Start of a transcript of: Bad Beer An Interactive Adventure by Vivienne Dunstan Release 1 / Serial number 240729 / Inform 7 v10.1.1 Inform 7 v10.1.1 Identification number: //8EB3CF7D-61A6-4EA6-9231-F40A61DD5C09// Interpreter version 2.2.1 / VM 3.1.3 >about This is a short parser interactive fiction game which sprang out of a game idea brainstormed while taking the Write Your First Adventure Workshop run by Storytelling Collective. That course was aimed at RPG scenario writers, but could be twisted to interactive fiction. Then the idea was put to one side, until it was rediscovered, perfect in scale and length for IFComp. Influences for this game include K.M. Peyton's book A Pattern of Roses, Helen Cresswell's book Moondial, Dee Cooke's PunyInform game Morris, and British TV series Sapphire & Steel. There are also elements inspired by my husband's home county Somerset, or, as I often like to think of it, Zummerzet. For thanks to playtesters etc. please use the CREDITS command. >credits Inform 10 is the work of Graham Nelson. Many thanks to my playtesters: Amanda Walker, Jeffrey Elliott, Jkj, Mel Jason, Josh Grams, Martin Dunstan and Nick Marsh. >l Inside the Pub This is the main room of "The Dog and Duck", your local pub. You've spent many a happy night here. The room is quaint, with wooden beams. You feel the sense of history here. There are several tables and seats. To the south is the front door leading onto the street, and to the north is the area behind the bar. You can see Jack, some regulars and a pint glass here. The room is filled with the pleasant sounds of people drinking. Though they don't seem to be enjoying the beer as much as usual. "Ere, give me that glass, will ee!" says Jack. >x glass It is an empty pint glass, waiting to be filled with the pub's delicious beer. >smell glass You sniff carefully but smell nothing unexpected. You hear the chat of regulars, though a smaller number than the pub usually has. "Let me show you what this beer is like. Hand that glass over," says Jack. >taste glass You taste nothing unexpected. Jack nods to you, eyebrows raised. >give glass to jack (first taking the pint glass) "Yes, let me show you," says Jack eagerly, taking the empty pint glass from you. He fills it carefully with beer, with a good head of froth on top. "There, try that!" he says, passing it back to you. >smell beer You sniff the beer. It doesn't quite smell right. Seems a bit off. >taste beer You raise the glass to your lips, and drink. But unlike the usual good drink here, this tastes like something really bad, rotten, just all wrong. You pull a face, and put the glass back down. "Aarr!" says Jack. "Now you see! It ain't right!" He takes the glass from you and empties it with disgust. "All our drinks taste like that now. I might as well shut up shop. I can't find anything wrongly set up. Can you check around the pub for me?" You nod, though uncertain what you will find. But Jack is just grateful, and shakes your hand warmly, before turning away, leaving you free to start exploring. The room is filled with the pleasant sounds of people drinking. Though they don't seem to be enjoying the beer as much as usual. >x tap You can't see any such thing. >l Inside the Pub This is the main room of "The Dog and Duck", your local pub. You've spent many a happy night here. The room is quaint, with wooden beams. You feel the sense of history here. There are several tables and seats. To the south is the front door leading onto the street, and to the north is the area behind the bar. You can see Jack and some regulars here. >ask jack about beer "It was one drink occasionally at first, then more and more often, until now they all taste bad!" wails Jack. "The locals don't like it!" A customer makes a joke, and their friend laughs in response. >talk to regulars They look at you blankly, then return to their drinks. I don't think you're going to get much information out of them. >n Behind the Bar This is the area behind the pub counter, where Jack and June often stand to serve the patrons, though they are not here right now. Rows of taps for pulling curiously titled beers and ciders run along the wooden counter top, delivering drinks from the kegs stored below. Behind the standing area are shelves holding glasses for the drinks. Exits go to the south, east and west from here. >get glass Best leave the glasses where they are. >x taps A row of taps for pulling beer and cider run along the wooden bar. Among them are the pub's most popular beers: Honeyed Badger, Golden Hare, and the one you tried just now, Stinky Ferret. Each tap has an ornate handle for pulling the beer. >x kegs You bend down, and see the kegs under the bar, each connected to its tap with a beer line. You're no expert, but everything looks as you think it probably should. You stand back up again, no wiser. >* I am an expert tho! That's not a verb I recognise. >* well, a motivated amateur... You seem to want to talk to someone, but I can't see whom. >x glasses The shelves hold glasses ready for the drinks to be poured. >get glass Best leave the glasses where they are. >pull badger tap I only understood you as far as wanting to pull Honeyed Badger. >pull tap Jack's tried to show you how to pull a pint, but you're still unsure, so best not. >x beer lines You bend down, and see the kegs under the bar, each connected to its tap with a beer line. You're no expert, but everything looks as you think it probably should. You stand back up again, no wiser. >l Behind the Bar This is the area behind the pub counter, where Jack and June often stand to serve the patrons, though they are not here right now. Rows of taps for pulling curiously titled beers and ciders run along the wooden counter top, delivering drinks from the kegs stored below. Behind the standing area are shelves holding glasses for the drinks. Exits go to the south, east and west from here. >s Inside the Pub This is the main room of "The Dog and Duck", your local pub. You've spent many a happy night here. The room is quaint, with wooden beams. You feel the sense of history here. There are several tables and seats. To the south is the front door leading onto the street, and to the north is the area behind the bar. You can see Jack and some regulars here. >n Behind the Bar This is the area behind the pub counter, where Jack and June often stand to serve the patrons, though they are not here right now. Rows of taps for pulling curiously titled beers and ciders run along the wooden counter top, delivering drinks from the kegs stored below. Behind the standing area are shelves holding glasses for the drinks. Exits go to the south, east and west from here. >e Kitchen This is the small but functional pub kitchen, east of the rest of the pub. A well lit room, filled with shelves of pots and pans, as well as a cooker, fridge freezer, and sink. This is mainly June's area, and she pops in and out during the pub's opening hours. June is indeed here, preparing the pub's meals. Sally is also here, chatting to her and helping. Both look up and smile as you enter. "Having a look around, are you love?" asks June. "Jack hoped you might help." You can see June and Sally here. >ask june about beer "Oh Jack's so worried. The beer has been off for a while, and we can't find anything wrong with the setup," says June, shaking her head sadly. "Though it's not the only strange thing that's been going on here," she says, nodding to you significantly. >ask about strange thing You can't see any such thing. >ask june about strange things "We've had so many strange things going on," says June. "Not just the beer, but also odd noises everywhere." "And cold spells too," adds Sally. "Especially on the stairs and in the cellar. I don't like going in there now." >ask sally about strange things "Oh it's an old pub this, with history back as long as your arm," says Sally. "Sometimes I wonder if the place is haunted. Right enough we've been having cold spells lately. And odd noises." >ask sally about noises "Gives me the creeps the odd noises do!" says Sally fiercely. Sally washes up some things in the sink. >ask june about noises June has already told you that that they've had strange things going on, including odd noises, and (as Sally adds) cold spells too. Voices come through from the pub. Sounds like the customers are having a good time. >l Kitchen This is the small but functional pub kitchen, east of the rest of the pub. A well lit room, filled with shelves of pots and pans, as well as a cooker, fridge freezer, and sink. This is mainly June's area, and she pops in and out during the pub's opening hours. You can see June and Sally here. June bustles away, sorting out food. >x sink This is where the dishes and things are washed up. Voices come through from the pub. Sounds like the customers are having a good time. >x fridge You open the fridge freezer. It is full of supplies for the pub. You are about to shut the door when it suddenly BANGS shut on you by itself. "There it's doing that again!" says Sally. "Gives me the creeps it does." June nods, adding, "It's been going on for a while." "I hope the diners enjoy the latest food," says Sally, hard at work. >x freezer It's a small but functional fridge freezer, used to store pub supplies. You consider opening it again, but think better of it. >x cooker It's a pretty basic cooker. Nothing much to see here. Voices come through from the pub. Sounds like the customers are having a good time. >get pot Best not. June needs them here. >i You are carrying nothing. >w Behind the Bar This is the area behind the pub counter, where Jack and June often stand to serve the patrons, though they are not here right now. Rows of taps for pulling curiously titled beers and ciders run along the wooden counter top, delivering drinks from the kegs stored below. Behind the standing area are shelves holding glasses for the drinks. Exits go to the south, east and west from here. >w Bottom of the Stairs This small hallway leads east to the bar area and up some stairs to the pub's bedrooms. An exit leads west and down into the pub's cellar. >d Down in the Pub's Cellar You step down towards the pub's cellar, turning on the light switch at the top of the steps as you start to go down. This small room stores the pub's spare kegs of beer, crates of bottles, and other bits and pieces. The lighting is poor, and you remember when Jack showed you down here that the light has a habit of flickering. >x kegs Various kegs of the pub's drinks are stored here. >x beer Various kegs of the pub's drinks are stored here. >x bottles Various heavy crates of drink bottles are stored here. You notice something hidden behind the crates, but can't quite reach it. There the light goes for a moment. >x light You see nothing special about the light switch. >x stairs You can't see any such thing. >l Down in the Pub's Cellar This small room stores the pub's spare kegs of beer, crates of bottles, and other bits and pieces. The lighting is poor, and you remember when Jack showed you down here that the light has a habit of flickering. >turn off light No way! You don't want to be in the dark down here. >l Down in the Pub's Cellar This small room stores the pub's spare kegs of beer, crates of bottles, and other bits and pieces. The lighting is poor, and you remember when Jack showed you down here that the light has a habit of flickering. >e Bottom of the Stairs This small hallway leads east to the bar area and up some stairs to the pub's bedrooms. An exit leads west and down into the pub's cellar. >w Down in the Pub's Cellar This small room stores the pub's spare kegs of beer, crates of bottles, and other bits and pieces. The lighting is poor, and you remember when Jack showed you down here that the light has a habit of flickering. You shiver suddenly. It is cold down here. >w Sorry, you can't go that way. From here, you can go east. The light flickers. >x cold You can't see any such thing. >touch cold You can't see any such thing. >touch keg You feel nothing unexpected. There the light goes for a moment. >* light goes... where? That's not a verb I recognise. >* nvm, I see You seem to want to talk to someone, but I can't see whom. >up Bottom of the Stairs This small hallway leads east to the bar area and up some stairs to the pub's bedrooms. An exit leads west and down into the pub's cellar. >up Top of the Stairs This is the top of the stairs. You feel surprisingly high up here, almost vertiginous. Two bedrooms lead off to the west and south. The stairs lead back down to the pub. >w In one of the pub's bedrooms This is a small bedroom upstairs in the pub, with a small bed, plus a window. The room is decorated a pale green colour. Back to the east are the stairs down to the main pub. >x bed The bed is made up ready for guests, though few people stay here. >x window You see nothing special about the window. >e Top of the Stairs This is the top of the stairs. You feel surprisingly high up here, almost vertiginous. This time around this spot also suddenly feels cold, causing you to shiver. That's strange. Two bedrooms lead off to the west and south. The stairs lead back down to the pub. >s In one of the pub's bedrooms This is a small bedroom upstairs in the pub, with a small bed, plus a window. The room is decorated a warm red colour. Back to the north are the stairs down to the main pub. >x bed The bed is made up ready for guests, though few people stay here. You suddenly feel a chill, as though someone is behind you. You turn around quickly, but there is no-one there. >x bed You see nothing special about the bed. >look under bed You kneel down but find nothing of interest. >open window It doesn't seem to open, no matter how hard you try. >x window You see nothing special about the window. >look through window You can see outside the pub. A very familiar sight. >n Top of the Stairs This is the top of the stairs. You feel surprisingly high up here, almost vertiginous. Two bedrooms lead off to the west and south. The stairs lead back down to the pub. >w In one of the pub's bedrooms This is a small bedroom upstairs in the pub, with a small bed, plus a window. The room is decorated a pale green colour. Back to the east are the stairs down to the main pub. >look under bed You kneel down but find nothing of interest. >open window It doesn't seem to open, no matter how hard you try. >look through window You can see outside the pub. A very familiar sight. >w Sorry, you can't go that way. From here, you can go east. >e Top of the Stairs This is the top of the stairs. You feel surprisingly high up here, almost vertiginous. Two bedrooms lead off to the west and south. The stairs lead back down to the pub. >d Bottom of the Stairs This small hallway leads east to the bar area and up some stairs to the pub's bedrooms. An exit leads west and down into the pub's cellar. >e Behind the Bar This is the area behind the pub counter, where Jack and June often stand to serve the patrons, though they are not here right now. Rows of taps for pulling curiously titled beers and ciders run along the wooden counter top, delivering drinks from the kegs stored below. Behind the standing area are shelves holding glasses for the drinks. Exits go to the south, east and west from here. >s Inside the Pub This is the main room of "The Dog and Duck", your local pub. You've spent many a happy night here. The room is quaint, with wooden beams. You feel the sense of history here. There are several tables and seats. To the south is the front door leading onto the street, and to the north is the area behind the bar. You can see Jack and some regulars here. Jack comes over to you. "Ere, the Reverend wanted to show you something." You see a man approach, and recognise him as the village's vicar, Reverend Bottledale. "I found some papers that might help," says the vicar, handing some sheets of paper over to you. "It's about the pub's history," he adds. You hear the chat of regulars, though a smaller number than the pub usually has. >x papers The papers are printouts of various notes about the pub and its history. Lots of small details, but not - at least yet - written up in a coherent history. You glance down the page and see details like: - The Dog and Duck dates from at least the early 1800s - Pub possibly under a different name before, but recorded under modern name back a long way - Publicans traced in census returns include Jacob Gudgeon, Arthur Pretty, George Sherry and Fred Sparks - Vague rumours of a tragic death here, maybe mid 1800s - Newspaper references to local pub games, other notable events, plus some dodgy drink selling and illegal gambling on site! You suddenly feel cold, and looking up from the papers see a pale, wispy figure standing. It looks like a young boy. He is pointing straight at you. Your chest clenches, and the view around you fades, before moments later you come to again ... Please press SPACE to continue. Inside the Pub This is a pub, with thick wooden beams, and lots of tables and chairs for people to sit in. It is a comfortable space. The area behind the bar is to the north and a door leads out to the south. You can see a landlord and some customers here. This looks so like the pub you know so well, similar layout, it feels familiar. But the decor and the people are like something from the past, in fact a really long time ago in the past. What just happened?! You look at yourself and you seem faint now. This just gets odder. >talk to landlord You try to get his attention, but he doesn't respond. In fact he doesn't seem to see or hear you at all. >s Outside the Pub Stepping outside you find yourself beside a rough surfaced old village street. And there's the pub sign, "The Dog and Duck". Of course it is. Though it looks to have a fresher lick of paint than you remember. Everything is different, but somehow it's still the same. >n Inside the Pub This is a pub, with thick wooden beams, and lots of tables and chairs for people to sit in. It is a comfortable space. The area behind the bar is to the north and a door leads out to the south. You can see a landlord and some customers here. Some of the customers are laughing loudly, as one tells a risqué story. Then the landlord calls, "Will, can you go and fetch the plant pot from upstairs? I think it would do better down here." He is speaking to a young boy, maybe 14 or 15 years old, who you now notice standing beside the bar. A boy, you realise with a jolt, who is worryingly familiar. For a moment you remember the strange spectre you saw in your time. "Aye, sir," says Will, with a cheery voice, putting away a small wooden toy that he had been playing with. He walks round the bar and heads through to the back of the pub. Not knowing why, you follow him. No one notices as you pass them in the pub. In the hallway you see Will dart upstairs, sometimes two steps at a time. You follow, and see he dashes into one bedroom, then comes back out, holding a plant pot with a small leafy plant inside it. He steps back towards the stairs, then everything slows ... as you watch ... unable to act. Will catches his foot on the floor ... and with a strange, slow motion cry tumbles down the stairs ... the plant pot flying up into the air as he falls, only to land beside the boy's broken and bleeding body at the bottom of the stairs. The wooden toy he had been playing with also falls, rolling down towards the cellar. You know there is no hope. Your heart breaks. Shocked to the core, you suddenly feel light headed and pressed upon from all around. The room spins, and you find yourself ... Please press SPACE to continue. ... back in the old version of the pub. You shake your head in disbelief. You hear the same story that you heard a few minutes ago. Will is standing by the bar. What on earth is happening? Inside the Pub This is a pub, with thick wooden beams, and lots of tables and chairs for people to sit in. It is a comfortable space. The area behind the bar is to the north and a door leads out to the south. You can see Will, a landlord and some customers here. >talk to will For a moment it's as though Will can hear you. But then he looks away. Suddenly you hear those fateful words again: "Will, can you go and fetch the plant pot from upstairs? I think it would do better down here." "Aye, sir," says Will. He turns, and almost seems to notice you. But then he turns away again, and the moment has passed. >e Sorry, you can't go that way. From here, you can go north and south. >n Behind the Bar This is the area behind the pub counter. Similar to what you remember, though somewhat simpler. Exits go to the south, east and west from here. >e Kitchen This is the pub's small kitchen, east of the rest of the pub. It looks familiar, though is missing all the modern electrical equipment from your time. A cook is here, preparing pub food at a table. You can see a cook here. The cook works busily. >w Behind the Bar This is the area behind the pub counter. Similar to what you remember, though somewhat simpler. Exits go to the south, east and west from here. You can see Will here. >w Bottom of the Stairs This small hallway leads east to the bar area and up some stairs to the pub's bedrooms. An exit leads west and down into the pub's cellar. It feels virtually the same as you remember from your time. Will arrives from the main pub area. He looks so full of life, and steps up towards the stairs. >x toy You can't see any such thing. >u Top of the Stairs This is the top of the stairs. As in your time you feel surprisingly high up here, almost vertiginous. Two bedrooms lead off to the west and south. The stairs lead back down to the pub. >w In one of the pub's bedrooms This is a small bedroom upstairs in the pub, with a small bed, plus a window. It looks much like in your time, but is more simply decorated. Back to the east are the stairs down to the main pub. >e Top of the Stairs This is the top of the stairs. As in your time you feel surprisingly high up here, almost vertiginous. Two bedrooms lead off to the west and south. The stairs lead back down to the pub. You can see Will here. >s In one of the pub's bedrooms This is a small bedroom upstairs in the pub, with a small bed, plus a window. It looks much like in your time, but is a lighter cream colour. Back to the north are the stairs down to the main pub. You can see a plant pot here. Will comes into the bedroom and looks around. >get pot Taken. >n Top of the Stairs This is the top of the stairs. As in your time you feel surprisingly high up here, almost vertiginous. Two bedrooms lead off to the west and south. The stairs lead back down to the pub. >d Bottom of the Stairs This small hallway leads east to the bar area and up some stairs to the pub's bedrooms. An exit leads west and down into the pub's cellar. It feels virtually the same as you remember from your time. >drop pot Dropped. You hear a noise at the top of the stairs, as Will returns. >x will You can't see any such thing. >x toy You can't see any such thing. >z Time passes. >z Time passes. To your horror the accident happens all over again. You didn't stop it. Suddenly you feel faint, and the world spins around you ... Please press SPACE to continue. ... and you find yourself back in the old version of the pub. You shake your head in disbelief. You hear the same story that you heard a few minutes ago. Will is again standing by the bar. Suddenly, and differently from last time, you hear a ghostly voice in your head say, "Just one last chance to save me. Please." Inside the Pub This is a pub, with thick wooden beams, and lots of tables and chairs for people to sit in. It is a comfortable space. The area behind the bar is to the north and a door leads out to the south. You can see Will, a landlord and some customers here. >talk to will For a moment it's as though Will can hear you. But then he looks away. >get toy You can't see any such thing. >x will Will looks to be in his early or mid teens, but seems quite small for his age. He has short, brown hair, and a cheery face. Suddenly you hear those fateful words again: "Will, can you go and fetch the plant pot from upstairs? I think it would do better down here." "Aye, sir," says Will. He turns, and almost seems to notice you. But then he turns away again, and the moment has passed. >n Behind the Bar This is the area behind the pub counter. Similar to what you remember, though somewhat simpler. Exits go to the south, east and west from here. >e Kitchen This is the pub's small kitchen, east of the rest of the pub. It looks familiar, though is missing all the modern electrical equipment from your time. A cook is here, preparing pub food at a table. You can see a cook here. >w Behind the Bar This is the area behind the pub counter. Similar to what you remember, though somewhat simpler. Exits go to the south, east and west from here. Will arrives from the main pub area. >w Bottom of the Stairs This small hallway leads east to the bar area and up some stairs to the pub's bedrooms. An exit leads west and down into the pub's cellar. It feels virtually the same as you remember from your time. >x stairs The stairs lead up to the pub's bedrooms for paying guests. Will arrives from the main pub area. He looks so full of life, and steps up towards the stairs. >push will Will might not like that. >talk to will For a moment it's as though Will can hear you. But then he looks away. Will starts to climb up the stairs. >yell That's not a verb I recognise. >u Top of the Stairs This is the top of the stairs. As in your time you feel surprisingly high up here, almost vertiginous. Two bedrooms lead off to the west and south. The stairs lead back down to the pub. You can see Will here. >s In one of the pub's bedrooms This is a small bedroom upstairs in the pub, with a small bed, plus a window. It looks much like in your time, but is a lighter cream colour. Back to the north are the stairs down to the main pub. You can see a plant pot here. Will comes into the bedroom and looks around. >get pot Taken. >i You are carrying: a plant pot some papers Will suddenly seems to see you, spots the plant pot, and takes it from you, smiling. >get pot That seems to belong to Will. You can't take that. >hold will Sure you like picking things up, but I don't suppose Will would care for that. Will leaves the bedroom. >s Sorry, you can't go that way. From here, you can go north. >n Top of the Stairs This is the top of the stairs. As in your time you feel surprisingly high up here, almost vertiginous. Two bedrooms lead off to the west and south. The stairs lead back down to the pub. You can see Will here. To your horror the accident happens all over again. You didn't stop it. Suddenly you feel faint, and the world spins around you ... Please press SPACE to continue. Some time has passed, since your jaunt into the past. Today you are meeting Reverend Bottledale in the small churchyard some distance from the pub. He said he had something to show you. In a small country churchyard This is the village's old churchyard. A calm place, where old gravestones push up among wild flowers and grasses, with ancient trees leaning overhead, dappling the sunshine and providing shade. You can hear birds singing nearby. You can see Reverend Bottledale here. >talk to reverend "Jack said you were looking into what's been going on," says the vicar quietly. "I hope you can find some answers." >ask about will You can't see any such thing. >ask reverend about will The vicar says nothing, but looks thoughtful for a moment. "I've been thinking about what you said, about what you saw in the past," says the vicar quietly. "And I think I've found Will's grave." He leads you over towards a small gravestone. There you can just make out the name Will Sharman. Your skin tingles. "He died in 1856," says the vicar sadly. "He was just 15 years old. At least he is at peace here in a quiet spot." These are true words indeed. There have been no more strange occurrences at the pub. Even the beer tastes fine now. You turn around, and glimpse a spectral figure nearby. He is watching you, with a sad but calm face. Maybe it helped that you saw what happened to him, even if you dearly wish you could have changed what happened in the past. You turn away, determined not to forget the boy. *** The End *** Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, QUIT, UNDO the last command, read an AFTERWORD or oh go on then, have another trip into the PAST to try to save Will? > past Jumping you to the point where you first see the accident ... Please press SPACE to continue. Some of the customers are laughing loudly, as one tells a risqué story. Then the landlord calls, "Will, can you go and fetch the plant pot from upstairs? I think it would do better down here." He is speaking to a young boy, maybe 14 or 15 years old, who you now notice standing beside the bar. A boy, you realise with a jolt, who is worryingly familiar. For a moment you remember the strange spectre you saw in your time. "Aye, sir," says Will, with a cheery voice, putting away a small wooden toy that he had been playing with. He walks round the bar and heads through to the back of the pub. Not knowing why, you follow him. No one notices as you pass them in the pub. In the hallway you see Will dart upstairs, sometimes two steps at a time. You follow, and see he dashes into one bedroom, then comes back out, holding a plant pot with a small leafy plant inside it. He steps back towards the stairs, then everything slows ... as you watch ... unable to act. Will catches his foot on the floor ... and with a strange, slow motion cry tumbles down the stairs ... the plant pot flying up into the air as he falls, only to land beside the boy's broken and bleeding body at the bottom of the stairs. The wooden toy he had been playing with also falls, rolling down towards the cellar. You know there is no hope. Your heart breaks. Shocked to the core, you suddenly feel light headed and pressed upon from all around. The room spins, and you find yourself ... Please press SPACE to continue. ... back in the old version of the pub. You shake your head in disbelief. You hear the same story that you heard a few minutes ago. Will is standing by the bar. What on earth is happening? Inside the Pub This is a pub, with thick wooden beams, and lots of tables and chairs for people to sit in. It is a comfortable space. The area behind the bar is to the north and a door leads out to the south. You can see Will, a landlord and some customers here. >n Behind the Bar This is the area behind the pub counter. Similar to what you remember, though somewhat simpler. Exits go to the south, east and west from here. Suddenly you hear those fateful words again: "Will, can you go and fetch the plant pot from upstairs? I think it would do better down here." "Aye, sir," says Will. He turns, and almost seems to notice you. But then he turns away again, and the moment has passed. >w Bottom of the Stairs This small hallway leads east to the bar area and up some stairs to the pub's bedrooms. An exit leads west and down into the pub's cellar. It feels virtually the same as you remember from your time. >u Top of the Stairs This is the top of the stairs. As in your time you feel surprisingly high up here, almost vertiginous. Two bedrooms lead off to the west and south. The stairs lead back down to the pub. >s In one of the pub's bedrooms This is a small bedroom upstairs in the pub, with a small bed, plus a window. It looks much like in your time, but is a lighter cream colour. Back to the north are the stairs down to the main pub. You can see a plant pot here. >get pot Taken. >n Top of the Stairs This is the top of the stairs. As in your time you feel surprisingly high up here, almost vertiginous. Two bedrooms lead off to the west and south. The stairs lead back down to the pub. >d Bottom of the Stairs This small hallway leads east to the bar area and up some stairs to the pub's bedrooms. An exit leads west and down into the pub's cellar. It feels virtually the same as you remember from your time. You can see Will here. >drop pot Dropped. Will spots the plant pot, and picks it up. Will pauses, looking at what he is carrying. He grins, and turns round back towards the pub. >e Behind the Bar This is the area behind the pub counter. Similar to what you remember, though somewhat simpler. Exits go to the south, east and west from here. >s Inside the Pub This is a pub, with thick wooden beams, and lots of tables and chairs for people to sit in. It is a comfortable space. The area behind the bar is to the north and a door leads out to the south. You can see a landlord and some customers here. You breathe a sigh of relief. He is safe. The accident hasn't happened. Suddenly you feel faint, and the world spins around you ... Please press SPACE to continue. Some time has passed, since your jaunt into the past. Today you are meeting Reverend Bottledale in the small churchyard some distance from the pub. He said he had something to show you. In a small country churchyard This is the village's old churchyard. A calm place, where old gravestones push up among wild flowers and grasses, with ancient trees leaning overhead, dappling the sunshine and providing shade. You can hear birds singing nearby. You can see Reverend Bottledale here. >ask reverend about will The vicar says nothing, but looks thoughtful for a moment. >talk to vicar "Jack said you were looking into what's been going on," says the vicar quietly. "I hope you can find some answers." "I've been thinking about what you said, about what you saw in the past," says the vicar quietly. "And I think I've found Will's grave." He leads you over towards a small gravestone. There you can just make out the name Will Sharman. Your skin tingles. "See: he died in 1912," says the vicar. "He lived a long, and happy life. I find it hard to believe what you told me, but he did not die from an accident, and lived to a grand old age. And this is a beautiful spot," he says, gently touching the top of the gravestone. Beyond the gravestone among the trees you see a faint figure watching. It is Will, young again. He smiles, and waves, then vanishes. There have been no more strange occurrences at the pub. Even the beer tastes fine now. He is truly at peace. You turn away, determined not to forget the boy. But first it's time for a proper drink. Jack promised you a glass of the pub's once again excellent beer this afternoon. You head off towards the pub, chatting to the vicar about Will as you walk. *** The End *** Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, QUIT, UNDO the last command or read an AFTERWORD? > afterword Thank you for playing my game! I hope that you enjoyed it. I want to thank again my testers (Amanda Walker, Jeffrey Elliott, Jkj, Mel Jason, Josh Grams, Martin Dunstan and Nick Marsh), who spotted so many things, and without whom this game would have been much poorer. This game came out of an original design written during a short RPG scenario writing course, although I was intentionally thinking of something that might work as parser interactive fiction. It was ages before I pulled out the design again and started coding it. The main literary inspiration was K.M. Peyton's book A Pattern of Roses. Other inspirations were Helen Cresswell's book Moondial, Dee Cooke's PunyInform game Morris, and British TV series Sapphire & Steel. There are also elements inspired by my husband's home county Somerset, or, as I often like to think of it, Zummerzet. I am not a great beer drinker myself, but love cider, thanks to my husband's Somerset background. I should probably have coded some bizarre cider names in the game as well, to go along with the beers Honeyed Badger, Golden Hare, and Stinky Ferret! Thank you again for playing. Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, QUIT, UNDO the last command or read an AFTERWORD? > q Please give one of the answers above. Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, QUIT, UNDO the last command or read an AFTERWORD? >