into
< GAME> flamboyant spirals. Two broad and utterly flawless glass panes form the
< GAME> cabinet's front surface.
< GAME> -
< GAME> The cabinet's shelves are filled with curiosities. Tiny crystals and worn
< GAME> river stones, intricate knots of wire and slabs of rough metal, scraps of
< GAME> folded paper and loops of colored string. A small bell of rune-scratched
< GAME> glass. Three beans in a golden dish. A human hand, eye, and heart, all
< GAME> seemingly carved of chalk. An amethyst scale, the length of your finger,
< GAME> which lies in a pool of its own light.
< GAME> -
< GAME> > examine book
< GAME> The book lies open. You frown at the fine, angular hand but discover
< GAME> that you can read it:
< GAME> The Theory & UNDERSTANDING of Portalls;
< GAME> The lesser, which make a single place of many, and the Greater, which
< GAME> open from NOW into Time in Memory, or Prophecy Foretold, or even a
< GAME> Moment's Fancy;
< GAME> All portals are perilous. Perilous thresholds to cross, and more perilous to
< GAME> create; For there is no plying of the World, or of Time, that does not happen
< GAME> in the Mind of the learned one who conceives of the journey. Of your
< GAME> Thought is the portal built, arch and capstone. Slip but a moment of your
< GAME> attention, and the Portal will fall into ruin; All its might, and yours,
< GAME> crumbled into eggshell fragments that stray upon the Wind; ...
< GAME> The facing page shows an elaborate circular diagram, annotated here
< GAME> and there with tiny mathematical notes. The only comment you
< GAME> understand, tucked in a margin, says "Best to draw in a well-insulated
< GAME> space -- 35 Ll. of uncut stone? -- move house to Emmen Valley, work
< GAME> into mountain?"
< sonatagreen> er, sorry, missing spacing there
< sonatagreen> should I repaste fixed?
< Andygal> Nah.
< kappabeta> space like paragraph break? nah is ok
< GAME> -
< GAME> > examine cabinet
< GAME> The cabinet is a tall and ornate affair; its feet and edges are carved into
< GAME> flamboyant spirals. Two broad and utterly flawless glass panes form the
< GAME> cabinet's front surface.
< GAME> -
< GAME> The cabinet's shelves are filled with curiosities. Tiny crystals and worn
< GAME> river stones, intricate knots of wire and slabs of rough metal, scraps of
< GAME> folded paper and loops of colored string. A small bell of rune-scratched
< GAME> glass. Three beans in a golden dish. A human hand, eye, and heart, all
< GAME> seemingly carved of chalk. An amethyst scale, the length of your finger,
< GAME> which lies in a pool of its own light.
< GAME> -
< GAME> > examine trunk
< GAME> A small square trunk is pushed up against the back wall, beside a tall
< GAME> cabinet. The trunk's panels and lid are tarnished brass; they're engraved
< GAME> with worn geometric designs. The trunk sits closed.
< GAME> -
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< sonatagreen> I kind of want to do one command at a time. Feels more interactive and less wall-of-text.
< sonatagreen> does anyone have a reason to prefer multiple commands?
< Andygal> you did not examine the shelves and examined the cabinet instead.
< kappabeta> i think maybe cabinet and shelves were samethinged
< Teceler> the shelves are the cabinet
< Andygal> Oh.
< Teceler> iirc
< linkhyrule5> mm, I think the shelves are the books actually
< sonatagreen> oh no I think I messed up
< kappabeta> i think that now that we've seen how thing, one command at a time betters
< sonatagreen> I did cabinet instead of shelves
< Andygal> uhuh
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > examine shelves
< GAME> Books are lined up on shelves, stacked on the floor, scattered in hazard
< GAME> across everything else in the room. You glance at a few titles, gingerly
< GAME> lift a cover -- but you recognize none of the many scripts and languages
< GAME> you find.
< GAME> -
< GAME> Something in the chaos catches your eye. It looks like a white
< GAME> papier-mache mask, lying beside the desk.
< GAME> -
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< kappabeta> ooh let's have a look at the mask. it caught our eye, bet it's interesting
< sonatagreen> okay!
< Andygal> do we want to try to pick it up?
< Teceler> look at it first, I think
< Teceler> unless it describes on pickup, does it do that thing?
< Teceler> I should remember that
< kappabeta> and did we ever look at our pen? well, mask first
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > examine mask
< GAME> It looks like a paper mask, half life-size... but its curves are a
< GAME> delicately-shaded illusion. The mask is flat -- an inexplicable cutout of a
< GAME> human face.
< GAME> -
< GAME> You can tell little about the person depicted. You have only an
< GAME> impression of unformed childhood.
< GAME> -
< GAME> Something about the mask seems familiar -- not recognizable, but
< GAME> comfortable. As if it belonged to you -- unlike everything else around
< GAME> you.
< GAME> -
< GAME> [To pick up what you have discovered, type "take mask".
< GAME> -
< GAME> Remember, you can list what you're carrying by typing "i". For more about
< GAME> picking up and dropping things, type "help take".]
< GAME> -
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< linkhyrule5> > get mask. x pen.
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > get mask
< GAME> Taken.
< GAME> -
< GAME> [Your score has gone up.
< GAME> -
< GAME> Your score is displayed in the top right corner of the window. "1 of 7" means
< GAME> you've achieved one out of seven main goals. The score increased when you
< GAME> picked up the white mask; so presumably there are seven masks to find in
< GAME> the game.
< GAME> -
< GAME> You can get a full account of your score by typing "score".]
< GAME> -
< GAME> > examine pen
< GAME> You are holding a quill pen -- a sturdy black feather, its tip carefully cut
-!- GAME changed the topic of #clubIF to: Crowded Study 1 of 7
< GAME> to a nib. You have no memory of where you got it, or when, or why.
< GAME> -
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< Teceler> > score
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > score
< GAME> You have found one out of seven masks.
< GAME> -
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< linkhyrule5> > wear mask
< Aestrix> Why do we want to wear the strange white person-face mask?
< Teceler> because interesting things will happen!
< Teceler> :P
< linkhyrule5> why not?
< Aestrix> I am concerned.
< linkhyrule5> (but seriously like half the time IF consists of "do random amusing things, see what happens"
< Aestrix> But okay xD
< linkhyrule5> If you're concerned now, wait until I jump into the pit full of sharp rocks :p
< linkhyrule5> (all hail undo :p )
< Teceler> 'if you die, well, you have a save, right?'
< Aestrix> Oh goodie
< Teceler> (also that XD)
< Teceler> I think there's only one way to get actually killed?
< Teceler> in this
< Teceler> though I might have missed some, and there, like, some not-death bad things
< linkhyrule5> I think it's the pit, yeah.
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > wear mask
< GAME> The mask has no ribbons to tie -- it is not even curved to fit a human
< GAME> face. In any case, it's half life-size. It cannot be worn.
< GAME> -
< GAME> Nonetheless, you try raising the mask before your eyes....
< GAME> -
< GAME> ...Memory stirs...
< GAME> -
< GAME> A child runs through the forest. A robe, richly bright-embroidered, has
< GAME> slipped off one skinny shoulder -- a child old enough to be put in clothes,
< GAME> too young to know what it means to wear them. A silver-haired child whose
< GAME> glance darts from tree to bird, caught everywhere.
< GAME> -
< GAME> A mother's voice shouting. Not patient, not yet urgent. The child attends
< GAME> this, with the same interest as bush, flower, fascinating new rustle
< GAME> underfoot...
< GAME> -
< GAME> The name, again.
< GAME> -
< GAME> A moist leaf, torn from a tree, clutched in a small fist. Tossed in the air.
< GAME> Blown about, blown upwards again and again, as the child dances back
< GAME> and forth, face raised, flushed, puffing madly...
< GAME> -
< GAME> Mother's voice interrupting the game. The child spins once more, dashes
< GAME> back towards dinner.
< GAME> -
< GAME> The leaf flutters about in the air. It circles a tree; then rises to a high
< GAME> branch, clings there. It seems to bend this way and that; then it casts loose,
< GAME> and flutters determinedly after its thoughtless maker.
< GAME> -
< GAME> You yank the mask away with a shudder. What are these memories? Do
< GAME> they belong to the wizard whose house you are disturbing?
< GAME> -
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< Aestrix> Okay so that didn't cause explosions, good to know.
< linkhyrule5> Sometimes, powerful mages do not know what they have wrought.
< Andygal> pfffthaha
< linkhyrule5> In this case, it was a leaf.
< Teceler> XD
< linkhyrule5> Sometimes, it is a giant moon-eating platypus.
< Aestrix> xD
< sonatagreen> noms
< Andygal> XD
< linkhyrule5> > x candles. blow candles.
< linkhyrule5> (random interesting thing.)
< Teceler> (XD)
* Aestrix looks suspiciously at link.
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > x candles
< GAME> The candles are mounted in sconces high on the walls, or set into ornate
< GAME> iron stands. Most are heavy, burned low with age, dripping silent gutters
< GAME> of wax over metal and stone.
< linkhyrule5> There is only one way to die in this game!
< GAME> -
< GAME> Every candle you see is lit.
< GAME> -
< GAME> > blow candles
< GAME> Your breath seems to pass through the candle flames without disturbing
< GAME> them.
< GAME> -
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< linkhyrule5> And we will do it, for the lolz. :p
< Aestrix> Yeah but there's no guarantee that that wasn't it.
< linkhyrule5> ^ but yeah. Magic candles.
< sonatagreen> > UNDO is the guarantee.
< linkhyrule5> pff. That too.
< Aestrix> Like, you say, "There is only one way to die in this game," I say, "Yeah but that means death in some fashion is guaranteed."
< Andygal> open trunk
< Aestrix> "And *I don't know where it is*."
< linkhyrule5> hahaah
< linkhyrule5> I keep mentioning the pit, you know :p
< Aestrix> You could be lying!
< Andygal> hahaha
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > open trunk
< GAME> You hesitate a moment. Prying into a wizard's possessions? But you're
< GAME> already standing in his home; and you could as easily be damned for
< GAME> making free with his candlelight as with his trunk.
< GAME> -
< GAME> You reach out, flip up the brass lid, and step back in one movement... A
< GAME> copper key glints at the very bottom of the trunk.
< GAME> -
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< Andygal> Aestrix: Thats why saves are a thing.
< Teceler> are we going to get the MC killed and then undo? :P
< linkhyrule5> Yup :p
< Teceler> > take key
< Aestrix> xD
< linkhyrule5> And then we are going to do the thing properly
< Teceler> or, well
< Aestrix> xD
< linkhyrule5> there's a secret in the bottom of the pit.
< Teceler> > x key, take key
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > take key
< GAME> Taken.
< GAME> -
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< Teceler> > x key
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > examine key
< GAME> It's a tiny flat copper key.
< GAME> -
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< linkhyrule5> > x door
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > examine door
< GAME> The door is of heavy wooden planks strapped with iron; the knob is
< GAME> secured with a thick iron lock. The door is closed.
< GAME> -
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< Teceler> aren't there more than one here?
< Andygal> yeah
< Andygal> but it looks like we got the right one.
< linkhyrule5> > look
< linkhyrule5> (just to remind us)
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > look
< GAME> -
< GAME> Crowded Study
< GAME> You stand amid clutter, oddments, shelves and stacks. The chamber is
< GAME> comfortably broad, centered around a massive and well-worn wooden
< GAME> desk. But so much is jammed in, around the desk and up the panelled
< GAME> walls, that you barely find room to stand. Books; papers; dried plants;
< GAME> animals stuffed and preserved, antique instruments, candles of any hue.
< GAME> You don't recognize half of it, and you can't name half the rest.
< GAME> -
< GAME> There are wide doorways on the north and east sides of the room. A
< GAME> door of heavy wood stands closed to the south, and stairs descend into
< GAME> dimness to the west.
< GAME> -
< GAME> You see an immense book on the desk. Behind the desk is a tall
< GAME> glass-fronted cabinet. Beside that is a small brass trunk, which is open
< GAME> but empty.
< GAME> -
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< linkhyrule5> so, do we want to keep exploring this room or just head out?
< linkhyrule5> I'm thinking head out
< Aestrix> I am inclined to agree.
< kappabeta> same
< Andygal> Same.
< Andygal> Do we want to try the key in the locked door or explore the other rooms first?
< linkhyrule5> > east
< linkhyrule5> Iron lock, copper key
< linkhyrule5> that never works :p
< Teceler> XD
< sonatagreen> haha
< Andygal> OK
* linkhyrule5 is genre savvy~
< linkhyrule5> :p
< Aestrix> <3
< Aestrix> Best way to keep link locked out: make the lock iron, and the key for it copper
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > east
< GAME> -
< GAME> Curtained Room
< GAME> The walls of this small room are entirely swathed in heavy brocade
< GAME> curtains. The only openings are to the west and northwest, and a closed
< GAME> lead-slab door to the south.
< GAME> -
< GAME> In the center of the room is a massive, high-backed chair of some pale
< GAME> wood. Directly before it is a tall mirror in a standing frame.
< GAME> -
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< linkhyrule5> Aestrix - you are evil.
< Teceler> > x chair
< linkhyrule5> :p
< Aestrix> Yes, that has been established
< kappabeta> ooh, a mirror
< kappabeta> let's look at us
< Aestrix> Lets!
< Andygal> lets!
< Teceler> XD
< sonatagreen> chair first, or mirror?
< linkhyrule5> chair first
< Aestrix> But what if our makeup is smudged!
< linkhyrule5> then sit in it
< kappabeta> chair
< linkhyrule5> heh
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > examine chair
< GAME> The chair is cut from heavy planks of pale wood. It has a solid base, high
< GAME> arms and back -- nearly a throne, you think. The joinery is rough, but
< GAME> the surface has been finished to a smooth fineness. The chair is
< GAME> positioned in front of a standing mirror.
< GAME> -
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< Teceler> > x mirror
< Teceler> since /someone/ insisted :P
< Aestrix> :3
< linkhyrule5> I mean, the mirror is interesting anyway :P
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > examine mirror
< GAME> It seems to be a plain oval mirror, suspended in a frame of iron bars. You
< GAME> can't look directly into it from where you're standing.
< GAME> -
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< linkhyrule5> > sit in chair. x mirror.
< Teceler> yes, but, you can't actually see it form here XD
< Teceler> *from
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > sit in chair
< GAME> You sit down in the chair, facing the mirror.
< GAME> -
< GAME> > examine mirror
< GAME> You blink and stare into the mirror. How odd.
< GAME> -
< GAME> The mirror reflects your chair, and the curtains behind you, perfectly.
< GAME> But your own form is unclear -- as if the mirror were touched with some
< GAME> distorting oil. The blurring is strongest around your upper body; your
< GAME> head appears to be a faceless blank.
< GAME> -
< GAME> Nervously, you raise your hand to your own face. Everything feels in its
< GAME> place. But your reflection has raised a blurred hand to a featureless void.
< GAME> -
< GAME> And a dim white shadow seems to flit around your reflected body. Then
< GAME> it is gone.
< GAME> -
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< linkhyrule5> DUN DUN DUN
< kappabeta> welp
< Aestrix> Well that's horrifying
< Aestrix> Did we just unleash Cthulhu?
< linkhyrule5> hahaha
< Andygal> ...
< linkhyrule5> > get up. x fireplace.
< Aestrix> Because it feels like we just unleashed Cthulhu
< linkhyrule5> Define "Cthulhu"
< kappabeta> aestrix you're very suspicious
< Andygal> x curtains
< Aestrix> I know there is a way to die in this game!
< linkhyrule5> And define "unleash", too.
< Aestrix> ANYTHING COULD BE IT
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > get up
< GAME> You stand up from the chair.
< GAME> -
< GAME> > examine fireplace
< GAME> You can't see any such thing.
< GAME> -
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< Andygal> Aestrix: That's why we have saved games!
< Aestrix> Cthulhu is a catch all term for 'evil bad thing' and unleash is 'we just let it out of its box'
< Aestrix> (Also I'm being suspicious because it's funny to act paranoid.)
< linkhyrule5> hahah
< kappabeta> <3
< Andygal> <3
< Aestrix> <3
< linkhyrule5> Then we did not /unleash/ Cthulhu, no... :p
< Teceler> XD
* Aestrix looks suspiciously at Link.
< linkhyrule5> oh, whoops, fireplace isn't in this room
< Aestrix> Is Cthulhu inside us Link.
< Andygal> Aestrix: haha
< linkhyrule5> Cthulhu is in everyone's heart. <3
< Teceler> link XD
< Andygal> XD
< Aestrix> It's like one of those sappy movies where you had the strength all along
< Aestrix> Except instead it's Cthulhu
< Andygal> anyway x curtains
< Andygal> XD
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > examine curtains
< GAME> Curtains of dark silk brocade fall from ceiling to floor, all around you.
< GAME> The rough folds seem to soak up sound; the silence drags at you.
< GAME> -
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< sonatagreen> do people in fact want the --------------es before and after, or is it clear enough?
< Aestrix> I find them helpful
< sonatagreen> ok
< Aestrix> If they're not too much trouble to do <3
< Andygal> I am indifferent.
< Teceler> I mean, it would work with just the > s, it that's a largish extra effort, I think
< sonatagreen> They're not trouble.
< sonatagreen> it's just that being more lines it comes through slightly slower due to rate limits.
< linkhyrule5> > n
< GAME> You can go west, northwest, or through the south door.
< sonatagreen> ...
< sonatagreen> that might have been clever of me, but not right after being told not to :/
< linkhyrule5> ...
* linkhyrule5 is amused
< linkhyrule5> > x door.
< Aestrix> How does the PC know which way the cardinal directions are?
< sonatagreen> Genre convention.
< linkhyrule5> ^ Convention
< linkhyrule5> Otherwise youd' have to go "left right forward" all the time
< linkhyrule5> which is kind of annoying
< Aestrix> So the answer is not 'they have a compass embedded in their souls'
< linkhyrule5> and also makes it hard to orient yourself
< Andygal> haha
< linkhyrule5> haahahah
< Andygal> hahaaha
< linkhyrule5> Well, in /this/ case, maybe!
< linkhyrule5> Dreamhold is weird!
< linkhyrule5> But generally no
* Aestrix looks at link suspiciously.
< linkhyrule5> :3
* Aestrix squints her eyes.
< Andygal> ...is that a thing that happens in Entelechy, Link?
< linkhyrule5> Of course not, Andygal!
< linkhyrule5> You embed them inton your mindscape.
< linkhyrule5> Much more useful.
< Andygal> XD
< Aestrix> Of course.
< sonatagreen> I once played a game where near the beginning you open the curtains on the north window and look out at the sunrise. Then the narration goes "wait, no, that's not right" and renames all the exits to the correct directions.
< Aestrix> xD
< kappabeta> omg
* Andygal notes that Simes technically have natural compasses, although they won't function properly in other worlds without some time to acclimate I have decided.
< linkhyrule5> sonatagreen - pffff
< linkhyrule5> that's actually kind of cool
< linkhyrule5> what's it called?
< Aestrix> Yeah, that's pretty cool xD
< sonatagreen> I forget, sorry.
< sonatagreen> it might have been Common Ground, but maybe not.
< Teceler> XD
< linkhyrule5> I'll look around
< linkhyrule5> anyway, yeah
< linkhyrule5> >x door
< linkhyrule5> and then north /west/ this time >.> :p
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > examine door
< GAME> The door appears to be a single slab of dull grey lead. (Perhaps only a
< GAME> sheet of lead covering ordinary wood, but... you don't think so.) It has no
< GAME> knob -- only a small keyhole beneath the heavy opening-bar.
< GAME> -
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > northwest
< GAME> -
< GAME> Sitting Room
< GAME> This room seems more inviting. The walls are painted with delicate
< GAME> patterns of flowers, which merge into a soft-hued carpet beneath your
< GAME> feet. Two chairs and a cushioned settee face a bright-flickering fireplace
< GAME> on the far wall.
< GAME> -
< GAME> A desert landscape painting hangs above the fireplace.
< GAME> -
< GAME> You see doorways to the south and in the southeast corner of the room.
< GAME> A white-painted door to the east is closed.
< GAME> -
< Andygal> x painting
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
* linkhyrule5 spritzes Andygal :p
< Andygal> ???
< kappabeta> you said thing before thing was done saying
< kappabeta> at least that's what looks like to us
< Aestrix> Link did you steal my squirt bottle.
< Andygal> Um yeah?
< Teceler> XD
< linkhyrule5> Aestrix - didn't you notice?
< linkhyrule5> I took it like two weeks ago
< Teceler> XD
< Andygal> XD
< linkhyrule5> anyway, yeah
* Aestrix frowns at link.
< Aestrix> Give it back
< linkhyrule5> > x painting. x carpet. x settee.
< Aestrix> Or I will get the newspaper.
< linkhyrule5> Never!
< linkhyrule5> I will soak the newspaper
< Aestrix> xD
< linkhyrule5> and it will not be stiff enough to use anymore :p
< Andygal> as a side note Aestrix: You are still tagged on the ME and inkspot thread
< Aestrix> Oh right I am aren't I
< Aestrix> Well link, you know what? YOU KNOW WHAT?
< Aestrix> I will throw the newspaper gloop at you.
< linkhyrule5> Noooo
< linkhyrule5> not the gloop
< Andygal> eeep!
< Teceler> hey
< Teceler> everyone
< Teceler> there are a bunch of squirt bottles over there
* Teceler points to the nanofabricator
< Aestrix> NO.
< Aestrix> I WANT MINE.
< sonatagreen> Okay, but everyone else can have some too without stealing yours.
< Teceler> yeah
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > examine painting
< GAME> The painting shows a stark, rocky desert at dawn. The sunlight stains
< GAME> the dusty stones to harsh scarlets and rust; but the land seems serene for
< GAME> all that, unthreatened.
< GAME> -
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< linkhyrule5> *pours spritz bottle down the back of Aestrix's shirt, runs away cackling*
< linkhyrule5> > get painting
< Teceler> ...er
< Aestrix> *Screeches*
< Aestrix> WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS.
< linkhyrule5> Because I'm five!
< linkhyrule5> Obviously!
< linkhyrule5> XP
< Aestrix> :P
< Andygal> XD
< Teceler> XD
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > examine carpet
< GAME> The carpet is soft and stretches entirely across the room. Delicate colors
< GAME> run across it, like sprays of flower petals. You cannot imagine how it
< GAME> was woven.
< GAME> -
< GAME> > examine settee
< GAME> In the center of the room, a wide settee faces the fireplace. Its drapes and
< GAME> cushions are swathed in velvet of worn eggshell-green.
< GAME> -
< GAME> > get painting
< GAME> You lift the desert landscape painting down from its hook.
< GAME> -
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< linkhyrule5> *returns empty spritz bottle*
< linkhyrule5> > x fireplace
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > examine fireplace
< GAME> If you doubted this was a dreamhold, you're certain now... the fireplace
< GAME> holds no wood, no ash. An odd basket of coiled silver wire holds a heap
< GAME> of glassy, glowing, cherry-red spheres. Insubstantial flames flicker above
< GAME> the spheres, and a mild warmth touches your face and body. But the
< GAME> spheres do not truly burn; they are not consumed.
< GAME> -
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
* Aestrix takes her squirt bottle back, grumbling.
< linkhyrule5> > x sphere. get sphere.
< Aestrix> Wait are you getting the fire thing.
< linkhyrule5> Yes
< linkhyrule5> It's useful!
< linkhyrule5> And they're not actually that hot
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > examine sphere
< GAME> The conical wire basket is heaped high with glassy spheres, each the size
< GAME> of a small plum. The spheres are deeply translucent, shining with an
< GAME> inner red light and radiant heat.
< GAME> -
< GAME> > get sphere
< GAME> Ow! Despite the mildness of the spheres' warmth, their surface holds
< GAME> some humming, stinging sensation which hovers on the edge of pain.
< GAME> You cannot touch them for even a moment.
< GAME> -
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< linkhyrule5> Oh right you need the gloves.
< linkhyrule5> Egg on my face.
< Aestrix> <3
< Aestrix> Here let me get that for you.
< Teceler> XD
< linkhyrule5> hahaha
< linkhyrule5> > x door. open it.
* Aestrix squirts Link with the squirt bottle.
< Aestrix> There, all better.
< linkhyrule5> pfffff
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > examine door
< GAME> The door is neatly carpentered in panels, and painted white. It has an
< GAME> ornate copper doorknob and a tiny keyhole. The door is closed.
< GAME> -
< GAME> > open it
< GAME> It seems to be locked.
< GAME> -
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< Aestrix> It's a copper lock
< linkhyrule5> The empty squirt bottle from dumping it down your shirt? :trollface:
< Aestrix> Use the key
< linkhyrule5> > unlock door with key
< Aestrix> I refilled it!
< Teceler> > unlock door with copper key
< Aestrix> Offscreen, without narration, because I am polite and didn't want to interrupt.
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > unlock door with key
< GAME> The copper key unlocks the door. You turn the knob and swing it open.
< GAME> -
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< linkhyrule5> > e
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > east
< GAME> -
< GAME> Curving Hall
< GAME> You are in a high, dim corridor, walled in cracked and moldering plaster.
< GAME> The only light comes from tiny flickering candles above. The hall curves
< GAME> gently around from the south to the northwest. You see an open door to
< GAME> the west; archways open to the northeast and east.
< GAME> -
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< Andygal> examine candles
< linkhyrule5> Oooh, second-favorite room is coming up
< linkhyrule5> possibly third
< Aestrix> <3
< linkhyrule5> there's a lot of cool stuff :p
< Teceler> link: do say when we get to your favorite rooms, yes
< linkhyrule5> > x candles. ne.
< linkhyrule5> (Andygal - we're using the "> command" convention, so sonatagreen's looking for that, probably)
< Andygal> (OK)
< linkhyrule5> thouhg it seems sonatagreen mysteriously vanished into the abyss
< linkhyrule5> GAME - test?
< sonatagreen> back
< sonatagreen> sorry
< Aestrix> Welcome back
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > examine candles
< GAME> High on the walls are tiny candles shaped like flowers... or perhaps they
< GAME> are flowers. You can see no wicks, and the spark that flickers above each
< GAME> open bloom seems too starry-white for candlefire.
< GAME> -
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< linkhyrule5> ^ star lotuses are totally going to be stolen for Aisilian's dreamhold, fyi.
< linkhyrule5> what happened?
< linkhyrule5> Also,
< linkhyrule5> > ne
< kappabeta> I got distracted and I've forgotten where we are and what is going on
< linkhyrule5> We're only like three rooms in :p
< linkhyrule5> we're in the Curving Hall, we unlocked a door, we saw pretty candles.
< kappabeta> the pretty candles are very pretty
< linkhyrule5> We stole a painting and burned ourselves on fire orbs
< kappabeta> XD
< Aestrix> xD
< Andygal> hahaa
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > northeast
< GAME> -
< GAME> Atelier
< GAME> This cramped, boxy room appears to have been an artist's studio. The
< GAME> walls and floor are splattered with paints of many colors. Strangely, the
< Aestrix> Are we going to sell the painting at the black market?
< GAME> room is nearly empty; you see no stacks of canvas or bottles of pigment.
< GAME> The exit is southwest.
< GAME> -
< GAME> A rough wooden easel is set up at one end of the room. Displayed upon
< GAME> it is a painting -- a bright mountain landscape.
< GAME> -
< GAME> At the other end of the room, a tripod props up what looks like a small
< GAME> telescope.
< GAME> -
< GAME> A pigment-daubed board, no doubt the artist's palette, is sitting in a
< GAME> corner.
< GAME> -
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< Andygal> > examine telescope
< kappabeta> *spritzes aestrix*
< Aestrix> It caught me right as I said the thing!
-!- GAME changed the topic of #clubIF to: Atelier 1 of 7
< Aestrix> T_T
< kappabeta> <3
< linkhyrule5> That is a cute thiing yu're doing with the topic, on a side note
< sonatagreen> should I say incoming when I'm about to paste?
< sonatagreen> thanks
< Aestrix> It's not a huge deal :P
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > examine telescope
< GAME> The telescope is a tiny, handmade instrument, all old black leather and
< GAME> beaten silver rings. It is aligned precisely horizontally -- pointing
< GAME> straight at the easel.
< GAME> -
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< Andygal> > examine easel
< sonatagreen>
< linkhyrule5> > x mountain landscape.
< kappabeta> ooh can we do telescope the painting
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > examine easel
< GAME> It's just a frame, nailed together from a few spare laths. Resting on the
< GAME> easel is a mountain landscape painting.
< GAME>
< GAME> > examine mountain landscape
< GAME> The painting shows a tiny rock pool amid jagged mountain peaks. The
< GAME> landscape is harsh and unforgiving, but the pool seems a respite. It is
< GAME> rimmed with bright moss, and a few fish-like shadows are visible in its
< GAME> depths.
< GAME>
< GAME> The artist has depicted something brown lying on the pool's shore. It is
< GAME> small, hard to distinguish amid the brushwork; but it seems to be a
< GAME> brown mask.
< GAME>
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< Andygal> are we going to steal this painting too?
< Aestrix> I hope so
< kappabeta> but before we steal it can we do telescope it
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > look through telescope
< GAME> You bend and peer into the telescope's lens. You see a tiny dot of light in
< GAME> the distance... and then the... world turns... sideways....
< GAME>
< GAME>
< GAME>
< GAME>
< GAME> Metal Culvert
< GAME> You find yourself standing in a dark culvert of some kind. The curving
< GAME> walls are polished metal, antique with tarnish. To the south, the channel
< GAME> ends in a circular glass barrier; to the north, it opens out into light.
< GAME>
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< Aestrix> What.
< linkhyrule5> I /love/ this room.
< Aestrix> Also, tag, link.
< kappabeta> nifty
< linkhyrule5> Just. Casual perspective magic.
< linkhyrule5> Ooh, tag!
-!- GAME changed the topic of #clubIF to: Metal Culvert 1/7
< linkhyrule5> > n
< linkhyrule5> (Also, the Revan thing was hilarious
< Aestrix> :D
< Teceler> > x walls
< linkhyrule5> Darth Revan, terror of the galaxy, playing with a doorknob)
< linkhyrule5> > x barrier
< Aestrix> <3
< Teceler> XD
< Teceler> > x walls
< Aestrix> He is used to doors being needlessly complicated!
< Teceler> gah
< Teceler> I said that already
< linkhyrule5> > x walls. x barrier. n.
< linkhyrule5> I feex
< Teceler> yes, that thing
< GAME> > x walls
< GAME> The floor, walls, and ceiling of this channel are a single cylindrical metal
< GAME> surface. You cannot tell of what metal it is made, but it has a dark, aged
< GAME> patina.
< GAME>
< GAME> >
< GAME> > x barrier
< GAME> To the south, a glass barrier completely blocks the channel. You cannot
< GAME> see well beyond it; there are only distorted smears of color.
< GAME>
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > north
< GAME> The light grows brighter as you walk up the culvert....
< GAME>
< GAME> Mountain Pool
< GAME> Jagged mountains tear the skies in every direction. They are unreal,
< GAME> impossible peaks -- knife-like spires of rock. But in this sheltered nook,
< GAME> life flourishes. A small mossy pool, cool and shadowed with tiny fish,
< GAME> has gathered below a rock-spring.
< GAME>
< GAME> On the shore of the pool is a brown paper mask.
< GAME>
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< Teceler> (I think 'x channel' just makes it complain that you don't need to examine the room?)
< Andygal> x mask
< Aestrix> Take the mask :D
< linkhyrule5> Aestrix - tag
< linkhyrule5> and yes
< linkhyrule5> >get mask. x it. wear it
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > x channel
< GAME> You can't see any such thing.
< GAME>
< GAME> > x mask
< GAME> (the brown mask)
< GAME> It looks like a brown paper mask, half life-size. But its curves are only
< GAME> delicate shading; the mask is flat, a brown cutout of a face.
< GAME>
< GAME> The face shows steely regret.
< GAME>
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > get mask
< GAME> (the brown mask)
< GAME> Taken.
< GAME>
< GAME> [Your score has gone up.]
< GAME> ----------------
-!- GAME changed the topic of #clubIF to: Metal Culvert 2 of 7
-!- GAME changed the topic of #clubIF to: Mountain Pool 2 of 7
< GAME> oops
< sonatagreen> (actually I would appreciate it if someone else would take over managing the topic, it's apparently effortful for me to remember to do consistently)
< linkhyrule5> I can do that in general
< linkhyrule5> I'm going to head out right now tho
< linkhyrule5> 'cause appt.
< Teceler> good luck
< linkhyrule5> be back in, oh, two hours
< Andygal> seeya later Link
< linkhyrule5> see you!
< linkhyrule5> Oh, don't forget
< linkhyrule5> put the desert landscape on the easel and enter it
< linkhyrule5> there's a thing you need to get :3
< Teceler> of course!
< Teceler> and other stuff!
< linkhyrule5> Indeed!
< linkhyrule5> have fun!
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > wear it
< GAME> Gingerly, you raise the mask to your face....
< GAME>
< GAME> ...Memory stirs...
< GAME>
< GAME> In a darkened library, someone works alone. The tall shelves are crowded,
< GAME> but the rows of titles fade into shadows; only the desk is illuminated. A
< GAME> map is spread upon it. The pen, moving across its face, annotates and
< GAME> speculates.
< GAME>
< GAME> Nearly half the map is tinted red. Along the border, marks and notations
< GAME> cluster like wasps.
< GAME>
< GAME> The silver head snaps up, as an officer enters. He holds a pale cylinder, the
< GAME> length of a tall man's finger. He places it on the desk; he bows; he turns and
< GAME> leaves. At no point do his eyes rise from the floor.
< GAME>
< GAME> The cylinder, unrolled, proves to be a length of parchment: filthy, closely
< GAME> lettered. The tall figure reads it, once. Then the pen, taken up once again.
< GAME>
< GAME> In the blank heart of the red-tinted region, quick strokes now emblazon the
< GAME> shape of a crutch.
< GAME>
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< Teceler> > x pool. x moss. x fish. x mountains
< link_hyrule5> You know what, for the sake of logging, I'll just keep this active
< Aestrix> Well I wandered off to get food, so let me say bye now :P
< Aestrix> Bye!
< linkafk5> mmkay
< Teceler> (I'm not sure how many of those are duplicates? You don't need to copy any that are if that's more work, sonatagreen)
< linkafk5> sonatagreen - we're logging this, right?
< sonatagreen> yeah
< linkafk5> mmkay, yay
< sonatagreen> I'm logging if and only if MotherStarlight is in the room.
< sonatagreen> basically.
< sonatagreen> (although I suppose I also have logs for wherever I am as sonatagreen, but it's not like *officially* logging)
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > x pool
< GAME> At your feet is a mossy pool, basin for a small spring. The shapes of tiny
< GAME> fish move within the water.
< GAME>
< GAME> > x moss
< GAME> Around the pool, tufts of soft moss glint with moisture.
< GAME>
< GAME> > x fish
< GAME> Tiny fish move in the shadows of the pool.
< GAME>
< GAME> > x mountains
< GAME> The mountains are impossibly tall, twisted spires of rock.
< GAME>
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< Teceler> okay, I /think/ that's everything here
< Aestrix> Flee into the night to replace the painting?
< Teceler> n
< Teceler> er
< Teceler> > n
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > north
< GAME> The world seems to smear out of shape as you move. After a few steps,
< GAME> you see nothing but running colors....
< GAME>
< GAME>
< GAME>
< GAME>
< GAME> Atelier
< GAME> This cramped, boxy room appears to have been an artist's studio. The
< GAME> walls and floor are splattered with paints of many colors. Strangely, the
< GAME> room is nearly empty; you see no stacks of canvas or bottles of pigment.
< GAME> The exit is southwest.
< GAME>
< GAME> A rough wooden easel is set up at one end of the room. Displayed upon
< GAME> it is a painting -- a bright mountain landscape.
< GAME>
< GAME> At the other end of the room, a tripod props up what looks like a small
< GAME> telescope.
< GAME>
< GAME> A pigment-daubed board, no doubt the artist's palette, is sitting in a
< GAME> corner.
< GAME>
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< Andygal> x palette
< Teceler> > take painting. take palette
-!- GAME changed the topic of #clubIF to: Atelier 2 of 7
< Teceler> er, yeah
< Teceler> > take painting. take palette. x palette
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > take painting
< GAME> (the desert landscape painting)
< GAME> You already have that.
< GAME>
< GAME> > take mountain painting
< GAME> Taken.
< GAME>
< GAME> > take palette
< GAME> Taken.
< GAME>
< GAME> > x palette
< GAME> It's a warped old board, crusted with every color you can imagine, in no
< GAME> order at all.
< GAME>
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< Teceler> > put desert on easel
< Teceler> er
< Teceler> > put desert painting on easel
< Teceler> (the former works, but sense-making)
< Aestrix> (Rae is confused as to why you want to put him on an easel.)
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > put desert on easel
< GAME> You put the desert landscape painting on the easel.
< GAME>
< GAME> >
< Teceler> (XD)
< GAME> ----------------
< Teceler> > look through telescope
< sonatagreen> because Rae is a gorgeous masterpiece obvs
< Teceler> XD
< Aestrix> It shows a close up of Rae leaning on a couch. "Paint me like one of your French girls."
< Teceler> XD
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > look through telescope
< GAME> You bend and peer into the telescope's lens. You see a tiny dot of light in
< GAME> the distance... and then the... world turns... sideways....
< GAME>
< GAME>
< GAME>
< GAME>
< GAME> Metal Culvert
< GAME> You find yourself standing in a dark culvert of some kind. The curving
< GAME> walls are polished metal, antique with tarnish. To the south, the channel
< GAME> ends in a circular glass barrier; to the north, it opens out into light.
< GAME>
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< Teceler> > x channel. n
-!- GAME changed the topic of #clubIF to: Metal Culvert 2 of 7
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > x channel
< GAME> You don't need to refer to that.
< GAME>
< GAME> [In most games, there isn't any need to refer to the room as a whole. If you
< GAME> just want to look around, type "look". Otherwise, refer to particular objects
< GAME> that you see.]
< GAME>
< GAME> > n
< GAME> The light grows brighter as you walk up the culvert....
< GAME>
< GAME> Red Desert
< GAME> A stark desert is spread in every direction. The harsh grit beneath your
< GAME> feet is littered with dusty stones, small and large. The sun is a red glare
< GAME> on the horizon, turning the world to strokes of scarlet, rust, and shadow.
< GAME>
< GAME> A crumpled white wad is lying here, half-buried in the sand.
< GAME>
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< Teceler> (pfft, it /does/ do that thing XD)
-!- GAME changed the topic of #clubIF to: Red Desert 2 of 7
< Teceler> > x wad, take wad, x wad
< sonatagreen> examine twice? really?
< Teceler> iirc, you get different results?
< sonatagreen> *tries it* oh.
< Teceler> you can ignore one if not?
< Teceler> okay
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > x wad
< GAME> You'll have to pick it up to see what it is.
< GAME>
< GAME> > take wad
< GAME> You scoop up the crumpled wad, and try to smooth it out. It proves to be
< GAME> a letter of credit, or something similar.
< GAME>
< GAME> > x wad
< GAME> "Letter in hand... sum of 5000... in reparation, military action of the
< GAME> month of... fields, property, six barrels of wine, one cow..."
< GAME>
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< Teceler> > x sun. x stones.
< Aestrix> Ooo, a cow
< Teceler> XD
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > x sun
< GAME> The rising sun is a hard red glare.
< GAME>
< GAME> > x stones
< GAME> The dusty stones are unremarkable.
< GAME>
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< Aestrix> Flee into the night?
< Teceler> unless there's something else someone wants to examine
< Aestrix> Cackling and waving our voucher for one cow?
< Teceler> XD
< Teceler> (anyone?)
< kappabeta> hahahahaha
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > flee
< GAME> That's not a verb I recognize.
< GAME>
< GAME> > out
< GAME> But you aren't in anything at the moment.
< GAME>
< GAME> > wave letter of credit
< GAME> You look ridiculous waving the crumpled white letter.
< GAME>
< GAME> > laugh
< Aestrix> xD
< GAME> That's not a verb I recognize.
< GAME>
< GAME> > cackle
< GAME> That's not a verb I recognize.
< GAME>
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< Teceler> XDXDXDXDXD
< kappabeta> *spritzes aestrix* (i love you sonata)
< Aestrix> xD
< Teceler> > s
< Aestrix> I couldn't wait for the laugh Kappa
< Aestrix> It was too funny
< kappabeta> <3 <3 <3
< Aestrix> Sonata, that was amazing <3
< Andygal> hahaaha
< Teceler> (why won't it let you laaaauuuugh :P)
< sonatagreen> Can I just take a moment to point out that someone took the time to implement a response in case someone decided to wave the voucher.
< kappabeta> :D
< kappabeta> Gotta wave that cow voucher.
< Teceler> I thought that was a generic 'wave something' message? :P
< Aestrix> Yeah xD
< sonatagreen> (I mean, it's *probably* just a generic response to WAVE X.)
< kappabeta> How else will people know you are entitled to that cow.
< Aestrix> <3
< Andygal> <3
< Aestrix> Otherwise they might think you are not entitled to that cow
< Teceler> XD
< Aestrix> And that is incorrect.
< Aestrix> That cow is YOURS.
< Andygal> and that would be traaaagic.
< Teceler> this is generally not important information unless you are currently taking the cow :P
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> The world seems to smear out of shape as you move. After a few steps,
< GAME> you see nothing but running colors....
< GAME>
< GAME>
< GAME>
< GAME>
< GAME> Atelier
< GAME> This cramped, boxy room appears to have been an artist's studio. The
< GAME> walls and floor are splattered with paints of many colors. Strangely, the
< GAME> room is nearly empty; you see no stacks of canvas or bottles of pigment.
< GAME> The exit is southwest.
< GAME>
< GAME> A rough wooden easel is set up at one end of the room. Displayed upon
< GAME> it is a painting -- a stark desert landscape.
< GAME>
< GAME> At the other end of the room, a tripod props up what looks like a small
< GAME> telescope.
< GAME>
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< sonatagreen> whoops
< Teceler> > take desert landscape painting. put palette on easel
< Teceler> (sonatagreen, would it make things easier on you to turn verbose back off?)
< sonatagreen> it might make things faster to paste, but the convenience to me is pretty trivial
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > take desert landscape painting. put palette on easel
< GAME> Taken.
< GAME> You put the palette on the easel.
< GAME>
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< Teceler> > look through telescope
< sonatagreen> (be with you in a minute)
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > look through telescope
< GAME> You bend and peer into the telescope's lens. You see a tiny dot of light in
< GAME> the distance... and then the... world turns... sideways....
< GAME>
< GAME>
< GAME>
< GAME>
< GAME> Metal Culvert
< GAME> You find yourself standing in a dark culvert of some kind. The curving
< GAME> walls are polished metal, antique with tarnish. To the south, the channel
< GAME> ends in a circular glass barrier; to the north, it opens out into light.
< GAME>
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< Aestrix> > n
< Aestrix> .... Oh no I have actually been paying attention and know a command.
< Aestrix> xD
< Andygal> haha
< Teceler> Xd
< Teceler> *XD
< Aestrix> Don't tell anyone!
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > n
< GAME> The light grows brighter as you walk up the culvert....
< GAME>
< GAME> Sea of White
< GAME> You are in the midst of a choppy, heaving sea. Impossibly, you stand
< GAME> balanced upon the milk-white waves. You can see no land in any
< GAME> direction.
< GAME>
< GAME> A small tangle of string floats on the surface nearby.
< GAME>
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< Teceler> > x string. take string
-!- GAME changed the topic of #clubIF to: Score: 2 of 7
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > x string
< GAME> It looks like a small tangle of knotted twine.
< GAME>
< GAME> > take string
< GAME> Taken.
< GAME>
< GAME> [Your score has gone up.
< GAME>
< GAME> Note that your score (in the top right corner) is now "2 of 7, +1". The "+1"
< GAME> indicates one optional goal achieved. THE DREAMHOLD has various "side
< GAME> quests" -- extra discoveries you can make. You don't need to find these to
< GAME> win the game. They're there for extra fun, and to add to the texture of the
< GAME> game world. (How many optional discoveries are there? Explore and find
< GAME> out!)
< GAME>
< GAME> You can get a full account of your score by typing "score".]
< GAME>
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< Teceler> > x string. wait.
< Aestrix> ... Can we wear the string.
< Teceler> (I'm inclined to sit here until the thing finishes, sonatagreen, but I'm not sure how many 'wait's that is.)
-!- GAME changed the topic of #clubIF to: Score: 2 of 7, +1
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > x string
< GAME> You draw the string out in your hands. It's less than a foot of crude,
< GAME> hairy twine, and it's wracked with knots.
< GAME>
< GAME> But strange -- each knot seems to have a different shape. If they are
< GAME> letters, as they might be... you laboriously spell out the word
< GAME> PORTRAIT, knotted over and over down the string.
< GAME>
< GAME> With a sigh, the sea turns deep-gold.
< GAME>
< GAME> > wear string
< GAME> You can't wear that!
< GAME>
< GAME> > wait
< GAME> Time passes.
< GAME>
< GAME> With a heave, the sea turns blood-red.
< GAME>
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< sonatagreen> I don't know what you're waiting for.
< Teceler> I'm waiting for it to turn black
< Andygal> why?
< Teceler> because there's a sequence and that's the end of it?
< Teceler> it's not hugely important, but
< Teceler> (Andygal, have you played this before?)
< Andygal> No.
< Teceler> ah
< Aestrix> I find it upsetting that we can't wear the string.
< sonatagreen> I'm going to condense the responses a bit for the sake of lines-delay
< Teceler> okay
< GAME> Time passes.
< GAME> Time passes.
< GAME> Time passes.
< GAME> With a roar, the sea turns turbid-brown.
< GAME> Time passes.
< GAME> Time passes.
< GAME> Time passes.
< GAME> With a roar, the sea turns icy-green.
< GAME> Time passes.
< GAME> Time passes.
< GAME> With a crash, the sea turns twilight-blue.
< GAME> Time passes.
< GAME> Time passes.
< GAME> Time passes.
< GAME> With a roar, the sea turns ink-black.
< Teceler> pfft, there is too much time between them, I'd forgotten
< Teceler> > e
< Teceler> (the direction doesn't really matter here, as I have been demonstrating)
< Aestrix> <3
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > east
< GAME> The world seems to smear out of shape as you move. After a few steps,
< GAME> you see nothing but running colors....
< GAME>
< GAME>
< GAME>
< GAME>
< GAME> Atelier
< GAME> This cramped, boxy room appears to have been an artist's studio. The
< GAME> walls and floor are splattered with paints of many colors. Strangely, the
< GAME> room is nearly empty; you see no stacks of canvas or bottles of pigment.
< GAME> The exit is southwest.
< GAME>
< GAME> A rough wooden easel is set up at one end of the room. Lying on the
< GAME> easel is a palette.
< GAME>
< GAME> At the other end of the room, a tripod props up what looks like a small
< GAME> telescope.
< GAME>
< GAME> >
< GAME> ----------------
< Teceler> (who wants to look at the string through the telescope? Or something else, but)
< Aestrix> :D
* Aestrix raises her hand
< Teceler> ahaha
< Teceler> okay
< Teceler> > take palette. put string on easel. look through telescope
< Aestrix> String, not the masks.
< Teceler> ha
< Teceler> okay
< Teceler> (I don't remember the masks doing a thing there? but they might)
< Andygal> haha
< Aestrix> The masks might unleash cthulhu
< Andygal> pffff
< Aestrix> We do not want to unleash cthulhu
< Teceler> you don't like the masks, do you, Aestrix XD
< Aestrix> THEY COULD CONTAIN CTHULHU
< Teceler> XD
< Aestrix> Also they are Main Plot Items and so things that are done to them are relevant to the Main Plot. Whereas the string is an obvious Bonus Item
< Aestrix> So it's safe to fuck with it
< Teceler> pfft
< Teceler> XD
< Teceler> we didn't damage the paintings this way, did we?
< Aestrix> Yeah but they were obviously meant to be stared at with a telescope
< Andygal> pffffft.
< Aestrix> We are building a bridge into the land of science
< Teceler> XD
< Teceler> SCIENCE!
< Aestrix> And I do not want to experiment upon the Main Plot Items
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > take palette
< GAME> Taken.
< GAME>
< GAME> > put string on easel
< GAME> You put the knotted string on the easel.
< GAME>
< GAME> > look through telescope
< GAME> You bend and peer into the telescope's lens. You see a tiny dot of light in
< GAME> the distance... and then the... world turns... sideways....
< GAME>
< GAME>
< GAME>
< GAME>
< GAME> Metal Culvert
< GAME> You find yourself standing in a dark culvert of some kind. The curving
< GAME> walls are polished metal, antique with tarnish. To the south, the channel
< GAME> ends in a circular glass barrier; to the north, it opens out into light.
< GAME>
< GAME> >
< GAME> ---------------
< Aestrix> So we will instead experiment on the string.
< Teceler> > n
< sonatagreen> what.
< Teceler> ?
< Andygal> what?
< kappabeta> we went to string land! i wonder whta happens if you telescope when there's nothing on the easel?
< Aestrix> We can experiment with that too!
< Aestrix> SCIENCE
< Teceler> I actually know the answer to that
< Teceler> XD
< Teceler> (SCIENCE)
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > n
< GAME> The light grows brighter as you walk up the culvert....
< GAME>
< GAME> Platform in the Void
< GAME> You stand on a narrow wooden platform, which is suspended somehow
< GAME> in a vast, incomprehensible space. The platform stretches to the east and
< GAME> west. The space beyond is not dark, nor is it light... you are unable to
< GAME> focus upon it.
< GAME>
< GAME> Somewhere beyond, huge and tenebrous, you see an indistinct shape. It
< GAME> might be a knotted string.
< GAME>
< GAME> >
< GAME> ---------------
< Aestrix> xD
< Teceler> do you guys want me to tell you what the answer is?
< Aestrix> I kinda want to find out!
< sonatagreen> I think I can guess what happens if we telescope at nothing.
< Teceler> > x string. x wood
< Aestrix> You land on the easel again, assumingly. Like we're on right now.
< Teceler> > x string. x wood. x space
< Aestrix> :)
< Teceler> yup
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > x string
< GAME> You see nothing special about the shadow of a knotted string.
< GAME>
< GAME> > x wood
< GAME> The platform is hardly wider than you are tall. Curiously, you feel no
< GAME> fear of falling from it. To fall would require space, distance....
< GAME>
< GAME> > x space
< GAME> You are suspended in a void which lacks perceptible qualities.
< GAME>
< GAME> >
< GAME> ---------------
< Teceler> pffffft XD
< Teceler> > w
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > w
< GAME> The world seems to smear out of shape as you move. After a few steps,
< GAME> you see nothing but running colors....
< GAME>
< GAME>
< GAME>
< GAME>
< GAME> Atelier
< GAME> This cramped, boxy room appears to have been an artist's studio. The
< GAME> walls and floor are splattered with paints of many colors. Strangely, the
< GAME> room is nearly empty; you see no stacks of canvas or bottles of pigment.
< GAME> The exit is southwest.
< GAME>
< GAME> A rough wooden easel is set up at one end of the room. Lying on the
< GAME> easel is a knotted string.
< GAME>
< GAME> At the other end of the room, a tripod props up what looks like a small
< GAME> telescope.
< GAME>
< GAME> >
< GAME> ---------------
< Teceler> > take string
< Teceler> now what do we want to do?
< Aestrix> Flee into the night
< Teceler> XD
< Aestrix> Waving our cow voucher and string
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > take string
< GAME> Taken.
< GAME>
< GAME> >
< GAME> ---------------
< Teceler> should I read that as 'explore more'? :P
< Aestrix> .... Yes.
< Teceler> XD
< Teceler> > sw
< Teceler> (there are more bonus items to collect, after all! XD)
< Aestrix> Yes!
< Aestrix> Trustworthy bonus items.
< Aestrix> Not like the masks.
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > sw
< GAME>
< GAME> Curving Hall
< GAME> You are in a high, dim corridor, walled in cracked and moldering plaster.
< GAME> The only light comes from tiny flickering candles above. The hall curves
< GAME> gently around from the south to the northwest. You see an open door to
< GAME> the west; archways open to the northeast and east.
< GAME>
< GAME> >
< GAME> ---------------
< Teceler> someone else should probably do the navigating here, I will lead us in circles.
< Teceler> um
< Teceler> > e
< Aestrix> I am along for the ride, and to occasionally type in a simple command.
< sonatagreen> to what extent to people care if room names are bolded? they're bolded in the original, but bolding them is *slightly* more work for me.
< sonatagreen> i will do it if and only if anyone cares at all.
< Aestrix> I don't care
< Teceler> only care if there's nothing else making it obvious it's the room title
< Teceler> which there is, so
< Teceler> *and there is
< Andygal> Yeah.
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > e
< GAME>
< GAME> Mosaic Room
< GAME> The walls and ceiling of this room are entirely covered with tiny blue
< GAME> tiles. On the east wall, a few black and grey tiles seem to depict birds on
< GAME> the horizon of a mosaic sky. The only exit is an archway to the west.
< GAME>
< GAME> A delicate cage of brass wire hangs from a curved stand in the center of
< GAME> the room. Within the cage is a single ripe apple.
< GAME>
< GAME> >
< GAME> ---------------
< Andygal> > x cage x birds
< Teceler> > x tiles. x birds. x horizon. x cage. x apple
< Teceler> (should I load up my copy so I can tell which things are duplicates? I should probably do that)
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > x cage
< GAME> You've seen -- you might have seen -- such cages in the market, holding
< GAME> songbirds in their shining wire embrace. This one, however, contains a
< GAME> ripe and perfect apple. You cannot imagine why. The cage door is closed.
< GAME>
< GAME> > x birds
< GAME> The mosaic seems to represent a perfect blue sky, rising up the walls and
< GAME> across the ceiling. A few mosaic birds circle above the eastern horizon.
< GAME>
< GAME> >
< GAME> ---------------
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > x apple
< GAME> The apple looks ripe and fresh; it might have been plucked moments
< GAME> before entered the room.
< GAME>
< GAME> >
< GAME> ---------------
< Aestrix> We should probably not release the apple.
< Teceler> XD
< Aestrix> It might be cthulhu
< Teceler> > open cage
< Andygal> hahaha
< Aestrix> NO
< sonatagreen> I remind you that UNDO is a thing.
< Andygal> dooooo it.
< Teceler> XD
< Andygal> unleash cthulhu!
< Teceler> XD
< Aestrix> Fine. Release the apple. Unleash Cthulhu.
< Teceler> and then undo it, of course :P
< Aestrix> Yes
< Aestrix> And then undo it immediately
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > open cage
< GAME> You pull open the wire door. Then you jerk back; something invisible
< GAME> seems to burst from the cage. It rolls across the room like lightning or
< GAME> dessicated time. It echoes.
< GAME>
< GAME> The apple spots, rots, and sinks into itself in a single instant. Within a
< GAME> heartbeat, the fruit is a withered husk -- as if it had sat in that cage for
< GAME> decades.
< GAME>
< GAME> [You may have made a mistake. You're not likely to get that apple back.
< GAME> (One never knows, of course, but that decay looked very final.) What can
< GAME> you do about it?
< GAME>
< GAME> One option is to type "undo". This will let you "back up" one move -- back
< GAME> to just before you opened the cage. Everything will be the same, except that
< GAME> the cage will still be closed and the apple will still be fresh.
< GAME>
< GAME> In this game, you can only "undo" one move in a row. So if you do
< GAME> something else now (even "look" or "examine apple"), you won't be able to
< GAME> jump back to before the cage opened. The "undo" command is intended
< GAME> only to fix immediate mistakes.
< GAME>
< GAME> If you want to go back more than one turn, you'll have to use the "restart"
< GAME> or "restore" commands. Type "help saving" for more information.
< GAME>
< GAME> (Actually, many games protect you from severe mistakes. Since this is an
< GAME> introductory game, you don't really have to worry about accidentally
< GAME> running into a dead end. If you truly need a fresh apple, you'll probably
< GAME> find another way to get one.)]
< GAME>
< GAME> > undo
< GAME> Mosaic Room
< GAME> [Previous turn undone.]
< GAME>
< GAME> >
< GAME> ---------------
< Teceler> XD
< Aestrix> So.
< Aestrix> Do not unleash the apple.
< Teceler> that is literally The Thing To Teach You About Undo XD
< Aestrix> xD
< Teceler> so XD
< Aestrix> So. So it's not cthulhu?
< Teceler> > w. nw
< sonatagreen> it is fragile precious babby.
< Teceler> it is a weird thing that is not cthulhu
< Aestrix> Poor apple babby
< Teceler> what do you mean? That apple is /fine/, remember :P
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > w
< GAME>
< GAME> Curving Hall
< GAME> You are in a high, dim corridor, walled in cracked and moldering plaster.
< GAME> The only light comes from tiny flickering candles above. The hall curves
< GAME> gently around from the south to the northwest. You see an open door to
< GAME> the west; archways open to the northeast and east.
< GAME>
< GAME> > nw
< GAME>
< GAME> Curving Hall at Pedestal
< GAME> The dingy plaster walls of this corridor curve out of sight to the west
< GAME> and southeast. Tiny candles provide the only illumination. Archways
< GAME> lead north and northeast.
< GAME>
< GAME> A short pedestal of black marble stands by the inner wall.
< GAME>
< GAME> >
< GAME> ---------------
< Teceler> > x pedestal
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > x pedestal
< GAME> A short, square pedestal of black marble stands here. It's entirely out of
< GAME> place; you get the impression the owner just shoved it against a wall one
< GAME> day, and never bothered to move it.
< GAME>
< GAME> >
< GAME> ---------------
< Teceler> (I have now loaded up my own copy so that I can test directions myself and not make sonatagreen cp extra stuff)
< Teceler> > ne
< Teceler> (unless people want to poke at that more, but we'll be back here, so)
< Andygal> Nah
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > ne
< GAME>
< GAME> Harp Chamber
< GAME> Broad golden pillars march around the edge of this circular chamber.
< GAME> The walls between the pillars are deeply set, painted in variegated
< GAME> shades of blue and sea-green, and lit from some hidden source. An
< GAME> archway leads southwest, and there is a door to the east. The eastern
< GAME> door is closed; blinding light seeps out around its edges.
< GAME>
< GAME> In the center of the room, the remains of a tall harp stand in proud ruin.
< GAME>
< GAME> Off to one side, lying on the floor, you see something that looks like a
< GAME> short bundle of straw.
< GAME>
< GAME> >
< GAME> ---------------
< Teceler> > x walls. x door. x harp. x straw
< kappabeta> this game is so pretty
< Teceler> I know, right?
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > x walls
< GAME> The ten wall panels are stippled in shades of blue and green. They are
< GAME> framed by the golden pillars; and somehow lit from the sides, as if
< GAME> invisible lights shone behind each pillar.
< GAME>
< GAME> The overall effect is bombastic, and rather absurd.
< GAME>
< GAME> > x door
< GAME> Intolerable brilliance seeps around the edges of the closed door. You can
< GAME> see no keyhole, only a simple latch.
< GAME>
< GAME> > x harp
< GAME> This once-proud instrument looks as if it was destroyed in inferno --
< GAME> although the room shows no other signs of a fire. The harp's pillar and
< GAME> frame are blackened and cracked; the soundbox is split apart. The few
< GAME> remaining strings are curled knots of ash.
< GAME>
< GAME> "What is this," you wonder, "in a wizard's house?" A failed spell? A
< GAME> defeated enemy? A strayed memory? Or a warning, or a word of past or
< GAME> prophecy. Or a splinter of charred wood.
< GAME>
< GAME> > x straw
< GAME> You take a closer look at the bundle of straw. Your best guess is that it's
< GAME> a torch of some sort. The straw is tied tightly at one end, forming a
< GAME> handle; the other end is splayed, and seems to be slightly charred.
< GAME>
< GAME> >
< GAME> ---------------
< Teceler> hello Ofeili!
< Ofeili> Hi!
< Aestrix> Hello!
< Teceler> > take torch. play harp
< Teceler> (yes, I am being a bit whimsical)
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > take torch
< GAME> Taken.
< GAME>
< GAME> > play harp
< GAME> No one will ever play this harp again.
< GAME>
< GAME> >
< GAME> ---------------
< kappabeta> pffhahahahahahahaha
< Aestrix> xD
< Ofeili> > look
< sonatagreen> I am feeling braintired, does someone else want to be floyd for a while?
< Ofeili> floyd?
< sonatagreen> I will send you a savefile
< Teceler> how are you doing the copy-pasting?
< sonatagreen> gamehost
< Ofeili> Ah.
< Aestrix> Personally I am also brain tired and might go curl up and sleep some more. xD
< Aestrix> Because I have been doing a great job of that lately. Sleeping.
< kappabeta> <3
< sonatagreen> I copypasted into emacs and set up a C-( thing to parse it.
< kappabeta> i'm a bit fuzzled too
< Aestrix> (That was sarcasm, everyone, I am slightly sleep deprived xD)
< Teceler> are we just taking a break then?
< Andygal> I am also feeling braintired.
< sonatagreen> ok
< Teceler> (good luck sleeping, then?)
< Aestrix> (Thank you :3)
< Aestrix> (I don't think I can yet.)
< Aestrix> (I would just stare at the ceiling for a while, then poke about on the internet.)
< GAME> ----------------
< GAME> > save
< GAME> Ok.
< GAME>
< GAME> >
< GAME> ---------------
< GAME> [ifclub-dreamhold-01.sav]
< sonatagreen> (I will send the save file to anyone who wants it)
< linkafk5> so that looked fun
< Aestrix> :)