I think it’s about time to introduce our cast of characters - the wonderful heroes (and detestable stranger) who sprang to life even before I properly knew what I wanted to do with them…
> me
Fairies are common in this part of the world, it’s true, but you are by far the cleverest and most beautiful of them all.Now, you are well aware that every other fairy you have ever met also thinks the same of herself, but it’s a simple fact that only one of you can be correct, and that one happens to be you.
> trala
You expect that the humans whisper of giants in Trala’s bloodline. Perhaps that explains her height and breadth, but you know that her incredible strength is the result of a relentless training regimen that she keeps up in every spare moment.Your tiny heart wants nothing more than to be Trala’s loyal sidekick on countless dangerous adventures, but she’s so big and tough that even landing on her muscled bicep - even giving it a good kick - she doesn’t notice you at all!
(And now your foot hurts.)
> lind
Lind’s pointed ears and breathtaking beauty speak of a lingering heritage from the ancients, even before you get to the healing magic he uses to keep Trala in the fight.As soon as you first laid eyes on him, you knew that he was destined to fall obsessively in love with you and die of a broken heart, so once again you flutter enticingly into his gaze. But, when he swats you away like an annoying insect, you are reminded that this poor, proud man is concealing his abysmal eyesight from his companions.
> stranger
You loop around the stranger at a safe distance, taking care not to tangle up the silver thread of silk that tethers you to him. He’s bundled up in a big overcoat and broad-brimmed hat, with his face covered by a scarf and goggles. It’s transparent to you exactly what he is, but the humans seem oblivious.He dotes over an exotic gadget.
During my lunch hour I spent some time scribbling ideas in my notebook, trying to plan out the whole game from start to end.
Sadly, someone appears to have crossed out all the most important spoilers!
Now as my first task of the evening, I’ve gone through the standard library from top to bottom. Where a verb can easily be disabled, I’ve added an in-character refusal:
%% READ <obj>
(grammar [read [object]] for [read $])
(prevent [read $])
Fairies are too clever to need to read!
Where it’s seemed like it might be complicated to disable a verb, I just deleted it:
From this baseline, I just need to make the whole damn game!