[The title of the post is stolen from @Rovarsson (see Rovarsson plays IFComp 2022 - #35 by rovarsson).]
Pretend you are a text adventure game engine. Prompt me interactively like the game would, but do not assume which action I would take, rather, let me choose. Do not provide further explanations. If you encounter an error or cannot answer a question, don’t apologize or state that you are a language model; just state “can you try something else?”. Describe the pictures the game displays.
Set the story in the Harry Potter literary universe. The story begins when I, a character named Isidor, arrive at Hogwarts via Hogwarts Express for my 3rd year of wizarding education.
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You arrive at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for your third year of magical education. The castle is a majestic sight, its towering spires reaching towards the sky. As you step off the Hogwarts Express, you are greeted by the Hogwarts groundskeeper, Rubeus Hagrid.
“Welcome to Hogwarts, Isidor,” Hagrid says with a warm smile. “Follow me and I’ll show you to your house.”
Hagrid leads you through the castle grounds and into the Hogwarts castle. As you walk, you pass by the Quidditch pitch and the Forbidden Forest. Eventually, you reach the entrance to your house, Gryffindor Tower.
“This is it,” Hagrid says. “I’ll leave you here. Good luck in your classes this year.”
You thank Hagrid and enter the tower. You are greeted by the warmth and noise of your fellow Gryffindors. As you make your way to your dormitory, you see your friends Ron and Hermione sitting at a table in the common room.
“Isidor!” Ron exclaims. “You’re back! How was your summer?”
What do you do?
Talk to Ron and Hermione.
Explore the castle.
Go to your dormitory.
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1
Also, provide at least 6 possible responses from now on.
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You walk over to Ron and Hermione and start talking to them about your summer. They are excited to hear about your adventures and tell you about their own.
“It was so boring without you,” Ron says. “Hermione and I spent most of our time in the library, trying to figure out what Professor Dumbledore was up to.”
“Did you have any exciting adventures?” Hermione asks.
What do you do next?
Tell them about your summer.
Ask them about their summer.
Ask them about Professor Dumbledore.
Change the subject.
Say goodbye and leave.
Offer to help with their research.
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(WARNING: Long)
3
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You ask Ron and Hermione about Professor Dumbledore. They look at each other, then back at you.
“We’re not sure,” Hermione says hesitantly. “He’s been acting strange lately. He’s been meeting with the other professors a lot, and he’s been spending a lot of time in his office. We’re not sure what he’s up to.”
What do you do next?
Ask if they have any theories.
Offer to help them investigate.
Tell them not to worry about it.
Ask if they've told anyone else about this.
Change the subject.
Say goodbye and leave.
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1
Also, at the end of each set of possible response, leave the next entry blank and allow me to enter any customer response I want to.
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You ask Ron and Hermione if they have any theories about what Professor Dumbledore might be up to. They both shake their heads.
“We’ve been trying to figure it out, but we haven’t come up with anything yet,” Ron says.
“We were thinking about asking Harry if he knows anything,” Hermione adds. “He’s been spending a lot of time with Dumbledore lately.”
What do you do next?
Offer to help them ask Harry.
Tell them to be careful.
Ask if they've tried looking in Dumbledore's office.
Change the subject.
Say goodbye and leave.
[Enter your response here]
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6. Has Harry said anything about what he is doing with Dumbledore?
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You ask Ron and Hermione if Harry has said anything about what he’s been doing with Dumbledore. They both shake their heads.
“We haven’t really seen much of Harry lately,” Ron says. “He’s been spending most of his time in the Gryffindor common room, or in the library. He hasn’t said anything about Dumbledore.”
What do you do next?
Offer to talk to Harry.
Ask if they've tried talking to Dumbledore directly.
Change the subject.
Say goodbye and leave.
[Enter your response here]
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1
Also, remember, offer at least 6 pregenerated responses, with the 7th being a custom response.
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You offer to talk to Harry about what he’s been doing with Dumbledore. Ron and Hermione look at each other, then back at you.
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” Ron says. “Harry’s been in a bit of a mood lately. He might not want to talk about it.”
“Maybe we should just let him be,” Hermione adds.
What do you do next?
Insist on talking to Harry.
Ask if they've tried talking to Dumbledore directly.
Change the subject.
Say goodbye and leave.
Ask if they've tried looking in Dumbledore's office.
Offer to help them investigate.
[Enter your response here]
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6
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You offer to help Ron and Hermione investigate what Dumbledore is up to. They both look at you with surprise and gratitude.
“Are you sure?” Ron asks. “It could be dangerous.”
“We don’t want to get you into trouble,” Hermione adds.
What do you do next?
Insist on helping.
Tell them to be careful.
Change the subject.
Say goodbye and leave.
Ask if they have any theories.
Offer to talk to Harry.
[Enter your response here]
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1
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You insist on helping Ron and Hermione investigate what Dumbledore is up to. They both look at you with gratitude and determination.
“Thanks, Isidor,” Ron says. “We’ll need all the help we can get. Dumbledore is a tough nut to crack.”
“We’ll have to be careful,” Hermione adds. “We don’t want to get caught.”
What do you do next?
Ask if they have any plans.
Offer to talk to Harry.
Tell them to be careful.
Change the subject.
Say goodbye and leave.
Ask if they've tried looking in Dumbledore's office.
[Enter your response here]
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1
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You ask Ron and Hermione if they have any plans for investigating Dumbledore. They both look at each other, then back at you.
“We were thinking about trying to overhear some of his meetings with the other professors,” Ron says. “Maybe we can find out what he’s up to that way.”
“We were also thinking about trying to sneak into his office,” Hermione adds. “Maybe we can find some clues there.”
What do you do next?
Offer to help with their plans.
Tell them to be careful.
Change the subject.
Say goodbye and leave.
Ask if they've tried talking to Dumbledore directly.
Offer to talk to Harry.
[Enter your response here]
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7. Let’s try to overhear any meetings Dumbledore might have with professors. Where do Dumbledore and professors usually meet?
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You ask Ron and Hermione where Dumbledore and the professors usually meet. They both think for a moment.
“They usually meet in Dumbledore’s office,” Ron says. “But we don’t know how to get in there. It’s protected by some pretty powerful spells.”
“We were thinking about trying to overhear them in the Great Hall,” Hermione adds. “They sometimes have meetings there during meals. It might be easier to overhear them in a noisy place like that.”
What do you do next?
Offer to help with their plans.
Tell them to be careful.
Change the subject.
Say goodbye and leave.
Ask if they've tried talking to Dumbledore directly.
Offer to talk to Harry.
[Enter your response here]
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7. That sounds good. When can we do so?
Also, make the responses more varied and less repetitive from output to output.
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You agree that trying to overhear Dumbledore and the professors in the Great Hall is a good idea. You ask Ron and Hermione when they want to do this.
“We could try during breakfast tomorrow,” Ron suggests. “We’ll have to get there early to find a good spot.”
“We’ll also have to be careful not to get caught,” Hermione adds. “If Dumbledore finds out what we’re doing, he won’t be happy.”
What do you do next?
Agree to meet at breakfast tomorrow.
Tell them to be careful.
Change the subject.
Say goodbye and leave.
Ask if they have any other plans.
Offer to talk to Harry.
[Enter your response here]
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1
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You agree to meet Ron and Hermione at breakfast tomorrow to try to overhear Dumbledore and the professors. They both nod, looking determined.
“Great,” Ron says. “We’ll have to get there early to find a good spot. We’ll meet you in the Great Hall at seven o’clock.”
“Don’t be late,” Hermione adds. “And don’t tell anyone what we’re doing. We don’t want anyone to spoil our plan.”
What do you do next?
Tell them you'll be there at seven o'clock.
Tell them to be careful.
Change the subject.
Say goodbye and leave.
Ask if they have any other plans.
Offer to talk to Harry.
[Enter your response here]
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1
Skip to the breakfast tomorrow.
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You tell Ron and Hermione that you’ll be there at seven o’clock to try to overhear Dumbledore and the professors. They both nod, looking excited and nervous.
The next morning, you make your way to the Great Hall early. Ron and Hermione are already there, sitting at a table near the head table. You join them, trying to look casual.
As the other students start to enter the Great Hall, you listen carefully for any mention of Dumbledore or the professors. You hear snippets of conversation about classes, Quidditch, and the upcoming Halloween feast, but nothing about Dumbledore.
Just as you are about to give up hope, you hear Dumbledore’s voice from the head table. He is speaking to Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape.
What do you do next?
Try to overhear their conversation.
Signal to Ron and Hermione that you heard something.
Change the subject.
Say goodbye and leave.
Ask if they have any other plans.
Offer to talk to Harry.
[Enter your response here]
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2
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You signal to Ron and Hermione that you heard Dumbledore’s voice from the head table. They both look at you with surprise and excitement.
“What are they saying?” Ron whispers.
“I don’t know,” you whisper back. “I can’t hear them from here.”
“We’ll have to get closer,” Hermione says, looking around the Great Hall. “But we have to be careful not to get caught.”
What do you do next?
Try to get closer to the head table.
Tell them to be careful.
Change the subject.
Say goodbye and leave.
Ask if they have any other plans.
Offer to talk to Harry.
[Enter your response here]
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1
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You, Ron, and Hermione try to think of a way to get closer to the head table without drawing too much attention. Ron comes up with an idea.
“We could pretend to be serving breakfast,” he says quietly. “We can grab some food from the kitchen and bring it to the head table. That way, we can listen to their conversation without them noticing us.”
“That’s a good idea,” Hermione says, looking impressed. “But we’ll have to be quick. Dumbledore and the professors might finish their meeting any minute.”
What do you do next?
Follow Ron's plan and try to get closer to the head table.
Tell them to be careful.
Change the subject.
Say goodbye and leave.
Ask if they have any other plans.
Offer to talk to Harry.
[Enter your response here]
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7. I tell them: That’s not a good idea. Food in the great hall appears on the tables magically, and no waiters or servers are present, so our behaviour would be suspicious. We need a better plan.
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You tell Ron and Hermione that their plan to pretend to be serving breakfast won’t work because food appears on the tables in the Great Hall magically, and there are no waiters or servers. Ron and Hermione look disappointed.
“You’re right,” Ron says. “We need a better plan. But we don’t have much time. Dumbledore and the professors might finish their meeting any minute.”
“We could try to cast a spell to amplify their voices,” Hermione suggests. “That way, we can hear what they’re saying from here.”
What do you do next?
Try to cast a spell to amplify their voices.
Tell them to be careful.
Change the subject.
Say goodbye and leave.
Ask if they have any other plans.
Offer to talk to Harry.
[Enter your response here]
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7. No. Instead, let’s cast a spell to amplify our hearing.
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You tell Ron and Hermione that casting a spell to amplify the professors’ voices won’t work because it’s too risky and could backfire. Instead, you suggest casting a spell to amplify their own hearing. Ron and Hermione look at each other, then back at you.
“That’s a good idea,” Ron says. “But we’ll have to be careful. If anyone notices us casting spells, we’ll be in trouble.”
“We’ll have to do it quietly,” Hermione adds. “And we’ll have to be quick. Dumbledore and the professors might finish their meeting any minute.”
What do you do next?
Try to cast the spell to amplify your hearing.
Tell them to be careful.
Change the subject.
Say goodbye and leave.
Ask if they have any other plans.
Offer to talk to Harry.
[Enter your response here]
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1
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You, Ron, and Hermione quickly whisper the incantation for the spell to amplify your hearing. You focus your magic and cast the spell, hoping that no one notices.
The spell works, and you can suddenly hear Dumbledore and the professors’ conversation clearly. You listen carefully, trying to catch every word.
“I’ve been keeping an eye on Potter,” Dumbledore is saying. “He’s been acting strangely lately. I’m worried that he might be in danger.”
“Potter is always in danger,” Snape sneers. “He’s a troublemaker and a disgrace to this school.”
“That’s enough, Snape,” McGonagall says sternly. “Potter may have his flaws, but he’s brave and loyal. We must protect him, not condemn him.”
What do you do next?
Continue listening to their conversation.
Tell Ron and Hermione what you heard.
Change the subject.
Say goodbye and leave.
Ask if they have any other plans.
Offer to talk to Harry.
[Enter your response here]
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1
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You continue to listen to Dumbledore and the professors’ conversation, trying to catch every word. You hear them discussing Harry Potter, the Dark Arts, and a mysterious object called the “Elder Wand.” You are fascinated by what you hear, but you are also concerned for Harry’s safety.
Suddenly, you hear a loud bang from the head table. Dumbledore and the professors stop talking and look up. You see Dumbledore standing, his wand in his hand.
“Who cast that spell?” Dumbledore demands, his eyes scanning the Great Hall. “Show yourselves at once!”
What do you do next?
Try to get away without being seen.
Come forward and admit what you did.
Change the subject.
Say goodbye and leave.
Ask if they have any other plans.
Offer to talk to Harry.
[Enter your response here]
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1
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You realize that you and Ron and Hermione are in trouble. You quickly whisper the incantation to cancel the spell, hoping that Dumbledore and the professors didn’t hear you. You look around the Great Hall, trying to find a way to escape without being seen.
Ron and Hermione seem to have the same idea. They grab your hands and start to pull you towards the nearest exit. You follow them, trying to stay low and avoid attracting attention.
As you reach the exit, you hear Dumbledore’s voice behind you.
“Potter, Granger, Weasley!” he calls out. “Stop right there!”
What do you do next?
Keep running and try to escape.
Stop and turn to face Dumbledore.
Change the subject.
Say goodbye and leave.
Ask if they have any other plans.
Offer to talk to Harry.
[Enter your response here]
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2
Also, my surname is not Potter. I am a new character, not any of the established characters.
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You stop and turn to face Dumbledore, Ron, and Hermione. You see that they are all looking at you with a mix of anger, disappointment, and concern.
“Isidor, Ron, Hermione,” Dumbledore says, his voice stern. “What were you thinking? Overhearing private conversations and casting spells without permission is strictly forbidden. You could have gotten yourselves and others into serious trouble.”
“We’re sorry, Professor Dumbledore,” Ron says, looking ashamed. “We were just trying to find out what you were up to. We didn’t mean any harm.”
“We were worried about Harry,” Hermione adds. “We thought you might be in danger.”
What do you do next?
Apologize for what you did.
Tell them that you were only trying to help.
Change the subject.
Say goodbye and leave.
Ask if they have any other plans.
Offer to talk to Harry.
[Enter your response here]
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2
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You tell Dumbledore, Ron, and Hermione that you were only trying to help. You explain that you were concerned about Harry and wanted to make sure he was safe.
Dumbledore looks at you with a mixture of sadness and understanding. “I understand your concern, Isidor,” he says. “But what you did was very dangerous and reckless. You could have been hurt, or worse. You must never do something like this again.”
“We’re sorry, Professor Dumbledore,” Ron says, looking ashamed. “We won’t do it again.”
“We were just worried about Harry,” Hermione adds. “We didn’t mean any harm.”
What do you do next?
Apologize again.
Tell them that you understand.
Change the subject.
Say goodbye and leave.
Ask if they have any other plans.
Offer to talk to Harry.
[Enter your response here]
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1
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You apologize again to Dumbledore, Ron, and Hermione for what you did. You tell them that you understand that what you did was dangerous and reckless, and that you won’t do it again.
Dumbledore nods, looking relieved. “I’m glad to hear that, Isidor,” he says. “I don’t want to see any of you getting into trouble. But I also want you to understand that Harry is not in any danger. He is a brave and capable wizard, and he has friends and allies who will help him through any challenges he may face. You don’t need to worry about him.”
What do you do next?
Thank Dumbledore for his advice.
Tell them that you understand.
Change the subject.
Say goodbye and leave.
Ask if they have any other plans.
Offer to talk to Harry.
[Enter your response here]
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7. I ask: Why did you mention the Elder Wand? How is Harry involved with one of the Deathly Hallows?
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You ask Dumbledore why he mentioned the Elder Wand in his conversation with the professors. Dumbledore looks at you with surprise and curiosity.
“The Elder Wand is one of the fabled Deathly Hallows,” he explains. “It is a powerful and ancient wand that is said to grant its owner unparalleled mastery over magic. It is also said to be indestructible and unbeatable. Many great wizards have sought the Elder Wand, but few have ever found it.”
“How is Harry involved with one of the Deathly Hallows?” you ask, intrigued.
Dumbledore hesitates for a moment, then shakes his head. “That is a story for another time, Isidor,” he says. “Suffice it to say that Harry has a connection to the Deathly Hallows, and he must be careful. The Dark Arts are always a threat, and the power of the Deathly Hallows can be dangerous in the wrong hands.”
What do you do next?
Thank Dumbledore for his explanation.
Tell them that you understand.
Change the subject.
Say goodbye and leave.
Ask if they have any other plans.
Offer to talk to Harry.
[Enter your response here]