Thanks for sharing! I was pleasantly surprised by this; I opened it to just skim and see if it had any problems I could report on to come back here and give you tips, but it’s actually compelling and I’ve been focused on it since you posted it!
I’m a bit stuck. I’m going to try on my own a little longer but I’m worried I missed some clues since at first I was just rushing through the game to get a feel for it before I got hooked.
What can I pry the floorboard with?
Where can I find something to replace my shovel handle?
I currently have:
Inventory
You are carrying:
an empty shotgun shell
two shotgun shells
a Winchester shotgun (closed)
a few planks of wood
a broken shovel
a rusty padlock (open)
a chain
an axe head
a key ring
a roll of duct tape
a broom
an old rag
a lantern (providing light)
an old notebook
I’m going to go through rooms one at a time, so I might figure it out before I see your response, but it might help others!
Either way, I’m impressed by the good coding and the story and atmosphere are up my alley. I hope you’ll list the information about the game on IFDB.org (it will point to itch) so people can review or rate it. (Edit: someone already has)
Edit: I solved the first problem. I did have a little trouble with the parser, so I’m including a transcript here:
Transcript
>pry floorboard with hammer
It takes a good five minutes prying at the nails and board with the hammer, but you finally manage to lift it and discover a small hiding place in which sits a strange box.
[Your score has just gone up by one point.]
>take strange
That won't be helpful.
>x it
Worn down to a shiny sheen.
>take strange box
That won't be helpful.
>x strange box
You see nothing special.
>l
Back Hallway
The walls at this end of the hallway appear less weathered, indicating the rear of the cabin is a recent extension of the original construction, but the floorboards at the foot of the door leading outside are more worn, no doubt from years of boots stamping home. Each side of the hallway is set with a single door.
You can go outside.
A strange box made from bones has been hidden beneath the floorboards.
You can go south to the Front Hallway, east to the Bathroom, and west to the Large Bedroom from here.
>x bones
You see nothing special.
>search box
You can't see inside, since the marrow reliquary is closed.
>open reliquary
It seems to be locked.
>x it
A grotesque rectangular box about twenty inches long, constructed from ancient bones, each broken and worked into shape, and protected from the elements by a dark resin that may be marrow drained from the bones themselves.
The locked reliquary has four pressable sigils on the front, and above each is a small carved emblem:
First sigil: a demonic skull
Second sigil: a demonic skull
Third sigil: a demonic skull
Fourth sigil: a demonic skull.
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