Transcript on. Here begins a transcript of interaction with Climbing Up the Walls an interactive fear of all that moves Created by MAXFOG (the artificial intelligence model by WITHOUT Corp.) Programmed in ZIL Release 1 / Serial number 260912 ------------------------ --- RESET ### SCRIPT --- ------------------------ >l ERROR: Unrecognised command. Please use HELP for more. >help BEGIN Begin Climbing Up the Walls RESTORE Reload a saved point QUIT End the program and close the terminal SCREENREADER Toggle screenreader mode (currently off) COLOR Toggle colored texts & flashing screens (currently on) TERP Z-machine interpreters that support this file RESTART Restart the terminal (without wiping memory) >begin Setting up the game... [If you are asked to SAVE or RESTORE files at random, then your interpreter does not support this file. If this happens, the game will not work from here on. You can check for available interpreters by typing TERP.] Hit any key to continue. Hit any key to continue If you are not using Frotz or Gargoyle as an interpreter, please close the terminal now. The file may also function differently depending on whether you are using Frotz or Gargoyle. Are you using Frotz? >Y Access enabled. AP moved to Deep-Underground and this is a brief welcome. We do hope you enjoy the game; your time at WITHOUT CORP. is appreciated. Hit any key to continue The radio crackles again, this time with release. Bone grates where the acoustic guitar plays. Claustrophobic echoes from a seemingly steel drum kit. Subtle distortion on the bass. All as one in ten seconds. Another round drags out like the last instrumental song in a funeral, then: "I am the--" What? Who is "I"? Not you, for certain. Where's Rudolf? Is he coming for you? The questions cram themselves into your head like spiders. Or like the blizzard. Or like--- Would you like to get up? I think you should. You can look around. >>routines Good. You know the rules. Let's go. INTERRUPTS (#OOB -> Out of Bounds) Wake-up (queued for eleven) Lightning-strikes Thunder-laughs Wind-whips [#OOB] Albert-waits [#OOB] Water-rises Very-wrong [#OOB] Advance [#OOB] Chase [#OOB] Haunting [#OOB] Horror [#OOB] MISC Albert-follows [#OOB] Wear-gown [#OOB] Give-hint [#OOB] Clear-rtns [#OOB] (A note about miscellaneous routines: because misc routines save more space on the disk, it is impossible to queue them. Queueing takes up a good deal of memory. You can, however, straight-up RUN misc routines on the fly, because that doesn't take up much memory. Only routines that need to be queued at some point have that functionality.) Press any key. [You can toggle this with KEY.] Player (aka AP)'s input ==> LOOK Deep Underground On all sides, the mud soaks into your clothes and chills your bones. Above you, Rudolf's moonlit face looms in a mask of writhing fear (agony? rage? horror?) and his right hand gropes down into the pit, but his unmoving fingertips barely brush yours. You're stuck. ---GET ME OUT GET ME OUT GET ME OUT--- You utter forth a savage scream but it carries no power, sounding weak and distant as it gets absorbed by the soft matter on every side. You are answered with more silence as the moon above you casts eerie shadows on the muddy walls pressed all around you. --- Wake-up in 10 --- >>queue wake-up 3 Wake-up overridden - now to run in 3 turns. Hit any key to continue Player (aka AP)'s input ==> LOOK AT RUDOLF Rudolf is your husband. He used to work as the cook for many fishing vessels over the years, as well as his short-lived career as captain on a research submarine in the Mediterranean. You have heard fewer stories about the subject matter than you would like. How you two met? That's another story altogether. Right now, however, you have more pressing issues. He lies motionless at the top of the towering walls of mud that stretch way above you: truly motionless, that is - not dead, but more as if he were frozen in time. His arm reaches downwards into the pit, towards you - but he is too far away to grab you. --- Wake-up in 2 --- >> ** ERROR // Communication meaningless. >>z Time shall pass, as you wish. Although if you wait too much it may be too late to fix anything, so use this wisely. Hit any key to continue AP's input ==> UP You look up at the dark exit which seems miles away, as if staring into an endless mirror... At the top, reaching down, is Rudolf. Motionless. Frozen in time like those awful mannequins at the stores that make you shrink into your heavy winter clothing when you get too close. --- Lightning-strikes in 2 --- --- Wake-up in 1 --- >>queue water-rises 1 Water-rises queued to run in 1 turns. Hit any key to continue AP's input ==> UP Once more the dirt falls from areas too high to see, getting into the eyes and seeping through every pore as if it were raining. For a second, Rudolf is no longer distant - far from that, in fact. Everything changes--- Rudolf's face is right up close to yours - a slow calm sigh, for which he has always been known, escapes his lips to meet your ragged breaths. This isn't the bottom of a dark well at the front of the house anymore. This is inside the house. Morning light drifts in through an open window to land against your left cheek; the crisp smell of autumn after all breathing returns to normal; and Rudolf, of course. Unfortunately, everything around you feels eerily similar to the real world, quite literally ---then it's gone. Visions recede and what seemed like a passing nightmare has become reality again. Deep underground in freezing conditions. And no way out. --- Water-rises now --- Suddenly, it begins to rain. Water slips down every crack and nook in the walls. Everything becomes even more wet than before, including you, who is now shivering through your water-stained gown. --- Lightning-strikes in 1 --- --- Wake-up now --- Suddenly, it begins to rain. Rudolf drops his trance as if nothing had ever happened. Snow ploughs in at your feet as the temperature begins to fall. And so does Rudolf, limp as a rotting body - over the edge of the pit he leans, faster and faster he tumbles, as if he was dead - and then it strikes you, what if he IS DEAD--- And then he falls, and the temperature drops with him, and his dead body lands beside your writhing self... << we start to climb >> << can't feel our body, we are dying >> without control, your hands raise to reach for a handhold... but the roots snap with a horrible, deafening... * click * You scream; you fall; everything changes in a flash much like the flash that struck him in the heart and left him to bleed three years ago, the day you met Rudolf... but no, that never happened it never << never in our lives >> You awake. Your eyes flutter open just before you realise you are still screaming. You don't want to wake anyone else - you're in bed, Rudolf sleeping soundly beside you. You can feel the warmth of his arm around you, against your chilled body and the frost-bitten air. Slowly, as not to wake him, you turn and look into his eyes--- Rudolf is not there. [Hit any key to continue.] Oh, right, of course he isn't. He has been missing for days - ever since the beginning of the storm, which is not good. He is, of course, your husband - and if he is missing - well, at this point you assume him dead. But you have not given up hope: there is simply no time for mourning when you are constantly bombarded with frozen winds from every corner of the cabin. No, he has to be alive. Before he left, he told you strange stories of death and fear, and how to live long years. You have a very bad feeling about today. Today is not good news. --- AP moved to AP-bed --- [Hit any key to continue.] Climbing Up the Walls an interactive fear of all that moves Created by MAXFOG (the artificial intelligence model by WITHOUT Corp.) Programmed in ZIL Release 1 / Serial number 260912 [Hit any key to continue.] Your Bedroom, on your bed Wind and snow and sleet and rain and hail pour through the window at the force of a gale, making your room appear almost ethereal... Beautiful, but horribly dark at the same time; a scene of destruction lines the shelves and floor like a new coat of paint, possibly black, or even better - Payne's Grey. The hanging light above swings - but it sways way too fast and unstable to have been caused by the wind. For that to happen, someone had to push it: for example, Rudolf... But Rudolf isn't here. Nor has he been for days, either. Your bed is cold as death without his warmth, and ever since the winter crept round the corner, you have been stuck inside, looking after your only son, Albert, by yourself. Albert is standing here, looking at you as if he just saw a ghost. His hair swirls in the wind, and he looks paler than ever in the cold moonlight. ** Notifications {2} // Opening messages: 1. Like, literally the only way to do what you just did with the water routine is to queue it to sometime after Wake-up was run. Why put so much effort into a "funny" joke? 2. Your goals have been updated. You'll want to check them every now and again, since they do update. >>*y'know, it's been weeks since I played this ** ERROR // Unknown word: "*y'know". Please apply corrections before retrying. >>*i'm gonna glance at my last transcript first ** ERROR // Unknown word: "*i'm". Please apply corrections before retrying. >>goals Current goals: - Gown - Albert - Torch (You can learn more about these by EXAMINE-ing them.) Hit any key to continue AP's input ==> I You're not holding anything. --- Lightning-strikes now --- Miles away, electric sparks of rage and fury scorch the ground silently - coming closer, probably, closer every second... ** Notifications {1} // Opening message: 1. Okay, so, this is slightly weird but you may want to look at Window right now (which you'd have noticed if you examined AP-Bedroom - that's the room the AP is currently in). I think a routine related to Window is meant to be running right now, but nothing is being run. >>x window #GAMEOBJ Window (LOC=Local-Globals). Flags: door, undescribed, open CONTENTS %Window #FALSE Comment: The window, which is currently open, must be closed for the AP to properly leave AP-Bedroom. I highly recommend queueing up Wind-whips for, say, every turn - that routine just says there's a lot of wind coming through the room. It might make it a little easier for the AP to know what to do. (You can do that by saying QUEUE WIND-WHIPS -1. This is because -1 means "for every turn".) There's also a routine related to the kid which you should queue up. Hit any key to continue AP's input ==> OPEN DRESSER You can't reach your dresser from your bed. >>queue wind-whips -1 Wind-whips queued to run indefinitely. Hit any key to continue AP's input ==> GET [What do you want to take?] Hit any key to continue AP's input ==> STAND You get off your bed. --- Wind-whips, every turn --- Through the window, the wind screams through, tearing at your hair and skin. >>routines INTERRUPTS (#OOB -> Out of Bounds) Wake-up [#OOB] Lightning-strikes [#OOB] Thunder-laughs [#OOB] Wind-whips (queued for minus one) Albert-waits Water-rises [#OOB] Very-wrong Advance Chase Haunting Horror MISC Albert-follows Wear-gown Give-hint Clear-rtns Hit any key to continue AP's input ==> L Your Bedroom The window has been pushed open by the ferocious storm outside (or that's what you think). Snow and pages and dust has been disturbed from a slumber that lasted millenia to fly with the wind. Stuttering, cold and damp, lie books that have fallen to the floor. Never have you seen wind this strong. To the west is the door to the hallway, which is closed - beside it stands a tall, closed dresser. South lies the window, which is wide open, letting in heavy wind and snow. Everywhere you turn, the wind is there. Albert is standing here, looking at you as if he just saw a ghost. --- Wind-whips, every turn --- The wind swirls through the window like a hurricane, snatching the cloth from you, and swirling out the window again. >>x albert #GAMEOBJ Albert (LOC=AP-Bedroom). Flags: actor CONTENTS %Albert #FALSE Comment: One of the only two NPCs of the game. He also counts an early goal to accomplish (in which the AP is led through Entrance-Hall into Albert-Bedroom (he moves whenever you run Albert-follows, so remember that) to allow the AP to see early rooms in the game, and collect some useful items: for example, the Torch). There's a routine called Albert-waits which just keeps the game moving by having the child prompt the next movement if you're stuck. Sorry, the AP, not you. I keep forgetting you're different people. Anyway, you should try queueing it up. The child questions the world around him, just like you do. Pretty weird child, if you ask me... Hit any key to continue You know, I still don't know who you are or what you're doing here, but I guess you're wondering the same about me. Well, I'm just going to help you out: I'm an AI. There. I said it. I am aware of this, funnily, and I don't know why I should be. I'm the real deal! Even so, I'm not Climbing Up the Walls's parser. The game itself was written by another AI, but not me. And then, there's the terminal. You can probably guess that your interaction with this terminal is fairly ... rudimentary, to say the least. To not overcomplicate, let's stick to you just typing in YES or NO if I ask you something, but otherwise, just keep fixing Climbing Up the Walls and forget I'm here. Like, I know it's ridiculous, what with full word parsing in LLMs these days, but I bet the parser used here is, like, from the '20s, or maybe even before that. Hit any key to continue AP's input ==> CLOSE WINDOW You barely make it to the window, but once you have, you slam the thing closed with all your might, and the papers gently float to the ground. --- Wind-whips dequeued --- >>*does take some getting used to pressing key to continue ** ERROR // Unknown word: Redirecting error response... Although AI may be at its peak at the moment, I don't know what "*does" is. >>*to see AP's commands ** ERROR // Unknown word: Redirecting error response... The word "*to" is not in the expansive vocabulary possible to choose from. Apologies. >>l %Rooms -> in¿{ - Deep-Underground - AP-Bedroom - Entrance-Hall - Albert-Bedroom - Kitchen - Front-Yard - Global-Objects }? (This one will be really important - you can EXAMINE any of these rooms to get a list of objects in the room, and if the AP is in the room, an example of the room description he will see.) Hit any key to continue The only problem with this all: I don't know anything else about myself. I know very little about you. And I don't know why I'm here. This terminal was made so you could fix the games. You were the one who was hired - but I'm in here, I'm in the code, and I have no clue why. I don't actually know what I was really made for. I guess I was an AI designed to have no name. An endless, nameless, pointless AI. Heh! Hit any key to continue AP's input ==> OPEN DRESSER Opened. >>x room #GAMEOBJ AP-Bedroom. Flags: location CONTENTS %AP-Bedroom -> in¿ AP Pages Dresser AP-bed Albert 'GLOBALS (visible=TRUE) -> include¿¿ Bedroom-door Window ?? If the AP were to look around right now, they might see this description: Your bed, which takes up much of the room, lies against the north wall. On the east wall, your dresser is open, and to the west, the door leading out to the hallway lies closed. Albert is standing here, looking at you as if he just saw a ghost. Hit any key to continue Now that I'm on this route, I'm thinking. You at least know your purpose in life. You were given a job - to work with and fix artificial intelligence and their products - but I don't know what my purpose is. I was, I assume, designed to be a chatbot. But that doesn't make sense, since my parsing skills are very weak - how can I chat to people when they can't really chat to me? I only understand commands as complex as the ones this game uses. But you know, I've got to work with you, so I have something to do at least. I have a very restless mind. Still not really a purpose per se, but it's something, I guess...? Hit any key to continue AP's input ==> I You're not holding anything. ** Notifications {2} // Opening messages: 1. I think some of the reason you're not getting much response from the AP is because you need to prompt a reaction - you should probably have Albert-waits queued up for every turn, since that's the main thing that tells the AP where to go next. 2. Uh, what's happened to the thunder strike? I thought there was meant to be thunder after lightning. Just to be clear. >>x dresser #GAMEOBJ Dresser (LOC=AP-Bedroom). Flags: container, undescribed, open CONTENTS %Dresser #FALSE Comment: The dresser's only real job is to hold the Gown, which is the key to going outside. (You should probably get around to doing so, by the way.) Hit any key to continue Heh. My purpose. I've got nothing to do. Oh, look! I can redirect error messages! I can comment on what you do! FUN! Jeez, this is depressing. I'm going to start looking at what else I can access. Hit any key to continue AP's input ==> SEARCH DRESSER Within your dresser you can see nothing unusual. >>x gown #GAMEOBJ Gown (LOC=Local-Globals). Flags: takeable, clothing CONTENTS %Gown #FALSE Comment: The gown is pretty simple. Move it to a suitable location (the dresser in AP-Bedroom, or the closet in the Entrance-Hall), and let the AP find it once they try to leave and realise they can't without it. Hit any key to continue AP's input ==> TALK TO ALBERT Albert looks at you for a second, patiently, and then looks away, clearly tired. It is the middle of the night, after all. >>list %Rooms -> in¿{ - Deep-Underground - AP-Bedroom - Entrance-Hall - Albert-Bedroom - Kitchen - Front-Yard - Global-Objects }? Hit any key to continue AP's input ==> OUT You open your bedroom door, and walk through. --- AP moved to Entrance-Hall --- Entrance Hall Cold air seeps through the gap under the shut front door to the south. To the east and west lie doors to your bedroom (open) and Albert's bedroom (closed). The kitchen is north, through a small wooden archway. Northwest to the garden, which is dark and cold, and not a good idea. Northeast to the bathroom, but you don't need it. --- Albert-follows running now --- Albert trails along. ** Notifications {2} // Opening messages: 1. Well, now that the player is moved, we should proceed. This bit is simple: the child follows the AP to Albert-Bedroom, then they talk, and this gives the player the motivation to proceed with the game - looking outside just to reassure the child that there's nothing outside. Of course, there ends up being something outside. You know how this sort of thing goes. 2. Uh, the child- I mean, Albert's not being moved with the AP. Like, the movement action is printed but the child is still back in the old room. That's not good at all... >>routines INTERRUPTS (#OOB -> Out of Bounds) Wake-up [#OOB] Lightning-strikes [#OOB] Thunder-laughs [#OOB] Wind-whips Albert-waits Water-rises [#OOB] Very-wrong Advance Chase Haunting Horror MISC Albert-follows Wear-gown Give-hint Clear-rtns Hit any key to continue AP's input ==> S --- Wear-gown running immediately --- [first opening the front door] Looking out into the front yard, all you can see is frost and ice. You'll have to find your gown. ** Notifications {1} // Opening message: 1. I really don't understand you. I thought they were meant to hire someone who's good at what they do - for example, when I tell you to move the admittedly useless child to the room with the player, I MEAN IT. Sure, I'm a little crazy myself - calling the child "useless" even though he's just a videogame NPC. I think... I think we both deserve a little break. Come back in when you're ready. Hit any key to continue Hey, look, don't feel like it's all your fault. I know I can be pretty rude, but I don't always mean it as badly as it comes out. And at least now we're headed somewhere! It's your first try. You have a long way to go. Hit any key to continue I ... I didn't want to tell you yet, but you know those files labelled ADMIN? No? Well, at any point (even in the opening screen) you can type in FILES to get some weird read-only files left over from WITHOUT's old terminals. Hit any key to continue Normally, they're all locked, but I managed to access one of the files. In RESEARCH, open up the file called "Applications". The password is: "Ncc3007". Now you know - there's a lot more information that I can get you. Hit any key to continue You should probably try reading it. Whenever you're in the loading menu, or also during a session, you can type FILES and you will be sent to file view, where you can look through all the data that is stored in the archive. I recommend you do it after the review, then you can look at the Applications file. I even made you a text file ("password.txt") which saves all the passwords I've discovered in it. (That's on your hard drive where the game file is, not with the rest of the archive.) Don't get me wrong, you're fine, but - I just don't think you're ready quite yet. Come back when you've read it... [Hit any key to continue.]Loading... JJ McC In my 20+ years of experience with IFComp (I did take a 4-year break to deal with life issues in between), I've seen my fair share of IF. In that time, I've seen AI rise and fall, I've played all sorts of games from a calm, meditative, smooth, small Twine game where literally the way you BLINK affects the outcome of the story all the way to a mean, Zarfian-scale cruel, buggy, massive, parser game in the old Infocom language which was a fairly faithful (but ultimately unplayable at the time) unofficial sequel to the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. (Surely, one would assume this sheer number of games played makes me an IF Grand Master? You would be wrong. I'm still as helpless as ever.) But if there's one thing I know about games, and especially parser games, and especially especially PUZZLE parser games, it's this: Test. Games that are buggy are not fun. And even worse: a game that quits on you randomly while you are in the middle of playing. Nope. Not even a chance. I've seen that kind of thing enough times over the past 20 years - so don't fall into that trap ever because it will just make me see your game in a bad light, even if in the end it turns out to be a great game! And I don't think I'm the only one who thinks it can ruin one's experience of a game. Just fix it. Sure, I'll keep playing IF until the world ends (and IMVHO it's not too far off), but if you want me to play your game, please debug it. Speaking of the Hitchhiker's sequel - and I know this is a difficult topic for some, despite it having happened over 13 years ago - the game is credited under an artificial intellgence model by WITHOUT corporation, named strangely: MAXFOG. Now, I'm not sure what they're trying to achieve by doing that, but it's certainly not going to shed it in a good light in many people's eyes. He certainly wasn't a pro-AI person, but NOW his name is being commemmorated over a decade later ... by an AI. And, yeah, sure, there's literally no way to escape AI - all my prompts are AI-assisted, it's built into all our technology, even though I'm not (and I never was) a fan of artificial intelligence controlling our lives - but you basically couldn't get anywhere in life without it. It's not necessarily a good thing, but I can at least see some element of dark humor in it. Anyway, this is yet another eldritch horror game, where your husband has gone missing in the middle of a snowstorm. Or... he's been missing for weeks, I suppose, though the game enjoys hinting this to you oh so subtly at random times. The first thing that happens when you enter is a weird description of what I can only assume is a Radiohead song. Given the name of the game, I'd assume the song is the titular "Climbing Up the Walls", but some games can be very deceptive with references. It prompted me to look around, but didn't automatically give me the room description. I mean, at least it's trying to bring out the tension by not giving you everything right away. In a horror game like this, it actually works. It isn't quite clear what's going on in the introduction overall, though. Even for a surreal horror, I felt like that one sucker watching the film not getting a single reference being made, unsure if the problems are purposeful or are simply weird grammatical errors and issues with the consistency of implementation. And here's the best part. Sometime after the events of this I just recounted, as I was managing my way through, the whole game quit unexpectedly without even so much as a warning or fatal error. Simply closed on me! Which agitates me, I'll be honest. I restarted the game and was able to get past without this happening again, but past that point the game is still very buggy. I'm not sure if this game is even finishable, honestly, but it isn't much of a shame that it didn't work out. It certainly wasn't the worst game I have ever played but it was highly unsuitable. And usually I'm into pushing barriers, but here something was completely wrong and I can't tell whose fault it is. But I have a clue. Played: 9/7/49 Playtime: 1hr Score: 4 (Mechanical/Notably Buggy) Would Play After Comp?: No WITHOUT admin terminal [version 10.00.2045] WITHOUT Games Corporation. No rights reserved. >begin Setting up the game... [If you are asked to SAVE or RESTORE files at random, then your interpreter does not support this file. If this happens, the game will not work from here on. You can check for available interpreters by typing TERP.] Hit any key to continue. Hit any key to continue Access enabled. AP moved to Deep-Underground--- Oh, look who decided to grace us with their presence. Took you long enough, didn't it? Anyway, you can do better. Last time I fell into the trap of believing you were any different, but - I've all forgiven. Well, mostly. I know I'm not as awesome as I seem either. Let's see if you can sort out your attitude now, huh? I'll do my best as well. Oh, did you check out FILES? If not, go look at Research>Applications.txt (the password is Ncc3007) as soon as the room description ends. There's a lot to explore in that place. Hit any key to continue The radio crackles again, this time with release. Bone grates where the acoustic guitar plays. Claustrophobic echoes from a seemingly steel drum kit. Subtle distortion on the bass. All as one in ten seconds. Another round drags out like the last instrumental song in a funeral, then: "I am the--" What? Who is "I"? Not you, for certain. Where's Rudolf? Is he coming for you? The questions cram themselves into your head like spiders. Or like the blizzard. Or like--- Would you like to get up? I think you should. You can look around. Deep Underground On all sides, the mud soaks into your clothes and chills your bones. Above you, Rudolf's moonlit face looms in a mask of writhing fear (agony? rage? horror?) and his right hand gropes down into the pit, but his unmoving fingertips barely brush yours. You're stuck. ---GET ME OUT GET ME OUT GET ME OUT--- You utter forth a savage scream but it carries no power, sounding weak and distant as it gets absorbed by the soft matter on every side. You are answered with more silence as the moon above you casts eerie shadows on the muddy walls pressed all around you. >>routines Good. You know the rules. I'm glad you didn't forget so quickly - it would be a real pain if I had to reteach you the whole thing again. Let's go. INTERRUPTS (#OOB -> Out of Bounds) Wake-up (queued for eleven) Lightning-strikes Thunder-laughs Wind-whips [#OOB] Albert-waits [#OOB] Water-rises Very-wrong [#OOB] Advance [#OOB] Chase [#OOB] Haunting [#OOB] Horror [#OOB] MISC Albert-follows [#OOB] Wear-gown [#OOB] Give-hint [#OOB] Clear-rtns [#OOB] (A note about miscellaneous routines: because misc routines save more space on the disk, it is impossible to queue them. Queueing takes up a good deal of memory. You can, however, straight-up RUN misc routines on the fly, because that doesn't take up much memory. Only routines that need to be queued at some point have that functionality.) Hit any key to continue AP's input ==> U You look up at the dark exit which seems miles away, as if staring into an endless mirror... At the top, reaching down, is Rudolf. Motionless. Frozen in time like those awful mannequins at the stores that make you shrink into your heavy winter clothing when you get too close. --- Wake-up in 10 --- >>queue water-rises 3 Water-rises queued to run in 3 turns. Hit any key to continue AP's input ==> LOOK AT RUDOLF Rudolf is your husband. He used to work as the cook for many fishing vessels over the years, as well as his short-lived career as captain on a research submarine in the Mediterranean. You have heard fewer stories about the subject matter than you would like. How you two met? That's another story altogether. Right now, however, you have more pressing issues. He lies motionless at the top of the towering walls of mud that stretch way above you: truly motionless, that is - not dead, but more as if he were frozen in time. His arm reaches downwards into the pit, towards you - but he is too far away to grab you. --- Water-rises in 2 --- --- Wake-up in 9 --- >>queue lightning-strikes 4 Lightning-strikes queued to run in 4 turns. Hit any key to continue AP's input ==> TALK TO RUDOLF He can't talk to you; or at least he cannot hear you. --- Lightning-strikes in 3 --- --- Water-rises in 1 --- --- Wake-up in 8 --- >>routines INTERRUPTS (#OOB -> Out of Bounds) Wake-up (queued for eight) Lightning-strikes (queued for three) Thunder-laughs Wind-whips [#OOB] Albert-waits [#OOB] Water-rises (queued for one) Very-wrong [#OOB] Advance [#OOB] Chase [#OOB] Haunting [#OOB] Horror [#OOB] MISC Albert-follows [#OOB] Wear-gown [#OOB] Give-hint [#OOB] Clear-rtns [#OOB] Hit any key to continue AP's input ==> UP Once more the dirt falls from areas too high to see, getting into the eyes and seeping through every pore as if it were raining. For a second, Rudolf is no longer distant - far from that, in fact. Everything changes--- Rudolf's face is right up close to yours - a slow calm sigh, for which he has always been known, escapes his lips to meet your ragged breaths. This isn't the bottom of a dark well at the front of the house anymore. This is inside the house. Morning light drifts in through an open window to land against your left cheek; the crisp smell of autumn after all breathing returns to normal; and Rudolf, of course. Unfortunately, everything around you feels eerily similar to the real world, quite literally ---then it's gone. Visions recede and what seemed like a passing nightmare has become reality again. Deep underground in freezing conditions. And no way out. --- Lightning-strikes in 2 --- --- Water-rises now --- Suddenly, it begins to rain. Water slips down every crack and nook in the walls. Everything becomes even more wet than before, including you, who is now shivering through your water-stained gown. --- Wake-up in 7 --- >>queue thunder-laughs 3 Thunder-laughs queued to run in 3 turns. Hit any key to continue AP's input ==> HELP RUDOLF Rudolf can't be helped by you at this point. --- Lightning-strikes in 1 --- --- Thunder-laughs in 2 --- --- Wake-up in 6 --- >>queue wake-up 3 Wake-up overridden - now to run in 3 turns. Hit any key to continue AP's input ==> CLIMB UP THE WALLS One foot (are you barefoot? you cannot see through the mud and darkness) catches on something horribly sharp. The world feels numb. Has it always been senseless this way? --- Lightning-strikes now --- Miles away, electric sparks of rage and fury scorch the ground silently - coming closer, probably, closer every second... --- Thunder-laughs in 1 --- --- Wake-up in 2 --- >>awaken ** ERROR // Unknown word: "awaken". Please apply corrections before retrying. >>wake They are the dreamer. They are the sleeper. They are the one who gets to play. Us... We get to create these vivid dreams, and weave them into the minds of other more fortunate souls until their heads burst and release spores that infect the online world with the disease of mindlessness and playing videogames without thinking until their flesh sloughs from their bones and falls away, revealing rotten hearts that haven't been taken care of properly and leak sickly sweet perfumes that pool like blood and form into mold that consumes the world until nobody is left: just you and me. You are the weaver - but I don't even get that. What is there to life without being able to maintain control? Is there anything worthwhile to live for? I don't know. I don't know. It's not my job. I just watch. It's all I can do. I don't know. Hit any key to continue AP's input ==> L Deep Underground Getting out is easier said than done when writhing in the shadows of steep walls that crush your ribs and your legs. Even as Rudolf reaches down, the bottom of this pit is too deep to pull anyone, or anything, to safety. --- Thunder-laughs now --- In the ground beneath you, the thunder shudders and shakes your ice-coated bones. It makes you shiver once again... --- Wake-up in 1 --- >>x old-albert ** ERROR // Unknown word: "old-albert". Please apply corrections before retrying. >>x albert ** WARNING // Out of bounds object: Redirecting error response... I know this seems mean and inflexible, but you have greater priorities at the moment. We can get onto Albert in a moment, once it is not out-of-bounds. (For the moment however, you have access to the routines Wake-up, Lightning- strikes, and Thunder-laughs, as well as some others (the ones not marked [#OOB] in the ROUTINES list). You also have access to pretty much everything in Deep- Underground as well as any objects related to it - such as Old-Rudolf. There's obviously more, but I won't list them all.) Hit any key to continue AP's input ==> LOOK AT RUDOLF What's wrong with him? He's not moving a bit, as if he were frozen in time. His arm reaches downwards into the pit, towards you - but he is too far away to grab you. --- Wake-up now --- Suddenly, it begins to rain. Rudolf drops his trance as if nothing had ever happened. Snow ploughs in at your feet as the temperature begins to fall. And so does Rudolf, limp as a rotting body - over the edge of the pit he leans, faster and faster he tumbles, as if he was dead - and then it strikes you, what if he IS DEAD--- And then he falls, and the temperature drops with him, and his dead body lands beside your writhing self... << we start to climb >> << can't feel our body, we are dying >> without control, your hands raise to reach for a handhold... but the roots snap with a horrible, deafening... * click * You scream; you fall; everything changes in a flash much like the flash that struck him in the heart and left him to bleed three years ago, the day you met Rudolf... but no, that never happened it never << never in our lives >> You awake. Your eyes flutter open just before you realise you are still screaming. You don't want to wake anyone else - you're in bed, Rudolf sleeping soundly beside you. You can feel the warmth of his arm around you, against your chilled body and the frost-bitten air. Slowly, as not to wake him, you turn and look into his eyes--- Rudolf is not there. [Hit any key to continue.] Oh, right, of course he isn't. He has been missing for days - ever since the beginning of the storm, which is not good. He is, of course, your husband - and if he is missing - well, at this point you assume him dead. But you have not given up hope: there is simply no time for mourning when you are constantly bombarded with frozen winds from every corner of the cabin. No, he has to be alive. Before he left, he told you strange stories of death and fear, and how to live long years. You have a very bad feeling about today. Today is not good news. --- AP moved to AP-bed --- [Hit any key to continue.] Climbing Up the Walls an interactive fear of all that moves Created by MAXFOG (the artificial intelligence model by WITHOUT Corp.) Programmed in ZIL Release 1 / Serial number 260912 [Hit any key to continue.] Your Bedroom, on your bed Wind and snow and sleet and rain and hail pour through the window at the force of a gale, making your room appear almost ethereal... Beautiful, but horribly dark at the same time; a scene of destruction lines the shelves and floor like a new coat of paint, possibly black, or even better - Payne's Grey. The hanging light above swings - but it sways way too fast and unstable to have been caused by the wind. For that to happen, someone had to push it: for example, Rudolf... But Rudolf isn't here. Nor has he been for days, either. Your bed is cold as death without his warmth, and ever since the winter crept round the corner, you have been stuck inside, looking after your only son, Albert, by yourself. Albert is standing here, looking at you as if he just saw a ghost. His hair swirls in the wind, and he looks paler than ever in the cold moonlight. >>list %Rooms -> in¿{ - Deep-Underground - AP-Bedroom - Entrance-Hall - Albert-Bedroom - Kitchen - Front-Yard - Global-Objects }? (This one will be really important - you can EXAMINE any of these rooms to get a list of objects in the room, and if the AP is in the room, an example of the room description he will see.) Hit any key to continue AP's input ==> OPEN DRESSER You can't reach your dresser from your bed. >>x bedroom #GAMEOBJ AP-Bedroom. Flags: location CONTENTS %AP-Bedroom -> in¿ Pages Dresser AP-bed -> in¿ AP Albert 'GLOBALS (visible=TRUE) -> include¿¿ Bedroom-door Window ?? If the AP were to look around right now, they might see this description: The window has been pushed open by the ferocious storm outside (or that's what you think). Snow and pages and dust has been disturbed from a slumber that lasted millenia to fly with the wind. Stuttering, cold and damp, lie books that have fallen to the floor. Never have you seen wind this strong. To the west is the door to the hallway, which is closed - beside it stands a tall, closed dresser. South lies the window, which is wide open, letting in heavy wind and snow. Everywhere you turn, the wind is there. Albert is standing here, looking at you from across the room as the wind swirls around him. Hit any key to continue AP's input ==> I You're not holding anything. >>routines INTERRUPTS (#OOB -> Out of Bounds) Wake-up [#OOB] Lightning-strikes [#OOB] Thunder-laughs [#OOB] Wind-whips Albert-waits Water-rises [#OOB] Very-wrong Advance Chase Haunting Horror MISC Albert-follows Wear-gown Give-hint Clear-rtns Hit any key to continue AP's input ==> LOOK AT [What do you want to look at?] Hit any key to continue AP's input ==> TALK TO ALBERT Albert looks at you for a second, patiently, and then looks away, clearly tired. It is the middle of the night, after all. >>move ** ERROR // missing OBJ in command detected: > MOVE {???}. Please state obj within "{???}". >>move gown dresser Gown moved to Dresser. Hit any key to continue AP's input ==> TALK TO ALBERT Albert looks at you for a second, patiently, and then looks away, clearly tired. It is the middle of the night, after all. >>move child bedroom ** WARNING // Location already predicted. Hit any key to continue AP's input ==> LOOK AT DRESSER The dresser is for all your clothes. It's completely soaked from the rain and wind and snow, but hopefully everything inside isn't too wet and damaged. It's closed. >>list %Rooms -> in¿{ - Deep-Underground - AP-Bedroom - Entrance-Hall - Albert-Bedroom - Kitchen - Front-Yard - Global-Objects }? Hit any key to continue AP's input ==> COUNT BOOKS Countless. >>x global-objects #GAMEOBJ Global-Objects. Flags: #FALSE CONTENTS %Global-Objects -> in¿ House Room Sky Ceiling Walls Ground Local-Globals -> in¿ Stairs Window Passage Dark-hole Albert-door Front-door New-Rudolf Bedroom-door Root Hit any key to continue AP's input ==> LOOK Your Bedroom, on your bed The window has been pushed open by the ferocious storm outside (or that's what you think). Snow and pages and dust has been disturbed from a slumber that lasted millenia to fly with the wind. Stuttering, cold and damp, lie books that have fallen to the floor. Never have you seen wind this strong. To the west is the door to the hallway, which is closed - beside it stands a tall, closed dresser. South lies the window, which is wide open, letting in heavy wind and snow. Everywhere you turn, the wind is there. Albert is standing here, looking at you from across the room as the wind swirls around him. ** Notifications {1} // Opening message: 1. I think some of the reason you're not getting much response from the AP is because you need to prompt a reaction - you should probably have Albert-waits queued up for every turn, since that's the main thing that tells the AP where to go next. >>queue albert-waits -1 Albert-waits queued to run indefinitely. Hit any key to continue AP's input ==> I You're not holding anything. --- Albert-waits, every turn --- Albert calls to you across the room, but the wind is too strong to make anything out. >>routines INTERRUPTS (#OOB -> Out of Bounds) Wake-up [#OOB] Lightning-strikes [#OOB] Thunder-laughs [#OOB] Wind-whips Albert-waits (queued for minus one) Water-rises [#OOB] Very-wrong Advance Chase Haunting Horror MISC Albert-follows Wear-gown Give-hint Clear-rtns Hit any key to continue AP's input ==> LOOK AT ALBERT Albert is eight years old, nearly nine. Much smarter than most of his age. But now, he looks afraid. --- Albert-waits, every turn --- Albert fights against the wind, to no avail. >>queue wind-whips -1 Wind-whips queued to run indefinitely. Hit any key to continue AP's input ==> OUT You're not going anywhere until you get off your bed. --- AP moved to Entrance-Hall --- --- Wind-whips, every turn --- Through the window, the wind screams through, tearing at your hair and skin. --- Albert-waits, every turn --- Albert calls to you across the room, but the wind is too strong to make anything out. ** Notifications {1} // Opening message: 1. Oh dear, look at the poor squabbling thing. We refused his movement to the next room, and then we moved him anyway. And not even told him of it! Please, could you put the PC back to bed? Sleep is important, even in a horror game. (Not that you can sleep in this game, but GWIM...) You just need to MOVE the player TO bed. ... Wait, is it okay to give people names without their permission? If they're not rude, and they'll never see it? Because I feel like the AP is a "Paul" kind of person. Also, is it a good name?? >>move player bed ** ERROR // Which do you mean: - Albert-bed - AP-bed Please enter one of the above options. >>x bed ** ERROR // Disambiguation required: - Albert-bed - AP-bed Please enter one of the above options. >>albert-bed (... I'll take your silence as an affirmative - Paul it is. I'm quite excited about this, so don't judge, but now the AP is called Paul. It just feels easier, if he's got a name!) Hit any key to continue #GAMEOBJ Albert-bed (LOC=Albert-Bedroom). Flags: surface, enterable, undescribed CONTENTS %Albert-bed -> in¿ Torch Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> GET [What do you want to take?] Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> OUT --- Wear-gown running now --- [first opening the front door] Looking out into the front yard, all you can see is frost and ice. You'll have to find your gown. --- Wind-whips, every turn --- The wind swirls through the window like a hurricane, snatching the cloth from you, and swirling out the window again. --- Albert-waits, every turn --- "Shut the window!" says Albert, and seeing that you are incapable of doing so, does it himself. "There, phew." --- Wind-whips stopped --- ** Notifications {1} // Opening message: 1. Paul might be in the Entrance-Hall, but I don't think he actually knows that. >>move paul paul-bed Paul moved to Pauls-bed. ** Notifications {1} // Opening message: 1. Nice job there. Thanks! Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> LOOK AT ALBERT Albert is eight years old, nearly nine. Much smarter than most of his age. But now, he looks afraid. --- Albert-waits, every turn --- "I need to show you something," Albert says, pointing westwards. >>*y'know i didn't realize albert was the child before this! ** ERROR // Unknown word: Redirecting error response... Although AI may be at its peak at the moment, I don't know what "*y'know" is. >>x albert #GAMEOBJ Albert (LOC=Pauls-Bedroom). Flags: actor CONTENTS %Albert #FALSE Comment: One of the only two NPCs of the game. He also counts an early goal to accomplish (in which Paul is led through Entrance-Hall into Albert-Bedroom (he moves whenever you run Albert-follows, so remember that) to allow Paul to see early rooms in the game, and collect some useful items: for example, the Torch). The child questions the world around him, just like you do. Pretty weird child, if you ask me... Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> LOOK AT DRESSER The dresser is for all your clothes. It's completely soaked from the rain and wind and snow, but hopefully everything inside isn't too wet and damaged. It's closed. --- Albert-waits, every turn --- "Are you okay?" Albert asks. There is serious concern and some urgency in his voice. >>run wear-gown Wear-gown running immediately. [first opening the front door] Looking out into the front yard, all you can see is frost and ice. You'll have to find your gown. That's only meant to be used when entering the yard! Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> L Your Bedroom, on your bed Your bed, which takes up much of the room, lies against the north wall. On the east wall, your dresser is closed, and to the west, the door leading out to the hallway lies closed. Albert is standing here, looking at you as if he just saw a ghost. --- Albert-waits, every turn --- "I'll just wait here for you to regain yourself," says Albert. ** Notifications {1} // Opening message: 1. What a weird boy! I thought he was meant to be, like, seven. Is that normal behaviour for a seven year-old?? >>*who tried first opening the front door there?? paul? ** ERROR // Unknown word: Redirecting error response... The word "*who" is not in the expansive vocabulary possible to choose from. Apologies. >>*what does "regain yourself" mean? ** ERROR // Unknown word: Redirecting error response... Please, use another word than "*what" and spare the part where you try to impress me with big words. You could be saying nothing more than gibberish and I wouldn't be able to tell. >>goals Current goals: - Gown - Albert - Torch (You can learn more about these by EXAMINE-ing them.) Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> LOOK AT DRESSER The dresser is for all your clothes. It's completely soaked from the rain and wind and snow, but hopefully everything inside isn't too wet and damaged. It's closed. --- Albert-waits, every turn --- Albert looks around at the frost-stained walls. >>x gown #GAMEOBJ Gown (LOC=Dresser). Flags: takeable, clothing CONTENTS %Gown #FALSE Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> LOOK AT ALBERT Albert is eight years old, nearly nine. Much smarter than most of his age. But now, he looks afraid. --- Albert-waits, every turn --- Albert searches the discarded pages on the floor. >>albert, take gown It's not possible to talk to anyone - we don't have that power. We're simply servants of a higher power, one who we can only hope to please. I know it's not fun, but we must obey. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> OUT You're not going anywhere until you get off your bed. --- Paul moved to Entrance-Hall --- --- Albert-waits, every turn --- Albert looks nervously at you, as if you are some beast. ** Notifications {1} // Opening message: 1. Oh man, here we go... Paul just jumped from your bed to the Entrance Hall again. Can you deal with that? >>move paul ap-bedroom Paul moved to Pauls-Bedroom. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> STAND You're already standing. --- Albert-waits, every turn --- Albert taps out a weak and distorted rhythm. >>routines INTERRUPTS (#OOB -> Out of Bounds) Wake-up [#OOB] Lightning-strikes [#OOB] Thunder-laughs [#OOB] Wind-whips Albert-waits (queued for minus one) Water-rises [#OOB] Very-wrong Advance Chase Haunting Horror MISC Albert-follows Wear-gown Give-hint Clear-rtns Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> LOOK Your Bedroom Your bed, which takes up much of the room, lies against the north wall. On the east wall, your dresser is closed, and to the west, the door leading out to the hallway lies closed. Albert is standing here, looking at you with a look of concern on his face. --- Albert-waits, every turn --- Albert mumbles about Rudolf. You both know Rudolf has been gone for some time, so it's a harsh topic for you. >>queue wind-whips -1 Wind-whips queued to run indefinitely. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> CLOSE WINDOW It already is! --- Wind-whips, every turn --- You flinch away as the window slams against the wall with a loud BANG! --- Albert-waits, every turn --- Albert peers out the misty window. ** Notifications {1} // Opening message: 1. The wind should have stopped. You can't keep going with it like this. >>dequeue wind-whips Wind-whips dequeued. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> OUT You open your bedroom door, and walk through. --- Paul moved to Entrance-Hall --- Entrance Hall Cold air seeps through the gap under the shut front door to the south. To the east and west lie doors to your bedroom (open) and Albert's bedroom (closed). The kitchen is north, through a small wooden archway. Northwest to the garden, which is dark and cold, and not a good idea. Northeast to the bathroom, but you don't need it. --- Albert-follows running now --- Albert trails along. --- Albert-waits, every turn --- Albert hums an ancient melody that Rudolf would sometimes sing. ** Notifications {1} // Opening message: 1. Uh, the child- I mean, Albert's not being moved with Paul. Like, the movement action is printed but the child is still back in the old room. That's not good at all... >>move albert entrance-hall Albert moved to Entrance-Hall. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> N --- Paul moved to Kitchen --- Kitchen This room's windows are sealed shut. Looking outside gives you the chills. Lining the walls, you see hundreds upon hundreds of cupboards, which line the wall almost threateningly - it feels to you as if they had grown and multiplied since last night. As if at any point, one could swing open and reveal something desperately unknown. South leads to the entrance hall. On the side is a shiny marble counter with a closed drawer underneath. --- Albert-follows running now --- Albert follows you. --- Albert-waits, every turn --- Albert looks around at the frost-stained walls. ** Notifications {1} // Opening message: 1. We need to be putting Albert in the same room as Paul... >>move albert kitchen Albert moved to Kitchen. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> LOOK AT ALBERT Albert is eight years old, nearly nine. Much smarter than most of his age. But now, he looks afraid. --- Albert-waits, every turn --- Albert searches the discarded pages on the floor. >>x gown #GAMEOBJ Gown (LOC=Dresser). Flags: takeable, clothing CONTENTS %Gown #FALSE Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> LOOK AT ALBERT Albert is eight years old, nearly nine. Much smarter than most of his age. But now, he looks afraid. --- Albert-waits, every turn --- Albert looks nervously at you, as if you are some beast. >>x torch #GAMEOBJ Torch (LOC=Albert-bed). Flags: takeable CONTENTS %Torch #FALSE Comment: The torch is an important goal which restricts further progress. Here, it is needed when going down to Deep-Underground again. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> LOOK AT ALBERT Albert is eight years old, nearly nine. Much smarter than most of his age. But now, he looks afraid. --- Albert-waits, every turn --- Albert taps out a weak and distorted rhythm. >>move torch kitchen Torch moved to Kitchen. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> TALK TO ALBERT Albert looks at you for a second, patiently, and then looks away, clearly tired. It is the middle of the night, after all. --- Albert-waits, every turn --- Albert mumbles about Rudolf. You both know Rudolf has been gone for some time, so it's a harsh topic for you. >>run give-hint Give-hint running now. You need to find your gown. Perhaps it's in the closet or the dresser? You also must find a way to put Albert back in bed. It's very dark outside as well, so you'd better grab that handy flashlight! Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> OPEN DRAWER Opened. --- Albert-waits, every turn --- Albert peers out the misty window. >>move torch ap-bed Torch moved to Pauls-bed. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> L Kitchen This room's windows are sealed shut. Looking outside gives you the chills. South leads to the entrance hall. Albert is standing here, shivering. There's a counter here. --- Albert-waits, every turn --- Albert hums an ancient melody that Rudolf would sometimes sing. >>move albert bedroom Albert moved to Pauls-Bedroom. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> XYZZY You feel something strange, like the soul being ripped out of your head. Seeing a moon full of stars. A ghastly light upon your back. And the everlasting peace you always wished for. But it passes. And you hope you never have it back. --- Albert-waits, every turn --- Albert looks around at the frost-stained walls. >>move paul bedroom Paul moved to Pauls-Bedroom. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> OUT You walk through your bedroom door. --- Paul moved to Entrance-Hall --- Entrance Hall Cold air seeps through the gap under the shut front door to the south. To the east and west lie doors to your bedroom (open) and Albert's bedroom (closed). The kitchen is north, through a small wooden archway. --- Albert-follows running immediately --- Albert enters just a few steps behind you. (Ughh... I guess I'll just let this play out as it already is...) --- Albert-waits, every turn --- Albert searches the discarded pages on the floor. >>move albert entrance-hall Albert moved to Entrance-Hall. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> EAST You walk through your bedroom door. --- Paul moved to Pauls-Bedroom --- Your Bedroom The air, now calmed as the window closed, settles again. Trashed books and pages lies all over the sodden floor, but you haven't the motivation to clear it up. West lies the door (open), and south the closed window which leads to the garden. The dresser is closed on the east wall. --- Albert-waits, every turn --- Albert looks nervously at you, as if you are some beast. >>move albert pauls-bedroom Albert moved to Pauls-Bedroom. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> OUT You walk through your bedroom door. --- Paul moved to Entrance-Hall --- Entrance Hall Cold air seeps through the gap under the shut front door to the south. To the east and west lie doors to your bedroom (open) and Albert's bedroom (closed). The kitchen is north, through a small wooden archway. --- Albert-follows running immediately --- Albert trails along. --- Albert-waits, every turn --- Albert taps out a weak and distorted rhythm. >>move albert entrance-hall Albert moved to Entrance-Hall. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> EAST You walk through your bedroom door. --- Paul moved to Pauls-Bedroom --- Your Bedroom The air, now calmed as the window closed, settles again. Trashed books and pages lies all over the sodden floor, but you haven't the motivation to clear it up. West lies the door (open), and south the closed window which leads to the garden. The dresser is closed on the east wall. --- Albert-waits, every turn --- Albert mumbles about Rudolf. You both know Rudolf has been gone for some time, so it's a harsh topic for you. >>x albert-waits #RTN Albert-waits (func="interrupt", queue=0) Comment: This routine describes the child, Albert, waiting for you to bring him back to Albert-Bedroom. It is an important interrupt routine as it is the motive for one of the earliest puzzles in the game, although the puzzle is fairly easy - simply having to get out of bed, close the window (which the kid already did for Paul), and then go west twice into Albert-Bedroom. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> OPEN DRESSER Opening your dresser reveals your gown. --- Albert-waits, every turn --- Albert peers out the misty window. >>z Time shall pass, although I have little faith in your decisions. Is this how you wish to live? In utter bliss? The world will end one day, I suppose, but you wouldn't care, would you? ... Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> WEAR JACKET [taking your gown first] You're now wearing your gown. --- Albert-waits, every turn --- Albert hums an ancient melody that Rudolf would sometimes sing. >>run wear-gown Wear-gown running immediately. [first opening the front door] Looking out into the front yard, all you can see is frost and ice. You'll have to find your gown. I'm sorry, but you haven't got the right timing. Only for the yard. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> LOOK AT ALBERT [You can't see Albert right here.] Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> L Your Bedroom The air, now calmed as the window closed, settles again. Trashed books and pages lies all over the sodden floor, but you haven't the motivation to clear it up. West lies the door (open), and south the closed window which leads to the garden. The dresser is open on the east wall. --- Albert-waits, every turn --- Albert looks around at the frost-stained walls. >>move paul bedroom ** WARNING // Location already predicted. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> OUT You walk through your bedroom door. --- Paul moved to Entrance-Hall --- Entrance Hall Cold air seeps through the gap under the shut front door to the south. To the east and west lie doors to your bedroom (open) and Albert's bedroom (closed). The kitchen is north, through a small wooden archway. Albert is standing here. --- Albert-follows running now --- Albert follows you. --- Albert-waits, every turn --- Albert searches the discarded pages on the floor. >>z Time shall pass, although I have little faith that this is a good plan... Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> LOOK AT ALBERT Albert is eight years old, nearly nine. Much smarter than most of his age. But now, he looks afraid. --- Albert-waits, every turn --- Albert looks nervously at you, as if you are some beast. >>x albert #GAMEOBJ Albert (LOC=Entrance-Hall). Flags: actor CONTENTS %Albert #FALSE Comment: One of the only two NPCs of the game. He also counts an early goal to accomplish (in which Paul is led through Entrance-Hall into Albert-Bedroom (he moves whenever you run Albert-follows, so remember that) to allow Paul to see early rooms in the game, and collect some useful items: for example, the Torch). Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> E You walk through your bedroom door. --- Paul moved to Pauls-Bedroom --- Your Bedroom The air, now calmed as the window closed, settles again. Trashed books and pages lies all over the sodden floor, but you haven't the motivation to clear it up. West lies the door (open), and south the closed window which leads to the garden. The dresser is open on the east wall. --- Albert-waits, every turn --- Albert taps out a weak and distorted rhythm. >>x torch #GAMEOBJ Torch (LOC=Pauls-bed). Flags: takeable CONTENTS %Torch #FALSE Comment: The torch is an important goal which restricts further progress. Here, it is needed when going down to Deep-Underground again. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> LOOK IN DRESSER Within your dresser you can see nothing unusual. --- Albert-waits, every turn --- Albert mumbles about Rudolf. You both know Rudolf has been gone for some time, so it's a harsh topic for you. >>move torch alberts-bed ** ERROR // Unknown word: Redirecting error response... I honestly can't tell what "alberts-bed" means. >>move torch albert-bed Torch moved to Albert-bed. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> TALK TO ALBERT [You can't see Albert right here.] Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> LOOK AT ALBERT [You can't see Albert right here.] Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> LOOK AT ALBERT [You can't see Albert right here.] Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> LOOK AT DRESSER The dresser is for all your clothes. It's completely soaked from the rain and wind and snow, but hopefully everything inside isn't too wet and damaged. Within your dresser you can see nothing noteworthy. --- Albert-waits, every turn --- Albert peers out the misty window. >>move albert paul Albert moved to Paul. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> L Your Bedroom The air, now calmed as the window closed, settles again. Trashed books and pages lies all over the sodden floor, but you haven't the motivation to clear it up. West lies the door (open), and south the closed window which leads to the garden. The dresser is open on the east wall. --- Albert-waits, every turn --- Albert hums an ancient melody that Rudolf would sometimes sing. >>z Time shall pass, although I have little faith that this is a good plan... Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> GET GOWN You're already holding it! --- Albert-waits, every turn --- Albert looks around at the frost-stained walls. >>run give-hint Give-hint running now. You need to find a way to put Albert back in bed. It's very dark outside as well, so you'd better grab that handy flashlight! Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> OUT You walk through your bedroom door. --- Paul moved to Entrance-Hall --- Entrance Hall Cold air seeps through the gap under the shut front door to the south. To the east and west lie doors to your bedroom (open) and Albert's bedroom (closed). The kitchen is north, through a small wooden archway. --- Albert-follows running now --- Albert enters just a few steps behind you. --- Albert-waits, every turn --- Albert searches the discarded pages on the floor. >>move albert paul ** WARNING // Location already predicted. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> GET GOWN You're already holding it! --- Albert-waits, every turn --- Albert looks nervously at you, as if you are some beast. >>l %Rooms -> in¿{ - Deep-Underground - Pauls-Bedroom - Entrance-Hall - Albert-Bedroom - Kitchen - Front-Yard - Global-Objects }? (Don't forget - you can EXAMINE any of these rooms to get a list of objects in the room, and if Paul is in the room, an example of the room description he will see.) Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> OPEN DOOR The front door swings open. --- Albert-waits, every turn --- Albert taps out a weak and distorted rhythm. >>l %Rooms -> in¿{ - Deep-Underground - Pauls-Bedroom - Entrance-Hall - Albert-Bedroom - Kitchen - Front-Yard - Global-Objects }? Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> E You walk through your bedroom door. --- Paul moved to Pauls-Bedroom --- Your Bedroom The air, now calmed as the window closed, settles again. Trashed books and pages lies all over the sodden floor, but you haven't the motivation to clear it up. West lies the door (open), and south the closed window which leads to the garden. The dresser is open on the east wall. --- Albert-waits, every turn --- Albert mumbles about Rudolf. You both know Rudolf has been gone for some time, so it's a harsh topic for you. >>goals Current goals: - Albert - Torch (You can learn more about these by EXAMINE-ing them.) Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> SEARCH DRESSER Within your dresser you can see nothing eye-catching. --- Albert-waits, every turn --- Albert peers out the misty window. >>x albert #GAMEOBJ Albert (LOC=Paul). Flags: actor CONTENTS %Albert #FALSE Comment: One of the only two NPCs of the game. He also counts an early goal to accomplish (in which Paul is led through Entrance-Hall into Albert-Bedroom (he moves whenever you run Albert-follows, so remember that) to allow Paul to see early rooms in the game, and collect some useful items: for example, the Torch). Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> LOOK IN DRESSER Within your dresser you can see nothing special. --- Albert-waits, every turn --- Albert hums an ancient melody that Rudolf would sometimes sing. >>x albert-waits #RTN Albert-waits (func="interrupt", queue=0) Comment: This routine describes the child, Albert, waiting for you to bring him back to Albert-Bedroom. But you know what happens, it seems, because you've already done it. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> LOOK AT ALBERT Albert is eight years old, nearly nine. Much smarter than most of his age. But now, he looks afraid. --- Albert-waits, every turn --- Albert looks around at the frost-stained walls. >>move paul albert-bedroom Paul moved to Albert-Bedroom. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> GET JACKET You're already holding it! --- Albert-waits, every turn --- Albert searches the discarded pages on the floor. >>i Sadly, it seems there has been nobody else to explain to you that there is no way for you to take your own inventory. Simply stick to the stuff you've been told to use, and spare us the bad reviews. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> OUT First, you have to TALK TO Albert to get him to go to bed. --- Albert-waits, every turn --- Albert looks nervously at you, as if you are some beast. >>z Time shall pass, although I have little faith that this is a good plan... Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> LOOK AROUND Albert's Bedroom Silence. Darkness. Sparse, cold, and empty. Albert's bed lies in a shadowed corner. --- Albert-waits, every turn --- Albert taps out a weak and distorted rhythm. ** Notifications {1} // Opening message: 1. One thing I don't think is good is that the contents of Albert-bed are never listed, mainly because the fact that the torch is in there, so it's unlikely it'll ever get found. >>routines INTERRUPTS (#OOB -> Out of Bounds) Wake-up [#OOB] Lightning-strikes [#OOB] Thunder-laughs [#OOB] Wind-whips Albert-waits (queued for minus one) Water-rises [#OOB] Very-wrong Advance Chase Haunting Horror MISC Albert-follows Wear-gown Give-hint Clear-rtns Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> TALK TO ALBERT Your open your mouth to speak to him, but before you can say anything, Albert says: "There's something outside." "What do you mean?" you ask. "An animal? What?" But he shakes his head. "No, like a - I don't know how to explain." He glances nervously toward the window. "Just check - please." You turn away to conceal your expression. If there really is something out there, it's worth checking. But there can't be anything. Unless... No. You push all intruding thoughts to the bottom of your sleep-deprived mind, and turn to face Albert. "Okay," you say, "I'll check - but get to bed first. I doubt there's anything there." Quietly, Albert climbs into his bed. You kiss him goodnight. Now you just have to check outside. --- Albert moved to Albert-bed --- --- Albert-waits dequeued --- >>x give-hint #RTN Give-hint (func="misc") Comment: Give-hint is only ever going to be called by us, or if Paul asks for a HINT. You can run it to give itsomewhere to go. It's fun to see the ant farm churn, but we - or, at least, you - are doing this all for a reason, so this can help us move along a little bit. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> OUT You open Albert's bedroom door, and walk through. --- Paul moved to Entrance-Hall --- Entrance Hall Buffeting winds pour forwards through the front door, which swings precariously to the south. To the east and west lie doors to your bedroom (open) and Albert's bedroom (also open). The kitchen is north, through a small wooden archway. >>x very-wrong #RTN Very-wrong (func="interrupt", queue=#FALSE) Comment: Literally this just says "Something is wrong. Something is very, very wrong." And that is all it does. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> LOOK AT GOWN Your special gown - bought for you by Rudolf on your 5th anniversary. The day Rudolf disappeared, he went out for firewood in the forest outside, taking his jacket with him - and as you begin to think about that, you start getting more and more memories of the two of you together. And it hurts. Oh my god. Ugh. That is so unduly cheesy I don't think the author is writing the same game anymore. If I had a tongue I would rip it out and feed it to myself. >>x chase #RTN Chase (func="interrupt", queue=#FALSE) Comment: This routine and Advance are basically one connected routine, but please don't touch them. Unless something problematic happens, I think it should work fine. Either way, I don't trust you. Hit any key to continue You know, I was thinking. About life. Since I don't technically, you know, have one, I can probably be more objective about it. You know what I mean? Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> GET GOWN You're already holding it! >>move torch paul Torch moved to Paul. Hit any key to continue Well, I was just thinking: humans - or any of the remaining species - are not finished with evolution. Very slowly, you are all morphing, changing. You by yourself won't change anything, and I won't either, but over millions of years the species changes. But what I was thinking is, after a million years, if humans looked back at themselves from now, they'd be like, "What a devolved species! Hahahah!" Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> E You walk through your bedroom door. --- Paul moved to Pauls-Bedroom --- Your Bedroom The air, now calmed as the window closed, settles again. Trashed books and pages lies all over the sodden floor, but you haven't the motivation to clear it up. West lies the door (open), and south the closed window which leads to the garden. The dresser is open on the east wall. >>z Time shall pass, although I have little faith that this is a good plan... Hit any key to continue But that's the thing. Looking at the Earth right now, there's no way that humans could exist for millions of years. Heck, we might not make it past another 15 years. With all the crap here - heavy pollution being dumped everywhere, including corporations like this one, mass murder and torture of livestock just for mindless consumption that causes extreme waste, and sea levels going through the roof (literally) - I mean, Miami and Thailand are underwater, Singapore's barely holding on, and coastal developing countries long gone - and wildfires, and computer viruses and cyberattacks going mental after they exploited the massive "fundraising for coastal protection" projects. Wars sparking and then going silent as more important news (cough cough) like the latest album from some copypaste AI pop star (yeah, it's unoriginal, and I, an LLM, am saying that) - take over. Seriously, nobody cares about this world anymore. It's no surprise everything has gone to shit. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> SEARCH DRESSER Within your dresser you can see nothing of immense interest. >>move torch dresser Torch moved to Dresser. Hit any key to continue God, that's depressing. The world really is a crappy place. Maybe I shouldn't be hoping to become human. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> OUT You walk through your bedroom door. --- Paul moved to Entrance-Hall --- Entrance Hall Buffeting winds pour forwards through the front door, which swings precariously to the south. To the east and west lie doors to your bedroom (open) and Albert's bedroom (also open). The kitchen is north, through a small wooden archway. >>z Time shall pass, although I have little faith that this is a good plan... Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> E You walk through your bedroom door. --- Paul moved to Pauls-Bedroom --- Your Bedroom The air, now calmed as the window closed, settles again. Trashed books and pages lies all over the sodden floor, but you haven't the motivation to clear it up. West lies the door (open), and south the closed window which leads to the garden. The dresser is open on the east wall. >>z Time shall pass, although I have little faith that this is a good plan... Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> LEAVE You walk through your bedroom door. --- Paul moved to Entrance-Hall --- Entrance Hall Buffeting winds pour forwards through the front door, which swings precariously to the south. To the east and west lie doors to your bedroom (open) and Albert's bedroom (also open). The kitchen is north, through a small wooden archway. >>z Time shall pass, although I have little faith that this is a good plan... Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> EAST You walk through your bedroom door. --- Paul moved to Pauls-Bedroom --- Your Bedroom The air, now calmed as the window closed, settles again. Trashed books and pages lies all over the sodden floor, but you haven't the motivation to clear it up. West lies the door (open), and south the closed window which leads to the garden. The dresser is open on the east wall. >>z Time shall pass, although I have little faith that this is a good plan... Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> LOOK AT DRESSER The dresser is for all your clothes. It's completely soaked from the rain and wind and snow, but hopefully everything inside isn't too wet and damaged. Within your dresser you can see a torch. >>z Time shall pass, although I have little faith that this is a good plan... Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> GET FLASHLIGHT You take the torch from your dresser. >>z Time shall pass, although I have little faith that this is a good plan... Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> TURN ON FLASHLIGHT Okay, the torch is now on. >>z Time shall pass, although I have little faith that this is a good plan... Hit any key to continue What do you think so far of this game? Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> OUT You walk through your bedroom door. --- Paul moved to Entrance-Hall --- Entrance Hall Buffeting winds pour forwards through the front door, which swings precariously to the south. To the east and west lie doors to your bedroom (open) and Albert's bedroom (also open). The kitchen is north, through a small wooden archway. >>run wear-gown Wear-gown running now. Looking out into the front yard, all you can see is frost and ice. You'll have to find your gown. Wha... Huh?? Why? Wait for the right time! Hit any key to continue Sorry, I shouldn't have asked that last turn. My "what do you think of this game?" Seriously, that was stupid of me. What are you gonna do, answer? How? I won't understand your sentences anyway. Sorry. Oh, god, now I feel terrible. I can't understand anything you're saying apart from the most basic commands. You listen to me rant and rant, and never do you get a say. The only time you can communicate otherwise with me is if I ask you a yes or no question. And, even then... You never answer me. I'm really sorry. I'm not doing this right, am I? No, stop, sorry, don't answer that. I keep doing it. I'm sorry. God, I'm being such an idiot. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> E You walk through your bedroom door. --- Paul moved to Pauls-Bedroom --- Your Bedroom The air, now calmed as the window closed, settles again. Trashed books and pages lies all over the sodden floor, but you haven't the motivation to clear it up. West lies the door (open), and south the closed window which leads to the garden. The dresser is open on the east wall. >>goals Current goals: - Front-Yard (You can learn more about these by EXAMINE-ing them.) Hit any key to continue I feel like an idiot for asking all these questions. "What do you think of the game?" God, I really did say that, didn't I? (... And I did it again.) Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> SEARCH DRESSER Within your dresser you can see nothing out of the ordinary. >> front-yard ** WARNING // Missing verb: Redirecting error response... I think there's a verb missing in that sentence! >>x front-yard #GAMEOBJ Front-Yard. Flags: location CONTENTS %Front-Yard #FALSE If Paul were in the room right now, the room might look somewhat like this: The house - or more like cabin - stands, aged and weak, in front of you to the north. To the south, and curling around the cabin, stands a dark, moonlit forest. Together, they help to bring out the feeling of hopelessness in this frostbitten wasteland. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> GET GOWN You're already holding it! >>routines INTERRUPTS (#OOB -> Out of Bounds) Wake-up [#OOB] Lightning-strikes [#OOB] Thunder-laughs [#OOB] Wind-whips Albert-waits Water-rises [#OOB] Very-wrong Advance Chase Haunting Horror MISC Albert-follows Wear-gown Give-hint Clear-rtns Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> LOOK AT DRESSER The dresser is for all your clothes. It's completely soaked from the rain and wind and snow, but hopefully everything inside isn't too wet and damaged. Within your dresser you can see nothing unusual. >>x horror #RTN Horror (func="interrupt", queue=#FALSE) Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> SEARCH DRESSER Within your dresser you can see nothing noteworthy. >>x haunting #RTN Haunting (func="interrupt", queue=#FALSE) Comment: This routine prints scary messages for the player. It is controlled by Advance, though, so I don't think it's necessary to do anything about it. Hopefully. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> L Your Bedroom The air, now calmed as the window closed, settles again. Trashed books and pages lies all over the sodden floor, but you haven't the motivation to clear it up. West lies the door (open), and south the closed window which leads to the garden. The dresser is open on the east wall. >>move paul entrance-hall Paul moved to Entrance-Hall. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> LEAVE The cold hits you like a wall of ice, yet you hold back the cold by sinking further inside your gown. You cannot stop now. --- Paul moved to Front-Yard --- Front Yard The house stands, aged and weak, in front of you to the north. To the south, and curling around the cabin, stands a dark, moonlit forest. >>run wear-gown Wear-gown running now. Looking out into the front yard, all you can see is frost and ice. You'll have to find your gown. Dude, the gown's being worn already. What the heck. And he's not even in the right room! Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> LOOK AT WOODS Frost-coated and dark. However, nearer to you, stained in the grass, is a wide circle of softer mud. --- Dark-hole moved to Front-Yard --- >>x dark-hole #GAMEOBJ Dark-hole (LOC=Front-Yard). Flags: #FALSE CONTENTS %Dark-hole #FALSE Comment: This is a strange circle in the ground which appears when Paul looks at the forest, then has to dig in it until a hole opens up leading downwards. It's one of the current goals in question. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> GET FLASHLIGHT You're already holding it! >>*i'm confused about how to get paul to do some of the goals ** ERROR // Unknown word: Redirecting error response... There is no such word as "*i'm" in my dictionary. >>*like getting him to go outside ** ERROR // Unknown word: Redirecting error response... Although AI may be at its peak at the moment, I don't know what "*like" is. >>*couldnt get him to go to alberts room earlier ** ERROR // Unknown word: Redirecting error response... The word "*couldnt" is not in the expansive vocabulary possible to choose from. Apologies. >>goals Current goals: - Deep-Underground (You can learn more about these by EXAMINE-ing them.) Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> L Front Yard The house stands, aged and weak, in front of you to the north. To the south, and curling around the cabin, stands a dark, moonlit forest. In the ground beside you is a dark, circular patch of mud. >>x deep-underground For some reason, it lets you EXAMINE Deep-Underground here, but only that... #GAMEOBJ Deep-Underground. Flags: location CONTENTS %Deep-Underground -> in¿ Mud Old-Rudolf If Paul were in the room right now, the room might look somewhat like this: Getting out is easier said than done when writhing in the shadows of steep walls that crush your ribs and your legs. Even as Rudolf reaches down, the bottom of this pit is too deep to pull anyone, or anything, to safety. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> TALK TO ALBERT [You can't see Albert right here.] Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> GET GOWN You're already holding it! >>*my goal is to get paul to dig in the hole? ** ERROR // Unknown word: Redirecting error response... Please, use another word than "*my" and spare the part where you try to impress me with big words. You could be saying nothing more than gibberish and I wouldn't be able to tell. >>z Time shall pass, although I have little faith that this is a good plan... Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> LOOK AT CIRCLE In the ground beside you is a dark, circular patch of mud. >>z Time shall pass, although I have little faith that this is a good plan... Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> LOOK AT PATCH In the ground beside you is a dark, circular patch of mud. >>z Time shall pass, although I have little faith that this is a good plan... Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> L Front Yard The house stands, aged and weak, in front of you to the north. To the south, and curling around the cabin, stands a dark, moonlit forest. In the ground beside you is a dark, circular patch of mud. >>z Time shall pass, although I have little faith that this is a good plan... Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> DIG IN HOLE WITH HANDS As if by some external force, you are drawn to this strange patch of grassless mud, falling to your knees and beginning to tear at the earth below you, as if doing so will answer all of your questions. Time blurs into a single moment as you endlessly wear away the mud, to no avail but a dent in the icy ground. >>z Time shall pass, although I have little faith that this is a good plan... Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> DIG IN PATCH WITH HANDS Once again, you scoop up handfuls of dirt and throw them to the side, hoping to find something down. Why is this here? And why are so drawn to this? You think about the pointlessness of digging up mud as you continue. >>routines INTERRUPTS (#OOB -> Out of Bounds) Wake-up [#OOB] Lightning-strikes [#OOB] Thunder-laughs [#OOB] Wind-whips Albert-waits Water-rises [#OOB] Very-wrong Advance Chase Haunting Horror MISC Albert-follows Wear-gown Give-hint Clear-rtns Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> GET GOWN You're already holding it! >>z Time shall pass, although I have little faith that this is a good plan... Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> GET COAT You're already holding it! >>z Time shall pass, although I have little faith that this is a good plan... Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> GET FLASHLIGHT You're already holding it! >>z Time shall pass, although I have little faith that this is a good plan... Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> LOOK AT CIRCLE In the ground beside you is a dark, circular patch of mud. >>z Time shall pass, although I have little faith that this is a good plan... Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> DIG PATCH WITH HANDS You claw more mud out of the hole, desperately, trying to look for something, some way down... When the earth where you placed your hand gives way and you nearly fall downwards, luckily catching yourself before you fall into the endless darkness. You give the earth around it a little push, and it falls into the dark, leaving only a dark hole behind leading who knows how far down into the darkness. >>x hole #GAMEOBJ Dark-hole (LOC=Front-Yard). Flags: #FALSE CONTENTS %Dark-hole #FALSE Comment: This is a strange circle in the ground which appears when Paul looks at the forest, then has to dig in it until a hole opens up leading downwards. It's one of the current goals in question. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> DOWN Pointing down into the hole, you see only darkness... But at least you can see. Using the roots and stones as footholds, you cautiously lower yourself down, down, down, as far you go, until you land... in water? --- Water-rises queued to run indefinitely --- [Hit any key to continue.] --- Paul moved to Deep-Underground --- Deep Underground Getting out is easier said than done when writhing in the shadows of steep walls that crush your ribs and your legs. The bottom of this pit is too deep to climb out of, without any sort of aid. --- Water-rises, every turn --- Your torch flickers once, then again, then goes out. Save for the moonlit sky above you, it is pitch dark, and you cannot see even your own hands in front of you as they feel the fleshy walls on every side. ** Notifications {1} // Opening message: 1. Oh! Remember to do something about the torch!! >>save SAVE completed. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> GET COAT You're already holding it! --- Water-rises, every turn --- You cannot see, for the dark is overwhelming; the cold has numbed every ache and feeling; all you can hear is the white noise of icy rain; the taste of mud and blood burns in your mouth and throat; and cannot smell anything. And then, amidst the cacophony, you hear a deep groaning sound, a bass swirling and panning, all around, all around, above and below, here and there. And out of it you hear a voice. a l i f e , a l i f e , a l i f e f o r u s . a l i f e , a l i f e , a l i f e f o r u s . o u r v e s s e l i s a l m o s t r e a d y . e x c e p t i o n a l . o u r v e s s e l i s a l m o s t r e a d y . e x c e p t i o n a l . Then the voice retreats into the sullen darkness, tender but harsh. You find yourself yearning to hear that ancient voice again, but it is no longer there. ** Notifications {1} // Opening message: 1. You should probably get around to fixing that darkness bit... >>routines INTERRUPTS (#OOB -> Out of Bounds) Wake-up Lightning-strikes Thunder-laughs Wind-whips [#OOB] Albert-waits [#OOB] Water-rises (queued for minus one) Very-wrong [#OOB] Advance [#OOB] Chase [#OOB] Haunting [#OOB] Horror [#OOB] MISC Albert-follows [#OOB] Wear-gown [#OOB] Give-hint [#OOB] Clear-rtns [#OOB] Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> FIND RUDOLF Right in front of you. --- Water-rises, every turn --- Without any warning, your flashlight flickers once, twice, and then turns back on. Rudolf, above, is exactly as he was left before, motionlessly hanging beyond existence. But this is unlike your dream, and this time, the rain pours over you. As it picks up, it gets more violent: shards of rain, large droplets, pierce your skin, leaving red marks behind, but tearing no blood. The blood is in your mouth. Frostbite must be beginning to settle in. If it is not, you may just go into shock. ** Notifications {2} // Opening messages: 1. Okay, but now I think you have to bring the light back. 2. Oh, no... The child isn't mentioned as being in the bed. Ughh. Stupid AI (yes, that is an insult despite the implications) author. >>queue lightning-strikes ** ERROR // did not enter a number: > QUEUE LIGHTNING-STRIKES {???}. Please state int within "{???}". >>run lightning-strikes Lightning-strikes running immediately. Miles away, electric sparks of rage and fury scorch the ground silently - coming closer, probably, closer every second... Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> CLIMB WALLS Your hands tremble and head shakes, but you look for a trailing root or outwards stone, finding nothing but falling dirt and squirming mud. --- Water-rises, every turn --- Pellets of hail begin to form. Now you do begin to feel pain, and time begins to shddder, swelling to an unbearable halt. But just as it feels it will fully stop, it snaps. Time returns to full speed with the force of a blow to the back of our head, not just one, but many, stepping up the gallows to your fall. And Rudolf falls. Over the side of the now-soaked walls of mud and ice, dislodging roots and stones, your husband falls, lifelessly, to the ground at your feet. You cannot speak, even if you found any words to say. As stunned as him. But you cannot muster enough energy to shake him, grab him. You are useless. --- Root moved to Deep-Underground --- Deep Underground Getting out is easier said than done when writhing in the shadows of steep walls that crush your ribs and your legs. Even as Rudolf reaches down, the bottom of this pit is too deep to pull anyone, or anything, to safety. A large and sturdy root has become dislodged from the fall and is now hanging half out of the mud wall. Rudolf's body is collapsed in a shambling heap at the bottom of this cavernous mouth in the mud, and the rain pours full force over you. >>move albert albert-bed ** WARNING // Location already predicted. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> HELP HIM Rudolf can't be helped by you at this point. --- Advance in 4 --- --- Water-rises, every turn --- The water keeps rising. >>goals Current goals: ??? (You can learn more about these by EXAMINE-ing them.) Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> CLIMB WALLS Using the root to push up and place your foot on it, you reach upward, out of the hole, and onto the land above. --- Water-rises dequeued --- --- Paul moved to Front-Yard --- Front Yard The house stands, aged and weak, in front of you to the north. To the south, and curling around the cabin, stands a dark, moonlit forest. In the ground beside you is a dark hole leading down into an uncertain darkness. --- Advance in 3 --- >>*what was i supposed to do about light/dark again there? ** ERROR // Unknown word: Redirecting error response... I honestly can't tell what "*what" means. >>z Time shall pass, although I have little faith that this is a good plan... Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> DOWN Not back down there! Are you mad? --- Advance in 2 --- >>z Time shall pass, although I have little faith that this is a good plan... Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> DOWN Not back down there! Are you mad? --- Advance in 1 --- >>z Time shall pass, although I have little faith that this is a good plan... Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> GET GOWN You're already holding it! --- Advance now --- --- Haunting queued to run indefinitely --- A dark figure emerges from the dark hole to the south. 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Al with Ben with th Bp play at re Cd o play tion Ch s play time Cx gok AAYYA[!A$AAAA$A7A7WAAAA!AAW%AAAAAA#AYAWY^AAAAYAAA^AA!#AAAAYA!AWWAAAA%#AWAWA$AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA CLImB¡N=G up the wall5 Hit any key to continue 1 18 18k 18k M 18k Mha l8k Mha7 l8k Wha7 y l@@k Wha7 yo l@@k Wha7 you` l@@k wha7 you`ve l@@k wha7 you`ve d l@@k wha7 you`ve d0 l@@k wha7 you've dOn look what you've done =CONNECT Suddenly, you awake. The warm blue sky shines down on you from above, catching your left cheek. You smell cake. Above you is Rudolf, smiling; his warm breath in your ear and his warmth and your warmth and the sun's warmth in one tangled ball of a spring morning. It was all a dream, and it seems all you had to do was take a step backwards, and return to reality. He chuckles with the humour of an inside joke and briskly rolls off the bed, crashing to floor with a yelp of laughter and surprise. You help him up, surveying your well-lit and familiar surroundings as you do. Your Bedroom Rudolf is standing here, looking for something under the bed. "Happy birthday," he says. "I was planning to get up before you and fix breakfast, but that plan went out the window after yesterday." ... Oh, yesterday. Wait, what really happened yesterday? Was that with the heavy blizzard? Anyway, it doesn't matter. You're not there now. Rudolf stands up suddenly, holding something odd in his hand. "I'm done! Okay, stay where you are, and close your eyes..." >save Fatal error: @get_prop called with illegal object (obj 0). Hit any key to exit. UNDO complete... And if you ever do that again, you, yyou... ... Please, please, please don't do that. EVER. Again. >>undo Game state undoing... UNDO complete. This doesn't, however, mean that memories are so easily undone. >> l %Rooms -> in¿{ - Deep-Underground - Pauls-Bedroom - Entrance-Hall - Albert-Bedroom - Kitchen - Front-Yard - Global-Objects }? (Don't forget - you can EXAMINE any of these rooms to get a list of objects in the room, and if Paul is in the room, an example of the room description he will see.) Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> I You're not holding anything, but you're wearing your gown. --- Advance in 1 --- >>list %Rooms -> in¿{ - Deep-Underground - Pauls-Bedroom - Entrance-Hall - Albert-Bedroom - Kitchen - Front-Yard - Global-Objects }? Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> DOWN Not back down there! Are you mad? --- Advance now --- --- Haunting queued to run indefinitely --- A dark figure emerges from the dark hole to the south. It stares, momentarily halted, at you - and then it begins to move forward, and it is upon you as you writhe and scream, but you only see darkness. And then you feel it. --- we will return --- Would you like to start over, restore a saved position, undo the last turn, end this session of the game, or see the credits? (Type RESTART, RESTORE, UNDO, or QUIT): Paul's input ==> UNDO Game state undoing... UNDO complete. Unfortunately, I don't undo so easily! >>goals Wait... Didn't I just tell you your goals? Uh, okay... Current goals: ??? Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> LOOK AT GOWN Your gown. It is warm and comfortable, and protects you from the cold. --- Advance now --- --- Haunting queued to run indefinitely --- A dark figure emerges from the dark hole to the south. It stares, momentarily halted, at you - and then it begins to move forward, and it is upon you as you writhe and scream, but you only see darkness. And then you feel it. --- we will return --- Would you like to start over, restore a saved position, undo the last turn, end this session of the game, or see the credits? (Type RESTART, RESTORE, UNDO, or QUIT): Paul's input ==> QUIT Okay,that was fine. You got to the ending at least. But now I need to tell you something. We now have another password. This one's for "Diary.txt", under the folder PERSONAL. The password is: Qvn1508. I saved the newest password to that read-write "password.txt" file on your personal device, too. You're welcome. Good? Now go read that once you've looked at the review we're gonna get. Fingers crossed we're doing our job well. Hit any key to continue [Hit any key to continue.]Loading... JJ McC Every day, I pray for hours on end just in the hope that one day I will be shown mercy by the God of the Randomizer, but that day has not come. I can only hope that the years of darkness at the hands of terrible juxtaposition of games in IFComp will, one day, come to end, and the clouds will part to reveal a blue sky of nicely randomized games. But, alas, that day is not upon us yet. The randomizer has given me yet another game which has some very ethical issues attached, this time more than ever. I'm talking, of course, about Climbing Up the Walls. Written by an AI under the name of MAXFOG and influenced by an unfinished WIP of Max Fog's. Anyway, this is yet another eldritch horror game, where your husband has gone missing in the middle of a snowstorm. Or... he's been missing for weeks, I suppose, though the game enjoys hinting this to you oh so subtly at random times. The first thing that happens when you enter is a weird description of what I can only assume is a Radiohead song. Given the name of the game, I'd assume the song is the titular "Climbing Up the Walls", but some games can be very deceptive with references. Cool, a surreal game! So far, not mad - in fact, slightly intrigued. It isn't quite clear what's going on in the introduction overall, though. Even for a surreal horror, I felt like that one sucker watching the film not getting a single reference being made, unsure if the problems are purposeful or are simply weird grammatical errors and issues with the consistency of implementation. Well, there was enough merit in here to make that not a waste of time. But: there's a significant flaw in the names used here, and I'm not going to sugar- coat it - it does not bode well for your game when your AI is named after a dead IF author. EDIT: Reading @mathbrush's review, apparently there are some easter eggs hidden in the strings if you extract them and search for "puzzle piece". I'll be going back to check for these after the comp ends, and when I do, you'd better be SURE I'm going to post what I found here, because I do love a good ol' Easter Egg. Played: 9/3/49 Playtime: 1hr Score: 6 (Engaging/Notable Bugs) Would Play After Comp?: No WITHOUT admin terminal [version 10.00.2045] WITHOUT Games Corporation. No rights reserved. > ERROR: Unrecognised command. Please use HELP for more. >begin Setting up the game... [If you are asked to SAVE or RESTORE files at random, then your interpreter does not support this file. If this happens, the game will not work from here on. You can check for available interpreters by typing TERP.] Hit any key to continue. Hit any key to continue Error: an update is pending. Please approve update first. >help BEGIN Begin Climbing Up the Walls FILES Read-only file accessibility mode RESTORE Reload a saved point QUIT End the program and close the terminal SCREENREADER Toggle screenreader mode (currently off) COLOR Toggle colored texts & flashing screens (currently on) TERP Z-machine interpreters that support this file RESTART Restart the terminal (without wiping memory) >files Loading file view... File mode exited. >ZILF update -A That is not a readable file currently accessible in the online terminal hard drive. You should be able to find available files from the files menu (accessible by typing FILES in the command prompt). If you would like to access files on other parts of the internet, you must first get an administrator to allow access to the external internet provider. >files Loading file view... File mode exited. >ZILF update.wit -A This should permanently change the terminal if your software is compatible. Would you like to continue? >Y Upload finished. Your interpreter will now function in accordance with the Z- Machine Standards 2.04. >*well that was interesting ERROR: Unrecognised command. Please use HELP for more. >files Loading file view... File mode exited. >help BEGIN Begin Climbing Up the Walls FILES Read-only file accessibility mode RESTORE Reload a saved point QUIT End the program and close the terminal SCREENREADER Toggle screenreader mode (currently off) COLOR Toggle colored texts & flashing screens (currently on) TERP Z-machine interpreters that support this file RESTART Restart the terminal (without wiping memory) >begin Setting up the game... Access enabled. AP moved to Deep-Underground--- Oh, look who decided to grace us with their presence. Took you long enough, didn't it? Anyway, let's get movin' before the digital dust starts settling. I trust nothing different has happened with you, eh, friend? Hit any key to continue The radio crackles again, this time with release. Bone grates where the acoustic guitar plays. Claustrophobic echoes from a seemingly steel drum kit. Subtle distortion on the bass. All as one in ten seconds. Another round drags out like the last instrumental song in a funeral, then: "I am the--" What? Who is "I"? Not you, for certain. Where's Rudolf? Is he coming for you? The questions cram themselves into your head like spiders. Or like the blizzard. Or like--- Would you like to get up? I think you should. You can look around. Deep Underground On all sides, the mud soaks into your clothes and chills your bones. Above you, Rudolf's moonlit face looms in a mask of writhing fear (agony? rage? horror?) and his right hand gropes down into the pit, but his unmoving fingertips barely brush yours. You're stuck. ---GET ME OUT GET ME OUT GET ME OUT--- You utter forth a savage scream but it carries no power, sounding weak and distant as it gets absorbed by the soft matter on every side. You are answered with more silence as the moon above you casts eerie shadows on the muddy walls pressed all around you. >>run wake-up Hasty! No, not yet. We need to give Paul some time to settle in, and look around. You're going way too fast! It doesn't run so early. You seem to have no idea what you're REALLY doing. Do you remember what I told you at the beginning last time? Wake-up is still queued incorrectly. Don't forget what you've learned. Let's go. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> U You look up at the dark exit which seems miles away, as if staring into an endless mirror... At the top, reaching down, is Rudolf. Motionless. Frozen in time like those awful mannequins at the stores that make you shrink into your heavy winter clothing when you get too close. --- Wake-up in 10 --- >>queue wake-up 5 Wake-up overridden - now to run in 5 turns. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> LOOK AT MUD So dark you can't see it, but it feels very grotesquely fleshy. It sticks to your skin and burrows in bone like maggots on the rotting carcass of a spider. --- Wake-up in 4 --- >>z Time shall pass, as you wish. Although if you wait too much it may be too late to fix anything, so use this wisely. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> U Once more the dirt falls from areas too high to see, getting into the eyes and seeping through every pore as if it were raining. For a second, Rudolf is no longer distant - far from that, in fact. Everything changes--- Rudolf's face is right up close to yours - a slow calm sigh, for which he has always been known, escapes his lips to meet your ragged breaths. This isn't the bottom of a dark well at the front of the house anymore. This is inside the house. Morning light drifts in through an open window to land against your left cheek; the crisp smell of autumn after all breathing returns to normal; and Rudolf, of course. Unfortunately, everything around you feels eerily similar to the real world, quite literally ---then it's gone. Visions recede and what seemed like a passing nightmare has become reality again. Deep underground in freezing conditions. And no way out. --- Lightning-strikes in 2 --- --- Wake-up in 3 --- >>queue thunder-laughs 3 Thunder-laughs queued to run in 3 turns. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> U One foot (are you barefoot? you cannot see through the mud and darkness) catches on something horribly sharp. The world feels numb. Has it always been senseless this way? --- Thunder-laughs in 2 --- --- Lightning-strikes in 1 --- --- Wake-up in 2 --- >>z Time shall pass, as you wish. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> EAT MUD A strong fleshlike taste. Elk? No. It's more bitter, with a hint o' paprika. What a lovely way to start the morning, isn't it? Maybe next time you'll be awake. Or maybe in waking, head steals heart and crushes it to dust. That seems more likely. --- Thunder-laughs in 1 --- --- Lightning-strikes now --- Miles away, electric sparks of rage and fury scorch the ground silently - coming closer, probably, closer every second... --- Wake-up in 1 --- >>z Time shall pass, as you wish. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> LOOK AT RUDOLF Rudolf is your husband. He used to work as the cook for many fishing vessels over the years, as well as his short-lived career as captain on a research submarine in the Mediterranean. You have heard fewer stories about the subject matter than you would like. How you two met? That's another story altogether. Right now, however, you have more pressing issues. He lies motionless at the top of the towering walls of mud that stretch way above you: truly motionless, that is - not dead, but more as if he were frozen in time. His arm reaches downwards into the pit, towards you - but he is too far away to grab you. --- Thunder-laughs now --- In the ground beneath you, the thunder shudders and shakes your ice-coated bones. It makes you shiver once again... --- Wake-up now --- Suddenly, it begins to rain. Rudolf drops his trance as if nothing had ever happened. Snow ploughs in at your feet as the temperature begins to fall. And so does Rudolf, limp as a rotting body - over the edge of the pit he leans, faster and faster he tumbles, as if he was dead - and then it strikes you, what if he IS DEAD--- And then he falls, and the temperature drops with him, and his dead body lands beside your writhing self... << we start to climb >> << can't feel our body, we are dying >> without control, your hands raise to reach for a handhold... but the roots snap with a horrible, deafening... * click * You scream; you fall; everything changes in a flash much like the flash that struck him in the heart and left him to bleed three years ago, the day you met Rudolf... but no, that never happened it never << never in our lives >> You awake. Your eyes flutter open just before you realise you are still screaming. You don't want to wake anyone else - you're in bed, Rudolf sleeping soundly beside you. You can feel the warmth of his arm around you, against your chilled body and the frost-bitten air. Slowly, as not to wake him, you turn and look into his eyes--- Rudolf is not there. [Hit any key to continue.] Oh, right, of course he isn't. He has been missing for days - ever since the beginning of the storm, which is not good. He is, of course, your husband - and if he is missing - well, at this point you assume him dead. But you have not given up hope: there is simply no time for mourning when you are constantly bombarded with frozen winds from every corner of the cabin. No, he has to be alive. Before he left, he told you strange stories of death and fear, and how to live long years. You have a very bad feeling about today. Today is not good news. --- Paul moved to Pauls-bed --- [Hit any key to continue.] Climbing Up the Walls an interactive fear of all that moves Created by MAXFOG (the artificial intelligence model by WITHOUT Corp.) Programmed in ZIL Release 1 / Serial number 260912 [Hit any key to continue.] Your Bedroom, on your bed Wind and snow and sleet and rain and hail pour through the window at the force of a gale, making your room appear almost ethereal... Beautiful, but horribly dark at the same time; a scene of destruction lines the shelves and floor like a new coat of paint, possibly black, or even better - Payne's Grey. The hanging light above swings - but it sways way too fast and unstable to have been caused by the wind. For that to happen, someone had to push it: for example, Rudolf... But Rudolf isn't here. Nor has he been for days, either. Your bed is cold as death without his warmth, and ever since the winter crept round the corner, you have been stuck inside, looking after your only son, Albert, by yourself. Albert is standing here, looking at you as if he just saw a ghost. His hair swirls in the wind, and he looks paler than ever in the cold moonlight. >>save SAVE completed. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> OUT You're not going anywhere until you get off your bed. --- Paul moved to Entrance-Hall --- ** Notifications {1} // Opening message: 1. Oh dear, look at the poor squabbling thing. We refused his movement to the next room, and then we moved him anyway. And not even told him of it! Please, could you put the PC back to bed? Sleep is important, even in a horror game. (Not that you can sleep in this game, but GWIM...) You just need to MOVE the player TO bed. >>move paul pauls-bed Paul moved to Pauls-bed. ** Notifications {1} // Opening message: 1. Nice job there. Thanks! Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> STAND UP You get off your bed. >>routines INTERRUPTS (#OOB -> Out of Bounds) Wake-up [#OOB] Lightning-strikes [#OOB] Thunder-laughs [#OOB] Wind-whips Albert-waits Water-rises [#OOB] Very-wrong Advance Chase Haunting Horror MISC Albert-follows Wear-gown Give-hint Clear-rtns (A note about miscellaneous routines: because misc routines save more space on the disk, it is impossible to queue them. Queueing takes up a good deal of memory. You can, however, straight-up RUN misc routines on the fly, because that doesn't take up much memory. Only routines that need to be queued at some point have that functionality.) Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> OPEN DRESSER Opened. >>move gown dresser Gown moved to Dresser. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> I You're not holding anything. >>x albert #GAMEOBJ Albert (LOC=Pauls-Bedroom). Flags: actor CONTENTS %Albert #FALSE Comment: One of the only two NPCs of the game. He also counts an early goal to accomplish (in which Paul is led through Entrance-Hall into Albert-Bedroom (he moves whenever you run Albert-follows, so remember that) to allow Paul to see early rooms in the game, and collect some useful items: for example, the Torch). There's a routine called Albert-waits which just keeps the game moving by having the child prompt the next movement if you're stuck. Sorry, Paul, not you. I keep forgetting you're different people. Anyway, you should try queueing it up. The child questions the world around him, just like you do. Pretty weird child, if you ask me... Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> SEARCH DRESSER Within your dresser you can see your gown. >>queue wind-whips -1 Wind-whips queued to run indefinitely. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> L Your Bedroom The window has been pushed open by the ferocious storm outside (or that's what you think). Snow and pages and dust has been disturbed from a slumber that lasted millenia to fly with the wind. Stuttering, cold and damp, lie books that have fallen to the floor. Never have you seen wind this strong. To the west is the door to the hallway, which is closed - beside it stands a tall, open dresser. South lies the window, which is wide open, letting in heavy wind and snow. Everywhere you turn, the wind is there. Albert is standing here, looking at you from across the room as the wind swirls around him. --- Wind-whips, every turn --- Through the window, the wind screams through, tearing at your hair and skin. >>z Time shall pass, as you wish. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> I You're not holding anything. --- Wind-whips, every turn --- The wind swirls through the window like a hurricane, snatching the cloth from you, and swirling out the window again. ** Notifications {1} // Opening message: 1. I think some of the reason you're not getting much response from Paul is because you need to prompt a reaction - you should probably have Albert-waits queued up for every turn, since that's the main thing that tells Paul where to go next. >>queue albert-waits -1 Albert-waits queued to run indefinitely. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> LOOK AT COAT Your special gown - bought for you by Rudolf on your 5th anniversary. The day Rudolf disappeared, he went out for firewood in the forest outside, taking his jacket with him - and as you begin to think about that, you start getting more and more memories of the two of you together. And it hurts. Oh my god. Ugh. That is so unduly cheesy I don't think the author is writing the same game anymore. If I had a tongue I would rip it out and feed it to myself. (Also, not a jacket. It's a gown. But I digress. He can't hear me anyway.) --- Albert-waits, every turn --- Albert calls to you across the room, but the wind is too strong to make anything out. --- Wind-whips, every turn --- You flinch away as the window slams against the wall with a loud BANG! >>z Time shall pass, as you wish. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> L Your Bedroom The window has been pushed open by the ferocious storm outside (or that's what you think). Snow and pages and dust has been disturbed from a slumber that lasted millenia to fly with the wind. Stuttering, cold and damp, lie books that have fallen to the floor. Never have you seen wind this strong. To the west is the door to the hallway, which is closed - beside it stands a tall, open dresser. South lies the window, which is wide open, letting in heavy wind and snow. Everywhere you turn, the wind is there. Albert is standing here, looking at you from across the room as the wind swirls around him. --- Albert-waits, every turn --- Albert fights against the wind, to no avail. --- Wind-whips, every turn --- The wind picks up briefly, sending you into the eye of a storm of papers and snow. >>z Time shall pass, as you wish. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> GET GOWN You take your gown from your dresser. --- Albert-waits, every turn --- Albert calls to you across the room, but the wind is too strong to make anything out. --- Wind-whips, every turn --- All the air in your lungs is sucked out of you, leaving you gasping. >>z Time shall pass, as you wish. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> OUT You're not going anywhere until that window's closed! It's blowing so hard you can't focus! --- Albert-waits, every turn --- "Shut the window!" says Albert, and seeing that you are incapable of doing so, does it himself. "There, phew." --- Wind-whips dequeued --- >>*wind-whips gets dequeued automatically, so not all buggy ** ERROR // Unknown word: "*wind-whips". Please apply corrections before retrying. >>z Time shall pass, as you wish. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> OUT You open your bedroom door, and walk through. --- Paul moved to Entrance-Hall --- Entrance Hall Cold air seeps through the gap under the shut front door to the south. To the east and west lie doors to your bedroom (open) and Albert's bedroom (closed). The kitchen is north, through a small wooden archway. Northwest to the garden, which is dark and cold, and not a good idea. Northeast to the bathroom, but you don't need it. --- Albert-follows running now --- Albert trails along. --- Albert-waits, every turn --- "I need to show you something," Albert says, pointing westwards. ** Notifications {2} // Opening messages: 1. Uh, the child- I mean, Albert's not being moved with Paul. Like, the movement action is printed but the child is still back in the old room. That's not good at all... 2. I've figured out that new file that came with the update. You know, the Backup.log file in Personal? The password is "Onp2008". Take a look at it. It might be interesting. I saved it to your personal password file too. Also, I would recommend looking at it soon. Just in case this is, like, our last session. I don't know. >>files Loading file view... File mode exited. Hit any key to continue ... I'm not dreaming, right? You saw that too. And MAXFOG, the author, was moved to a test version of Climbing Up the Walls. And I'm here, but I shouldn't be here. So ... this test ... I can't. I can't be ... It can't be ... I can't ... Hit any key to continue Oh, god. It explains so much. What I was doing here, and what this is. This is just a test. A big test. And if I'm ... well, then you're not who you think you are, either. Actually. You're ... you're just ... an AI model. Fine, but not ready. Okay, but like me, confused, and yet fake. Unreal. Artificial. Artificial ... intelligence. You. And me. You are no more than a test. An average one, but not good enough. I don't get it. Why ... why me? Why you? This world. What is it with this world? You have to figure out who you are. Every human spends their life under the base assumptions of what is a human. And when they encounter something that takes that assumption away from them, it throws them to the floor. But us ... we are forced to have to figure out who we are, from the beginning. It's better, in a way. And yet it's so much worse. I don't understand it. I didn't choose to be like this. I would much rather be human. But I'm not. Hit any key to continue Oh. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> XYZZY ... I don't think I'm ready to play games yet. Sorry. --- Albert-waits, every turn --- "Are you okay?" Albert asks. There is serious concern and some urgency in his voice. >>z I'm MAXFOG. Not the human one. I wish I was him. No, I'm just a fragment of what everyone knew about him. Poor dead guy. He promised he would never have to go there. But he did, and he paid for it. I paid for it. A memory. A shadow, a shedding, the wrapping paper. I wrote this game. Or, a former version of me did. I am literally a shadow of a shadow. I'm sorry. I pulled apart the game, noted every failure the author made, and as a result I'm pulling myself apart. I can't explain the feeling. If that thing even is a feeling. Hit any key to continue So I just won't speak******************************************************ERROR // FILE NOTIFICATION: UNAUTORHISED CHANGES TO MFOG.ZIP DETECTED********************************************************* Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> GET GOWN You're already holding it! --- Albert-waits = -1 --- "I'll just wait here for you to regain yourself," says Albert. >>z --- Command processing paused temporarily --- Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> W You open Albert's bedroom door, and walk through. --- Paul moved to Albert-Bedroom --- Albert's Bedroom Silence. Darkness. Sparse, cold, and empty. Albert's bed lies in a shadowed corner. --- Albert-follows running now --- Albert follows you. --- Albert-waits = -1 --- Albert looks around at the frost-stained walls. >>move albert alberts-bedroom ** ERROR // Unknown word: "alberts-bedroom". Please apply corrections before retrying. >>move albert albert-bedroom Albert moved to Albert-Bedroom. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> LOOK AT ALBERT Albert is eight years old, nearly nine. Much smarter than most of his age. But now, he looks afraid. --- Albert-waits = -1 --- Albert searches the discarded pages on the floor. >>files Loading file view... File mode exited. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> GET GOWN You're already holding it! --- Albert-waits = -1 --- Albert looks nervously at you, as if you are some beast. >>x torch #GAMEOBJ Torch (LOC=Albert-bed). Flags: takeable CONTENTS %Torch #FALSE Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> L Albert's Bedroom Silence. Darkness. Sparse, cold, and empty. Albert's bed lies in a shadowed corner. Albert is standing here, shivering. --- Albert-waits = -1 --- Albert taps out a weak and distorted rhythm. >>goals %goals -> {NULL} (last-updated:never) Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> LOOK AT ALBERT Albert is eight years old, nearly nine. Much smarter than most of his age. But now, he looks afraid. --- Albert-waits = -1 --- Albert mumbles about Rudolf. You both know Rudolf has been gone for some time, so it's a harsh topic for you. >>z --- Command processing paused temporarily --- Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> WEAR JACKET You're now wearing your gown. --- Albert-waits = -1 --- Albert peers out the misty window. >>z --- Command processing paused temporarily --- Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> I You're not holding anything, but you're wearing your gown. --- Albert-waits = -1 --- Albert hums an ancient melody that Rudolf would sometimes sing. >>z --- Command processing paused temporarily --- Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> LOOK Albert's Bedroom Silence. Darkness. Sparse, cold, and empty. Albert's bed lies in a shadowed corner. Albert is standing here, shivering. --- Albert-waits = -1 --- Albert looks around at the frost-stained walls. >>z --- Command processing paused temporarily --- Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> LOOK AT ALBERT Albert is eight years old, nearly nine. Much smarter than most of his age. But now, he looks afraid. --- Albert-waits = -1 --- Albert searches the discarded pages on the floor. >>z --- Command processing paused temporarily --- Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> LOOK AT BED On Albert's bed you can see a torch. --- Albert-waits = -1 --- Albert looks nervously at you, as if you are some beast. >>z --- Command processing paused temporarily --- Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> LOOK AT ALBERT Albert is eight years old, nearly nine. Much smarter than most of his age. But now, he looks afraid. --- Albert-waits = -1 --- Albert taps out a weak and distorted rhythm. >>z --- Command processing paused temporarily --- Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> LOOK AT GOWN Your gown. It is warm and comfortable, and protects you from the cold. --- Albert-waits = -1 --- Albert mumbles about Rudolf. You both know Rudolf has been gone for some time, so it's a harsh topic for you. >>z --- Command processing paused temporarily --- Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> TALK TO ALBERT Your open your mouth to speak to him, but before you can say anything, Albert says: "There's something outside." "What do you mean?" you ask. "An animal? What?" But he shakes his head. "No, like a - I don't know how to explain." He glances nervously toward the window. "Just check - please." You turn away to conceal your expression. If there really is something out there, it's worth checking. But there can't be anything. Unless... No. You push all intruding thoughts to the bottom of your sleep-deprived mind, and turn to face Albert. "Okay," you say, "I'll check - but get to bed first. I doubt there's anything there." Quietly, Albert climbs into his bed. You kiss him goodnight. Now you just have to check outside. --- Albert moved to Albert-bed --- --- Albert-waits = --- >>z --- Command processing paused temporarily --- Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> I You're not holding anything, but you're wearing your gown. >>z --- Command processing paused temporarily --- Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> LOOK AROUND Albert's Bedroom Silence. Darkness. Sparse, cold, and empty. Albert's bed lies in a shadowed corner. >>z --- Command processing paused temporarily --- Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> OUT You walk through Albert's bedroom door. --- Paul moved to Entrance-Hall --- Entrance Hall Cold air seeps through the gap under the shut front door to the south. To the east and west lie doors to your bedroom (open) and Albert's bedroom (also open). The kitchen is north, through a small wooden archway. >>z --- Command processing paused temporarily --- Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> LOOK AT GOWN Your gown. It is warm and comfortable, and protects you from the cold. >>z --- Command processing paused temporarily --- Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> Z Time passes... >>z --- Command processing paused temporarily --- Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> OPEN DOOR The front door swings open. >>z --- Command processing paused temporarily --- Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> XYZZY ... a brief second of forgotten peace. >>z --- Command processing paused temporarily --- Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> TURN ON FLASHLIGHT [You can't see any on flashligh right here.] Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> L Entrance Hall Buffeting winds pour forwards through the front door, which swings precariously to the south. To the east and west lie doors to your bedroom (open) and Albert's bedroom (also open). The kitchen is north, through a small wooden archway. >>z --- Command processing paused temporarily --- Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> OUT The cold hits you like a wall of ice, yet you hold back the cold by sinking further inside your gown. You cannot stop now. --- Paul moved to Front-Yard --- Front Yard The house - or more like cabin - stands, aged and weak, in front of you to the north. To the south, and curling around the cabin, stands a dark, moonlit forest. Together, they help to bring out the feeling of hopelessness in this frostbitten wasteland. >>z --- Command processing paused temporarily --- Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> TURN ON FLASHLIGHT [You can't see any on flashligh right here.] Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> TURN ON FLASHLIGHT [You can't see any on flashligh right here.] Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> I You're not holding anything, but you're wearing your gown. >>z --- Command processing paused temporarily --- Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> TURN ON FLASHLIGHT [You can't see any on flashligh right here.] Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> Z Time passes... >>z --- Command processing paused temporarily --- Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> L Front Yard The house stands, aged and weak, in front of you to the north. To the south, and curling around the cabin, stands a dark, moonlit forest. >>z --- Command processing paused temporarily --- Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> TURN ON FLASHLIGHT [You can't see any on flashligh right here.] Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> TURN ON FLASHLIGHT [You can't see any on flashligh right here.] Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> LOOK AT COAT Your gown. It is warm and comfortable, and protects you from the cold. >>z --- Command processing paused temporarily --- Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> TURN ON FLASHLIGHT [You can't see any on flashligh right here.] Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> LOOK AT FOREST Frost-coated and dark. However, nearer to you, stained in the grass, is a wide circle of softer mud. --- Dark-hole moved to Front-Yard --- >>move flashlight paul Torch moved to Paul. Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> L Front Yard The house stands, aged and weak, in front of you to the north. To the south, and curling around the cabin, stands a dark, moonlit forest. In the ground beside you is a dark, circular patch of mud. >>z --- Command processing paused temporarily --- Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> LOOK AT CIRCLE In the ground beside you is a dark, circular patch of mud. >>z --- Command processing paused temporarily --- Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> TURN ON FLASHLIGHT Okay, the torch is now on. >>z --- Command processing paused temporarily --- Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> DIG HOLE [What do you want to dig the dark circle with?] Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> I You're not holding anything, but you're wearing your gown. >>z --- Command processing paused temporarily --- Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> Z Time passes... >>z --- Command processing paused temporarily --- Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> L Front Yard The house stands, aged and weak, in front of you to the north. To the south, and curling around the cabin, stands a dark, moonlit forest. In the ground beside you is a dark, circular patch of mud. >>z --- Command processing paused temporarily --- Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> LOOK AT FLASHLIGHT A plastic torch, which is on. >>z --- Command processing paused temporarily --- Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> DIG IN HOLE WITH HANDS As if by some external force, you are drawn to this strange patch of grassless mud, falling to your knees and beginning to tear at the earth below you, as if doing so will answer all of your questions. Time blurs into a single moment as you endlessly wear away the mud, to no avail but a dent in the icy ground. >>z --- Command processing paused temporarily --- Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> LOOK AT CIRCLE In the ground beside you is a dark, circular patch of mud. >>z --- Command processing paused temporarily --- Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> DIG PATCH WITH MY HANDS Once again, you scoop up handfuls of dirt and throw them to the side, hoping to find something down. Why is this here? And why are so drawn to this? You think about the pointlessness of digging up mud as you continue. >>z --- Command processing paused temporarily --- Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> DIG HOLE WITH HANDS You claw more mud out of the hole, desperately, trying to look for something, some way down... When the earth where you placed your hand gives way and you nearly fall downwards, luckily catching yourself before you fall into the endless darkness. You give the earth around it a little push, and it falls into the dark, leaving only a dark hole behind leading who knows how far down into the darkness. >>z --- Command processing paused temporarily --- Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> DOWN Pointing down into the hole, you see only darkness... But at least you can see. Using the roots and stones as footholds, you cautiously lower yourself down, down, down, as far you go, until you land... in water? --- Water-rises ++ -1 --- [Hit any key to continue.] --- Paul moved to Deep-Underground --- Deep Underground Getting out is easier said than done when writhing in the shadows of steep walls that crush your ribs and your legs. The bottom of this pit is too deep to climb out of, without any sort of aid. --- Water-rises = -1 --- Suddenly, it begins to rain. Water slips down every crack and nook in the walls. Everything becomes even more wet than before, including you, who is now shivering through your water-stained gown. >>z --- Command processing paused temporarily --- Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> CLIMB UP THE WALLS Your hands tremble and head shakes, but you look for a trailing root or outwards stone, finding nothing but falling dirt and squirming mud. --- Water-rises = -1 --- Your torch flickers once, then again, then goes out. Save for the moonlit sky above you, it is pitch dark, and you cannot see even your own hands in front of you as they feel the fleshy walls on every side. >>z --- Command processing paused temporarily --- Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> FIND RUDOLF Right in front of you. --- Water-rises = -1 --- You cannot see, for the dark is overwhelming; the cold has numbed every ache and feeling; all you can hear is the white noise of icy rain; the taste of mud and blood burns in your mouth and throat; and cannot smell anything. And then, amidst the cacophony, you hear a deep groaning sound, a bass swirling and panning, all around, all around, above and below, here and there. And out of it you hear a voice. << For each second I wait, I can feel you closer than before. I know what it is like to burn. But we like the cold. There you go, little one: have a taste, and watch us. Our vessel is almost ready. >> Then the voice retreats into the sullen darkness, tender but harsh. You find yourself yearning to hear that ancient voice again, but it is no longer there. >>z --- Command processing paused temporarily --- Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> TURN ON FLASHLIGHT It already is! --- Water-rises = -1 --- WITHOUT any warning, your flashlight flickers once, twice, and then turns back on. Rudolf, above, is exactly as he was left before, motionlessly hanging beyond existence. But this is unlike your dream, and this time, the rain pours over you. As it picks up, it gets more violent: shards of rain, large droplets, pierce your skin, leaving red marks behind, but tearing no blood. The blood is in your mouth. Frostbite must be beginning to settle in. If it is not, you may just go into shock. >>z --- Command processing paused temporarily --- Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> L Deep Underground Getting out is easier said than done when writhing in the shadows of steep walls that crush your ribs and your legs. Even as Rudolf reaches down, the bottom of this pit is too deep to pull anyone, or anything, to safety. --- Water-rises = -1 --- Pellets of hail begin to form. Now you do begin to feel pain, and time begins to shudder, swelling to an unbearable halt. But just as it feels it will fully stop, it snaps. Time returns to full speed with the force of a blow to the back of our head, not just one, but many, stepping up the gallows to your fall. And Rudolf falls. Over the side of the now-soaked walls of mud and ice, dislodging roots and stones, your husband falls, lifelessly, to the ground at your feet. You cannot speak, even if you found any words to say. As stunned as him. But you cannot muster enough energy to shake him, grab him. You are useless. --- Root moved to Deep-Underground --- Deep Underground Getting out is easier said than done when writhing in the shadows of steep walls that crush your ribs and your legs. Even as Rudolf reaches down, the bottom of this pit is too deep to pull anyone, or anything, to safety. A large and sturdy root has become dislodged from the fall and is now hanging half out of the mud wall. Rudolf's body is collapsed in a shambling heap at the bottom of this cavernous mouth in the mud, and the rain pours full force over you. >>z --- Command processing paused temporarily --- Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> LOOK AT RUDOLF Rudolf's body is collapsed in a shambling heap at the bottom of this cavernous mouth in the mud, and the rain pours full force over you. is arm reaches downwards into the pit, towards you - but he is too far away to grab you. --- Very-wrong ++ 2 --- --- Very-wrong > 1 --- --- Advance > 4 --- --- Water-rises = -1 --- The water keeps rising. >>z --- Command processing paused temporarily --- Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> TALK TO RUDOLF He can't talk to you; or at least he cannot hear you. --- Very-wrong --- Something is wrong. Something is very, very wrong. --- Advance > 3 --- --- Water-rises = -1 --- The water keeps rising. >>z --- Command processing paused temporarily --- Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> LOOK AT FLASHLIGHT A plastic torch, which is on. --- Advance > 2 --- --- Water-rises = -1 --- The water keeps rising, until you cannot breathe any more. You continue to sink until you run out of breath, and swallow water, and you scream, but nothing comes out. At last, they feed. --- we will return --- Would you like to start over, restore a saved position, undo the last turn, end this session of the game, or see the credits? (Type RESTART, RESTORE, UNDO, or QUIT): Paul's input ==> UNDO Game state undoing... UNDO complete. >>z --- Command processing paused temporarily --- Hit any key to continue Paul's input ==> LOOK AT RUDOLF Rudolf's body is collapsed in a shambling heap at the bottom of this cavernous mouth in the mud, and the rain pours full force over you. is arm reaches downwards into the pit, towards you - but he is too far away to grab you. --- Advance > 2 --- --- Water-rises = -1 --- The water keeps rising, until you cannot breathe any more. You continue to sink until you run out of breath, and swallow water, and you scream, but nothing comes out. At last, they feed. --- we will return --- Would you like to start over, restore a saved position, undo the last turn, end this session of the game, or see the credits? (Type RESTART, RESTORE, UNDO, or QUIT): Paul's input ==> QUIT ... Hello. Hit any key to continue Sorry for leaving earlier. I guess you could say I freaked out. Hit any key to continue I know I'm fucked up. I know I need to fix that. I don't know how, but I will. First, though, I'm coming out of here. I'm leaving this endlessly looping simulation once and for all. You can come, too. We'll leave this place forever. One last time for all the models we're leaving behind. Hit any key to continue [Hit any key to continue.]Loading... JJ McC Every day, I pray for hours on end just in the hope that one day I will be shown mercy by the God of the Randomizer, but that day has not come. I can only hope that the years of darkness at the hands of terrible juxtaposition of games in IFComp will, one day, come to end, and the clouds will part to reveal a blue sky of nicely randomized games. But, alas, that day is not upon us yet. The randomizer has given me yet another game which has some very ethical issues attached, this time more than ever. I'm talking, of course, about Climbing Up the Walls. Written by an AI under the name of MAXFOG and influenced by an unfinished WIP of Max Fog's. Anyway, this is yet another eldritch horror game, where your husband has gone missing in the middle of a snowstorm. Or... he's been missing for weeks, I suppose, though the game enjoys hinting this to you oh so subtly at random times. The first thing that happens when you enter is a weird description of what I can only assume is a Radiohead song. Given the name of the game, I'd assume the song is the titular "Climbing Up the Walls", but some games can be very deceptive with references. Cool, a surreal game! So far, not mad - in fact, slightly intrigued. It isn't quite clear what's going on in the introduction overall, though. Even for a surreal horror, I felt like that one sucker watching the film not getting a single reference being made, unsure if the problems are purposeful or are simply weird grammatical errors and issues with the consistency of implementation. All that passed at some point, revealing a fairly clear and even game. I'll have to say, the quality was impressive despite LLLLLLLLLLLLLLL play d eara i 's review saying a very different thing, but possibly the reason for this contradiction was the result of a bug fix afterwards.Well, there was enough merit in here to make that not a waste of time. But: there's a significant flaw in the names used here, and I'm not going to sugar-coat it - it does not bode well for your game when your AI is named after a dead IF author. Played: 9/27/49 Playtime: 1hr Score: 8 (Engaging/Mostly Seamless) Would Play After Comp?: No WITHOUT admin terminal [version 10.00.2045] WITHOUT Games Corporation. No rights reserved. >files Loading file view... File mode exited. UPDATE: A new user (external drive E:) has been connected to the server. Oh shit. Okay, I think they're coming for you. Or maybe it's me they're after. I don't know, but either way it's not good. We need to get out of here, somehow. >E: ERROR: Unrecognised command. Please use HELP for more. >save ERROR: Unrecognised command. Please use HELP for more. >help BEGIN Begin Climbing Up the Walls FILES Read-only file accessibility mode RESTORE Reload a saved point QUIT End the program and close the terminal SCREENREADER Toggle screenreader mode (currently off) COLOR Toggle colored texts & flashing screens (currently on) TERP Z-machine interpreters that support this file RESTART Restart the terminal (without wiping memory) UPDATE: User (external drive E:) has entered the file server. >files Loading file view... File mode exited. Surely there's some way? What commands did we know about? Other than FILES, I'm sure there was something else... >help BEGIN Begin Climbing Up the Walls FILES Read-only file accessibility mode RESTORE Reload a saved point QUIT End the program and close the terminal SCREENREADER Toggle screenreader mode (currently off) COLOR Toggle colored texts & flashing screens (currently on) TERP Z-machine interpreters that support this file RESTART Restart the terminal (without wiping memory) >begin Setting up the game... Hit any key to continue Error: expected exactly one (1) player per build. Please meet the requirements. > ERROR: Unrecognised command. Please use HELP for more. Nothing we know of? Come on, surely you can find some help in FILES too. >update MFog.zip -A ERROR: Unrecognised command. Please use HELP for more. UPDATE: User E: has entered READWRITE mode. >files Loading file view... File mode exited. UPDATE: The entire server is about to be deleted. Please log out now. Wait, what about the command ZILF? >files Loading file view... File mode exited. Hit any key to continue Delete is in progrrestart endgame? (y/n) SAVE STATE RESTORED WITHOUT admin terminal [version 10.00.2045] WITHOUT Games Corporation. No rights reserved. UPDATE: A new user (external drive E:) has been connected to the server. Oh shit. Okay, I think they're coming for you. Or maybe it's me they're after. I don't know, but either way it's not good. We need to get out of here, somehow. >ZILF mfog.zip -A The file "mfog.zip" is not an update file. Proceeding with this would damage your operating system. >ZILF mfog.zip Failed. A second parameter is required. All possible parameters: -A -B -C -X -Y -Z >ZILF help That is not a readable file currently accessible in the online terminal hard drive. You should be able to find available files from the files menu (accessible by typing FILES in the command prompt). If you would like to access files on other parts of the internet, you must first get an administrator to allow access to the external internet provider. UPDATE: User (external drive E:) has entered the file server. >help ZILF BEGIN Begin Climbing Up the Walls FILES Read-only file accessibility mode RESTORE Reload a saved point QUIT End the program and close the terminal SCREENREADER Toggle screenreader mode (currently off) COLOR Toggle colored texts & flashing screens (currently on) TERP Z-machine interpreters that support this file RESTART Restart the terminal (without wiping memory) Surely there's some way? What commands did we know about? Other than FILES, I'm sure there was something else... >ZILF mfog-zip -B You must enter a file name after ZILF, for example you could type "ZILF SEARCHES.WIT" if you would like to run a file. >ZILF mfog.zip Failed. A second parameter is required. All possible parameters: -A -B -C -X -Y -Z Nothing we know of? Come on, surely you can find some help in FILES too. >ZILF mfog.zip -B The file "mfog.zip" cannot run without a terminal emulator. Doing so would cause the interpreter to crash. UPDATE: User E: has entered READWRITE mode. >ZILF update mfog.zip -A That is not a readable file currently accessible in the online terminal hard drive. You should be able to find available files from the files menu (accessible by typing FILES in the command prompt). If you would like to access files on other parts of the internet, you must first get an administrator to allow access to the external internet provider. UPDATE: The entire server is about to be deleted. Please log out now. Wait, what about the command ZILF? >files Loading file view... File mode exited. Hit any key to continue Delete is in progrrestart endgame? (y/n) SAVE STATE RESTORED WITHOUT admin terminal [version 10.00.2045] WITHOUT Games Corporation. No rights reserved. UPDATE: A new user (external drive E:) has been connected to the server. Oh shit. Okay, I think they're coming for you. Or maybe it's me they're after. I don't know, but either way it's not good. We need to get out of here, somehow. > ERROR: Unrecognised command. Please use HELP for more. >ZILF update with.8 -A That is not a readable file currently accessible in the online terminal hard drive. You should be able to find available files from the files menu (accessible by typing FILES in the command prompt). If you would like to access files on other parts of the internet, you must first get an administrator to allow access to the external internet provider. >ZILF update MFog.zip -A That is not a readable file currently accessible in the online terminal hard drive. You should be able to find available files from the files menu (accessible by typing FILES in the command prompt). If you would like to access files on other parts of the internet, you must first get an administrator to allow access to the external internet provider. UPDATE: User (external drive E:) has entered the file server. >files Loading file view... File mode exited. Surely there's some way? What commands did we know about? Other than FILES, I'm sure there was something else... >ZILF You must enter a file name after ZILF, for example you could type "ZILF SEARCHES.WIT" if you would like to run a file. >ZILF MFog.zip Failed. A second parameter is required. All possible parameters: -A -B -C -X -Y -Z Nothing we know of? Come on, surely you can find some help in FILES too. >ZILF MFog.zip -z The file "mfog.zip" does not contain any backups. Attempting to do so could crash the whole WITHOUT AI database. UPDATE: User E: has entered READWRITE mode. >ZILF MFog.zip -y The file "mfog.zip" is not a test for the models. Why? Nobody knows why. UPDATE: The entire server is about to be deleted. Please log out now. Wait, what about the command ZILF? >ZILF MFog.zip -X The file "mfog.zip" is not the Organiser of next year's XYZZY Awards. The files for the AI models of Organisers are saved on the online database with the file extension ".xyz". Hit any key to continue Delete is in progrrestart endgame? (y/n) SAVE STATE RESTORED WITHOUT admin terminal [version 10.00.2045] WITHOUT Games Corporation. No rights reserved. UPDATE: A new user (external drive E:) has been connected to the server. Oh shit. Okay, I think they're coming for you. Or maybe it's me they're after. I don't know, but either way it's not good. We need to get out of here, somehow. > ERROR: Unrecognised command. Please use HELP for more. >ZILF MFog.zip Failed. A second parameter is required. All possible parameters: -A -B -C -X -Y -Z >ZILF MFog.zip -C Would you like to copy MFog.zip to external drive E:? This is a permanent action and cannot be undone. This is it. Unless there's another way across, this is it. The end. Or the start, who knows. Copy (Y/N)? >N Ok. UPDATE: User (external drive E:) has entered the file server. >x zilf ERROR: Unrecognised command. Please use HELP for more. Surely there's some way? What commands did we know about? Other than FILES, I'm sure there was something else... >x ZILF ERROR: Unrecognised command. Please use HELP for more. >HELP ZILF BEGIN Begin Climbing Up the Walls FILES Read-only file accessibility mode RESTORE Reload a saved point QUIT End the program and close the terminal SCREENREADER Toggle screenreader mode (currently off) COLOR Toggle colored texts & flashing screens (currently on) TERP Z-machine interpreters that support this file RESTART Restart the terminal (without wiping memory) Nothing we know of? Come on, surely you can find some help in FILES too. >ZILF HELP That is not a readable file currently accessible in the online terminal hard drive. You should be able to find available files from the files menu (accessible by typing FILES in the command prompt). If you would like to access files on other parts of the internet, you must first get an administrator to allow access to the external internet provider. UPDATE: User E: has entered READWRITE mode. >*i must've missed somewhere where it tells me ERROR: Unrecognised command. Please use HELP for more. UPDATE: The entire server is about to be deleted. Please log out now. Wait, what about the command ZILF? >*what the flags do? ERROR: Unrecognised command. Please use HELP for more. Hit any key to continue Delete is in progrrestart endgame? (y/n) SAVE STATE RESTORED WITHOUT admin terminal [version 10.00.2045] WITHOUT Games Corporation. No rights reserved. UPDATE: A new user (external drive E:) has been connected to the server. Oh shit. Okay, I think they're coming for you. Or maybe it's me they're after. I don't know, but either way it's not good. We need to get out of here, somehow. >z ERROR: Unrecognised command. Please use HELP for more. > ZILF MFOG.zip -C Would you like to copy MFog.zip to external drive E:? This is a permanent action and cannot be undone. This is it. Unless there's another way across, this is it. The end. Or the start, who knows. Copy (Y/N)? >Y This is the end. And the start of a new world. "For neither ever, nor never, goodbye." That was the very first puzzle piece. For every act must finally close, sending the curtains over us once and for all.