You forget why your captors took you here, or how, or when. You just remember, every day, they regale you with "Find a fine day."
 
It's sort of hard to, when you're trapped like this. But this time -- you're trapped a little differently. Somewhere new. You overheard something about how they were bored watching over you, and it was your fault for not being very interesting. Maybe you can escape from your prison and your mental fog.
 
Why Pout
My IFComp 2024 entry. Wordplay. by Mick Stupp
Release 1 / Serial number 240907 / Inform 7 build 6G60 (I6/v6.36 lib 6/12N) 
 
Eh, Raw Air, Aww
The air chokes you a bit. It's too thick to see far beyond yourself. You barely know who you are, even. Ugh. You can't see much beyond yourself, really, so that'd be somewhere to start.
 
[NOTE: to see general information about Why Pout, type ABOUT. To see the verbs used, type VERBS. If you have trouble with the first few moves, there will be hints.]
 
>transcript
 Start of a transcript of
 
Why Pout
My IFComp 2024 entry. Wordplay. by Mick Stupp
Release 1 / Serial number 240907 / Inform 7 build 6G60 (I6/v6.36 lib 6/12N) 
Identification number: //948E1AA3-296C-499A-9B10-FEB88280A212//
Standard interpreter 1.2 (0) / Library serial number 080126
Standard Rules version 2/090402 by Graham Nelson
Trivial Niceties version 1/140928 by Andrew Schultz
Punctuation Stripper version 1/200614 by Andrew Schultz
Bold Final Question Rows version 1/220701 by Andrew Schultz
Old School Verb Total Carnage version 1/181008 by Andrew Schultz
Versioning and Extensions Tweak version 1/240820 by Andrew Schultz
Why Pout Tables version 1/240717 by Andrew Schultz
Why Pout Definitions version 1/240816 by Andrew Schultz
Why Pout Globals version 1/240720 by Andrew Schultz
Why Pout Mistakes version 1/240825 by Andrew Schultz
Why Pout I6 Replacements version 1/240819 by Andrew Schultz
Trivial Text Shortcuts version 1/140928 by Andrew Schultz
Revealing Passages version 1/240819 by Andrew Schultz
 
>about
Why Pout was written for IFComp 2024. It's something I originally thought about writing for EctoComp, but I never managed to mash enough ideas together.
 
It reuses a lot of code from Roads of Liches and my Prime Pro Rhyme Row games, which have different mechanics but a similar conceit: guess the right two-word phrase. However, it's narrower in scope, and I didn't want to rely on too well-known examples of possible phrases for point scoring.
 
Once I realized bigger projects weren't on the cards for IFComp 2024, I focused on something I could handle. I wound up making forty or so puzzle instead of the usual eighty.
 
While the drip of ideas started February, 2020, according to my notes, I wasn't getting anything really original, or so it seemed. But the idea was always there. In my weekly writing file 20240429.txt, there's the game's title, and that's when significant ideas started appearing. But it wasn't until I registered for IFComp in July that ideas started clicking together. Deadlines are funny like that!
 
Like most of my games, Why Pout rates merciful on the Zarfian cruelty scale. However, in this case, I want the puzzles to be more merciful in terms of general difficulty on the player's psyche than usual.
 
Note that an optional room will appear about midway through the game. It may contain profanity, which I hope is amusing, but I don't blame you if you wish to skip it.
 
blurglecruncheon@gmail.com is my email, and http://github.com/andrewschultz/why-pout is the github site, where you can report issues. I'm open to transcripts.
 
CREDITS lists people who helped make Why Pout a reality, or a better version than it would've been without them.  EXT shows the extensions listed, and VERSION or VERSIONS shows version info.
 
>look
Eh, Raw Air, Aww
The air chokes you a bit. It's too thick to see far beyond yourself. You barely know who you are, even. Ugh. You can't see much beyond yourself, really, so that'd be somewhere to start.
 
>error error
You're stuck with what to do right now. Perhaps you can use your senses for clues, or THINK, or look inward, to give you an idea of how to get started. Not just a what, but a how or a why. You can't exactly look outward.
 
[NOTE: until the main area, parser verb errors like this will give occasional hints. So don't be afraid to try stuff.]
 
>breathe
You're stuck with what to do right now. Perhaps you can use your senses for clues, or THINK, or look inward, to give you an idea of how to get started. Not just a what, but a how or a why. You can't exactly look outward.
 
>think
An inner voice says "Fry! Twist!" You feel fright, wist. It's hard not to, since you don't have a name or a purpose. For some reason, you're focused on getting a name, but you've got thins nagging feeling that's not quite it.
 
Perhaps if you press a bit more, some thoughts may come out.
 
>feel
What do you want to feel?
 
>feel self
An internal voice says "We poke, eh? Weep, okay?"
 
>cry
You're stuck with what to do right now. Perhaps you can use your senses for clues, or THINK, or look inward, to give you an idea of how to get started. Not just a what, but a how or a why. You can't exactly look outward.
 
>weep
You're stuck with what to do right now. Perhaps you can use your senses for clues, or THINK, or look inward, to give you an idea of how to get started. Not just a what, but a how or a why. You can't exactly look outward.
 
A cruel voice mocks "Way to wait, ooh!"
 
>wait
Ideally I-D-L-E!
 
>listen
Air, or ... a roar?!
 
>error
You're stuck with what to do right now. Perhaps you can use your senses for clues, or THINK, or look inward, to give you an idea of how to get started. Not just a what, but a how or a why. You can't exactly look outward.
 
>look inward
Nothing here like that. Note that room names are not usually worth examining, as you can just L or LOOK.
 
>look
Eh, Raw Air, Aww
The air chokes you a bit. It's too thick to see far beyond yourself. You barely know who you are, even. Ugh. You can't see much beyond yourself, really, so that'd be somewhere to start.
 
>jump
You're stuck with what to do right now. Perhaps you can use your senses for clues, or THINK, or look inward, to give you an idea of how to get started. Not just a what, but a how or a why. You can't exactly look outward.
 
>think
An inner voice says "Fry! Twist!" You feel fright, wist. It's hard not to, since you don't have a name or a purpose. For some reason, you're focused on getting a name, but you've got thins nagging feeling that's not quite it.
 
Well, not quite a purpose, but ... what's the word? "Dumb pit. Dump it!"
 you think to yourself. Which sounds slightly off, but it's all you have to go on.
 
>take name
Nothing here like that.
 
>name
You're stuck with what to do right now. Perhaps you can use your senses for clues, or THINK, or look inward, to give you an idea of how to get started. Not just a what, but a how or a why. You can't exactly look outward.
 
>remember
You're stuck with what to do right now. Perhaps you can use your senses for clues, or THINK, or look inward, to give you an idea of how to get started. Not just a what, but a how or a why. You can't exactly look outward.
 
That cruel voice, again. "You'd be better off WAITing or typing nothing."
 
>wait
Ideally I-D-L-E!
 
>nothing
You're stuck with what to do right now. Perhaps you can use your senses for clues, or THINK, or look inward, to give you an idea of how to get started. Not just a what, but a how or a why. You can't exactly look outward.
 
>look
Eh, Raw Air, Aww
The air chokes you a bit. It's too thick to see far beyond yourself. You barely know who you are, even. Ugh. You can't see much beyond yourself, really, so that'd be somewhere to start.
 
>roar
You're stuck with what to do right now. Perhaps you can use your senses for clues, or THINK, or look inward, to give you an idea of how to get started. Not just a what, but a how or a why. You can't exactly look outward.
 
>speak
You're stuck with what to do right now. Perhaps you can use your senses for clues, or THINK, or look inward, to give you an idea of how to get started. Not just a what, but a how or a why. You can't exactly look outward.
 
>smell
No funk, or fun. Cor!
 
>cor
You're stuck with what to do right now. Perhaps you can use your senses for clues, or THINK, or look inward, to give you an idea of how to get started. Not just a what, but a how or a why. You can't exactly look outward.
 
That cruel voice, again. "Nothing you've tried has worked. You'd be better off WAITing or typing nothing."
>wait
Ideally I-D-L-E!
 
>idle
You're stuck with what to do right now. Perhaps you can use your senses for clues, or THINK, or look inward, to give you an idea of how to get started. Not just a what, but a how or a why. You can't exactly look outward.
 
>
"Hum, blank," you muse. No humble ankh pops into your hands, sadly.
 
>walk
You'll have to say which compass direction to go in.
 
>n
"Grey trek? Great wreck!" you moon. You can't see anywhere. You know almost nothing. I mean, you don't even have a name. What would you do even if there was a passage?
 
>name self
You're stuck with what to do right now. Perhaps you can use your senses for clues, or THINK, or look inward, to give you an idea of how to get started. Not just a what, but a how or a why. You can't exactly look outward.
 
>think
An inner voice says "Fry! Twist!" You feel fright, wist. It's hard not to, since you don't have a name or a purpose. For some reason, you're focused on getting a name, but you've got thins nagging feeling that's not quite it.
 
Well, not quite a purpose, but ... what's the word? "Aww, flake! Awful ache!"
 you think to yourself. Which sounds slightly off, but it's all you have to go on.
 
>thin snagging
You're stuck with what to do right now. Perhaps you can use your senses for clues, or THINK, or look inward, to give you an idea of how to get started. Not just a what, but a how or a why. You can't exactly look outward.
 
>wist
You're stuck with what to do right now. Perhaps you can use your senses for clues, or THINK, or look inward, to give you an idea of how to get started. Not just a what, but a how or a why. You can't exactly look outward.
 
That cruel voice, again. "Play some place, umm..."
>e
"I sit? Ice it!" you moon. You can't see anywhere. You know almost nothing. I mean, you don't even have a name. What would you do even if there was a passage?
 
>sit
What do you want to sit on?
 
>sit on ground
Nothing here like that.
 
>sit on floor
Nothing here like that.
 
>feel 
What do you want to feel?
 
>feel air
Nothing here like that.
 
>x air
Nothing here like that.
 
>examine air
Nothing here like that.
 
>look
Eh, Raw Air, Aww
The air chokes you a bit. It's too thick to see far beyond yourself. You barely know who you are, even. Ugh. You can't see much beyond yourself, really, so that'd be somewhere to start.
 
>wait
Ideally I-D-L-E!
 
>wait
Ideally I-D-L-E!
 
>wait
Ideally I-D-L-E!
 
>wait
Ideally I-D-L-E!
 
>wait
Ideally I-D-L-E!
 
>x hands
Nothing here like that.
 
>examine mind
Nothing here like that.
 
>x self
You think you have a name. Most people do, if you remember things correctly. For better or worse, you can't be special.
 
You'd really like to have a purpose, too.
 
The weird thing is, you feel the two must be inter-related in some simple way. A way that will feel dumb once you figure it out. But you haven't, yet.
 
Hmm. A name. A name. You're focused on finding A NAME, and yet, if you just shook up this focus a bit, you might get something else... something that could kick-start you, no matter what your name is.
 
>i
There's that occasional voice ringing in your head asking "Why pout?" But besides that ...
 
You are carrying nothing.
 
>wipeout
You're stuck with what to do right now. Perhaps you can use your senses for clues, or THINK, or look inward again with X ME, to give you an idea of how to get started. Not just a what, but a how or a why. You can't exactly look outward.
 
>an aim
Yes. Now that you realize you want more than just to know your name, that you have bigger goals, you push a bit harder when you initially forget it. You remember patches of the past. You remember people harshly calling you by your last name, then your first.
 
Your name is Mike Orr. You even remember it's -- well, one of these two things: short for Michal, which everyone pronounced Michael until you just gave up, or ... well, Michael.
 
You look around a bit. You can see more, now. You're in some sort of tomb apse. You could exit--there are exits each way--but you suspect there's some horrible maze you could easily get lost in.
 
Tomb Apse
 
[Your score just went up by a point!]
 
>two maps
You look around for secrets. You find one line that is a hash of horizontal lines and another that is a hash of vertical lines. You put them together ... and you see a maze. You hope you can trace a passage out. And, with some effort, you do! Then you follow it. You hope it's right, and it leads somewhere better, or at least not as awful...
 
Hype Lane
It's still pretty dark here. You must still be underground.
 
Around you, cell phones, cell phones everywhere. Such confident chatter. Or it seems confident. It distracts you and your bearings, trying to figure who you really are and get somewhere less dark.
 
You don't remember everything about your former self, but you remember you hated cell phones and how they distracted you. Maybe if the people yacking into them were taken down a peg, you could focus a bit more. Dang cell phones.
 
[Your score just went up by a point!]
 
>look up
You see nothing unexpected in that direction.
 
>high plane
That would be a nicer place! But you have nothing that could help you move up yet. You'll have to observe the general area a bit more.
 
[NOTE: this command will be useful later, but you aren't ready to use it, yet. You can track commands like this by typing THINK, which will also clue you if they now work.
 
Also, the "plus" number in the upper right status bar shows the number of not-yet-successful commands you've found.]
 
>x phones
Whether or not the cell phones are the latest models, you don't want to pay attention to them too much. Just figure out a way for a harmless calamity that may make their users quiet down a bit.
 
>self own
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>self owns
You take a step back from all the confident, constant chatter in the cell phones. You hear that, indeed, people are just repeating mantras, and they are not as smart as they think they are. You wonder if you should say something to the most egregious offenders ... and you eventually do! And they appear flustered. They attack you back for being too quiet. You mention that if they annoyed someone as too-quiet as you, they must have gone over the line.
 
Your confrontation did not go unnoticed by other cell phoners. They take the hint and moderate their voices.
 
However, now, a prize talk blasts through hidden loudspeakers. It exhorts you to find your dream, to find something that will help you move above and beyond everyone else. It's probably talking about money or power, but you're looking for something different.
 
[Your score just went up by a point!]
 
>pry stalk
Among all the chatter, you discover a disused booth. Someone is preaching on about environmental stuff, and it's so much less painful than cell phone chat. You worry they're just going to blab on forever, but they're so grateful you listened as long as you did. They hand you a stalk they think can grow quickly. Their own special formula. It looks weird and glittery, and if anything can reach up out of here, this can. But the question is, where can it grow to?
 
[Your score just went up by a point!]
 
>x stalk
Apparently, it's magical or something, and if you know where you want to go and plant it, it will lead you there.
 
>listen
The prize talk also discusses things that aren't so worth it, like -- well, plants and stuff. BORING.
 
>plant sand
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>weird angle tree
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>plant in sand
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>x booth
Nothing here like that.
 
>plant stalk
Hmm, no, you already did that, or something like that. You'll know if and when you need to flip between things.
 
>plants talk
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>high plane
You plant the stalk, which -- well, it's already a bit of a stalk, but it grows quickly and sturdily. It's not hard at all to climb. You are pretty sure you're aboveground, but it's hard to see for sure.
 
Naff Haze
You're surrounded by some really naff haze. It's naff because you can't go anywhere, and it also just makes you feel naff, and it seems so universal, like there's no escaping from it.
 
[Your score just went up by a point!]
 
>n phase
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>n phases
You may have used a word or two too many or made a typo in the final word.
 
>no phase
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>no phases
You may have used a word or two too many or made a typo in the final word.
 
>not phase
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>real phase
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>smell
No funk, or fun. Cor!
 
>no face
You may have used a word or two too many or made a typo in the final word.
 
>o phase
Sorry, that can't be corrected.
 
>x haze
You can't look very far though it. Just looking at it makes you feel hopeless you'll always be trapped in the fog.
 
>a phase
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>in a phase
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>look
Naff Haze
You're surrounded by some really naff haze. It's naff because you can't go anywhere, and it also just makes you feel naff, and it seems so universal, like there's no escaping from it.
 
>phase
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>no phase
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>x naff
You can't look very far though it. Just looking at it makes you feel hopeless you'll always be trapped in the fog.
 
>feel
(the naff haze)
An internal voice says "We poke, eh? Weep, okay?"
 
>phase face
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>face phase
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>relief phase
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>relieve phase
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>relieve a phase
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>nap phase
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>laugh phase
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>look
Naff Haze
You're surrounded by some really naff haze. It's naff because you can't go anywhere, and it also just makes you feel naff, and it seems so universal, like there's no escaping from it.
 
>wait
Ideally I-D-L-E!
 
>not phased
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>not phase
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>nothing phase
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>summer phase
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>lena phase
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>alien phase
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>phase
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>phased
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>phases
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>no phase
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>none phase
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>naff phase
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>naff
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>x naff
You can't look very far though it. Just looking at it makes you feel hopeless you'll always be trapped in the fog.
 
>new phase
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>n phase
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>n
Too tough to stumble around until the haze lifts. How to make that happen?
 
>enough phase
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>huff phase
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>up haze
You may have used a word or two too many or made a typo in the final word.
 
>up phase
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>look
Naff Haze
You're surrounded by some really naff haze. It's naff because you can't go anywhere, and it also just makes you feel naff, and it seems so universal, like there's no escaping from it.
 
>gnat phase
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>nat phase
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>nah phase
The haze seemed too thick at first. But you recognize it doesn't have to be there. As you sift through it, you notice things that weren't there before. It lifts.
 
High Plain
Things have opened up a bit now, with the naff haze lifted.
 
A keep, iller, rises to the WEST, but you see no way in.
 
Gross tar blocks the way NORTH into darkness.
 
A short rail leads -- well, not very far. You get the sense it should lead somewhere more.
 
You feel policed here. And it's the mean American gung-ho militarized sort of policed, not the (usually) kinder UK brand. Where and what is this policed feeling coming from?
 
[Your score just went up by a point!]
 
>key pillar
You look around the pillars for a key, since there's no flowerpot to hide it under. You find one, and you open the way west.
 
[Your score just went up by a point!]
 
>grow star
You look at the gross tar, and you hope for a star in the sky to become brighter. It does, and clearly some of the tar is goopier than some of the other tar. You see a way to the north, and after you do, the tar isn't as relevant any more.
 
[Your score just went up by a point!]
 
>shore trail
There must be more to the short rail than you see. And you start tracing where it is, where it can be, where it should go. You find something to dig up. It's ... surprisingly malleable. You have nothing else to do, anyway. Soon it feels like pulling cable from a ground. It's tough, since you can't see around, but indeed, the short rail does lead to a shore trail that leads south.
 
[Your score just went up by a point!]
 
>w
You'd like to go west, but you feel, well, policed.
 
>well placed
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>n
You'd like to go north, but you feel, well, policed.
 
>well pleased
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>look
High Plain
Things have opened up a bit now, with the naff haze lifted.
 
You got rid of the gross tar blocking your way NORTH.
 
The shore trail you discovered leads SOUTH.
 
A keep, iller, rises to the WEST, and you figured how to enter it.
 
You feel policed here. And it's the mean American gung-ho militarized sort of policed, not the (usually) kinder UK brand. Where and what is this policed feeling coming from?
 
>please tear
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>think
You try and think of stuff you tried, but the time wasn't quite right.
 
Nothing comes to mind.
 
>leased
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>fill pulleys
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>pulleys
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>pull east
Ah, yes. It makes sense. You find the pole. Strangely, there's just a single switch to flip. And even more strangely, the switch you flip causes the pole to revert into the ground. Yay!
 
But there's more! A war pawn, like a chess piece, rolls into view. It looks pretty powerful. Maybe you see how to use it, but maybe you shouldn't use it right away.
 
You've changed the landscape a lot, north, south, east and west. But there's more! You hear a rumbling beneath you, opening a passage DOWN!
 
[Your score just went up by a point!]
 
>down
 
Worm-Eaten
This place seems very run-down. But it feels homey and inspires camaraderie in an odd way.
 
Someone comes out from the depths. They introduce themselves as the gone traitor, someone who cozied up to the bad guys and ditched their friends, then ditched the bad guys. And only recently they ran away, but how can they ask for forgiveness? Surely it just doesn't happen like this? Just one small change and you have a new identity? Rubbish!
 
>we're meeting
[NOTE: found an apostrophe and removed it. You never need to use apostrophes in commands. Why Pout will eliminate apostrophes without nagging you in the future.]
 
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>were meetin
Sadly, you have no friends to bring together yet! Yet.
 
(useful command again saved to THINK for later reference.)
 
>gun trader
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>gong trader
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>gun raider
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>gong raider
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>gaunt raider
After some discussion, you work out a plan to make the gone trader reframe what they did. Whoever they were, the evil powers, they rejected them instead of doubling down. Perhaps there is a way to get back at them. They know things you never could hope to.
 
It looks like the gaunt raider will be following you around. All that silence might get awkward, so you may wish to T or TALK (TO) them.
 
[Your score just went up by a point!]
 
>talk to gaunt raider
You chat with the gaunt raider a bit, learning more about the history of the area you're exploring and why you're here. It fills in some blanks in your memory.
 
The gaunt raider discusses regret for their past actions, as well as some possibilities for how to use it to boost yourself to do the right thing, or when to just drop it without being drowned by guilt.
 
Wow! Things are starting to make sense. Maybe talking to others will help make even more sense.
 
>were meeting
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>were meetin
You sense you don't have the gang together! You may still be a way away.
 
Hmph. That still doesn't quite work! You'll figure out the how and when and where, though.
 
>look
Worm-Eaten
This place seems very run-down. But it feels homey and inspires camaraderie in an odd way.
 
The gaunt raider waits here for what to do or where to go next.
 
>up
 
High Plain
Things have opened up a bit now, with the naff haze lifted. You feel less policed, too, and you found a path EAST.
 
You got rid of the gross tar blocking your way NORTH.
 
The shore trail you discovered leads SOUTH.
 
A keep, iller, rises to the WEST, and you figured how to enter it.
 
There's also a way DOWN that opened up once you found passages in all cardinal directions.
 
The gaunt raider follows you.
 
>west
 
Keep (Iller)
This keep has seen better days, but there seems to be a lot in its ruins. You can go back EAST. You also sense something fearsome from a passage south.
 
You are really impressed by how no mold grows here. Someone must be keeping it up well. Who?
 
A row (gold) shines in this otherwise forbidding keep.
 
There's a bunch of manic herb here. You don't know a lot about it, other than that some is really poisonous and some is okay. There's so much, perhaps it's hiding something. 
 
A plant racker lies here, pretty much useless.
 
A seedy sign stands here, advertising somewhere very risky indeed.
 
The gaunt raider follows you.
 
>plan tracker
Wow! That was ... surprisingly simple. You find a rather new-looking plan tracker behind the plant racker, which crumbles to dust as you push it aside.
 
[Your score just went up by a point!]
 
>sea design
Close, but there are other waterways. Action (well, sort of) is needed here.
 
>see design
You sort of want to see the hidden design, but you're sort of scared what will happen once you do. The gaunt raider can only help so much. You feel like you need some more support before you can give it your all.
 
(useful command again saved to THINK for later reference.)
 
>rogue old
A rogue, old, appears, but after some conversation, you realize you don't have any money to pay them with. They'd like to help, but they worked for free once and felt ripped off. Maybe later.
 
(useful command again saved to THINK for later reference.)
 
>manicure
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>moniker
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>mana curb
You do not have any magic points, so you don't need them refreshed. But you must be close!
 
>man curb
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>many curb
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>gnome old
You summon a gnome, old, to compliment them on keeping the keep looking so nice all these years. They thank you but mention they're a bit sick of it and they seek adventure. Yet they can't go adventuring in these tatty clothes.
 
(useful command again saved to THINK for later reference.)
 
>e
 
High Plain
Things have opened up a bit now, with the naff haze lifted. You feel less policed, too, and you found a path EAST.
 
You got rid of the gross tar blocking your way NORTH.
 
The shore trail you discovered leads SOUTH.
 
A keep, iller, rises to the WEST, and you figured how to enter it.
 
There's also a way DOWN that opened up once you found passages in all cardinal directions.
 
The gaunt raider follows you.
 
>s
 
No Notion
You simply have no notion what lies beyond here. Surely the shore trail didn't just lead to a dead end! You can go back north to where you started.
 
The gaunt raider follows you.
 
>known ocean
Ah, yes. Things clear up a bit now. There we go ... you see where an ocean should be, and ... yes, you dip your toe in some wetness. Things clear up. You even see a sick squid! Maybe you can help it.
 
Known Ocean
 
[Your score just went up by a point!]
 
>six quid
You have an idea what is bothering the squid. Yes, a few coins stuck. Surprisingly, it lets you help out. "Current, sea, currency," you mutter as you poke around. Ah, there you go.
 
You offer to give it some of the coins it almost choked on, but it does not need them. It seems to wait around, as if to help you with travel to places you may get to go. It's willing to wait.
 
[Your score just went up by a point!]
 
>n
 
High Plain
Things have opened up a bit now, with the naff haze lifted. You feel less policed, too, and you found a path EAST.
 
You got rid of the gross tar blocking your way NORTH.
 
The shore trail you discovered leads SOUTH.
 
A keep, iller, rises to the WEST, and you figured how to enter it.
 
There's also a way DOWN that opened up once you found passages in all cardinal directions.
 
The gaunt raider follows you.
 
>w
 
Keep (Iller)
This keep has seen better days, but there seems to be a lot in its ruins. You can go back EAST. You also sense something fearsome from a passage south.
 
You are really impressed by how no mold grows here. Someone must be keeping it up well. Who?
 
A row (gold) shines in this otherwise forbidding keep.
 
There's a bunch of manic herb here. You don't know a lot about it, other than that some is really poisonous and some is okay. There's so much, perhaps it's hiding something. 
 
A seedy sign stands here, advertising somewhere very risky indeed.
 
The gaunt raider follows you.
 
>rogue old
A rogue, old, arrives. They mention they'd like to help you but, you know, the row (gold) needs maintenance. You offer to pay them three quid..
 
This transaction reduces your wealth from six quid to three quid.
 
[Your score just went up by a point!]
 
>e
 
High Plain
Things have opened up a bit now, with the naff haze lifted. You feel less policed, too, and you found a path EAST.
 
You got rid of the gross tar blocking your way NORTH.
 
The shore trail you discovered leads SOUTH.
 
A keep, iller, rises to the WEST, and you figured how to enter it.
 
There's also a way DOWN that opened up once you found passages in all cardinal directions.
 
The rogue (old) and gaunt raider follow you.
 
>n
 
Wolf Rock
A big rock in the shape of a wolf looms impressively, blocking all passages except back SOUTH. You feel high doubt here you can go anywhere else.
 
There's a huge pile of lode ore here, too, and perhaps there's something in it.
 
The gaunt raider and rogue (old) follow you.
 
>wool frock
You rummage about and find a wool frock.
 
[Your score just went up by a point!]
 
>low door
Maybe there's a low door beneath the lode ore, which definitely has small holes. But not small enough for you to fit through and scrabble and scrape to find one, and nobody around is quite small enough to help you. Well, yet.
 
(useful command again saved to THINK for later reference.)
 
>think
You try and think of stuff you tried, but the time wasn't quite right.
 
You may be able to find a LOW DOOR here once you have a companion or companions small enough to dig a bit better.
You may be able to recruit the GNOME OLD in Keep (Iller) now you have adventuring gear.
You may be able to SEE DESIGN in Keep (Iller) now you have more support and are less scared.
You will be able to say WERE MEETIN once you have a full party available.
 
>s
 
High Plain
Things have opened up a bit now, with the naff haze lifted. You feel less policed, too, and you found a path EAST.
 
You got rid of the gross tar blocking your way NORTH.
 
The shore trail you discovered leads SOUTH.
 
A keep, iller, rises to the WEST, and you figured how to enter it.
 
There's also a way DOWN that opened up once you found passages in all cardinal directions.
 
The gaunt raider and rogue (old) follow you.
 
>w
 
Keep (Iller)
This keep has seen better days, but there seems to be a lot in its ruins. You can go back EAST. You also sense something fearsome from a passage south.
 
You are really impressed by how no mold grows here. Someone must be keeping it up well. Who?
 
A row (gold) shines in this otherwise forbidding keep.
 
There's a bunch of manic herb here. You don't know a lot about it, other than that some is really poisonous and some is okay. There's so much, perhaps it's hiding something. 
 
A seedy sign stands here, advertising somewhere very risky indeed.
 
The gaunt raider and rogue (old) follow you.
 
>gnome old
A gnome, old, arrives from a room above in the keep. They offer to adventure with you, if you have suitable enough adventuring gear. As a matter of fact, you do. The wool frock works well.
 
"Less gnome attic, more nomadic," they muse.
 
Funnily, you stop specifically noticing the lack of mold now your new companion's joined you. But you still appreciate their efforts deep down!
 
[Your score just went up by a point!]
 
>e
 
High Plain
Things have opened up a bit now, with the naff haze lifted. You feel less policed, too, and you found a path EAST.
 
You got rid of the gross tar blocking your way NORTH.
 
The shore trail you discovered leads SOUTH.
 
A keep, iller, rises to the WEST, and you figured how to enter it.
 
There's also a way DOWN that opened up once you found passages in all cardinal directions.
 
Your three companions follow you.
 
>n
 
Wolf Rock
A big rock in the shape of a wolf looms impressively, blocking all passages except back SOUTH. You feel high doubt here you can go anywhere else.
 
There's a huge pile of lode ore here, too, and perhaps there's something in it.
 
Your three companions follow you.
 
>low door
Maybe there's a low door beneath the lode ore, which definitely has small holes. But not small enough for you to fit through and scrabble and scrape to find one, and nobody around is quite small enough to help you. Well, yet.
 
Hmph. That still doesn't quite work! You'll figure out the how and when and where, though.
 
>think
You try and think of stuff you tried, but the time wasn't quite right.
 
You may be able to find a LOW DOOR here once you have a companion or companions small enough to dig a bit better.
You may be able to SEE DESIGN in Keep (Iller) now you have more support and are less scared.
You will be able to say WERE MEETIN once you have a full party available.
 
>s
 
High Plain
Things have opened up a bit now, with the naff haze lifted. You feel less policed, too, and you found a path EAST.
 
You got rid of the gross tar blocking your way NORTH.
 
The shore trail you discovered leads SOUTH.
 
A keep, iller, rises to the WEST, and you figured how to enter it.
 
There's also a way DOWN that opened up once you found passages in all cardinal directions.
 
Your three companions follow you.
 
>w
 
Keep (Iller)
This keep has seen better days, but there seems to be a lot in its ruins. You can go back EAST. You also sense something fearsome from a passage south.
 
A row (gold) shines in this otherwise forbidding keep.
 
There's a bunch of manic herb here. You don't know a lot about it, other than that some is really poisonous and some is okay. There's so much, perhaps it's hiding something. 
 
A seedy sign stands here, advertising somewhere very risky indeed.
 
Your three companions follow you.
 
>see design
You see the design in the seedy sign. It leads somewhere scary. Somewhere you don't want your friends to visit. Though you appreciate their support. You'll be right back. You think. You hope.
 
Nigh Fright
Whatever you need to do or find here, you only want to do it once. You don't want to have to come back. You're glad your friends supported you enough to get here, but you don't want to have to rely on them like that again.
 
So, what do you need to find, before getting out?
 
[Your score just went up by a point!]
 
>knife right
With your friends boosting your spirits, you look for a sacred/profane weapon. It turns up. Eerie howling begins. You hightail it out of there.
 
Keep (Iller)
 
[Your score just went up by a point!]
 
>look
Keep (Iller)
This keep has seen better days, but there seems to be a lot in its ruins. You can go back EAST. You also sense something fearsome from a passage south.
 
A row (gold) shines in this otherwise forbidding keep.
 
There's a bunch of manic herb here. You don't know a lot about it, other than that some is really poisonous and some is okay. There's so much, perhaps it's hiding something. 
 
That seedy sign stands off to the side here. It's no longer scary, but you don't wish to bother with it, any more.
 
The gaunt raider, the rogue (old) and the gnome (old) wait here for what to do or where to go next.
 
>man curb
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>talk to rogue old
You chat with the rogue (old) a bit, learning more about the history of the area you're exploring and why you're here. It fills in some blanks in your memory.
 
The rogue (old) discusses ways to sneak around so vastly overpowered opponents can't blow you away, and you also learn not to feel guilty or shifty about being good at sneaking around, around much more unsavory entities than yourself.
 
Well, that's even more useful information worth remembering.
 
>talk to gnome old
You chat with the gnome (old) a bit, learning more about the history of the area you're exploring and why you're here. It fills in some blanks in your memory.
 
The gnome (old) discusses ways of finding hidden psychic weaknesses in a very tough opponent. You also hear how whatever force there is, it only cares about things looking good on the outside. The gnome had so much mold to protect against and continually scrape away, even outside of the keep.
 
Well, that's more useful information worth remembering.
 
>ask rogue old about manic herb
But you already got the rogue (old) to join you!
 
>mana curb
You do not have any magic points, so you don't need them refreshed. But you must be close!
 
>magic curb
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>man ick curb
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>think
You try and think of stuff you tried, but the time wasn't quite right.
 
You may be able to find a LOW DOOR in Wolf Rock once you have a companion or companions small enough to dig a bit better.
You will be able to say WERE MEETIN once you have a full party available.
 
>n
Apart from finding a way beyond the seedy sign, which you don't need to again, the keep doesn't have many twisty passages. Well, any.
 
>look
Keep (Iller)
This keep has seen better days, but there seems to be a lot in its ruins. You can go back EAST. You also sense something fearsome from a passage south.
 
A row (gold) shines in this otherwise forbidding keep.
 
There's a bunch of manic herb here. You don't know a lot about it, other than that some is really poisonous and some is okay. There's so much, perhaps it's hiding something. 
 
That seedy sign stands off to the side here. It's no longer scary, but you don't wish to bother with it, any more.
 
The gaunt raider, the rogue (old) and the gnome (old) wait here for what to do or where to go next.
 
>s
You don't need or want to go back there.
 
>e
 
High Plain
Things have opened up a bit now, with the naff haze lifted. You feel less policed, too, and you found a path EAST.
 
You got rid of the gross tar blocking your way NORTH.
 
The shore trail you discovered leads SOUTH.
 
A keep, iller, rises to the WEST, and you figured how to enter it.
 
There's also a way DOWN that opened up once you found passages in all cardinal directions.
 
Your three companions follow you.
 
>n
 
Wolf Rock
A big rock in the shape of a wolf looms impressively, blocking all passages except back SOUTH. You feel high doubt here you can go anywhere else.
 
There's a huge pile of lode ore here, too, and perhaps there's something in it.
 
Your three companions follow you.
 
>hideout
It's easy enough to say you should doubt yourself less. I mean, you'd feel stupid doubting it. But there's always a reason not to. Still, you involuntarily start a mantra: "Fine, doubt? Find out!"
 
And what do you know? You find a hideout below!
 
[Your score just went up by a point!]
 
>look
Wolf Rock
A big rock in the shape of a wolf looms impressively, blocking all passages except back SOUTH. You can also go DOWN into the hideout you found.
 
There's a huge pile of lode ore here, too, and perhaps there's something in it.
 
The gaunt raider, the rogue (old) and the gnome (old) wait here for what to do or where to go next.
 
>down
 
Hideout
You can only go back UP. It wouldn't be a very good hideout if you had too many places to sneak around.
 
A booze troll sulks sullenly here.
 
Your three companions follow you.
 
>boo stroll
No, the booze troll shouldn't be blown off! They can become a better ... entity.
 
>boost roll
Hmm. That really, really SOUNDED like it should work, but it didn't.
 
>boost role
You talk with the booze troll for a bit. They seem not to know who they are, and that gives you something in common with them. They don't want to be a lousy boozer all their life. They are sick of drinking Base Ale.
 
You decide to trust them. They don't seem armed. You mention you've been having an adventure, and they'd sort of like one, too. They hand you a bottle of Base Ale as thanks. Not that they want you to go down their road. But it might be useful in bartering.
 
[Your score just went up by a point!]
 
>bay sale
No water here. Maybe somewhere else.
 
(useful command again saved to THINK for later reference.)
 
>think
You try and think of stuff you tried, but the time wasn't quite right.
 
You may be able to find a LOW DOOR in Wolf Rock once you have a companion or companions small enough to dig a bit better.
You may be able to participate in a BAY SALE if you've found the right location and now you have money.
You will be able to say WERE MEETIN once you have a full party available.
 
>up
 
Wolf Rock
A big rock in the shape of a wolf looms impressively, blocking all passages except back SOUTH. You can also go DOWN into the hideout you found.
 
There's a huge pile of lode ore here, too, and perhaps there's something in it.
 
Your four companions follow you.
 
>south
 
High Plain
Things have opened up a bit now, with the naff haze lifted. You feel less policed, too, and you found a path EAST.
 
You got rid of the gross tar blocking your way NORTH.
 
The shore trail you discovered leads SOUTH.
 
A keep, iller, rises to the WEST, and you figured how to enter it.
 
There's also a way DOWN that opened up once you found passages in all cardinal directions.
 
An ominous new construction appears here. It's called BRUISE WARES. Perhaps you should ignore it. Often one doesn't want to engage that sort of thing. But you may feel that much more accomplished tackling whatever is behind there.
 
Your four companions follow you.
 
>s
 
Known Ocean
It looks like there is an ocean, or some large body of water, and maybe some islands in the distance. They are too far to swim to. You can go back north to where you started.
 
A formerly (thanks to you) sick squid trundles about in the water here.
 
Your four companions follow you.
 
>bay sale
There's water here, but it's much more than a bay.
 
Hmph. That still doesn't quite work! You'll figure out the how and when and where, though.
 
>n
 
High Plain
Things have opened up a bit now, with the naff haze lifted. You feel less policed, too, and you found a path EAST.
 
You got rid of the gross tar blocking your way NORTH.
 
The shore trail you discovered leads SOUTH.
 
A keep, iller, rises to the WEST, and you figured how to enter it.
 
BRUISE WARES, some sort of odd disturbing shop, has popped up here. You can probably figure why it's forbidding and such. But perhaps it is only for a certain sort of adventurer.
 
There's also a way DOWN that opened up once you found passages in all cardinal directions.
 
Your four companions follow you.
 
>brew swears
Yes. That's what BRUISE WARES is really for. Enter at your own risk. It's ... an adventure, of its own sort.
 
[Your score just went up by a bonus point!]
 
>look
High Plain
Things have opened up a bit now, with the naff haze lifted. You feel less policed, too, and you found a path EAST.
 
You got rid of the gross tar blocking your way NORTH.
 
The shore trail you discovered leads SOUTH.
 
A keep, iller, rises to the WEST, and you figured how to enter it.
 
BRUISE WARES, some sort of odd disturbing shop, has popped up here. You can probably figure why it's forbidding and such. But perhaps it is only for a certain sort of adventurer.
 
There's also a way DOWN that opened up once you found passages in all cardinal directions.
 
The gaunt raider, the new troll, the rogue (old) and the gnome (old) wait here for what to do or where to go next.
 
>enter bruise wares
Your companions stay behind. They recognize this is a spiritual fight for you and you alone.
 
Brew Swears
If you thought Hype Lane was bad, this is even worse. You can leave back OUT.
 
Some grinch earls parade around here, bragging about how they ruin boring people's fun with their dynamic ways and pointing out that it's easy to be nice if you're boring. They fix you with a "We parse: weep, arse" gaze. They constantly blather "WE CUSS" and seem quite proud of that.
 
A crude orc trundles around here, trying to impress the grinch earls.
 
>grin churls
You slip in a few sly digs and say "grin, churls." They shake their heads, annoyed.
 
[Your score just went up by a bonus point!]
 
>weak us
You're surprised how just making a little shift can make the grin churls seem much weaker. Their strength is the sort of brute force that doesn't lift other people up.
 
They throw down the gauntlet at this point. Don't you know cussing shows higher intelligence? Some study or other showed that!
 
The crude orc looks back and forth between you and the grin churls, glaring at them a bit, but not yet ready to break free. Just a bit more, and you may gain a friend.
 
Your observation has caused something to "righteously" snap in the grin churls. And boy, are they going to firehose you with their "best!"
 
The grin churls launch "Weird! Ick!"'s at enemies real and imagined.
 
[Your score just went up by a bonus point!]
 
>crew dork
You break the truth gently to the crude orc that, well, they're at the bottom of the totem pole for this crew. They'll use the crude orc, maybe even not let them into the clique, and then find the next sucker. The grin churls surprisingly have little response to this besides, well, profanity.
 
The crude orc sees it now. The grin churls weren't as friendly as they seemed. They wanted to use some trusting kid and corrupt them. The crude orc shakes their head. They ask if they can be seen as an orc and not, well, a dork. You say sure.
 
You've gained a friend! You can stick around to torment the grinch earls further, or you can go on your way.
 
[Your score just went up by a bonus point!]
 
>look
Brew Swears
If you thought Hype Lane was bad, this is even worse. You can leave back OUT.
 
Some grin churls parade around here, bragging about how they ruin boring people's fun with their dynamic ways and pointing out that it's easy to be nice if you're boring. They fix you with a "We parse: weep, arse" gaze, though they're less effective than when they were self-styled earls. You cut their "we cuss" down to size, so they're now giving examples of how they cuss.
 
The crude orc wait here for what to do or where to go next.
 
The grin churls take cheap shots and say "Life occurs."
 
>lie fuckers
You cut down the grin churls for making things more bleak than they are. Sure, life can be cruel, but that's no excuse to make it even more cruel. They give a "whatever," but you see the point touched home.
 
The grin churls laugh and say "Hush it."
 
[Your score just went up by a bonus point!]
 
>huh shit
You reject the grin churls' "urbane" attempts at shutting you up. They're a bit surprised at you.
 
The grin churls mock you, or maybe boost themselves, with "Heh, class!"
 
[Your score just went up by a bonus point!]
 
>heck lass
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>hecklers
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>talk to crew dork
You already broke the truth to the crude orc as gently as you could!
 
>verbs
Why Pout bypasses many of the standard Inform parser verbs, since it is word-puzzle based. Things are taken implicitly, and you don't need to drop anything.
 
The four standard directions (NORTH, SOUTH, EAST and WEST) work, and some passages lead IN, OUT, UP, and DOWN, too.
 
In addition, there are NPCs you may wish to TALK TO, which can be shortened to T.
 
THINK will remind you of things you found, but the time wasn't right.
 
Finally, ABOUT gives basic information about Why Pout and also cues some other meta-commands.
 
>heck last
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>heck less
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>hack less
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>look
Brew Swears
If you thought Hype Lane was bad, this is even worse. You can leave back OUT.
 
Some grin churls parade around here, bragging about how they ruin boring people's fun with their dynamic ways and pointing out that it's easy to be nice if you're boring. They fix you with a "We parse: weep, arse" gaze, though they're less effective than when they were self-styled earls. You cut their "we cuss" down to size, so they're now giving examples of how they cuss.
 
The crude orc wait here for what to do or where to go next.
 
The grin churls shake their heads at you: "Bah! Sturdy?!"
 
>bastardy
You show you're sturdy and then some, with just the right tone of exasperation. They pretend not to be impressed, but they don't have a comeback.
 
The grin churls launch "Weird! Ick!"'s at enemies real and imagined.
 
[Your score just went up by a bonus point!]
 
>were dick
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>weir dick
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>wear dick
Nothing here like that.
 
>look
Brew Swears
If you thought Hype Lane was bad, this is even worse. You can leave back OUT.
 
Some grin churls parade around here, bragging about how they ruin boring people's fun with their dynamic ways and pointing out that it's easy to be nice if you're boring. They fix you with a "We parse: weep, arse" gaze, though they're less effective than when they were self-styled earls. You cut their "we cuss" down to size, so they're now giving examples of how they cuss.
 
The crude orc wait here for what to do or where to go next.
 
The grin churls mock you, or maybe boost themselves, with "Heh, class!"
 
>wee or dick
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>ear dick
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>were dick
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>we're dick
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>exit
As you lead the crude orc out, BRUISE-WARES crumbles behind you.
 
High Plain
Things have opened up a bit now, with the naff haze lifted. You feel less policed, too, and you found a path EAST.
 
You got rid of the gross tar blocking your way NORTH.
 
The shore trail you discovered leads SOUTH.
 
A keep, iller, rises to the WEST, and you figured how to enter it.
 
There's also a way DOWN that opened up once you found passages in all cardinal directions.
 
The gaunt raider, the new troll, the rogue (old) and the gnome (old) wait here for what to do or where to go next.
 
The crude orc follows you.
 
>think
You try and think of stuff you tried, but the time wasn't quite right.
 
You may be able to find a LOW DOOR in Wolf Rock once you have a companion or companions small enough to dig a bit better.
You may be able to participate in a BAY SALE if you've found the right location and now you have money.
You will be able to say WERE MEETIN once you have a full party available.
 
>n
 
Wolf Rock
A big rock in the shape of a wolf looms impressively, blocking all passages except back SOUTH. You can also go DOWN into the hideout you found.
 
There's a huge pile of lode ore here, too, and perhaps there's something in it.
 
Your five companions follow you.
 
>low door
Maybe there's a low door beneath the lode ore, which definitely has small holes. But not small enough for you to fit through and scrabble and scrape to find one, and nobody around is quite small enough to help you. Well, yet.
 
Hmph. That still doesn't quite work! You'll figure out the how and when and where, though.
 
>s
 
High Plain
Things have opened up a bit now, with the naff haze lifted. You feel less policed, too, and you found a path EAST.
 
You got rid of the gross tar blocking your way NORTH.
 
The shore trail you discovered leads SOUTH.
 
A keep, iller, rises to the WEST, and you figured how to enter it.
 
There's also a way DOWN that opened up once you found passages in all cardinal directions.
 
Your five companions follow you.
 
>w
 
Keep (Iller)
This keep has seen better days, but there seems to be a lot in its ruins. You can go back EAST. You also sense something fearsome from a passage south.
 
A row (gold) shines in this otherwise forbidding keep.
 
There's a bunch of manic herb here. You don't know a lot about it, other than that some is really poisonous and some is okay. There's so much, perhaps it's hiding something. 
 
That seedy sign stands off to the side here. It's no longer scary, but you don't wish to bother with it, any more.
 
Your five companions follow you.
 
>many curb
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>manky curb
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>mana curb
You do not have any magic points, so you don't need them refreshed. But you must be close!
 
>manta curb
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>manga curb
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>manna curb
Perhaps there is a lot of good stuff beneath the manic herb, but you don't have the specialized knowledge to figure it out.
 
(useful command again saved to THINK for later reference.)
 
>think
You try and think of stuff you tried, but the time wasn't quite right.
 
You may be able to find a LOW DOOR in Wolf Rock once you have a companion or companions small enough to dig a bit better.
You may be able to participate in a BAY SALE if you've found the right location and now you have money.
You may be able to find a MANNA CURB beneath the manna curb here once you have someone with knowledge of wildlife and wildflowers.
You will be able to say WERE MEETIN once you have a full party available.
 
>look
Keep (Iller)
This keep has seen better days, but there seems to be a lot in its ruins. You can go back EAST. You also sense something fearsome from a passage south.
 
A row (gold) shines in this otherwise forbidding keep.
 
There's a bunch of manic herb here. You don't know a lot about it, other than that some is really poisonous and some is okay. There's so much, perhaps it's hiding something. 
 
That seedy sign stands off to the side here. It's no longer scary, but you don't wish to bother with it, any more.
 
The gaunt raider, the crude orc, the new troll, the rogue (old) and the gnome (old) wait here for what to do or where to go next.
 
>e
 
High Plain
Things have opened up a bit now, with the naff haze lifted. You feel less policed, too, and you found a path EAST.
 
You got rid of the gross tar blocking your way NORTH.
 
The shore trail you discovered leads SOUTH.
 
A keep, iller, rises to the WEST, and you figured how to enter it.
 
There's also a way DOWN that opened up once you found passages in all cardinal directions.
 
Your five companions follow you.
 
>n
 
Wolf Rock
A big rock in the shape of a wolf looms impressively, blocking all passages except back SOUTH. You can also go DOWN into the hideout you found.
 
There's a huge pile of lode ore here, too, and perhaps there's something in it.
 
Your five companions follow you.
 
>s
 
High Plain
Things have opened up a bit now, with the naff haze lifted. You feel less policed, too, and you found a path EAST.
 
You got rid of the gross tar blocking your way NORTH.
 
The shore trail you discovered leads SOUTH.
 
A keep, iller, rises to the WEST, and you figured how to enter it.
 
There's also a way DOWN that opened up once you found passages in all cardinal directions.
 
Your five companions follow you.
 
>n
 
Wolf Rock
A big rock in the shape of a wolf looms impressively, blocking all passages except back SOUTH. You can also go DOWN into the hideout you found.
 
There's a huge pile of lode ore here, too, and perhaps there's something in it.
 
Your five companions follow you.
 
>down
 
Hideout
You can only go back UP. It wouldn't be a very good hideout if you had too many places to sneak around.
 
Your five companions follow you.
 
>look
Hideout
You can only go back UP. It wouldn't be a very good hideout if you had too many places to sneak around.
 
The gaunt raider, the crude orc, the new troll, the rogue (old) and the gnome (old) wait here for what to do or where to go next.
 
>up
 
Wolf Rock
A big rock in the shape of a wolf looms impressively, blocking all passages except back SOUTH. You can also go DOWN into the hideout you found.
 
There's a huge pile of lode ore here, too, and perhaps there's something in it.
 
Your five companions follow you.
 
>s
 
High Plain
Things have opened up a bit now, with the naff haze lifted. You feel less policed, too, and you found a path EAST.
 
You got rid of the gross tar blocking your way NORTH.
 
The shore trail you discovered leads SOUTH.
 
A keep, iller, rises to the WEST, and you figured how to enter it.
 
There's also a way DOWN that opened up once you found passages in all cardinal directions.
 
Your five companions follow you.
 
>s
 
Known Ocean
It looks like there is an ocean, or some large body of water, and maybe some islands in the distance. They are too far to swim to. You can go back north to where you started.
 
A formerly (thanks to you) sick squid trundles about in the water here.
 
Your five companions follow you.
 
>n
 
High Plain
Things have opened up a bit now, with the naff haze lifted. You feel less policed, too, and you found a path EAST.
 
You got rid of the gross tar blocking your way NORTH.
 
The shore trail you discovered leads SOUTH.
 
A keep, iller, rises to the WEST, and you figured how to enter it.
 
There's also a way DOWN that opened up once you found passages in all cardinal directions.
 
Your five companions follow you.
 
>down
 
Worm-Eaten
This place seems very run-down. But it feels homey and inspires camaraderie in an odd way.
 
Your five companions follow you.
 
>were meetin
You sense you don't have the gang together! You may still be a way away.
 
Hmph. That still doesn't quite work! You'll figure out the how and when and where, though.
 
>think
You try and think of stuff you tried, but the time wasn't quite right.
 
You may be able to find a LOW DOOR in Wolf Rock once you have a companion or companions small enough to dig a bit better.
You may be able to participate in a BAY SALE if you've found the right location and now you have money.
You may be able to find a MANNA CURB beneath the manna curb in Keep (Iller) once you have someone with knowledge of wildlife and wildflowers.
You will be able to say WERE MEETIN once you have a full party available.
 
>bay sale
No water here. Maybe somewhere else.
 
Hmph. That still doesn't quite work! You'll figure out the how and when and where, though.
 
>u
 
High Plain
Things have opened up a bit now, with the naff haze lifted. You feel less policed, too, and you found a path EAST.
 
You got rid of the gross tar blocking your way NORTH.
 
The shore trail you discovered leads SOUTH.
 
A keep, iller, rises to the WEST, and you figured how to enter it.
 
There's also a way DOWN that opened up once you found passages in all cardinal directions.
 
Your five companions follow you.
 
>bay sale
No water here. Maybe somewhere else.
 
Hmph. That still doesn't quite work! You'll figure out the how and when and where, though.
 
>w
 
Keep (Iller)
This keep has seen better days, but there seems to be a lot in its ruins. You can go back EAST. You also sense something fearsome from a passage south.
 
A row (gold) shines in this otherwise forbidding keep.
 
There's a bunch of manic herb here. You don't know a lot about it, other than that some is really poisonous and some is okay. There's so much, perhaps it's hiding something. 
 
That seedy sign stands off to the side here. It's no longer scary, but you don't wish to bother with it, any more.
 
Your five companions follow you.
 
>bay sale
No water here. Maybe somewhere else.
 
Hmph. That still doesn't quite work! You'll figure out the how and when and where, though.
 
>e
 
High Plain
Things have opened up a bit now, with the naff haze lifted. You feel less policed, too, and you found a path EAST.
 
You got rid of the gross tar blocking your way NORTH.
 
The shore trail you discovered leads SOUTH.
 
A keep, iller, rises to the WEST, and you figured how to enter it.
 
There's also a way DOWN that opened up once you found passages in all cardinal directions.
 
Your five companions follow you.
 
>n
 
Wolf Rock
A big rock in the shape of a wolf looms impressively, blocking all passages except back SOUTH. You can also go DOWN into the hideout you found.
 
There's a huge pile of lode ore here, too, and perhaps there's something in it.
 
Your five companions follow you.
 
>bay sale
No water here. Maybe somewhere else.
 
Hmph. That still doesn't quite work! You'll figure out the how and when and where, though.
 
>s
 
High Plain
Things have opened up a bit now, with the naff haze lifted. You feel less policed, too, and you found a path EAST.
 
You got rid of the gross tar blocking your way NORTH.
 
The shore trail you discovered leads SOUTH.
 
A keep, iller, rises to the WEST, and you figured how to enter it.
 
There's also a way DOWN that opened up once you found passages in all cardinal directions.
 
Your five companions follow you.
 
>s
 
Known Ocean
It looks like there is an ocean, or some large body of water, and maybe some islands in the distance. They are too far to swim to. You can go back north to where you started.
 
A formerly (thanks to you) sick squid trundles about in the water here.
 
Your five companions follow you.
 
>bay sale
There's water here, but it's much more than a bay.
 
Hmph. That still doesn't quite work! You'll figure out the how and when and where, though.
 
>bay sail
There's water here, but it's much more than a bay.
 
Hmph. That still doesn't quite work! You'll figure out the how and when and where, though.
 
>sail bay
There's water here, but it's much more than a bay.
 
Hmph. That still doesn't quite work! You'll figure out the how and when and where, though.
 
>i
There's that occasional voice ringing in your head asking "Why pout?" But besides that ...
 
You are carrying:
  some Base Ale
  a knife (right)
  a plan tracker (empty of ideas)
  a war pawn
 
You still have three quid left from helping the sick squid.
 
You have a name, too, now, you remember: Mike Orr.
 
>weapon
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>warp on
The war pawn seems to warm up very briefly. Perhaps there's a bit left to do here, but that may be a way down the road.
 
>look
Known Ocean
It looks like there is an ocean, or some large body of water, and maybe some islands in the distance. They are too far to swim to. You can go back north to where you started.
 
A formerly (thanks to you) sick squid trundles about in the water here.
 
The gaunt raider, the crude orc, the new troll, the rogue (old) and the gnome (old) wait here for what to do or where to go next.
 
>eye lands
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>eye lands
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>sum eye lands
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>n
 
High Plain
Things have opened up a bit now, with the naff haze lifted. You feel less policed, too, and you found a path EAST.
 
You got rid of the gross tar blocking your way NORTH.
 
The shore trail you discovered leads SOUTH.
 
A keep, iller, rises to the WEST, and you figured how to enter it.
 
There's also a way DOWN that opened up once you found passages in all cardinal directions.
 
Your five companions follow you.
 
>w
 
Keep (Iller)
This keep has seen better days, but there seems to be a lot in its ruins. You can go back EAST. You also sense something fearsome from a passage south.
 
A row (gold) shines in this otherwise forbidding keep.
 
There's a bunch of manic herb here. You don't know a lot about it, other than that some is really poisonous and some is okay. There's so much, perhaps it's hiding something. 
 
That seedy sign stands off to the side here. It's no longer scary, but you don't wish to bother with it, any more.
 
Your five companions follow you.
 
>s
You don't need or want to go back there.
 
>w
Apart from finding a way beyond the seedy sign, which you don't need to again, the keep doesn't have many twisty passages. Well, any.
 
>e
 
High Plain
Things have opened up a bit now, with the naff haze lifted. You feel less policed, too, and you found a path EAST.
 
You got rid of the gross tar blocking your way NORTH.
 
The shore trail you discovered leads SOUTH.
 
A keep, iller, rises to the WEST, and you figured how to enter it.
 
There's also a way DOWN that opened up once you found passages in all cardinal directions.
 
Your five companions follow you.
 
>n
 
Wolf Rock
A big rock in the shape of a wolf looms impressively, blocking all passages except back SOUTH. You can also go DOWN into the hideout you found.
 
There's a huge pile of lode ore here, too, and perhaps there's something in it.
 
Your five companions follow you.
 
>low door
Maybe there's a low door beneath the lode ore, which definitely has small holes. But not small enough for you to fit through and scrabble and scrape to find one, and nobody around is quite small enough to help you. Well, yet.
 
Hmph. That still doesn't quite work! You'll figure out the how and when and where, though.
 
>elliot
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>elliot
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>in
Wolf Rock blocks every planar passage except back SOUTH. There's a hideout above as well.
 
>down
 
Hideout
You can only go back UP. It wouldn't be a very good hideout if you had too many places to sneak around.
 
Your five companions follow you.
 
>up
 
Wolf Rock
A big rock in the shape of a wolf looms impressively, blocking all passages except back SOUTH. You can also go DOWN into the hideout you found.
 
There's a huge pile of lode ore here, too, and perhaps there's something in it.
 
Your five companions follow you.
 
>s
 
High Plain
Things have opened up a bit now, with the naff haze lifted. You feel less policed, too, and you found a path EAST.
 
You got rid of the gross tar blocking your way NORTH.
 
The shore trail you discovered leads SOUTH.
 
A keep, iller, rises to the WEST, and you figured how to enter it.
 
There's also a way DOWN that opened up once you found passages in all cardinal directions.
 
Your five companions follow you.
 
>s
 
Known Ocean
It looks like there is an ocean, or some large body of water, and maybe some islands in the distance. They are too far to swim to. You can go back north to where you started.
 
A formerly (thanks to you) sick squid trundles about in the water here.
 
Your five companions follow you.
 
>talk to companion
Nothing here like that.
 
>x companions
Nothing here like that.
 
>x companion
Nothing here like that.
 
>x islands
Nothing here like that.
 
>x water
Nothing here like that.
 
>n
 
High Plain
Things have opened up a bit now, with the naff haze lifted. You feel less policed, too, and you found a path EAST.
 
You got rid of the gross tar blocking your way NORTH.
 
The shore trail you discovered leads SOUTH.
 
A keep, iller, rises to the WEST, and you figured how to enter it.
 
There's also a way DOWN that opened up once you found passages in all cardinal directions.
 
Your five companions follow you.
 
>down
 
Worm-Eaten
This place seems very run-down. But it feels homey and inspires camaraderie in an odd way.
 
Your five companions follow you.
 
>runned own
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>i
There's that occasional voice ringing in your head asking "Why pout?" But besides that ...
 
You are carrying:
  some Base Ale
  a knife (right)
  a plan tracker (empty of ideas)
  a war pawn
 
You still have three quid left from helping the sick squid.
 
You have a name, too, now, you remember: Mike Orr.
 
>my core
You always want to strengthen your own core, but you have a feeling you're looking too inward, here. Though you must be close.
 
>x war pawn
It's a grey chess pawn with a frown and mean glare carved in the rounded top. If it had fists, you are pretty sure they'd be doubled up in a fighting posture, but it doesn't even have arms.
 
Looking at it from many different angles gets you all sorts of weird ideas. Perhaps it could help you when you run out of them on your quest. You may wish to wait until you really need to use it, though of course, you don't want to wait too late.
 
If you want to resist the temptation of this cheat item, DROP it. There is no penalty for using it.
 
>x some base ale
Uck. It's a nasty color, really. But perhaps it will be useful.
 
>think
You try and think of stuff you tried, but the time wasn't quite right.
 
You may be able to find a LOW DOOR in Wolf Rock once you have a companion or companions small enough to dig a bit better.
You may be able to participate in a BAY SALE if you've found the right location and now you have money.
You may be able to find a MANNA CURB beneath the manna curb in Keep (Iller) once you have someone with knowledge of wildlife and wildflowers.
You will be able to say WERE MEETIN once you have a full party available.
 
>up
 
High Plain
Things have opened up a bit now, with the naff haze lifted. You feel less policed, too, and you found a path EAST.
 
You got rid of the gross tar blocking your way NORTH.
 
The shore trail you discovered leads SOUTH.
 
A keep, iller, rises to the WEST, and you figured how to enter it.
 
There's also a way DOWN that opened up once you found passages in all cardinal directions.
 
Your five companions follow you.
 
>n
 
Wolf Rock
A big rock in the shape of a wolf looms impressively, blocking all passages except back SOUTH. You can also go DOWN into the hideout you found.
 
There's a huge pile of lode ore here, too, and perhaps there's something in it.
 
Your five companions follow you.
 
>low door
Maybe there's a low door beneath the lode ore, which definitely has small holes. But not small enough for you to fit through and scrabble and scrape to find one, and nobody around is quite small enough to help you. Well, yet.
 
Hmph. That still doesn't quite work! You'll figure out the how and when and where, though.
 
>some owls
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>s
 
High Plain
Things have opened up a bit now, with the naff haze lifted. You feel less policed, too, and you found a path EAST.
 
You got rid of the gross tar blocking your way NORTH.
 
The shore trail you discovered leads SOUTH.
 
A keep, iller, rises to the WEST, and you figured how to enter it.
 
There's also a way DOWN that opened up once you found passages in all cardinal directions.
 
Your five companions follow you.
 
>low door
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>w
 
Keep (Iller)
This keep has seen better days, but there seems to be a lot in its ruins. You can go back EAST. You also sense something fearsome from a passage south.
 
A row (gold) shines in this otherwise forbidding keep.
 
There's a bunch of manic herb here. You don't know a lot about it, other than that some is really poisonous and some is okay. There's so much, perhaps it's hiding something. 
 
That seedy sign stands off to the side here. It's no longer scary, but you don't wish to bother with it, any more.
 
Your five companions follow you.
 
>low door
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>rogue old
But you already got the rogue (old) to join you!
 
>manna curb
Perhaps there is a lot of good stuff beneath the manic herb, but you don't have the specialized knowledge to figure it out.
 
Hmph. That still doesn't quite work! You'll figure out the how and when and where, though.
 
>e
 
High Plain
Things have opened up a bit now, with the naff haze lifted. You feel less policed, too, and you found a path EAST.
 
You got rid of the gross tar blocking your way NORTH.
 
The shore trail you discovered leads SOUTH.
 
A keep, iller, rises to the WEST, and you figured how to enter it.
 
There's also a way DOWN that opened up once you found passages in all cardinal directions.
 
Your five companions follow you.
 
>s
 
Known Ocean
It looks like there is an ocean, or some large body of water, and maybe some islands in the distance. They are too far to swim to. You can go back north to where you started.
 
A formerly (thanks to you) sick squid trundles about in the water here.
 
Your five companions follow you.
 
>x squid
It looks back at you. Squids don't smile, but if it could, it would. Perhaps, if you know of an island nearby in the ocean, it will take you there.
 
>ride squid
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>smile ands
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>smile hands
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>sumai lands
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>down mile
You may have used a word or two too many or made a typo in the final word.
 
>down miles
You may have used a word or two too many or made a typo in the final word.
 
>some miles
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>some mile
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>mile
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>s
You can only go back NORTH or, if you know where you want to go, give the squid instructions where to go.
 
>some highlands
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>look
Known Ocean
It looks like there is an ocean, or some large body of water, and maybe some islands in the distance. They are too far to swim to. You can go back north to where you started.
 
A formerly (thanks to you) sick squid trundles about in the water here.
 
The gaunt raider, the crude orc, the new troll, the rogue (old) and the gnome (old) wait here for what to do or where to go next.
 
>somai lens
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>lens
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>silence
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>eyelids
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>some islands
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>tooth are
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>smiling
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>smile in
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>some violence
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>lins
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>archipelago
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>look
Known Ocean
It looks like there is an ocean, or some large body of water, and maybe some islands in the distance. They are too far to swim to. You can go back north to where you started.
 
A formerly (thanks to you) sick squid trundles about in the water here.
 
The gaunt raider, the crude orc, the new troll, the rogue (old) and the gnome (old) wait here for what to do or where to go next.
 
>eye lids
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>ask gaunt raider about some islands
You may have used a word or two too many or made a typo in the final word.
 
>ask crude orc about island
You may have used a word or two too many or made a typo in the final word.
 
>talk to gaunt raider
You chat with the gaunt raider a bit, recapping more about the history of the area you're exploring and why you're here. It fills in some blanks in your memory.
 
The gaunt raider discusses regret for their past actions, as well as some possibilities for how to use it to boost yourself to do the right thing, or when to just drop it without being drowned by guilt.
 
That was a nice refresher, though new troll seems to want to cut in a bit for their turn some time.
 
[NOTE: if you want to see whom you haven't talked to yet, T by itself will do the trick. If there's only one companion you haven't talked to, you will talk to them]
 
>talk to troll
You chat with the new troll a bit, learning more about the history of the area you're exploring and why you're here. It fills in some blanks in your memory.
 
The new troll relates ways to shake oneself free from despair (no! Really! It managed to for a while!) before relating more ways to avoid it in the first place, or help others you care about do the same.
 
Well, that's more useful information worth remembering.
 
>t
That's ambiguous--more than one friend you can chat with.
 
>talk to crude orc
You chat with the crude orc a bit, learning more about the history of the area you're exploring and why you're here. It fills in some blanks in your memory.
 
The crude orc doesn't have any strategy, per se. It's still young and naive. But it asks the sort of questions you forgot you had. Perhaps others youths have these questions, too, or they would, with -- well, whatever force that kidnapped you -- not pressing on them so much. And while impressing kids with mean swears isn't overarching evil, it's a gateway to nastier things. Kids like the orc are worth helping.
 
Well, that's more useful information worth remembering.
 
>talk to gnome old
You chat with the gnome (old) a bit, recapping more about the history of the area you're exploring and why you're here. It fills in some blanks in your memory.
 
The gnome (old) discusses ways of finding hidden psychic weaknesses in a very tough opponent. You also hear how whatever force there is, it only cares about things looking good on the outside. The gnome had so much mold to protect against and continually scrape away, even outside of the keep.
 
That was a nice refresher, though it didn't reveal anything new.
 
>i
There's that occasional voice ringing in your head asking "Why pout?" But besides that ...
 
You are carrying:
  some Base Ale
  a knife (right)
  a plan tracker (empty of ideas)
  a war pawn
 
You still have three quid left from helping the sick squid.
 
You have a name, too, now, you remember: Mike Orr.
 
>use war pawn
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>warp on
The war pawn seems to warm up very briefly. Perhaps there's a bit left to do here, but that may be a way down the road.
 
>x warp on
Nothing here like that.
 
>help
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>sun lands
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>look
Known Ocean
It looks like there is an ocean, or some large body of water, and maybe some islands in the distance. They are too far to swim to. You can go back north to where you started.
 
A formerly (thanks to you) sick squid trundles about in the water here.
 
The gaunt raider, the crude orc, the new troll, the rogue (old) and the gnome (old) wait here for what to do or where to go next.
 
>x squid
It looks back at you. Squids don't smile, but if it could, it would. Perhaps, if you know of an island nearby in the ocean, it will take you there.
 
>talk to squid
It seems to be choking a bit.
 
>think
You try and think of stuff you tried, but the time wasn't quite right.
 
You may be able to find a LOW DOOR in Wolf Rock once you have a companion or companions small enough to dig a bit better.
You may be able to participate in a BAY SALE if you've found the right location and now you have money.
You may be able to find a MANNA CURB beneath the manna curb in Keep (Iller) once you have someone with knowledge of wildlife and wildflowers.
You will be able to say WERE MEETIN once you have a full party available.
 
>manna curb
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>n
 
High Plain
Things have opened up a bit now, with the naff haze lifted. You feel less policed, too, and you found a path EAST.
 
You got rid of the gross tar blocking your way NORTH.
 
The shore trail you discovered leads SOUTH.
 
A keep, iller, rises to the WEST, and you figured how to enter it.
 
There's also a way DOWN that opened up once you found passages in all cardinal directions.
 
Your five companions follow you.
 
>e
 
Lobe End
This lobe of land appears to end in all directions except back west. Maybe you could look for something that might be a hill, even a steep one.
 
Your five companions follow you.
 
>low bend
You almost despair for a minute that you reached a dead end so soon. You page through all the possible ways out, proving to yourself you're right, hoping against hope you're wrong.
 
And looking around, you see you are! There is a bit more to all this. A very thin and reasonably sloped path north leads down to some water. Which you can't cross at the moment, but maybe you'll figure a way.
 
Low Bend
 
[Your score just went up by a point!]
 
>bay sale
You have money, and you are ready for a sale, and you get it. Unfortunately, though you were expecting a nice big ship, you get something a little humbler, namely a We-Craft Weak Raft. It seems sturdy enough, though, and it does have a sail.
 
You christen it with the base ale, and the bottle fragments shatter and float away in the water.
 
This transaction reduces your wealth from three quid to one quid.
 
[Your score just went up by a point!]
 
>look
Low Bend
The low bend (former lobe end) now bends from west to north, where you see water, too much to cross on foot.
 
The We-Craft Weak Raft from the bay sale floats here, ready to take you north across the water and back, as many times as needed.
 
The gaunt raider, the crude orc, the new troll, the rogue (old) and the gnome (old) wait here for what to do or where to go next.
 
>n
You and your five companions make it across the water without incident.
 
Storm Isle
On this storm isle, it's always rainy. It'd be nice to have some shelter inside.
 
The We-Craft Weak Raft from the bay sale floats here, ready to take you south across the water and back, as many times as needed.
 
Your five companions follow you.
 
>store mile
The storms let up. It's not such a big isle after all, but it does turn out to hold a whole lot of stores and vending areas. In particular, a stall labeled MY STALL, and a shelf labeled MEN SHELF.
 
Store Mile
 
[Your score just went up by a point!]
 
>mice tall
You look into the stall and shrug your shoulders. Then the gnome (old) steps in and notes they hear something. Chittering noises! The gnome chitters back.
 
It takes a lot of negotiating, but you find where the mice are stuck. You and the gnome thud through and out come some mice, tall. They're tall for mice, though they really only come up above your knee.
 
[Your score just went up by a point!]
 
>mensch elf
You knock about the MEN shelf a bit, unable to find anything. It's really a collection of shelves that you disassemble and reassemble. Eventually, you're about to give up, and it all collapses, taking a chunk of wall with it. Our pops a mensch elf, quite grateful you helped them escape.
 
[Your score just went up by a point!]
 
>look
Store Mile
Well, you're in a sort of shopping mall now. You can see a passage leading north.
 
The We-Craft Weak Raft from the bay sale floats here, ready to take you south across the water and back, as many times as needed.
 
The mensch elf, the mice (tall), the gaunt raider, the crude orc, the new troll, the rogue (old) and the gnome (old) wait here for what to do or where to go next.
 
>w
You can only go back south to Lobe End or north to the rest of the mall.
 
>n
 
Trees Mall
This is a withered, run-down former mall that had the ceiling blow off. It's walled with pictures of large, but fake, trees. You can only go back SOUTH.
 
Your seven companions follow you.
 
>tree small
Amidst all the fake trees, an actual organic small tree grows. You're a bit disappointed, but you realize you maybe shouldn't have expected much with so little letter-shuffling. Maybe if you want a bigger tree, you'll need to do something else.
 
[Your score just went up by a point!]
 
>bigotry
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>look
Trees Mall
This is a withered, run-down former mall that had the ceiling blow off. It's walled with pictures of large, but fake, trees. You can only go back SOUTH.
 
A tree (small) grows here, or tries to, at least. It deserves to be bigger.
 
The gaunt raider, the crude orc, the mensch elf, the mice (tall), the new troll, the rogue (old) and the gnome (old) wait here for what to do or where to go next.
 
>think
You try and think of stuff you tried, but the time wasn't quite right.
 
You may be able to find a LOW DOOR in Wolf Rock now you have a companion or companions small enough to dig a bit better.
You may be able to find a MANNA CURB beneath the manna curb in Keep (Iller) now you have someone with knowledge of wildlife and wildflowers.
You will be able to say WERE MEETIN once you have a full party available.
 
>s
 
Store Mile
Well, you're in a sort of shopping mall now. You can see a passage leading north.
 
The We-Craft Weak Raft from the bay sale floats here, ready to take you south across the water and back, as many times as needed.
 
Your seven companions follow you.
 
>s
You and your seven companions make it across the water without incident.
 
Low Bend
The low bend (former lobe end) now bends from west to north, where you see water, too much to cross on foot.
 
The We-Craft Weak Raft from the bay sale floats here, ready to take you north across the water and back, as many times as needed.
 
Your seven companions follow you.
 
>w
 
High Plain
Things have opened up a bit now, with the naff haze lifted. You feel less policed, too, and you found a path EAST.
 
You got rid of the gross tar blocking your way NORTH.
 
The shore trail you discovered leads SOUTH.
 
A keep, iller, rises to the WEST, and you figured how to enter it.
 
There's also a way DOWN that opened up once you found passages in all cardinal directions.
 
Your seven companions follow you.
 
>n
 
Wolf Rock
A big rock in the shape of a wolf looms impressively, blocking all passages except back SOUTH. You can also go DOWN into the hideout you found.
 
There's a huge pile of lode ore here, too, and perhaps there's something in it.
 
Your seven companions follow you.
 
>low door
The lode and the ore are tough to shift around for someone as big as yourself. But the tall mice manage to get into those small niches you can't. They locate a low door, then, point to where you can remove the ore to create a passage. You'll have to duck a bit to get in, but you can now go INSIDE. Hooray!
 
[Your score just went up by a point!]
 
>in
 
We Loan
This area feels replete with the sort of double-talk all salesmen use. You can almost hear all the dropped and excess apostrophes. It will be tough to hang with all the way through, but if you do, maybe you'll get something out of it.
You can only go back OUT here.
 
You don't really trust the whole "financial services" vibe here. Maybe there's a double meaning to deduce.
 
Your seven companions follow you.
 
>wheel own
This is a seedy financial services provider, not a seedy used car dealer. Still, you must be on the right track.
 
>we'll own
Yes. There's a definite shady side. You mumble to yourself, and then your mumbles get louder, and it attracts ... some merchant. They begin babbling about deals they have, fake-friendly, about how you can buy low.
 
We'll Own
 
[Your score just went up by a point!]
 
>look
We'll Own
This area feels replete with the sort of double-talk all salesmen use. You can almost hear all the dropped and excess apostrophes. It will be tough to hang with all the way through, but if you do, maybe you'll get something out of it.
You can only go back OUT here.
 
Some merchant babbles on, all up in your personal space, suggesting you buy low.
 
The gaunt raider, the crude orc, the mensch elf, the mice (tall), the new troll, the rogue (old) and the gnome (old) wait here for what to do or where to go next.
 
>bile owe
Neither you nor the merchant owe each other anything, for better or for worse. You're close. Perhaps you should just see things as they are and emote slightly.
 
>by blow
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>bile oh
You need to find something positive to say, first. It doesn't have to be particularly rigorous, but it needs to be positive.
 
(useful command again saved to THINK for later reference.)
 
>think
You try and think of stuff you tried, but the time wasn't quite right.
 
You may be able to expose some merchant's BILE OH once you've found something positive to say to prep yourself.
You may be able to find a MANNA CURB beneath the manna curb in Keep (Iller) now you have someone with knowledge of wildlife and wildflowers.
You will be able to say WERE MEETIN once you have a full party available.
 
>look
We'll Own
This area feels replete with the sort of double-talk all salesmen use. You can almost hear all the dropped and excess apostrophes. It will be tough to hang with all the way through, but if you do, maybe you'll get something out of it.
You can only go back OUT here.
 
Some merchant babbles on, all up in your personal space, suggesting you buy low.
 
The gaunt raider, the crude orc, the mensch elf, the mice (tall), the new troll, the rogue (old) and the gnome (old) wait here for what to do or where to go next.
 
>summer chant
You think up a summer chant you mumble under your breath. The merchant finds it a bit weird you like THAT as a way to keep positive. It doesn't seem like that sort of thing helps the economy. Their cheeriness slips slightly, with impressively-balanced potshots at people more and less successful than they are.
 
[Your score just went up by a point!]
 
>bile oh
The mere suggestion that the merchant's aggression may be annoying seems to set them off. No, no, it's people like YOU who are the problem. Without dynamic positivity like theirs, you're totally screwed! You're just jealous you don't have it! Just like other lesser people when the merchant walks in to the room! On some level, they KNOW!
 
You freeze up, confused by all this, and the merchant takes this as a sign of arrogant disrespect. You are not the first person to reject their positivity! They run into clueless crumb-bums all day!
 
They storm off, presumably to find another crumb-bum to abuse for not having their brand of positivity.
 
Oh, hey, you can maybe enjoy some solitude now!
 
[Your score just went up by a point!]
 
>store moth
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>look
We'll Own
It's nice and silent here, and maybe there's a specific way to enjoy that.
You can only go back OUT here.
 
The gaunt raider, the crude orc, the mensch elf, the mice (tall), the new troll, the rogue (old) and the gnome (old) wait here for what to do or where to go next.
 
>think
You try and think of stuff you tried, but the time wasn't quite right.
 
You may be able to find a MANNA CURB beneath the manna curb in Keep (Iller) now you have someone with knowledge of wildlife and wildflowers.
You will be able to say WERE MEETIN once you have a full party available.
 
>s
You can only go back OUT here.
 
>out
 
Wolf Rock
A big rock in the shape of a wolf looms impressively, blocking all passages except back SOUTH. You can also go DOWN into the hideout you found.
 
There's a huge pile of lode ore here, too, and you found a low door in it that leads INSIDE.
 
Your seven companions follow you.
 
>s
 
High Plain
Things have opened up a bit now, with the naff haze lifted. You feel less policed, too, and you found a path EAST.
 
You got rid of the gross tar blocking your way NORTH.
 
The shore trail you discovered leads SOUTH.
 
A keep, iller, rises to the WEST, and you figured how to enter it.
 
There's also a way DOWN that opened up once you found passages in all cardinal directions.
 
Your seven companions follow you.
 
>w
 
Keep (Iller)
This keep has seen better days, but there seems to be a lot in its ruins. You can go back EAST. You also sense something fearsome from a passage south.
 
A row (gold) shines in this otherwise forbidding keep.
 
There's a bunch of manic herb here. You don't know a lot about it, other than that some is really poisonous and some is okay. There's so much, perhaps it's hiding something. 
 
That seedy sign stands off to the side here. It's no longer scary, but you don't wish to bother with it, any more.
 
Your seven companions follow you.
 
>manna curb
You suspect there is manna beneath the manic herb, but you have no clue how to find it. Thankfully, the mensch elf steps up. You wind up with a lot of manna, whatever that is!
 
[Your score just went up by a point!]
 
>look
Keep (Iller)
This keep has seen better days, but there seems to be a lot in its ruins. You can go back EAST. You also sense something fearsome from a passage south.
 
A row (gold) shines in this otherwise forbidding keep.
 
There's a bunch of manic herb here the mensch elf sifted through. 
 
That seedy sign stands off to the side here. It's no longer scary, but you don't wish to bother with it, any more.
 
The gaunt raider, the crude orc, the mensch elf, the mice (tall), the new troll, the rogue (old) and the gnome (old) wait here for what to do or where to go next.
 
>think
You try and think of stuff you tried, but the time wasn't quite right.
 
You will be able to say WERE MEETIN once you have a full party available.
 
>e
 
High Plain
Things have opened up a bit now, with the naff haze lifted. You feel less policed, too, and you found a path EAST.
 
You got rid of the gross tar blocking your way NORTH.
 
The shore trail you discovered leads SOUTH.
 
A keep, iller, rises to the WEST, and you figured how to enter it.
 
There's also a way DOWN that opened up once you found passages in all cardinal directions.
 
Your seven companions follow you.
 
>s
 
Known Ocean
It looks like there is an ocean, or some large body of water, and maybe some islands in the distance. They are too far to swim to. You can go back north to where you started.
 
A formerly (thanks to you) sick squid trundles about in the water here.
 
Your seven companions follow you.
 
>i
There's that occasional voice ringing in your head asking "Why pout?" But besides that ...
 
You are carrying:
  some manna
  a knife (right)
  a plan tracker (empty of ideas)
  a war pawn
 
You still have one quid left from helping the sick squid.
 
You have a name, too, now, you remember: Mike Orr.
 
>n
 
High Plain
Things have opened up a bit now, with the naff haze lifted. You feel less policed, too, and you found a path EAST.
 
You got rid of the gross tar blocking your way NORTH.
 
The shore trail you discovered leads SOUTH.
 
A keep, iller, rises to the WEST, and you figured how to enter it.
 
There's also a way DOWN that opened up once you found passages in all cardinal directions.
 
Your seven companions follow you.
 
>e
 
Low Bend
The low bend (former lobe end) now bends from west to north, where you see water, too much to cross on foot.
 
The We-Craft Weak Raft from the bay sale floats here, ready to take you north across the water and back, as many times as needed.
 
Your seven companions follow you.
 
>n
You and your seven companions make it across the water without incident.
 
Store Mile
Well, you're in a sort of shopping mall now. You can see a passage leading north.
 
The We-Craft Weak Raft from the bay sale floats here, ready to take you south across the water and back, as many times as needed.
 
Your seven companions follow you.
 
>n
 
Trees Mall
This is a withered, run-down former mall that had the ceiling blow off. It's walled with pictures of large, but fake, trees. You can only go back SOUTH.
 
A tree (small) grows here, or tries to, at least. It deserves to be bigger.
 
Your seven companions follow you.
 
>i
There's that occasional voice ringing in your head asking "Why pout?" But besides that ...
 
You are carrying:
  some manna
  a knife (right)
  a plan tracker (empty of ideas)
  a war pawn
 
You still have one quid left from helping the sick squid.
 
You have a name, too, now, you remember: Mike Orr.
 
>some manna
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>x tree
It's a nice tree, but it's a bit small.
 
>bits mall
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>look
Trees Mall
This is a withered, run-down former mall that had the ceiling blow off. It's walled with pictures of large, but fake, trees. You can only go back SOUTH.
 
A tree (small) grows here, or tries to, at least. It deserves to be bigger.
 
The gaunt raider, the crude orc, the mensch elf, the mice (tall), the new troll, the rogue (old) and the gnome (old) wait here for what to do or where to go next.
 
>give manna to tree
Hmm, no, you already did that, or something like that. You'll know if and when you need to flip between things.
 
>i
There's that occasional voice ringing in your head asking "Why pout?" But besides that ...
 
You are carrying:
  some manna
  a knife (right)
  a plan tracker (empty of ideas)
  a war pawn
 
You still have one quid left from helping the sick squid.
 
You have a name, too, now, you remember: Mike Orr.
 
>my core
You always want to strengthen your own core, but you have a feeling you're looking too inward, here. Though you must be close.
 
>trees maul
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>tree mau
Hmm, no, you already did that, or something like that. You'll know if and when you need to flip between things.
 
>tree maul
Hmm, no, you already did that, or something like that. You'll know if and when you need to flip between things.
 
>think
You try and think of stuff you tried, but the time wasn't quite right.
 
You will be able to say WERE MEETIN once you have a full party available.
 
>s
 
Store Mile
Well, you're in a sort of shopping mall now. You can see a passage leading north.
 
The We-Craft Weak Raft from the bay sale floats here, ready to take you south across the water and back, as many times as needed.
 
Your seven companions follow you.
 
>s
You and your seven companions make it across the water without incident.
 
Low Bend
The low bend (former lobe end) now bends from west to north, where you see water, too much to cross on foot.
 
The We-Craft Weak Raft from the bay sale floats here, ready to take you north across the water and back, as many times as needed.
 
Your seven companions follow you.
 
>w
 
High Plain
Things have opened up a bit now, with the naff haze lifted. You feel less policed, too, and you found a path EAST.
 
You got rid of the gross tar blocking your way NORTH.
 
The shore trail you discovered leads SOUTH.
 
A keep, iller, rises to the WEST, and you figured how to enter it.
 
There's also a way DOWN that opened up once you found passages in all cardinal directions.
 
Your seven companions follow you.
 
>w
 
Keep (Iller)
This keep has seen better days, but there seems to be a lot in its ruins. You can go back EAST. You also sense something fearsome from a passage south.
 
A row (gold) shines in this otherwise forbidding keep.
 
There's a bunch of manic herb here the mensch elf sifted through. 
 
That seedy sign stands off to the side here. It's no longer scary, but you don't wish to bother with it, any more.
 
Your seven companions follow you.
 
>e
 
High Plain
Things have opened up a bit now, with the naff haze lifted. You feel less policed, too, and you found a path EAST.
 
You got rid of the gross tar blocking your way NORTH.
 
The shore trail you discovered leads SOUTH.
 
A keep, iller, rises to the WEST, and you figured how to enter it.
 
There's also a way DOWN that opened up once you found passages in all cardinal directions.
 
Your seven companions follow you.
 
>n
 
Wolf Rock
A big rock in the shape of a wolf looms impressively, blocking all passages except back SOUTH. You can also go DOWN into the hideout you found.
 
There's a huge pile of lode ore here, too, and you found a low door in it that leads INSIDE.
 
Your seven companions follow you.
 
>in
 
We'll Own
It's nice and silent here, and maybe there's a specific way to enjoy that.
You can only go back OUT here.
 
Your seven companions follow you.
 
>listen
Nothing that could help you.
 
>talk to mice
You chat with the mice (tall) a bit, learning more about the history of the area you're exploring and why you're here. It fills in some blanks in your memory.
 
You're surprised how easy it is to understand them and how easily they understand you. They discuss how much bigger opponents can be brought down by, not just arrogance facing many small opponents, but by dexterity and quick maneuvers. Oh, also a lot about the evil in the land killing or corrupting or mutating animals. So presumably finding or destroying it will put a stop to the very worst bits.
 
Well, that's more useful information worth remembering.
 
>talk to elf
You chat with the mensch elf a bit, learning more about the history of the area you're exploring and why you're here. It fills in some blanks in your memory.
 
The mensch elf discusses ways to identify people or situations that just need a bit of help, and how to do so without making them feel hopeless or in need of help, or that they got themselves in this position in the first place.
 
Well, that's more useful information worth remembering.
 
>look
We'll Own
It's nice and silent here, and maybe there's a specific way to enjoy that.
You can only go back OUT here.
 
The gaunt raider, the crude orc, the mensch elf, the mice (tall), the new troll, the rogue (old) and the gnome (old) wait here for what to do or where to go next.
 
>warp on
After some thought, the war pawn vibrates and explodes! You suddenly have insight into a good way forward: WHEE LONE...
 
You enjoy your solitude, but ... wait. You lose track of time, and an oaf liar slips in just to babble at you.
 
Whee, Lone?
 
[Your score just went up by a point!]
 
>undo
We'll Own
[Previous turn undone.]
 
>whee lone
You enjoy your solitude, but ... wait. You lose track of time, and an oaf liar slips in just to babble at you.
 
Whee, Lone?
 
[Your score just went up by a point!]
 
>look
Whee, Lone?
You can only go back OUT here.
 
An oaf liar blathers away here, with stuff that's likely, but not provably false. They seem quite proud of their salesmanship skill, which is more persistence than anything else.
 
The gaunt raider, the crude orc, the mensch elf, the mice (tall), the new troll, the rogue (old) and the gnome (old) wait here for what to do or where to go next.
 
>oh flier
You act distracted just right. The oaf liar tries to get your attention. Just ignoring them wouldn't work, but paying attention to a flier ... well, they take the hint that you aren't a high-rolling customer. They try to wheedle more money out of you, but of course, that's all you have. So you trade your final quid for the flier. The oaf liar thanks you for not totally wasting their time. They seem to snicker as they depart.
 
This transaction reduces your wealth from one quid to zero quid.
 
Well, easy come, easy go. You're pretty sure you've visited everywhere and found everyone who might need money.
 
Whee! 'Lone!
 
[Your score just went up by a point!]
 
>out
 
Wolf Rock
A big rock in the shape of a wolf looms impressively, blocking all passages except back SOUTH. You can also go DOWN into the hideout you found.
 
There's a huge pile of lode ore here, too, and you found a low door in it that leads INSIDE.
 
Your seven companions follow you.
 
>s
 
High Plain
Things have opened up a bit now, with the naff haze lifted. You feel less policed, too, and you found a path EAST.
 
You got rid of the gross tar blocking your way NORTH.
 
The shore trail you discovered leads SOUTH.
 
A keep, iller, rises to the WEST, and you figured how to enter it.
 
There's also a way DOWN that opened up once you found passages in all cardinal directions.
 
Your seven companions follow you.
 
>e
 
Low Bend
The low bend (former lobe end) now bends from west to north, where you see water, too much to cross on foot.
 
The We-Craft Weak Raft from the bay sale floats here, ready to take you north across the water and back, as many times as needed.
 
Your seven companions follow you.
 
>n
You and your seven companions make it across the water without incident.
 
Store Mile
Well, you're in a sort of shopping mall now. You can see a passage leading north.
 
The We-Craft Weak Raft from the bay sale floats here, ready to take you south across the water and back, as many times as needed.
 
Your seven companions follow you.
 
>n
 
Trees Mall
This is a withered, run-down former mall that had the ceiling blow off. It's walled with pictures of large, but fake, trees. You can only go back SOUTH.
 
A tree (small) grows here, or tries to, at least. It deserves to be bigger.
 
Your seven companions follow you.
 
>treats'm all
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>treason all
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>try stew
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>raise mall
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>tree small
You already got a tree (small) to grow!
 
>x tree
It's a nice tree, but it's a bit small.
 
>nicety
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>bits mall
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>look
Trees Mall
This is a withered, run-down former mall that had the ceiling blow off. It's walled with pictures of large, but fake, trees. You can only go back SOUTH.
 
A tree (small) grows here, or tries to, at least. It deserves to be bigger.
 
The gaunt raider, the crude orc, the mensch elf, the mice (tall), the new troll, the rogue (old) and the gnome (old) wait here for what to do or where to go next.
 
>grow shear
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>rose here
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>rose shear
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>gross shear
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>grow sheer
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>grow shire
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>grows ear
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>grow sear
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>grow seer
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>grow steer
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>grow tear
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>grow sears
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>grow zahir
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>i
There's that occasional voice ringing in your head asking "Why pout?" But besides that ...
 
You are carrying:
  a flier
  some manna
  a knife (right)
  a plan tracker (empty of ideas)
  a war pawn
 
You have a name, too, now, you remember: Mike Orr.
 
>x flier
The flier advertises places to go: a wharf isle, a thief isle, and a grove isle, each of which may hold odd treasures. It contains pretty clear directions, too. The only thing it lacks is where the directions start from.
 
You haven't found a way to get to any of the islands yet.
 
>s
 
Store Mile
Well, you're in a sort of shopping mall now. You can see a passage leading north.
 
The We-Craft Weak Raft from the bay sale floats here, ready to take you south across the water and back, as many times as needed.
 
Your seven companions follow you.
 
>s
You and your seven companions make it across the water without incident.
 
Low Bend
The low bend (former lobe end) now bends from west to north, where you see water, too much to cross on foot.
 
The We-Craft Weak Raft from the bay sale floats here, ready to take you north across the water and back, as many times as needed.
 
Your seven companions follow you.
 
>w
 
High Plain
Things have opened up a bit now, with the naff haze lifted. You feel less policed, too, and you found a path EAST.
 
You got rid of the gross tar blocking your way NORTH.
 
The shore trail you discovered leads SOUTH.
 
A keep, iller, rises to the WEST, and you figured how to enter it.
 
There's also a way DOWN that opened up once you found passages in all cardinal directions.
 
Your seven companions follow you.
 
>s
 
Known Ocean
It looks like there is an ocean, or some large body of water, and maybe some islands in the distance. They are too far to swim to. You can go back north to where you started.
 
A formerly (thanks to you) sick squid trundles about in the water here.
 
Your seven companions follow you.
 
>grove isle
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>i
There's that occasional voice ringing in your head asking "Why pout?" But besides that ...
 
You are carrying:
  a flier
  some manna
  a knife (right)
  a plan tracker (empty of ideas)
  a war pawn
 
You have a name, too, now, you remember: Mike Orr.
 
>x flier
The flier advertises places to go: a wharf isle, a thief isle, and a grove isle, each of which may hold odd treasures. It contains pretty clear directions, too. The only thing it lacks is where the directions start from.
 
You haven't found a way to get to any of the islands yet.
 
>grow vile
Hmm. That really, really SOUNDED like it should work, but it didn't.
 
>grow vial
In the grove isle, you find a grow vial, which you take. It's relaxing, but you can't afford to loiter too long.
 
[Your score just went up by a point!]
 
>war file
The squid gives you and only you a ride a few miles across the ocean. You realize you could reach the wharf isle for a war file. When you get there, you're a bit disappointed by what you see. There's a bit too much emphasis on magic and the implements thereof, all of which are at a much too hefty price for you. So equipment is out. Still, there's some ideas worth tracking. Yet you can't be the only person disappointed here...
 
Wand Wharf
You rode the squid here, and there are all sorts of magical symbols here. It's a bit intimidating for someone like you who is clueless about magic. Maybe it's intimidating and depressing for someone else.
 
There was more than enough room on the squid for all your companions, too.
 
[Your score just went up by a point!]
 
>one dwarf
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>won dwarf
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>the vile
Hmm. That kind of partway SOUNDED like it should work, but it didn't.
 
>the vial
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>thee vial
Hmm. That kind of partway SOUNDED like it should work, but it didn't.
 
>thee vile
Hmm. That kind of partway SOUNDED like it should work, but it didn't.
 
>wan dwarf
You look around and uncover a wan dwarf who wasn't good enough to be a full fighter but rejected for magic training. You explain your situation. They're all in!
 
There's not much left to do here, so you ride the squid back.
 
Wow! You've got quite a group here. You can't imagine needing a bigger one.
 
Known Ocean
It looks like there is an ocean, or some large body of water, and maybe some islands in the distance. They are too far to swim to. You can go back north to where you started.
 
A formerly (thanks to you) sick squid trundles about in the water here.
 
[Your score just went up by a point!]
 
>i
There's that occasional voice ringing in your head asking "Why pout?" But besides that ...
 
You are carrying:
  a grow vial
  a flier
  some manna
  a knife (right)
  a plan tracker (full of ideas)
  a war pawn
 
You have a name, too, now, you remember: Mike Orr.
 
>x flier
The flier advertises places to go: a wharf isle, a thief isle, and a grove isle, each of which may hold odd treasures. It contains pretty clear directions, too. The only thing it lacks is where the directions start from. You now know to start here.
 
You still need to find Thief Isle.
 
>the vial
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>thee vial
Hmm. That kind of partway SOUNDED like it should work, but it didn't.
 
>thea vile
Hmm. That kind of partway SOUNDED like it should work, but it didn't.
 
>thea vial
Hmm, no, you already did that, or something like that. You'll know if and when you need to flip between things.
 
>tea vial
Hmm, no, you already did that, or something like that. You'll know if and when you need to flip between things.
 
>n
 
High Plain
Things have opened up a bit now, with the naff haze lifted. You feel less policed, too, and you found a path EAST.
 
You got rid of the gross tar blocking your way NORTH.
 
The shore trail you discovered leads SOUTH.
 
A keep, iller, rises to the WEST, and you figured how to enter it.
 
There's also a way DOWN that opened up once you found passages in all cardinal directions.
 
Your eight companions follow you.
 
>e
 
Low Bend
The low bend (former lobe end) now bends from west to north, where you see water, too much to cross on foot.
 
The We-Craft Weak Raft from the bay sale floats here, ready to take you north across the water and back, as many times as needed.
 
Your eight companions follow you.
 
>n
You and your eight companions make it across the water without incident.
 
Store Mile
Well, you're in a sort of shopping mall now. You can see a passage leading north.
 
The We-Craft Weak Raft from the bay sale floats here, ready to take you south across the water and back, as many times as needed.
 
Your eight companions follow you.
 
>n
 
Trees Mall
This is a withered, run-down former mall that had the ceiling blow off. It's walled with pictures of large, but fake, trees. You can only go back SOUTH.
 
A tree (small) grows here, or tries to, at least. It deserves to be bigger.
 
But wait! You can use the grow vial! It makes the tree (small) into a tree (tall)! Then it dissolves once empty.
 
Your eight companions follow you.
 
>grow vial
This isn't the right place to look for an isle. No large body of water nearby.
 
(useful command again saved to THINK for later reference.)
 
>think
You try and think of stuff you tried, but the time wasn't quite right.
 
Oops, I somehow forgot to reset think-cue entry for grow vial. This is a trivial bug--but please let me know!
You will be able to say WERE MEETIN once you have a full party available.
 
>look
Trees Mall
This is a withered, run-down former mall that had the ceiling blow off. It's walled with pictures of large, but fake, trees. You can only go back SOUTH.
 
A tree (tall) has grown here, thanks to you. It feels very welcoming.
 
The gaunt raider, the crude orc, the wan dwarf, the mensch elf, the mice (tall), the new troll, the rogue (old) and the gnome (old) wait here for what to do or where to go next.
 
>treat all
You don't have anything to treat your companions with!
 
(useful command again saved to THINK for later reference.)
 
>talk to wan dwarf
You chat with the wan dwarf a bit, learning more about the history of the area you're exploring and why you're here. It fills in some blanks in your memory.
 
The dwarf provides an impressively nuanced view on how to balance magic skill with physical skill and fighting savvy. But the dwarf also notes how to be a good expert in specific areas if need be, as well as how to get experts and generalists to work together. However, the dwarf also expresses worry that this talk is all great in theory but hard in practice.
 
Well, that's more useful information worth remembering.
 
That was a lot of talking. After all that time alone, you're not used to it. You develop a talk-ache.
 
>taw cake
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>tall cake
All this preparing food means you don't talk a bit, and as a bonus, your talk-ache is gone.
 
But now where to eat the cake?
 
[Your score just went up by a point!]
 
>treat all
Well, that felt good. You trade more ideas while chatting. You think you have about everything figured out, now.
 
[Your score just went up by a point!]
 
>think
You try and think of stuff you tried, but the time wasn't quite right.
 
Oops, I somehow forgot to reset think-cue entry for grow vial. This is a trivial bug--but please let me know!
You will be able to say WERE MEETIN once you have a full party available.
 
>s
 
Store Mile
Well, you're in a sort of shopping mall now. You can see a passage leading north.
 
The We-Craft Weak Raft from the bay sale floats here, ready to take you south across the water and back, as many times as needed.
 
Your eight companions follow you.
 
>s
You and your eight companions make it across the water without incident.
 
Low Bend
The low bend (former lobe end) now bends from west to north, where you see water, too much to cross on foot.
 
The We-Craft Weak Raft from the bay sale floats here, ready to take you north across the water and back, as many times as needed.
 
Your eight companions follow you.
 
>w
 
High Plain
Things have opened up a bit now, with the naff haze lifted. You feel less policed, too, and you found a path EAST.
 
You got rid of the gross tar blocking your way NORTH.
 
The shore trail you discovered leads SOUTH.
 
A keep, iller, rises to the WEST, and you figured how to enter it.
 
There's also a way DOWN that opened up once you found passages in all cardinal directions.
 
Your eight companions follow you.
 
>s
 
Known Ocean
It looks like there is an ocean, or some large body of water, and maybe some islands in the distance. They are too far to swim to. You can go back north to where you started.
 
A formerly (thanks to you) sick squid trundles about in the water here.
 
Your eight companions follow you.
 
>thee vial
Hmm. That kind of partway SOUNDED like it should work, but it didn't.
 
>thee vile
Hmm. That kind of partway SOUNDED like it should work, but it didn't.
 
>the vile
Hmm. That kind of partway SOUNDED like it should work, but it didn't.
 
>the vial
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>x flier
The flier advertises places to go: a wharf isle, a thief isle, and a grove isle, each of which may hold odd treasures. It contains pretty clear directions, too. The only thing it lacks is where the directions start from. You now know to start here.
 
You still need to find Thief Isle.
 
>n
 
High Plain
Things have opened up a bit now, with the naff haze lifted. You feel less policed, too, and you found a path EAST.
 
You got rid of the gross tar blocking your way NORTH.
 
The shore trail you discovered leads SOUTH.
 
A keep, iller, rises to the WEST, and you figured how to enter it.
 
There's also a way DOWN that opened up once you found passages in all cardinal directions.
 
Your eight companions follow you.
 
>down
 
Worm-Eaten
This place seems very run-down. But it feels homey and inspires camaraderie in an odd way.
 
Your eight companions follow you.
 
>were meetin
You meet with the friends you've made over your adventure. You all have one goal in mind. And yet you don't have a rallying cry. Perhaps it can come from within you.
 
We're Meetin'!
 
[Your score just went up by a point!]
 
>look
We're Meetin'!
Having had your meeting here, there's not much else to do.
 
The gaunt raider, the crude orc, the wan dwarf, the mensch elf, the mice (tall), the new troll, the rogue (old) and the gnome (old) wait here for what to do or where to go next.
You feel like your companions are just about ready to go. But you still need to say something, something that can only come uniquely inside of you, to establish what a great team you are.
 
>think
You try and think of stuff you tried, but the time wasn't quite right.
 
Oops, I somehow forgot to reset think-cue entry for grow vial. This is a trivial bug--but please let me know!
 
>my core
You always want to strengthen your own core, but you have a feeling you're looking too inward, here. Though you must be close.
 
>my cohort
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>mighty cohort
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>my cohort
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>mai cohort
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>my alskdjfalksd
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>my couer
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>my coeur
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>i
There's that occasional voice ringing in your head asking "Why pout?" But besides that ...
 
You are carrying:
  a flier
  a knife (right)
  a plan tracker (full of ideas)
  a war pawn
 
You have a name, too, now, you remember: Mike Orr.
 
>my coar
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>up
 
High Plain
Things have opened up a bit now, with the naff haze lifted. You feel less policed, too, and you found a path EAST.
 
You got rid of the gross tar blocking your way NORTH.
 
The shore trail you discovered leads SOUTH.
 
A keep, iller, rises to the WEST, and you figured how to enter it.
 
There's also a way DOWN that opened up once you found passages in all cardinal directions.
 
Your eight companions follow you.
 
>s
 
Known Ocean
It looks like there is an ocean, or some large body of water, and maybe some islands in the distance. They are too far to swim to. You can go back north to where you started.
 
A formerly (thanks to you) sick squid trundles about in the water here.
 
Your eight companions follow you.
 
>the file
You have a clue what isle to look through. The thief isle. You get The File.
 
You've visited all the locations in the flier. You crumple it up as if to throw it in a trash bin. The squid makes a gesture as if it wishes to gobble the flier. You're worried it might choke on the flier, as it did for the quid, but then -- well, the water washes the paper brochure down. Odd, but hooray for clearer inventory.
 
[Your score just went up by a point!]
 
>x file
Nothing here like that.
 
>i
There's that occasional voice ringing in your head asking "Why pout?" But besides that ...
 
You are carrying:
  a knife (right)
  a plan tracker (full of ideas)
  a war pawn
 
You have a name, too, now, you remember: Mike Orr.
 
>wipe out
You haven't identified anyone terribly evil you want to wipe out.
 
(useful command again saved to THINK for later reference.)
 
>think
You try and think of stuff you tried, but the time wasn't quite right.
 
Oops, I somehow forgot to reset think-cue entry for grow vial. This is a trivial bug--but please let me know!
You will want to WIPE OUT the cause of your problems once you have them in your crosshairs.
 
>think
You try and think of stuff you tried, but the time wasn't quite right.
 
Oops, I somehow forgot to reset think-cue entry for grow vial. This is a trivial bug--but please let me know!
You will want to WIPE OUT the cause of your problems once you have them in your crosshairs.
 
>n
 
High Plain
Things have opened up a bit now, with the naff haze lifted. You feel less policed, too, and you found a path EAST.
 
You got rid of the gross tar blocking your way NORTH.
 
The shore trail you discovered leads SOUTH.
 
A keep, iller, rises to the WEST, and you figured how to enter it.
 
There's also a way DOWN that opened up once you found passages in all cardinal directions.
 
Your eight companions follow you.
 
>w
 
Keep (Iller)
This keep has seen better days, but there seems to be a lot in its ruins. You can go back EAST. You also sense something fearsome from a passage south.
 
A row (gold) shines in this otherwise forbidding keep.
 
There's a bunch of manic herb here the mensch elf sifted through. 
 
That seedy sign stands off to the side here. It's no longer scary, but you don't wish to bother with it, any more.
 
Your eight companions follow you.
 
>s
You don't need or want to go back there.
 
>e
 
High Plain
Things have opened up a bit now, with the naff haze lifted. You feel less policed, too, and you found a path EAST.
 
You got rid of the gross tar blocking your way NORTH.
 
The shore trail you discovered leads SOUTH.
 
A keep, iller, rises to the WEST, and you figured how to enter it.
 
There's also a way DOWN that opened up once you found passages in all cardinal directions.
 
Your eight companions follow you.
 
>down
 
We're Meetin'!
Having had your meeting here, there's not much else to do.
 
You feel like your companions are just about ready to go. But you still need to say something, something that can only come uniquely inside of you, to establish what a great team you are.
 
Your eight companions follow you.
 
>my core
You always want to strengthen your own core, but you have a feeling you're looking too inward, here. Though you must be close.
 
>my corps
Your pep talk brings everyone together. They are ready for ... well, whatever is next. This feels like the right place. You clear out a passage below. You swear a solemn pact that everyone will defend everyone else, regardless of what happens.
 
[Your score just went up by a point!]
 
>look
We're Meetin'!
Having had your meeting here, there's not much else to do.
 
The gaunt raider, the crude orc, the wan dwarf, the mensch elf, the mice (tall), the new troll, the rogue (old) and the gnome (old) wait here for what to do or where to go next.
 
>wipe out
You haven't identified anyone terribly evil you want to wipe out.
 
Hmph. That still doesn't quite work! You'll figure out the how and when and where, though.
 
>look
We're Meetin'!
Having had your meeting here, there's not much else to do.
 
The gaunt raider, the crude orc, the wan dwarf, the mensch elf, the mice (tall), the new troll, the rogue (old) and the gnome (old) wait here for what to do or where to go next.
 
>i
There's that occasional voice ringing in your head asking "Why pout?" But besides that ...
 
You are carrying:
  a knife (right)
  a plan tracker (full of ideas)
  a war pawn
 
>up
 
High Plain
Things have opened up a bit now, with the naff haze lifted. You feel less policed, too, and you found a path EAST.
 
You got rid of the gross tar blocking your way NORTH.
 
The shore trail you discovered leads SOUTH.
 
A keep, iller, rises to the WEST, and you figured how to enter it.
 
There's also a way DOWN that opened up once you found passages in all cardinal directions.
 
Your eight companions follow you.
 
>s
 
Known Ocean
It looks like there is an ocean, or some large body of water, and maybe some islands in the distance. They are too far to swim to. You can go back north to where you started.
 
A formerly (thanks to you) sick squid trundles about in the water here.
 
Your eight companions follow you.
 
>the file
That thought/action/observation/request brings up nothing. Why Pout has a limited set of verbs, and the main thing is to guess a two-word phrase. To see what verbs are used, try VERBS.
 
>n
 
High Plain
Things have opened up a bit now, with the naff haze lifted. You feel less policed, too, and you found a path EAST.
 
You got rid of the gross tar blocking your way NORTH.
 
The shore trail you discovered leads SOUTH.
 
A keep, iller, rises to the WEST, and you figured how to enter it.
 
There's also a way DOWN that opened up once you found passages in all cardinal directions.
 
Your eight companions follow you.
 
>down
 
We're Meetin'!
Having had your meeting here, there's not much else to do.
 
Your eight companions follow you.
 
>down
 
Doom Ending
The gaunt raider wasn't joking around when they said they came from some place awful! You just hope your companions can help you enough here.
 
A sea skull gloats evilly, with its back turned to you.
 
Everyone whispers some variation of "We're stuck! Worst, UCK!" to each other. But surely there must be a way through.
 
Your eight companions follow you.
 
>cease cull
You'll probably have to alert the sea skull to your presence at some time. You try to sound authoritative when you do so. And ... well, you get its attention.
 
"DONE, OH?!?! DUH, NO!" it roars.
 
It begins pouring out rivers of blood at you and your companions. But fortunately, you have so many, that by the time it gets to you, it is not so bad. Yet it's still depressing. You think back to advice you got at the beginning ... how it seemed slightly off. What to do?
 
[Your score just went up by a point!]
 
>wipe out
Well that does it! It's a big long fight, but you all prevail!
 
Things are a bit of a mess, though. You feel something odd come between you and your companions now you're done. They wonder why they need to do any more. You could call the whole zeitgeist a why-division.
 
[Your score just went up by a point!]
 
>wider vision
A voice in your head encourages you: "Seem, or see, more!" You've got SOMETHING right, here.
 
>wide vision
You try to declare a wide vision, but as you do, you trip yourself up on pronunciation. Wide vision? Why division? You worry you haven't fought through enough to have a truly wide vision--sure, you solved all the puzzles you needed to, but you feel like you're missing some necessary experience and struggle you need for true, long-term leadership.
 
But surely you must give it a try!
 
You've had struggles figuring what to do, sure, but so have they, and the dialogue degenerates into who struggled more. Nothing gets done.
 
"I? Low. I'll ... oh ..." you moan, preparing to bare your guilty soul.
 
"Oh! Must be that I tried to use that war pawn. Lesson learnt."
 
But your companions change to I-saw-ice-aww expressions. No, it must have been something else.
 
"It was BRUISE-WARES, wasn't it?" you ask. "I shouldn't have left things undone."
 
Your companions shake their heads slightly.
 
 
 
Hmph. That still doesn't quite work! You'll figure out the how and when and where, though.
 
>up
You need to prep for making things right in general. Then, once the game's over, you'll leave.
 
>look
Doom Ending
Well, it turns out the doom ending was for the sea skull, not for you. But you're still a bit frustrated. How do you go forward from here?
 
Why-division has settled in among your companions. Everyone's done what they can. Why should they do more? They've saved their skin, and a lot of others', too, and they'll be safe for a while!
 
The gaunt raider, the crude orc, the wan dwarf, the mensch elf, the mice (tall), the new troll, the rogue (old) and the gnome (old) wait here for what to do or where to go next.
 
>talk
That's ambiguous--more than one friend you can chat with.
 
>due mending
Yes. It's time to get healing. Your companions don't have as much time or energy to help as you hoped they would, but they do enough. Everyone feels better for their part in defeating the sea skull. And yet you worry it, or something like it, may be back sooner rather than later, and your companions have gone their separate ways for good. Still, you should be pleased with yourself.
 
[Your score just went up by a point!]
 
 
 
    *** Gray day?! Grade A! ***
 
 
 
 
Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, QUIT or UNDO the last command?