Start of a transcript of ALL THAT SHIMMERS... A seriously spooky adventure by Andrew Apted Release 6 / Serial number 251031 Inform v6.42 / PunyInform v5.14.1 R > about This adventure was written by Andrew Apted for PunyComp 2025. It was originally planned for Ectocomp 2025, and hence it has a light-hearted spooky theme, but no horror elements. This game is quite old-school, it often does what the player says even when their action makes the game unwinnable. However, it is not possible to die in this game, and nobody can be killed either. There is a time limit in this game, though it is very generous. One strategy is to explore the town for a while, examining things and talking to people, then restart and try to solve the puzzles. The command "TIME" will show the current time, useful when the status bar is unavailable. The cover picture is based on a public domain photo of a church (sourced from Wikimedia Commons), cropped and modified by the author, with some some text added on top. Big thanks to my testers: improvmonster, Dark Star, kqr, Allyson Gray. Thanks also to the people who answered my questions on the forums, especially Fredrik Ramsberg. Apologies to G. K. Chesterton. > i You are empty handed. > x me You are Maxxy, a 27 year-old school teacher and budding musician. All your life you have had exceptionally good hearing, which sounds like a blessing, but it's been a heavy burden at times. > time The current time is 10:33 am. > listen You close your eyes for a moment and listen carefully... > l Lounge room (on the sofa) You are sitting comfortably on a sofa in your lounge room, about to read the local paper, just as you do every morning after breakfast. So many things here are almost invisible to your eyes due to their familiarity, such as that cupboard behind the sofa which once belonged to your grandmother, or that coffee table with the glass top which you often rest your legs on. Oh, that doorway leading north too. On the coffee table you can see today's newspaper. > x newspaper You can't read the main article from here, but the headline today looks very intriguing... > take it Taken. > read it You mull over which part of the paper to read first... 1. the front page of today's paper concerns itself with the strange goings-on which have been happening since a mysterious young woman arrived in town. 2. on the second page is an article about a religious relic which was recently found in the local church by Father Beige. 3. the only other thing which grabs your attention is the comic strip near the back. > 1 The headline of the article is rather dramatic: Is There A Witch Among Us? The article talks about an eccentric young woman who recently came to town. It describes her makeshift accommodation in the park, mentioning "unconfirmed reports of people who have gone to the local park, never to be seen again" and goes on to say that anyone in the vicinity should exercise extreme caution. You suspect this is just the typical exaggeration used by the media to sell more newspapers, and resolve to check things out yourself, keeping an open mind about what is really going on. > 2 You turn over to the second page... Relic Recovered By Plucky Priest The article on the second page gushes with excitement about a very old relic recently found in the local church by Father Beige. It seems this relic once belonged to Saint Dimpulus, after whom "our lovely little town of Dimpleford" gets it name. > 3 You flick through the paper until you reach to the comic strip... The Big Fat Cat In the first panel, a man says something to his big fat cat. In the second panel, the big fat cat thinks to himself a very witty reply! In the third panel, the man looks really surprised, even though he couldn't possibly have known what the big fat cat had just thought. You can't help a chuckle, saying: "Yep, this cartoonist has still got it!" > * lol [Comment recorded] > l Lounge room (on the sofa) You are sitting comfortably on a sofa in your lounge room. So many things here are almost invisible to your eyes due to their familiarity, such as that cupboard behind the sofa which once belonged to your grandmother, or that coffee table with the glass top which you often rest your legs on. Oh, that doorway leading north too. > i You're carrying today's newspaper. > x me You are Maxxy, a 27 year-old school teacher and budding musician. All your life you have had exceptionally good hearing, which sounds like a blessing, but it's been a heavy burden at times. > x cupboard This old wooden cupboard once belonged to your grandmother. It consists of a few doors and a single drawer spanning its fairly narrow width. You barely use it these days. > open it You can't reach it from the sofa. > get up You reluctantly get off the sofa. > x sofa Your sofa is wonderfully soft and comfortable, you could sit here all day... > open cupboard You open the cupboard drawer, revealing a roll of tape and a single match. > x tape A normal roll of sticky tape. > take it Taken. > x match The match is wooden, short and blunt, and the kind which can be struck on any rough surface. > take it Taken. > open doors These cupboard doors really are permanently stuck. You make a mental note to buy some oil to fix them. > l Lounge room You are just chilling out in your lounge room. So many things here are almost invisible to your eyes due to their familiarity, such as that cupboard behind the sofa which once belonged to your grandmother, or that coffee table with the glass top which you often rest your legs on. Oh, that doorway leading north too. > x table A long, narrow coffee table with a glass top. > x doorway There is nothing special about the doorway leading north. > e You can't go that way. > w You can't go that way. > s You can't go that way. > n Hallway Yep, this hallway is so hallway-ish that there isn't much more to say about it. But the most important thing about a hallway is where it leads: south goes back into the lounge room, west gets you into the street, east takes you into your backyard, and some stairs entice you upward. > u Your Bedroom This is your bedroom, another plethora of things so familiar that you barely see them anymore. There is, of course, a bed here, a double to be precise, with a dark green valance keeping a world of dirt out of sight (and mind). On the wall is a calendar for 2025. Judging by the one day which has yet to be crossed out, today must be the 31st of October. > * duh duh DUH! [Comment recorded] > x bed This is a double bed, a bit old and lumpy these days, but comfortable enough to fulfill its main job. > x valence Sorry, I don't understand what "valence" means. > x valance This is a double bed, a bit old and lumpy these days, but comfortable enough to fulfill its main job. > search bed You peek under the valance around the base of the bed, and suddenly a dust bunny jumps out! With some amazement, you watch it hop out of the room, down the stairs, and out the front door! "It was probably just a gust of wind..." you say to yourself. > g No more dust bunnies under there. > x window Sorry, I don't understand what "window" means. > take valance That's hardly portable. > * I don't actually know what a valance is! [Comment recorded] > l Your Bedroom This is your bedroom, another plethora of things so familiar that you barely see them anymore. There is, of course, a bed here, a double to be precise, with a dark green valance keeping a world of dirt out of sight (and mind). On the wall is a calendar for 2025. Judging by the one day which has yet to be crossed out, today must be the 31st of October. > take calendar Taken. > d Hallway Yep, this hallway is so hallway-ish that there isn't much more to say about it. But the most important thing about a hallway is where it leads: south goes back into the lounge room, west gets you into the street, east takes you into your backyard, and some stairs entice you upward. > e Your Backyard This poor excuse for a backyard is quite barren. You never really had a green thumb, and it really shows here. In a back corner there is evidence of a recent tidy-up: a large pile of leaves. You can see a broom here. > x leaves A smelly pile of wet leaves. > search leaves Underneath the leaves you discover a scrap of paper, so you pick it up. > x scrap This scrap of paper must have blown into your yard. Though damp, the writing on it is still legible: just the single word 'RURAL'. You wonder what it means... > read scrap This scrap of paper must have blown into your yard. Though damp, the writing on it is still legible: just the single word 'RURAL'. You wonder what it means... > x brook Sorry, I don't understand what "brook" means. > oops broom It has a wooden handle, and is good for keeping your backyard tidy. > take broom Taken. > sweep leaves You sweep the leaves from one corner of the yard to the other. > w Hallway Yep, this hallway is so hallway-ish that there isn't much more to say about it. But the most important thing about a hallway is where it leads: south goes back into the lounge room, west gets you into the street, east takes you into your backyard, and some stairs entice you upward. > w As you begin walking toward the front door, something suddenly appears out of nowhere, a pale translucent figure! Frightened, you freeze in your tracks for a moment, then remember to breathe again. Perhaps it was just a trick of the light? You tilt your head side to side, blink a few times, but the figure is still there! You now recognize the figure as your late grandmother. She begins to speak, and in a thick Scottish accent you struggle to understand she says: "Beware my child! There be evil in this wee town, and unless you defeat it by midnight tonight, all freedom shall be lost!" The apparition then fades as quickly as it appeared, leaving you feeling a curious combination of wonder and dread. > * well we've wasted 10% of our time already, hopefully that's fine [Comment recorded] > w Street South This is the southern end of the main street. Further south leads into the local cemetery through some gates which are currently closed. To the east is your house, to the west your neighbor's house, with a driveway tempting you into her backyard. The street continues north. > e Hallway Yep, this hallway is so hallway-ish that there isn't much more to say about it. But the most important thing about a hallway is where it leads: south goes back into the lounge room, west gets you into the street, east takes you into your backyard, and some stairs entice you upward. From the light outside, you notice it is noon now. > w Street South This is the southern end of the main street. Further south leads into the local cemetery through some gates which are currently closed. To the east is your house, to the west your neighbor's house, with a driveway tempting you into her backyard. The street continues north. > s You can't, since the gates of the cemetery are closed. > open gates They're locked. > i You're carrying a broom, a scrap of paper, a calendar, a single match, a roll of tape and today's newspaper. > w Even though your neighbor Sam is away, you still feel very self-conscious as you walk into her backyard... Neighbor's Backyard In stark contrast to your own, your neighbor's backyard is beautiful to behold, with lovely grass, trees and flowering shrubs. At the back you see a dog kennel, so large you couldn't miss it. The driveway heads back east. Leaning against the huge dog kennel is a sturdy ladder. > x grass Just lovely. > x trees Just lovely. > x shrubs Just lovely. > x kennel Looks like your neighbor, who is a builder by trade, got a bit excited when she made this monstrosity. It is massive, and could probably house a dozen dogs of a decent size, or a hundred chihuahuas... The name of the dog must be "LAUGHTER", as it appears on the front of the kennel in large silvery letters. That's a nice name, you think, though it is odd that the word appears a little offset from the center. > x ladder A large, good quality ladder, the kind a professional carpenter or builder would own. > * lol [Comment recorded] > * I'm sure it will be fine when I grab it and the dog totally named slaughter [Comment recorded] > take ladder The ladder is large and bulky, you will need both hands free in order to carry it somewhere. > i You're carrying a broom, a scrap of paper, a calendar, a single match, a roll of tape and today's newspaper. > e Street South This is the southern end of the main street. Further south leads into the local cemetery through some gates which are currently closed. To the east is your house, to the west your neighbor's house, with a driveway tempting you into her backyard. The street continues north. > drop all broom: Dropped. scrap of paper: Dropped. calendar: Dropped. single match: Dropped. roll of tape: Dropped. today's newspaper: Dropped. > w Even though your neighbor Sam is away, you still feel very self-conscious as you walk into her backyard... Neighbor's Backyard In stark contrast to your own, your neighbor's backyard is beautiful to behold, with lovely grass, trees and flowering shrubs. At the back you see a dog kennel, so large you couldn't miss it. The driveway heads back east. Leaning against the huge dog kennel is a sturdy ladder. > take ladder You feel that your neighbor won't mind you borrowing her ladder for a while. After a few tries, you figure out the best way to carry it, and pick it up. > e Street South This is the southern end of the main street. Further south leads into the local cemetery through some gates which are currently closed. To the east is your house, to the west your neighbor's house, with a driveway tempting you into her backyard. The street continues north. You can see today's newspaper, a roll of tape, a single match, a calendar, a scrap of paper and a broom here. > drop ladder You carefully lean the ladder against your house. > take all but ladder today's newspaper: Taken. roll of tape: Taken. single match: Taken. calendar: Taken. scrap of paper: Taken. broom: Taken. > u You can't go that way. > climb ladder You carefully climb up the ladder, see a nice view but nothing of interest, so you carefully climb down again. > w Even though your neighbor Sam is away, you still feel very self-conscious as you walk into her backyard... Neighbor's Backyard In stark contrast to your own, your neighbor's backyard is beautiful to behold, with lovely grass, trees and flowering shrubs. At the back you see a dog kennel, so large you couldn't miss it. The driveway heads back east. > w You can't go that way. > in You timidly approach the kennel, half expecting a huge beast to jump out of it and onto you! However, you peek inside and see nothing of the kind, concluding that your neighbor would have made suitable arrangements while on her holiday. > clean kennel You achieve nothing by this. > x laughter Sorry, I don't understand what "laughter" means. > l Neighbor's Backyard In stark contrast to your own, your neighbor's backyard is beautiful to behold, with lovely grass, trees and flowering shrubs. At the back you see a dog kennel, so large you couldn't miss it. The driveway heads back east. > w You can't go that way. In the distance you hear the cackling of witches. > n You can't go that way. > nw That is not a verb I recognize. > sw That is not a verb I recognize. > e Street South This is the southern end of the main street. Further south leads into the local cemetery through some gates which are currently closed. To the east is your house, to the west your neighbor's house, with a driveway tempting you into her backyard. The street continues north. Leaning against your house is a sturdy ladder. > s You can't, since the gates of the cemetery are closed. > n Street North This is the northern end of the main street. To the west you see the enticing foliage of the local park, and opposite the park is the local shop. To the north is the local church, and following the street south will lead to even more local stuff belonging to this locality. > n Inside the Church Tall ceiling? Wooden pews? Ceremonial altar? This church really ticks all the boxes, and there may even be a priest lurking around here somewhere. A small doorway leads east to the vestry. Standing near the altar is indeed a priest, Father Beige, looking very pious in his clerical garments. > x ceiling Really high. > x pews You bend down to look under the pews, but see nothing there. In the distance you hear footsteps. > x altar As you approach the altar for a closer look, Father Beige steps in front of you and says: "Oh, there is no need to go back there among all that boring church paraphernalia. How about we sit here and pray together?" This makes you suspicious, but there is nothing you can do while the good priest is hanging around. The footsteps are getting louder. > x priest He is a man in his 40s, just starting to go bald, who is wearing glasses and his clerical garments. You get the impression he is intelligent and willing to help anybody, especially in spiritual matters. Suddenly, a man pokes his head through the front door of the church and exclaims: "Father, you'd better come quick, there's been a murder! And the police reckon your house keeper Miss Crackers is the one that done it! Father Beige crosses himself and says: "Oh dear, I had better go and investigate..." and hurries out of the front door. You listen as their footsteps fade in the distance, feeling free now to follow your instinct that something is going on in here, and to snoop around a bit. > x altar Looks just like an altar, with various religious paraphernalia sitting on it. Though you notice some odd scuff marks on the floor near its left side. With your sensitive ears, you hear something scurrying under one of the pews. > x pews Squatting down for a closer look under the pews, you discover a cute little mouse. And what is especially curious: it is clutching an iron key! > take mouse The mouse is much too quick to be caught like that. > take key The iron key seems to belong to the mouse. > i You're carrying a broom, a scrap of paper, a calendar, a single match, a roll of tape and today's newspaper. > put tape on floor You can't put things on top of that. > put tape on pews You can't put things on top of those. > l Inside the Church Tall ceiling? Wooden pews? Ceremonial altar? This church really ticks all the boxes, and there may even be a priest lurking around here somewhere. A small doorway leads east to the vestry. Underneath one of the pews is a mouse, clutching an iron key and looking around nervously. > talk to mouse The mouse just shrugs its cute little shoulders. > x altar Looks just like an altar, with various religious paraphernalia sitting on it. Though you notice some odd scuff marks on the floor near its left side. > push it After a few minutes of pushing and shoving, you manage to move the left side of the altar askew, revealing a dark passage leading down! > e Vestry A fairly plain room where the good priest and other members of the clergy can "vest" and "de-vest" themselves. On one wall are a few brass hooks, and sitting near the opposite wall is large metal safe. > x hooks Alas the hooks are bare, definitely not holding a cloak of invisibility. > move hooks The hooks are firmly attached to the wall. Your sensitive hearing now picks up a moaning sound, coming from somewhere deep under the floor. > x safe This is a sturdy old-fashioned safe with a dial in the exact center of the front side. It is clear you could never physically break into it. Engraved in small writing on its side is the company motto: "Stay safe with Safey McSafe Safes." > open it You pull the handle, but the safe is locked. > w Inside the Church Tall ceiling? Wooden pews? Ceremonial altar? This church really ticks all the boxes, and there may even be a priest lurking around here somewhere. A small doorway leads east to the vestry. Underneath one of the pews is a mouse, clutching an iron key and looking around nervously. > d Darkness It is pitch dark here! > u Inside the Church Tall ceiling? Wooden pews? Ceremonial altar? This church really ticks all the boxes, and there may even be a priest lurking around here somewhere. A small doorway leads east to the vestry. Underneath one of the pews is a mouse, clutching an iron key and looking around nervously. > Come again? > i You're carrying a broom, a scrap of paper, a calendar, a single match, a roll of tape and today's newspaper. > light match You strike the match, and it bursts into flame. > d Spooky Crypt This underground chamber seems to be a tomb for somebody, perhaps the person whose bones have been placed in a neat pile in the center of the room. There is a niche in one wall containing a candle. Further away, there are corners so dark you don't dare investigate them. > light candle The candle is now lit, making this crypt look seriously spooky, as a pile of bones cast shadows which flicker and dance on the nearby walls. > take candle An iron fitting keeps it securely in place. The match has been consumed. > x bones As you approach the pile of old bones, you feel a powerful force pushes you back, and suddenly a ghost appears before you! Resisting the urge to run away, you sense that the ghost is not hostile, his face having an expression of serenity, with a hint of affability. > x ghost It must be the ghost of Saint Dimpulus. There is a sadness in his eyes. > talk to ghost In that deep spooky voice that all male ghosts seem to have, he says: "I am the ghost of Saint Dimpulus. Here I have lain for centuries, resting in peace, until last week when this crypt was disturbed, and someone ransacked my bones and took my beloved ring. It is now locked in a metal box, out of my reach. Do what is right, and return the ring to me. That is all I ask." > ask ghost about ring "Have you found it?" > no That was a rhetorical question. > l Spooky Crypt This underground chamber seems to be a tomb for somebody, perhaps the person whose bones have been placed in a neat pile in the center of the room. There is a niche in one wall containing a candle. Further away, there are corners so dark you don't dare investigate them. Near the bones hovers the translucent ghost of Saint Dimpulus. > x niche The roughly hewn niche contains a candle, which is fixed in place by an iron fitting. > u Inside the Church Tall ceiling? Wooden pews? Ceremonial altar? This church really ticks all the boxes, and there may even be a priest lurking around here somewhere. A small doorway leads east to the vestry. Underneath one of the pews is a mouse, clutching an iron key and looking around nervously. > s Street North This is the northern end of the main street. To the west you see the enticing foliage of the local park, and opposite the park is the local shop. To the north is the local church, and following the street south will lead to even more local stuff belonging to this locality. > e The Local Shop At first glance this shop looks derelict, with several rows of empty shelves making up its bulk. A sign above the counter reads Green's Grocers, plus a date of establishment which has faded into illegibility. In the corner a bright red vending machine catches your eye (as its color was intended to do). Standing behind the counter you see the owner of the shop, Mrs Green. She is passing the time by reading a magazine. On the counter you can also see a metal tray (on which is some cheese on a stick). > x shelves The shelves are mostly empty, though on one shelf you stands a solitary can of oil. > x oil Your regular can of oil. > take oil "Sorry sweetie, that costs 20 pounds, more than you've got there." > i You're carrying a broom, a scrap of paper, a calendar, a roll of tape and today's newspaper. > x wallet Sorry, I don't understand what "wallet" means. > l The Local Shop At first glance this shop looks derelict, with several rows of empty shelves making up its bulk. A sign above the counter reads Green's Grocers, plus a date of establishment which has faded into illegibility. In the corner a bright red vending machine catches your eye (as its color was intended to do). Standing behind the counter you see the owner of the shop, Mrs Green. She is passing the time by reading a magazine. On the counter you can also see a metal tray (on which is some cheese on a stick). > x machine Judging by the big picture of a plastic water bottle on its front and sides, this vending machine vends plastic bottles of water. There are no buttons on the machine, or even a screen, just a slot which accepts British currency (notes to be precise). > x green Mrs Green is a lady in her early 60s, who is generally friendly to her patrons, and would talk your ear off (given the chance). She can be fierce when angered, though, and won't take any nonsense from anybody. > talk to green "Hello there sweetie, how can I help ya?" > l The Local Shop At first glance this shop looks derelict, with several rows of empty shelves making up its bulk. A sign above the counter reads Green's Grocers, plus a date of establishment which has faded into illegibility. In the corner a bright red vending machine catches your eye (as its color was intended to do). Standing behind the counter you see the owner of the shop, Mrs Green. She is passing the time by reading a magazine. On the counter you can also see a metal tray (on which is some cheese on a stick). > x tray This tray has seen better days, like sometime before the first world war... In the distance you hear the cackling of witches. > x magazine The magazine is called 'British Numismatics Monthly'. > x cheese A chunk of cheese on a small stick. > take cheese "That's a free taster, please take one." Since you can't resist a freebie, you did. > ask green about magazine "I do love collectin' me coins." > ask green about coins "I do love collectin' me coins." > w Street North This is the northern end of the main street. To the west you see the enticing foliage of the local park, and opposite the park is the local shop. To the north is the local church, and following the street south will lead to even more local stuff belonging to this locality. > n Inside the Church Tall ceiling? Wooden pews? Ceremonial altar? This church really ticks all the boxes, and there may even be a priest lurking around here somewhere. A small doorway leads east to the vestry. Underneath one of the pews is a mouse, clutching an iron key and looking around nervously. > give cheese to mouse Holding the stick, you poke the cheese end toward the mouse. It approaches timidly at first, then lets go of the key it was clutching and fiercely grabs the chunk of cheese. What ensues is a tug of war! However this contest, human vs mouse, only lasts a short while, and soon the cheese dislodges from the stick, leaving you with just a regular toothpick. > take key Taken. > e Vestry A fairly plain room where the good priest and other members of the clergy can "vest" and "de-vest" themselves. On one wall are a few brass hooks, and sitting near the opposite wall is large metal safe. > unlock safe You pull the handle, but the safe is locked. Again you hear a soulful moan, definitely coming from some place or chamber beneath the church. > w Inside the Church Tall ceiling? Wooden pews? Ceremonial altar? This church really ticks all the boxes, and there may even be a priest lurking around here somewhere. A small doorway leads east to the vestry. Underneath one of the pews is a mouse, quietly nibbling on a large chunk of cheese. > s Street North This is the northern end of the main street. To the west you see the enticing foliage of the local park, and opposite the park is the local shop. To the north is the local church, and following the street south will lead to even more local stuff belonging to this locality. > w Park East This is the eastern side of a large park, with lovely fields of grass and arrangements of shrubs. This scenic vista seems to deteriorate toward the west, where you can make out a makeshift building which never used to be there. The park exits back to the street east. A beautiful oak tree is rooted here, towering over a large area of the park. High above in the branches you catch a glimpse of something colorful. > x grass Just lovely. > x building You can't see any such thing. > x tree A beautiful oak tree is rooted here, towering over a large area of the park. High above in the branches you catch a glimpse of something colorful. > x something Sorry, I don't understand what "something" means. > climb tree About six feet above your head there are some tree branches you could climb, if only you could reach them... > e Street North This is the northern end of the main street. To the west you see the enticing foliage of the local park, and opposite the park is the local shop. To the north is the local church, and following the street south will lead to even more local stuff belonging to this locality. > s Street South This is the southern end of the main street. Further south leads into the local cemetery through some gates which are currently closed. To the east is your house, to the west your neighbor's house, with a driveway tempting you into her backyard. The street continues north. Leaning against your house is a sturdy ladder. > take ladder The ladder is large and bulky, you will need both hands free in order to carry it somewhere. > drop tall You can't see any such thing. > drop all iron key: Dropped. toothpick: Dropped. broom: Dropped. scrap of paper: Dropped. calendar: Dropped. roll of tape: Dropped. today's newspaper: Dropped. > take ladder Taken. > n Street North This is the northern end of the main street. To the west you see the enticing foliage of the local park, and opposite the park is the local shop. To the north is the local church, and following the street south will lead to even more local stuff belonging to this locality. > w Park East This is the eastern side of a large park, with lovely fields of grass and arrangements of shrubs. This scenic vista seems to deteriorate toward the west, where you can make out a makeshift building which never used to be there. The park exits back to the street east. A beautiful oak tree is rooted here, towering over a large area of the park. High above in the branches you catch a glimpse of something colorful. > drop ladder You carefully lean the ladder against the tall tree. > e Street North This is the northern end of the main street. To the west you see the enticing foliage of the local park, and opposite the park is the local shop. To the north is the local church, and following the street south will lead to even more local stuff belonging to this locality. > s Street South This is the southern end of the main street. Further south leads into the local cemetery through some gates which are currently closed. To the east is your house, to the west your neighbor's house, with a driveway tempting you into her backyard. The street continues north. You can see today's newspaper, a roll of tape, a calendar, a scrap of paper, a broom, a toothpick and an iron key here. > take all today's newspaper: Taken. roll of tape: Taken. calendar: Taken. scrap of paper: Taken. broom: Taken. toothpick: Taken. iron key: Taken. > n Street North This is the northern end of the main street. To the west you see the enticing foliage of the local park, and opposite the park is the local shop. To the north is the local church, and following the street south will lead to even more local stuff belonging to this locality. > w Park East This is the eastern side of a large park, with lovely fields of grass and arrangements of shrubs. This scenic vista seems to deteriorate toward the west, where you can make out a makeshift building which never used to be there. The park exits back to the street east. Leaning against the tall tree is a sturdy ladder. A beautiful oak tree is rooted here, towering over a large area of the park. High above in the branches you catch a glimpse of something colorful. > u You carefully climb the ladder, then grab some branches and climb a little further. Up the Tree You are standing on a large branch of a massive oak tree, roughly 20 feet off the ground. Below you can see glimpses of the park, the view obscured by branches and leaves. On a nearby branch sits a squirrel, slightly too close to your face for comfort. Wedged between two smaller branches is a colorful balloon. > x park You can't see any such thing. > x squirrel Somehow this scrawny squirrel scares you to death. It looks like it could be a vicious little critter. > x ballon Sorry, I don't understand what "ballon" means. > o balloon That is not a verb I recognize. > x ballooin Sorry, I don't understand what "ballooin" means. > x balloon A colorful, helium-filled balloon, the kind you would find at a kid's birthday party. > take balloon As you reach for the balloon, the squirrel scratches at you with its claws, and you pull back your arm. Thankfully it missed you (this time). > i You're carrying an iron key, a toothpick, a broom, a scrap of paper, a calendar, a roll of tape and today's newspaper. > sweep squirrel I don't suppose the squirrel would care for that. > d Park East This is the eastern side of a large park, with lovely fields of grass and arrangements of shrubs. This scenic vista seems to deteriorate toward the west, where you can make out a makeshift building which never used to be there. The park exits back to the street east. Leaning against the tall tree is a sturdy ladder. A beautiful oak tree is rooted here, towering over a large area of the park. High above in the branches you catch a glimpse of something colorful. > w Park West This side of the park is such a contrast, all the greenery here has turned brown or is dying, and even the sky looks darker from here. Nearby is a slipshod building which is the coven of the young witch, according to the town gossip anyway. It has an entrance to the north. > x building This is a makeshift, ramshackle (and probably illegal) building which seemed to have sprung up overnight. You hear the occasional cackle coming from within, and the thought of entering it fills you with a strong foreboding feeling. > listen You close your eyes for a moment and listen carefully... > n Inside Coven Inside this makeshift building there is surprisingly little to see. However, you can sense that something really funky is going on here. The air feels full of magical energy, and the hairs on the back of your neck are all standing to attention. In the middle of the room is a large cauldron. Standing behind the cauldron is that mysterious young woman who is the talk of the town. She is stirring the pot, looking quite hot and bothered. > x cauldron Whatever is brewing in there smells absolutely disgusting. > x woman She is roughly your age, wearing a pointy hat with a wide brim. There is a distinct lack of tell-tale signs of being a witch: no green skin, crooked nose, ugly warts. In fact, you find her surprisingly attractive. Currently she is stirring something in that large cauldron of hers. > talk to her "Welcome to my coven, acolyte." > ask her about cauldron "This brew will make us strong and powerful, though I think it needs a bit more eye of newt, and a bit less wool of bat." > ask her about spell The witch just shrugs. She rolls her eyes for a moment. > ask her about priest "Those religious dimwits are so closed-minded. Soon they will see what real power looks like!" Judging by the expression on her face, the witch is getting annoyed with you. > ask her about combination "I am growing tired of your stupid questions." The witch gives you a stare so intense it sends a chill down your spine, then says "Stop wasting my time, or there will be consequences!" > s Park West This side of the park is such a contrast, all the greenery here has turned brown or is dying, and even the sky looks darker from here. Nearby is a slipshod building which is the coven of the young witch, according to the town gossip anyway. It has an entrance to the north. > w You can't go that way. > s You can't go that way. > e Park East This is the eastern side of a large park, with lovely fields of grass and arrangements of shrubs. This scenic vista seems to deteriorate toward the west, where you can make out a makeshift building which never used to be there. The park exits back to the street east. Leaning against the tall tree is a sturdy ladder. A beautiful oak tree is rooted here, towering over a large area of the park. High above in the branches you catch a glimpse of something colorful. > i You're carrying an iron key, a toothpick, a broom, a scrap of paper, a calendar, a roll of tape and today's newspaper. > x scrap This scrap of paper must have blown into your yard. Though damp, the writing on it is still legible: just the single word 'RURAL'. You wonder what it means... > e Street North This is the northern end of the main street. To the west you see the enticing foliage of the local park, and opposite the park is the local shop. To the north is the local church, and following the street south will lead to even more local stuff belonging to this locality. > n Inside the Church Tall ceiling? Wooden pews? Ceremonial altar? This church really ticks all the boxes, and there may even be a priest lurking around here somewhere. A small doorway leads east to the vestry. Underneath one of the pews is a mouse, quietly nibbling on a large chunk of cheese. > e Vestry A fairly plain room where the good priest and other members of the clergy can "vest" and "de-vest" themselves. On one wall are a few brass hooks, and sitting near the opposite wall is large metal safe. > x safe This is a sturdy old-fashioned safe with a dial in the exact center of the front side. It is clear you could never physically break into it. Engraved in small writing on its side is the company motto: "Stay safe with Safey McSafe Safes." > x dial The dial on the safe can turn either left or right. > turn dial left You turn the dial for a while, but hear nothing at all. Your sensitive hearing now picks up a moaning sound, coming from somewhere deep under the floor. > listen to safe You close your eyes for a moment and listen carefully... > turn dial left You turn the dial for a while, but hear nothing at all. > turn dial left You turn the dial for a while, but hear nothing at all. > turn dial left You turn the dial for a while, but hear nothing at all. Again you hear a soulful moan, definitely coming from some place or chamber beneath the church. > turn dial right You turn the dial until you hear a very faint click: the first tumbler unlocking. > turn dial left You turn the dial for a while, but hear nothing at all. > turn dial left You turn the dial for a while, but hear nothing at all. > turn dial left You turn the dial for a while, but hear nothing at all. Your sensitive hearing now picks up a moaning sound, coming from somewhere deep under the floor. > turn dial left You turn the dial for a while, but hear nothing at all. > turn dial left You turn the dial for a while, but hear nothing at all. > turn dial left You turn the dial for a while, but hear nothing at all. > turn dial left You turn the dial for a while, but hear nothing at all. Again you hear a soulful moan, definitely coming from some place or chamber beneath the church. > turn dial left You turn the dial for a while, but hear nothing at all. > turn dial left You turn the dial for a while, but hear nothing at all. > turn dial left You turn the dial for a while, but hear nothing at all. > turn dial right You turn the dial until you hear a very faint click: the second tumbler unlocking. Your sensitive hearing now picks up a moaning sound, coming from somewhere deep under the floor. > turn dial left You turn the dial until you hear a very faint click: the third and final tumbler unlocking. > open safe There is a satisfying CLUNK! as you turn the handle, and the safe swings open to reveal a golden ring! > take ring Feeling like a criminal, you remove it from the safe. > x ring This ancient ring is made of gold. It has an inscription in Latin, though it has faded over time and is barely legible now. Again you hear a soulful moan, definitely coming from some place or chamber beneath the church. > read it You find nothing legible on the golden ring. > w Inside the Church Tall ceiling? Wooden pews? Ceremonial altar? This church really ticks all the boxes, and there may even be a priest lurking around here somewhere. A small doorway leads east to the vestry. Underneath one of the pews is a mouse, quietly nibbling on a large chunk of cheese. > d Spooky Crypt This underground chamber seems to be a tomb for somebody, perhaps the person whose bones have been placed in a neat pile in the center of the room. There is a niche in one wall containing a candle. Further away, there are corners so dark you don't dare investigate them. Near the bones hovers the translucent ghost of Saint Dimpulus. > give ring (to the ghost) Placing the ring between your thumb and index finger, you nervously hold it out and watch in wonder as the ghost's hand draws closer to it, as he slides his middle finger through the ring, as the ring slowly becomes incorporeal, a part of the ghost itself. "My friend, you have returned my ring to me!" says the ghost with a smile. After a few moments, he adds: "Beneath my bones there is a reward for you. Also... ask me any question, I will help you if I can." > ask him about witch "Mostly forgotten lore states that water is toxic to witches. Also remember that this witch is very clever, she will not fall for any direct attack. You must surprise her somehow..." > ask him about coin "A remnant of my former life. It is yours now." > * nice! [Comment recorded] > x bones There is a coin in there, mostly obscured by the old bones. > take coin Taken. > x it A wonderfully intact example of an ancient coin. On the front is a figure you don't recognize, and on the back is some Latin which you can't read. In the distance you hear the cackling of witches. > i You're carrying a ancient coin, an iron key, a toothpick, a broom, a scrap of paper, a calendar, a roll of tape and today's newspaper. > ask him about squirrels "Sorry friend, I cannot help you with that." > ask him about squirrel "That squirrel may seem defensive, but he would do anything for some food." > ask him about cauldron "Sorry friend, I cannot help you with that." > u Inside the Church Tall ceiling? Wooden pews? Ceremonial altar? This church really ticks all the boxes, and there may even be a priest lurking around here somewhere. A small doorway leads east to the vestry. Underneath one of the pews is a mouse, quietly nibbling on a large chunk of cheese. > s Street North This is the northern end of the main street. To the west you see the enticing foliage of the local park, and opposite the park is the local shop. To the north is the local church, and following the street south will lead to even more local stuff belonging to this locality. > e The Local Shop At first glance this shop looks derelict, with several rows of empty shelves making up its bulk. A sign above the counter reads Green's Grocers, plus a date of establishment which has faded into illegibility. In the corner a bright red vending machine catches your eye (as its color was intended to do). Standing behind the counter you see the owner of the shop, Mrs Green. She is passing the time by reading a magazine. On the counter you can also see a metal tray. > give coin (to Mrs Green) Mrs Green's eyes light up when she sees the ancient coin. "That's a really nice coin you've got there, sweetie. I'll give you a fiver for it." You suspect it is worth a lot more, but as you are strapped for cash right now, and were never very good at haggling a price, you accept her offer and take the money. Mrs Green smiles as she studies the coin for a few moments, then puts it in her pocket and carries on reading the magazine. > put fiver in slot The machine greedily ingests the five pound note, makes some noises like it has indigestion, then rudely spits out a plastic bottle of water which you barely manage to catch before it hits the ground. > take water You pick up your bottle of water. > i You're carrying a bottle of water, an iron key, a toothpick, a broom, a scrap of paper, a calendar, a roll of tape and today's newspaper. > w Street North This is the northern end of the main street. To the west you see the enticing foliage of the local park, and opposite the park is the local shop. To the north is the local church, and following the street south will lead to even more local stuff belonging to this locality. > * hmm, maybe the balloon to distract the witch [Comment recorded] > open water Giving the lid a strong turn, there is a CRACK! The bottle is open now, so you discard the lid (in an environmentally friendly way). > w Park East This is the eastern side of a large park, with lovely fields of grass and arrangements of shrubs. This scenic vista seems to deteriorate toward the west, where you can make out a makeshift building which never used to be there. The park exits back to the street east. Leaning against the tall tree is a sturdy ladder. A beautiful oak tree is rooted here, towering over a large area of the park. High above in the branches you catch a glimpse of something colorful. > w Park West This side of the park is such a contrast, all the greenery here has turned brown or is dying, and even the sky looks darker from here. Nearby is a slipshod building which is the coven of the young witch, according to the town gossip anyway. It has an entrance to the north. > n Inside Coven Inside this makeshift building there is surprisingly little to see. However, you can sense that something really funky is going on here. The air feels full of magical energy, and the hairs on the back of your neck are all standing to attention. In the middle of the room is a large cauldron. Standing behind the cauldron is that mysterious young woman who is the talk of the town. She is stirring the pot, looking quite hot and bothered. > throw water at witch The witch, having noticed your bottle of water, was on her guard and quickly evades your clumsy attempt to splash her. "You fool, did you think you could defeat me so easily? I don't think so!" You try to run, but some unknown force holds you in place. "You will pay for your insolence!" And before you know what is happening, she has cast a spell, and to your horror you find yourself turning into a duck! [Press a key] It is become all too clear, this witch really was evil, and now you are powerless to stop her. With the help of her coven, she soon consolidates her power over the town of Dimpleford, and during the coming weeks their numbers swell into dozens, hundreds, thousands. Not satisfied in taking over Dimpleford, she quickly takes over the nearby towns, then the major cities of Britain, and eventually the whole world falls wretchedly under her spell. *** Game over *** Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE, UNDO the last move or QUIT? undo I beg your pardon? All I heard was "quack quack". Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE, UNDO the last move or QUIT? undo Previous turn undone. > undo Previous turn undone. > * whew [Comment recorded] > s You can't go that way. > l Park West This side of the park is such a contrast, all the greenery here has turned brown or is dying, and even the sky looks darker from here. Nearby is a slipshod building which is the coven of the young witch, according to the town gossip anyway. It has an entrance to the north. > e Park East This is the eastern side of a large park, with lovely fields of grass and arrangements of shrubs. This scenic vista seems to deteriorate toward the west, where you can make out a makeshift building which never used to be there. The park exits back to the street east. Leaning against the tall tree is a sturdy ladder. A beautiful oak tree is rooted here, towering over a large area of the park. High above in the branches you catch a glimpse of something colorful. > e Street North This is the northern end of the main street. To the west you see the enticing foliage of the local park, and opposite the park is the local shop. To the north is the local church, and following the street south will lead to even more local stuff belonging to this locality. > s Street South This is the southern end of the main street. Further south leads into the local cemetery through some gates which are currently closed. To the east is your house, to the west your neighbor's house, with a driveway tempting you into her backyard. The street continues north. > w Even though your neighbor Sam is away, you still feel very self-conscious as you walk into her backyard... Neighbor's Backyard In stark contrast to your own, your neighbor's backyard is beautiful to behold, with lovely grass, trees and flowering shrubs. At the back you see a dog kennel, so large you couldn't miss it. The driveway heads back east. > x kennel Looks like your neighbor, who is a builder by trade, got a bit excited when she made this monstrosity. It is massive, and could probably house a dozen dogs of a decent size, or a hundred chihuahuas... The name of the dog must be "LAUGHTER", as it appears on the front of the kennel in large silvery letters. That's a nice name, you think, though it is odd that the word appears a little offset from the center. > search it You timidly approach the kennel, half expecting a huge beast to jump out of it and onto you! However, you peek inside and see nothing of the kind, concluding that your neighbor would have made suitable arrangements while on her holiday. > e Street South This is the southern end of the main street. Further south leads into the local cemetery through some gates which are currently closed. To the east is your house, to the west your neighbor's house, with a driveway tempting you into her backyard. The street continues north. > e Hallway Yep, this hallway is so hallway-ish that there isn't much more to say about it. But the most important thing about a hallway is where it leads: south goes back into the lounge room, west gets you into the street, east takes you into your backyard, and some stairs entice you upward. > s Lounge room You are just chilling out in your lounge room. So many things here are almost invisible to your eyes due to their familiarity, such as that cupboard behind the sofa which once belonged to your grandmother, or that coffee table with the glass top which you often rest your legs on. Oh, that doorway leading north too. From the light outside, you notice that the sun has begun to set. A shiver runs through your spine as you realize you are running out of time to find a way of defeating the witch. > w You can't go that way. > w You can't go that way. > out Hallway Yep, this hallway is so hallway-ish that there isn't much more to say about it. But the most important thing about a hallway is where it leads: south goes back into the lounge room, west gets you into the street, east takes you into your backyard, and some stairs entice you upward. > n You can't go that way. > w Street South This is the southern end of the main street. Further south leads into the local cemetery through some gates which are currently closed. To the east is your house, to the west your neighbor's house, with a driveway tempting you into her backyard. The street continues north. > unlock graveyard Sorry, I don't understand what "graveyard" means. > unlock gate You unlock the gates with the iron key. > s The cemetery gates creak loudly as you open them. Spooky Cemetery You find yourself sneaking around the tombstones, as if subconsciously afraid of waking the dead. Nothing seems out of the ordinary here, no disturbed graves, no limbs reaching out of the ground, no zombies. Only that gray, swirling, shimmering fog which never seems to depart. In a dark corner stands a grizzled, deformed old oak tree, looking like some demented person's bonsai writ large. With woody "arms" which appear to crave a deathly embrace, it really sends a shiver down your spine! > x tree You can't bear to even look at that horrible tree! > climb ttree Sorry, I don't understand what "ttree" means. > climb tree You can't bring yourself to go any nearer to that scary tree. > i You're carrying an open bottle of water, an iron key, a toothpick, a broom, a scrap of paper, a calendar, a roll of tape and today's newspaper. > shake tree That is not a verb I recognize. > throw broom at tree You can't bring yourself to go any nearer to that scary tree. > l Spooky Cemetery You find yourself sneaking around the tombstones, as if subconsciously afraid of waking the dead. Nothing seems out of the ordinary here, no disturbed graves, no limbs reaching out of the ground, no zombies. Only that gray, swirling, shimmering fog which never seems to depart. In a dark corner stands a grizzled, deformed old oak tree, looking like some demented person's bonsai writ large. With woody "arms" which appear to crave a deathly embrace, it really sends a shiver down your spine! > x arms Sorry, I don't understand what "arms" means. > x branches You can't bear to even look at that horrible tree! > x fog The fog almost seems to have a life of its own, as it diffuses itself throughout this cemetery. Every minute you expect a ghost to suddenly appear out of it, keeping you on edge. But an old saying gives you some comfort: "All that shimmers...". > x shimmer Sorry, I don't understand what "shimmer" means. > w You can't go that way. > s You can't go that way. > e You can't go that way. > n Street South This is the southern end of the main street. Further south leads into the local cemetery through some gates which are currently closed. To the east is your house, to the west your neighbor's house, with a driveway tempting you into her backyard. The street continues north. > n Street North This is the northern end of the main street. To the west you see the enticing foliage of the local park, and opposite the park is the local shop. To the north is the local church, and following the street south will lead to even more local stuff belonging to this locality. > n Inside the Church Tall ceiling? Wooden pews? Ceremonial altar? This church really ticks all the boxes, and there may even be a priest lurking around here somewhere. A small doorway leads east to the vestry. Underneath one of the pews is a mouse, quietly nibbling on a large chunk of cheese. > n You can't go that way. > d Spooky Crypt This underground chamber seems to be a tomb for somebody, perhaps the person whose bones have been placed in a neat pile in the center of the room. There is a niche in one wall containing a candle. Further away, there are corners so dark you don't dare investigate them. Near the bones hovers the translucent ghost of Saint Dimpulus. > ask ghost about fog "That cemetery is too spooky, even for me!" > ask ghost about tree "Sorry friend, I cannot help you with that." > ask ghost about oak "Sorry friend, I cannot help you with that." > s You can't go that way. > u Inside the Church Tall ceiling? Wooden pews? Ceremonial altar? This church really ticks all the boxes, and there may even be a priest lurking around here somewhere. A small doorway leads east to the vestry. Underneath one of the pews is a mouse, quietly nibbling on a large chunk of cheese. > s Street North This is the northern end of the main street. To the west you see the enticing foliage of the local park, and opposite the park is the local shop. To the north is the local church, and following the street south will lead to even more local stuff belonging to this locality. > s Street South This is the southern end of the main street. Further south leads into the local cemetery through some gates which are currently closed. To the east is your house, to the west your neighbor's house, with a driveway tempting you into her backyard. The street continues north. > s Spooky Cemetery You find yourself sneaking around the tombstones, as if subconsciously afraid of waking the dead. Nothing seems out of the ordinary here, no disturbed graves, no limbs reaching out of the ground, no zombies. Only that gray, swirling, shimmering fog which never seems to depart. In a dark corner stands a grizzled, deformed old oak tree, looking like some demented person's bonsai writ large. With woody "arms" which appear to crave a deathly embrace, it really sends a shiver down your spine! > s You can't go that way. > x tombstones You stroll past several graves, reading the names etched on the tombstones, names you don't recognize, and wonder "Who were those people? What were they like?". Eventually you reach your grandmother's grave, and go into a reverie about the apparition you saw earlier today, barely noticing an acorn sitting neatly at the top of her tombstone. > x acorn There is nothing special about the acorn. In the distance you hear the cackling of witches. > take it As you pick up the acorn, you can't help wondering whether your grandmother is providing more assistance from beyond the grave... > n Street South This is the southern end of the main street. Further south leads into the local cemetery through some gates which are currently closed. To the east is your house, to the west your neighbor's house, with a driveway tempting you into her backyard. The street continues north. > n Street North This is the northern end of the main street. To the west you see the enticing foliage of the local park, and opposite the park is the local shop. To the north is the local church, and following the street south will lead to even more local stuff belonging to this locality. > n Inside the Church Tall ceiling? Wooden pews? Ceremonial altar? This church really ticks all the boxes, and there may even be a priest lurking around here somewhere. A small doorway leads east to the vestry. Underneath one of the pews is a mouse, quietly nibbling on a large chunk of cheese. > s Street North This is the northern end of the main street. To the west you see the enticing foliage of the local park, and opposite the park is the local shop. To the north is the local church, and following the street south will lead to even more local stuff belonging to this locality. > w Park East This is the eastern side of a large park, with lovely fields of grass and arrangements of shrubs. This scenic vista seems to deteriorate toward the west, where you can make out a makeshift building which never used to be there. The park exits back to the street east. Leaning against the tall tree is a sturdy ladder. A beautiful oak tree is rooted here, towering over a large area of the park. High above in the branches you catch a glimpse of something colorful. > u You carefully climb the ladder, then grab some branches and climb a little further. Up the Tree You are standing on a large branch of a massive oak tree, roughly 20 feet off the ground. Below you can see glimpses of the park, the view obscured by branches and leaves. On a nearby branch sits a squirrel, slightly too close to your face for comfort. Wedged between two smaller branches is a colorful balloon. > give acorn to squirrel The squirrel snatches the acorn, and quicker than the laws of physics would seem to allow, has stashed it in its hidey-hole and returned to the branch. > take balloon As you reach for the balloon, the squirrel scratches at you with its claws, and you pull back your arm. Thankfully it missed you (this time). > take balloon As you reach for the balloon, the squirrel scratches at you with its claws, and you pull back your arm. Thankfully it missed you (this time). > undo Previous turn undone. > undo Previous turn undone. > und That is not a verb I recognize. > undo Previous turn undone. > undo Previous turn undone. > i You're carrying an acorn, an open bottle of water, an iron key, a toothpick, a broom, a scrap of paper, a calendar, a roll of tape and today's newspaper. > l Up the Tree You are standing on a large branch of a massive oak tree, roughly 20 feet off the ground. Below you can see glimpses of the park, the view obscured by branches and leaves. On a nearby branch sits a squirrel, slightly too close to your face for comfort. Wedged between two smaller branches is a colorful balloon. > u You try, but The next best branch to climb is too far away. > show acorn to squirrel The squirrel eyes light up when it sees the acorn, and immediately tries to grab it! Luckily you were prepared for this, and manage to pull it away in time. > throw acorn The squirrel's eyes become fixed on the acorn. As it falls down to the ground below, the squirrel runs down the tree after it. With your exceptional hearing, you hear the squirrel take its treasure somewhere far from here to hide it. > * lol same puzzle as in ALYAS [Comment recorded] > take balloon Taken. > d Park East This is the eastern side of a large park, with lovely fields of grass and arrangements of shrubs. This scenic vista seems to deteriorate toward the west, where you can make out a makeshift building which never used to be there. The park exits back to the street east. Leaning against the tall tree is a sturdy ladder. A beautiful oak tree is rooted here, towering over a large area of the park. > w Park West This side of the park is such a contrast, all the greenery here has turned brown or is dying, and even the sky looks darker from here. Nearby is a slipshod building which is the coven of the young witch, according to the town gossip anyway. It has an entrance to the north. > n Inside Coven Inside this makeshift building there is surprisingly little to see. However, you can sense that something really funky is going on here. The air feels full of magical energy, and the hairs on the back of your neck are all standing to attention. In the middle of the room is a large cauldron. Standing behind the cauldron is that mysterious young woman who is the talk of the town. She is stirring the pot, looking quite hot and bothered. > give balloon to witch "I don't need that!" The witch gives you a stare so intense it sends a chill down your spine, then says "Stop wasting my time, or there will be consequences!" > throw ballon at witch Sorry, I don't understand what "ballon" means. > i You're carrying a balloon, an open bottle of water, an iron key, a toothpick, a broom, a scrap of paper, a calendar, a roll of tape and today's newspaper. > throw balloon at witch Couldn't you just talk it over? > pop balloon You poke the balloon with the toothpick... !!! POP !!! The witch is stunned by the loud noise, and seems frozen for a moment. Now is your chance! > throw water at witch Seizing your opportunity, you pour the water over the witch's head, and she starts to melt! But no, looking closer, you can see that this is not a destruction, but a transformation... The witch slowly shrinks and mutates, smaller, smaller, smaller, eventually becoming a frog! Unbeknownst to you, this was her original form, and only through the black magic of another witch did she become this power-crazed young woman. [Press a key] You are now sitting on your comfortable sofa, a few days after these harrowing events. You reach over and grab today's paper, just like you do every morning after breakfast. The headline today is that the evil witch has vanished, the article going on to mention that her acolytes have dispersed, her coven has been dismantled, and the sun is shining once more upon the town of Dimpleford. Other articles talk about how Father Beige, amateur sleuth that he is, helped solve another case and rescued his house keeper Miss Crackers from a wrongful conviction. Also how local shop owner Evelyn Green took an ancient coin to the Antiques Roadshow and was delighted to learn it was worth a thousand pounds. Ouch! Lastly, one other article catches your eye. It talks about the theft of a priceless relic from the local church. The police say they are following some promising leads. Hopefully their leads are not too promising... *** You have won *** Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE or QUIT? quit