The transcript will be saved to the file. Type SCRIPT OFF to discontinue scripting. >restart Do you really want to start over? (Y is affirmative) > y Welcome to Deelzebub! For more information, type 'help'. Press enter to start! Reginald looks around the factory for his best friend Buster. People are bustling through the aisles, hurrying to their seats before the shift begins. The supervisors are already standing by the printing machines. Reginald braces himself for the harsh ringing of the bell that signals the start of the workday to all of the members of the community. Where is Buster? It's nearly 8:00 and their usual seats in aisle 7 are empty. Why isn't he here yet? He had already left their room by the time Reginald woke up. Could he have been reassigned? Surely he would've said something about it. Buster isn't the sharpest tool in the shed, but he's a considerate guy and a good friend. Reginald continues to search for his roommate, and a moment later he spots Buster near the restroom doors talking to some new guy. Maybe Buster doesn't want to sit with Reginald anymore. Maybe the new guy is just way cooler than he is. What should he do? Should he go and try to talk to the two of them or sit down at his spot? There are only two minutes left until the start of the morning shift. He can't be late. >* this is after restarting -- NB help doesn't work yet "What the hell? Who said that?" Reginald looks over his shoulder but no one is there. A couple of people nearby give him strange looks. He hurries to his seat and pretends that he didn't say anything. What was that voice in his head? He wasn't crazy enough to be hearing voices... was he? >x reginald Maybe he was crazy. Was it schizophrenia that made people hear voices? He was pretty sure his great aunt had schizophrenia. Or was it syphilis? He always got those two mixed up. >* important distinction! Reginald ignores the voice and reminds himself that he is definitely not crazy. Before he came to Montana, his psychiatrist had told him that aside from a mild case of insomnia, he was in perfect mental health. >sleep Reginald tells himself that there has to be a reasonable explanation for this. He has been joining his new brothers and sisters in their meditation exercises for the past two days to strengthen his spirituality. Maybe he's just becoming more enlightened. As Reginald starts to come to terms with the new voice speaking in his head, the bell rings and Buster and the new guy hurry over and sit down on either side of him. Buster throws an arm around Reginald's shoulder. "Hey man, this is Wayne. He's new to the community, so I thought we could show him the ropes. Wayne, this is my buddy Reginald." x wayne Wayne smiles and gives Reginald a friendly nod. "Welcome to the Hidden Hills Sanctuary, Wayne. If you have any questions about how things work around here, don't be afraid to ask. We're all family here." "Thanks. Buster filled me in on the basics but I've still got a few questions. What are we doing in this factory? When will I get to meet Balthazar? And where can I get some goddamn pizza rolls around here?" Wow. This guy is pretty intense. Reginald's trained nose picks up the distinct scent of greasy, cheesy, tomatoey bread wafting over from Wayne. talk to wayne Factory The hum of machines and the chatter of workers fill the air. There are a dozen long plastic tables evenly spaced along the floor. Rays of sunlight beam down from high windows above the factory entrance to the east. Buster has his arm around Reginald's shoulder. Wayne sits, inspecting the machines. >x me You are just a voice inside Reginald's head. Maybe you are a symbol of his devotion, or maybe he is just going crazy. >i Reginald is empty-handed. >x tables Long plastic tables covered with all the supplies needed in sticker production. The organization is impeccable. >x supplies Reginald sees no supplies here. >*no? Comment recorded. >x stickers There are piles and piles of stickers at all stages of production. Reginald wonders who buys all of these. >take stickers The stickers aren’t important. > Factory The hum of machines and the chatter of workers fill the air. There are a dozen long plastic tables evenly spaced along the floor. Rays of sunlight beam down from high windows above the factory entrance to the east. Buster has his arm around Reginald's shoulder. Wayne sits, inspecting the machines. >x wayne Wayne has an impressive chevron mustache and perfect posture. >x buster Buster notices Reginald staring at him and smiles back. He's a friendly guy. He's helping you explain things to Wayne. >talk to buster Reginald decides against talking to Buster right now. It would be rude to just ignore Wayne's questions. >talk to wayne What should Reginald tell Wayne? He seems to want to know more about the sanctuary, Balthazar, and the factory. >tell wayne about balthazar Wayne's been in the Sanctuary for one day and he already wants to meet Balthazar in person? Either he's very dedicated to this community or incredibly clueless about how it operates. "You'll have to wait a little longer to properly meet Balthazar. Our leader's a very important man who rarely comes out of his quarters. I'm sure you saw it on your way to the factory this morning. No one is allowed in there without express permission from Balthazar himself. I've been here for months and I still haven't talked to him one-on-one." "Of course," the corners of Wayne's mouth tilt down in a poorly-hidden pout. "How silly of me." Buster shrugs. "He's a really nice guy. I talked to him once, a couple of years ago, just in passing. He told me I needed to religiously exercise my body and mind every day to keep the demons out." "That's some solid advice right there," Wayne says. "Are you looking for a workout buddy?" "Sure! Every morning I touch my toes for ten seconds and then I think about touching my toes for another ten seconds. I'd always welcome company." Wayne does not look thrilled. "Great," he says. >tell wayne about factory "Well, Wayne, this factory is what keeps our community up and running. Even if we farm our own food, we still need some money to pay the bills." "What's the work like?" "We make bumper stickers, mostly. You know, logos and fun little slogans. That way we can make money and spread awareness about the demon uprising at the same time!" Reginald holds up a sticker featuring a cartoony demon that says: got demons? in large bubble letters. "Our job is to punch the stickers out of their sheets and pack them up for shipping," he says. "Don't forget to include the pamphlet that has all of the community's contact information." Wayne doesn't look particularly excited about spending hours punching out and boxing up stickers, but he grabs a sticker sheet and puts on his best smile. tell him about sanctuary "Good talk guys, but I think it's time we get to work," Buster says. "These stickers aren't gonna punch themselves!" As the three of them start to settle into their work, an enormous, burly man walks up to their table. It's one of Balthazar's bodyguards. But is this one Garry or Larry? Reginald can never tell the difference. "The boss wants to see you now," G/Larry says, pointing at Reginald. "Don't keep him waiting." With that, G/Larry stomps away. "DUDE! You get to meet one on one with the big man himself! How cool is that?" Buster pumps both of his fists in the air. Wayne nods. "Speak of the devil... er, the devil slayer, I guess. Anyways, congrats, man. Let us know how it goes." "Yeah! You're a big deal now. Don't forget about us little people after you get promoted." Reginald laughs along with Buster and Wayne for a minute or two before excusing himself. "I better get going." "I signed up for another shift this afternoon," Buster says. "If you need me I'll be here all day." Wayne gives Reginald a nod goodbye and gets back to work. "I just got my room assignment this morning, so I'll probably go and check that out. They put me up on the second floor." "Alright, I'll let you guys know if anything crazy happens. See you later." With that, Reginald stands up and mentally readies himself to go see Balthazar. >out Reginald walks out the factory's large front doors, squinting at the bright sunlight. Outside factory The front of the factory is decorated by a couple of scruffy shrubs and an old, rusty cannon. A stack of cannonballs sit nearby. From here, a dirt pathway leads west towards the entrance of the factory. Reginald can also choose to head southeast towards the front of the church. Up north, the leader's quarters loom. >x cannon The plaque dates this cannon to the 1800s. Balthazar must be proud of having a historical relic like this. Reginald wonders if it still works. >x stack The word “stack” is not necessary in this story. >x cannballs The word “cannballs” is not necessary in this story. >oops cannonballs The cannonballs are stacked in a neat pyramid. >n Reginald wipes his shoes on the doormat before entering Balthazar's chambers. He wouldn't want to track dirt onto those pristine floors. Leader's quarters Now this place looks fit for a king! The polished wooden floors shine and the walls are lined with bookcases stretching to the ceiling. Balthazar's personal desk sits in the back of the room and a plush bearskin rug stares up at Reginald from the floor. To leave the room, Reginald can go south to the front of the factory. Garry and Larry stand menacingly by the door. Balthazar sits in a leather armchair behind his desk. He gestures to the seat across from him. "Sit." >sit (on the chair) Okay, he’s now sitting on the chair. >talk to balthazar Reginald probably has no reason to be nervous, but he is anyway. He's never met Balthazar one-on-one like this before. "You wanted to see me, Balthazar?" Balthazar beams at him with perfectly even teeth. "Reginald, my boy! Welcome to my humble abode. I have some wonderful news for you." Reginald isn't sure what good news Balthazar could have for him. Perhaps he's been promoted to factory manager? yes? "I've noticed how dedicated and loyal you are to this community, Reginald. I see a lot of potential in you. Many of our community members have told me how much you contribute to this Sanctuary. Simply put, I trust you, Reginald, and I want to offer you a place among my closest confidantes. Would you like that?" Reginald would like that very much, a sentiment he conveys with an enthusiastic nod. He'd never actually spoken to Balthazar before today, and now he's going to be accepted into the Sanctuary's inner circle? It's like a dream come true! "Good," Balthazar says, "I'm glad to hear that. You and I are going to be good friends. I can tell." Yay! "As you know, I founded this Sanctuary to protect our people from the coming demon invasion." Balthazar leans forward and rests his elbows on the desk. "What you don't know is how I plan to accomplish that." Balthazar gets up and paces around behind his desk. "When the day arrives, we won't be able to fight off the demons with guns alone. There will be millions, maybe even billions of demons swarming over the entire world. We'll need to fight fire with fire, and by that I mean we need to use demons of our own." Reginald listens intently. He's not sure exactly what Balthazar means. Balthazar studies Reginald's face. "I'm going to need you to summon a demon for me." Sure thing! Reginald can't help himself. He gasps. Summoning demons? Him? He's terrified of demons. The whole reason he's here is to be protected from them. "I'm sure this sounds insane," Balthazar says, "but I believe it's the only way to keep us safe. I can't summon an army alone, Reginald. I need your help." Balthazar sits back down behind his desk and waits for a response. "I don't know what to say. I don't think I'm demon-summoning material." Reginald looks down at his scruffy shoes in shame. "I wouldn't even know where to start." "I think you are demon-summoning material, Reginald. I know you have the potential." That was a really nice thing for Balthazar to say, but Reginald still has a lot of questions. How would he summon a demon? Why is Balthazar keeping his plan a secret from everyone? Can he tell Buster about this? >ask balthazar about demons "The problem is, I don't know how to summon a demon. Do I need one of those... quiche boards?" Balthazar laughs and shakes his head. "Every demon summoning is different, Reginald. Don't worry about the semantics of the process. Dealing with the underworld has nothing to do with formulaic procedures. It's all about the power of your mind and soul." Reginald does not feel very powerful in either his mind or soul. "There is a basement underneath the church with all of the things that you could possibly need to summon a demon. Look behind the tapestry to find the entrance," Balthazar says. "I've already sent some of my most trusted advisors there to supervise you. You won't be alone, Reginald. You're never alone in this Sanctuary." Great, now he can fail in front of an audience. >* a quiche board helps in any circumstance, I'd think Comment recorded. >ask balthazar about plan "Why are you keeping this plan secret?" Reginald asks. "Wouldn't it be better for everyone to know? That way they could help out, too." Balthazar rubs his eyes. "I do feel bad for keeping everyone in the dark," he says, "but we can't just tell them. Even you seem hesitant about the idea of using demons for our own protection. I fear that most of our members would lose sight of the greater purpose and be scared away if they knew our methods. It's in their best interests that they not know what's going on behind the curtain. If our brothers and sisters leave this compound, we won't be able to protect them. Not to mention, most people don't have what it takes to actually summon a demon." * Nice prompting of topics "Well, you'd better get going." Balthazar says. Reginald blinks. "Oh. Now?" "No time like the present." Balthazar sits back in his armchair with a satisfied smile on his face. "Don't feel pressured, Reginald. There's no rush, of course, except that the demon apocalypse is fast approaching!" Reginald forces some awkward laughter. He hopes Balthazar is joking, but isn't quite certain. >* It's literally behind the curtain Comment recorded. >stand Okay, he’s now standing. >l Leader's quarters Now this place looks fit for a king! The polished wooden floors shine and the walls are lined with bookcases stretching to the ceiling. Balthazar's personal desk sits in the back of the room and a plush bearskin rug stares up at Reginald from the floor. To leave the room, Reginald can go south to the front of the factory. Balthazar is standing here. >x desk An imposing mahogany desk. Its surface is mostly bare, but a few neat stacks of papers occupy one corner. >x rug "Do you like it?" Balthazar asks. "I hunted that beast myself. He almost killed me, too. It only seemed fair to put him on display." >x papers Important documents, certainly. Probably dealing with taxes or land ownership. Reginald doesn't know enough about such topics to decipher their contents, since Angela always used to do his taxes for him. For all he knows, these papers could be sketchy or incriminating. >ask balthazar about buster Reginald probably has no reason to be nervous, but he is anyway. He's never met Balthazar one-on-one like this before. "You wanted to see me, Balthazar?" Balthazar beams at him with perfectly even teeth. "Reginald, my boy! Welcome to my humble abode. I have some wonderful news for you." Reginald isn't sure what good news Balthazar could have for him. Perhaps he's been promoted to factory manager? * oops "I've noticed how dedicated and loyal you are to this community, Reginald. I see a lot of potential in you. Many of our community members have told me how much you contribute to this Sanctuary. Simply put, I trust you, Reginald, and I want to offer you a place among my closest confidantes. Would you like that?" Reginald would like that very much, a sentiment he conveys with an enthusiastic nod. He'd never actually spoken to Balthazar before today, and now he's going to be accepted into the Sanctuary's inner circle? It's like a dream come true! "Good," Balthazar says, "I'm glad to hear that. You and I are going to be good friends. I can tell." "As you know, I founded this Sanctuary to protect our people from the coming demon invasion." Balthazar leans forward and rests his elbows on the desk. "What you don't know is how I plan to accomplish that." Balthazar gets up and paces around behind his desk. "When the day arrives, we won't be able to fight off the demons with guns alone. There will be millions, maybe even billions of demons swarming over the entire world. We'll need to fight fire with fire, and by that I mean we need to use demons of our own." Reginald listens intently. He's not sure exactly what Balthazar means. Balthazar studies Reginald's face. "I'm going to need you to summon a demon for me." Reginald can't help himself. He gasps. Summoning demons? Him? He's terrified of demons. The whole reason he's here is to be protected from them. "I'm sure this sounds insane," Balthazar says, "but I believe it's the only way to keep us safe. I can't summon an army alone, Reginald. I need your help." Balthazar sits back down behind his desk and waits for a response. "I don't know what to say. I don't think I'm demon-summoning material." Reginald looks down at his scruffy shoes in shame. "I wouldn't even know where to start." "I think you are demon-summoning material, Reginald. I know you have the potential." That was a really nice thing for Balthazar to say, but Reginald still has a lot of questions. How would he summon a demon? Why is Balthazar keeping his plan a secret from everyone? Can he tell Buster about this? "Can I tell Buster about all this demon-summoning business?" Reginald asks. "Buster has been with us a long time, but he doesn't strike me as the type for secrecy. I hate to ask you to keep a secret from your best friend, but Buster cannot know what I've told you today. I hope you understand why." >ask balthazar about himself "I've always wanted to know..." Reginald says, "What do you do in your free time? If you don't mind me asking." "Of course! It's not easy being the leader of a whole society, but when I find time for myself I love to exercise. What use is a strong mind if you don't have a strong body to go with it?" Reginald can't help but wonder if Balthazar is secretly a bodybuilder under that frock. >s Reginald exits Balthazar's quarters. The dirt path feels especially rustic by comparison. Outside factory The front of the factory is decorated by a couple of scruffy shrubs and an old, rusty cannon. A stack of cannonballs sit nearby. From here, a dirt pathway leads west towards the entrance of the factory. Reginald can also choose to head southeast towards the front of the church. Up north, the leader's quarters loom. >take cannonball The cannonballs aren’t important. >se Reginald strolls along the path to the lawn in front of the church. Outside Church The lawn in front of the church has been groomed to perfection. Two benches sit underneath a pretty oak tree. The path running in front of the factory is northwest of here. The church lies to the north. To the northeast, the compound's main courtyard. Head south to go to the entry lane. A couple of community members have decided to eat their meals outside. It's a lovely day. >x bench Simple wooden benches, like you'd find in any public park. >x members The Sanctuary's members come from all walks of life, but one wouldn't be able to tell by looking at them. >talk to them Reginald doesn't really know these people on a personal level because the Sanctuary is a large community, but he says hello anyway. It doesn't hurt to be polite. >* nice! Comment recorded. >n Reginald makes his way towards the red brick church. Church Rows of pews fill the interior of the church, leaving an aisle up to the podium. An impressive tapestry covers the length of the entire back wall. Next to it, an open archway leads into a stairwell in the corner. Well-thumbed texts from various religious traditions are organized in a small bookcase by the front door. Reginald can exit by going south to leave the church. The wooden floor sounds hollow under Reginald's feet. >* big map... Comment recorded. >x bookcase The bookcase is well-stocked with numerous religious texts. People of all faiths are welcome at the Hidden Hills Sanctuary. >read texts The bookcase is well-stocked with numerous religious texts. People of all faiths are welcome at the Hidden Hills Sanctuary. >out Reginald pushes past the wooden doors and walks out into the front of the church. The lovely oak tree waves its branches in the warm spring breeze. Outside Church The lawn in front of the church has been groomed to perfection. Two benches sit underneath a pretty oak tree. The path running in front of the factory is northwest of here. The church lies to the north. To the northeast, the compound's main courtyard. Head south to go to the entry lane. A couple of community members have decided to eat their meals outside. It's a lovely day. >nw Reginald walks past the community members to the front of the factory. Outside factory The front of the factory is decorated by a couple of scruffy shrubs and an old, rusty cannon. A stack of cannonballs sit nearby. From here, a dirt pathway leads west towards the entrance of the factory. Reginald can also choose to head southeast towards the front of the church. Up north, the leader's quarters loom. >in Reginald crosses the dirt path to the factory and steps inside. Factory The hum of machines and the chatter of workers fill the air. There are a dozen long plastic tables evenly spaced along the floor. Rays of sunlight beam down from high windows above the factory entrance to the east. Buster is sitting at his usual spot. >read pamphlet The word “pamphlet” is not necessary in this story. >* hmm, thought there was one Comment recorded. >out Reginald walks out the factory's large front doors, squinting at the bright sunlight. Outside factory The front of the factory is decorated by a couple of scruffy shrubs and an old, rusty cannon. A stack of cannonballs sit nearby. From here, a dirt pathway leads west towards the entrance of the factory. Reginald can also choose to head southeast towards the front of the church. Up north, the leader's quarters loom. >se Reginald strolls along the path to the lawn in front of the church. Outside Church The lawn in front of the church has been groomed to perfection. Two benches sit underneath a pretty oak tree. The path running in front of the factory is northwest of here. The church lies to the north. To the northeast, the compound's main courtyard. Head south to go to the entry lane. A couple of community members have decided to eat their meals outside. It's a lovely day. >in Reginald makes his way towards the red brick church. Church Rows of pews fill the interior of the church, leaving an aisle up to the podium. An impressive tapestry covers the length of the entire back wall. Next to it, an open archway leads into a stairwell in the corner. Well-thumbed texts from various religious traditions are organized in a small bookcase by the front door. Reginald can exit by going south to leave the church. The wooden floor sounds hollow under Reginald's feet. >x tapestry The tapestry depicts an epic battle between humanity and an army of demons. In the front and center, a muscular old man with a full mustache leads his people to battle. Reginald peeks behind the tapestry. A dusty staircase descends into the darkness. >x old man The word “old” is not necessary in this story. >x man The word “man” is not necessary in this story. >x mustache The word “mustache” is not necessary in this story. >d Reginald slips behind the tapestry and descends the stairs into the church's dark basement. Summoning Chamber A lone flickering bulb casts a dim light on the summoning chamber.. An altar stands in the room's center, surrounded by arcane symbols etched into the floor. A circle of salt rings the room's edges. To leave, Reginald must simply go up the stairs back to the church. A folding table covered in various objects sits beside the altar. Several senior community members eye Reginald expectantly from the shadows. "I think they want me to put on a show," Reginald says. "What do you think I should do?" The senior community members are standing here. >x altar A simple stone altar with a questionable red stain on it. Is that blood? >x bulb The word “bulb” is not necessary in this story. >x stain Reginald isn't quite sure what the substance is just by looking. Maybe he should smell it. >smell stain It smells like hot sauce, not blood. Reginald is relieved, but filled with questions. >lick stain The word “lick” is not necessary in this story. >taste stain The blood isn’t important. >* no? Comment recorded. >l Summoning Chamber A lone flickering bulb casts a dim light on the summoning chamber.. An altar stands in the room's center, surrounded by arcane symbols etched into the floor. A circle of salt rings the room's edges. To leave, Reginald must simply go up the stairs back to the church. A folding table covered in various objects sits beside the altar. Several senior community members eye Reginald expectantly from the shadows. "I think they want me to put on a show," Reginald says. "What do you think I should do?" The senior community members are standing here. >x symbols The symbols inexplicably appear to be Chinese characters. Reginald is pretty sure that there isn't a single Chinese person in the Hidden Hills Sanctuary. Hopefully demons speak English. >x salt Himalayan salt, by the look and smell of it. Someone's been getting fancy. The light pink hue doesn't exactly match the rest of the summoning chamber aesthetic. >taste salt The salt circle isn’t important. >l Summoning Chamber A lone flickering bulb casts a dim light on the summoning chamber.. An altar stands in the room's center, surrounded by arcane symbols etched into the floor. A circle of salt rings the room's edges. To leave, Reginald must simply go up the stairs back to the church. A folding table covered in various objects sits beside the altar. Several senior community members eye Reginald expectantly from the shadows. "I think they want me to put on a show," Reginald says. "What do you think I should do?" The senior community members are standing here. >x table A whole host of objects useful in summoning rituals have been laid out on the table. Reginald sees black candles, coals, mandrake roots, and some pieces of parchment inscribed with runes. There's also a bowl of... lard? "Well, I don't know what they expect me to do with these," Reginald tells you, "But I'm sure I can come up with something. What should I take first?" >x candles Cylindrical black candles. They've already been lit. >x coals Several lumps of coal. They're very chalky. What is Reginald supposed to do with these? >x mandrake They look like lumpy elephant-human hybrids. >x parchment The parchment is covered in indecipherable runes. >x lard Why is there a bowl of lard here? Do demons like lard? Reginald assumes that the senior members know more than he does. >* ick Comment recorded. >taste lard It tastes much as Reginald would expect. >l Summoning Chamber A lone flickering bulb casts a dim light on the summoning chamber.. An altar stands in the room's center, surrounded by arcane symbols etched into the floor. A circle of salt rings the room's edges. To leave, Reginald must simply go up the stairs back to the church. A folding table covered in various objects sits beside the altar. Several senior community members eye Reginald expectantly from the shadows. "I think they want me to put on a show," Reginald says. "What do you think I should do?" The senior community members are standing here. >x members Five or six of them huddle together in the back of the room. Reginald has never seen so many in one place before. Their white frocks have some purple accents, so they stand out when among the other community members. Reginald wonders if he will also be able to wear the special frocks soon. >talk to members Reginald approaches the senior members with trepidation. "Uh... hi." "Don't be nervous," one of the members says. "People rarely succeed the first time. In fact, people rarely succeed at all. But don't worry, we are here to support you. Everything you could possibly need is on the table." >g Reginald approaches the senior members with trepidation. "Uh... hi." "Don't be nervous," one of the members says. "People rarely succeed the first time. In fact, people rarely succeed at all. But don't worry, we are here to support you. Everything you could possibly need is on the table." >ask members about summoning Reginald asks a question about summoning and the senior community members exchange nervous glances. None of them seem to know what to say. >ask members about demons Reginald asks a question about demons and the senior community members exchange nervous glances. None of them seem to know what to say. >ask members about balthazar Reginald asks a question about balthazar and the senior community members exchange nervous glances. None of them seem to know what to say. >ask members about members Reginald asks a question about members and the senior community members exchange nervous glances. None of them seem to know what to say. >ask members about me Reginald asks a question about me and the senior community members exchange nervous glances. None of them seem to know what to say. >l Summoning Chamber A lone flickering bulb casts a dim light on the summoning chamber.. An altar stands in the room's center, surrounded by arcane symbols etched into the floor. A circle of salt rings the room's edges. To leave, Reginald must simply go up the stairs back to the church. A folding table covered in various objects sits beside the altar. Several senior community members eye Reginald expectantly from the shadows. "I think they want me to put on a show," Reginald says. "What do you think I should do?" The senior community members are standing here. >dance The word “dance” is not necessary in this story. >sing The word “sing” is not necessary in this story. >break circle The salt circle isn’t important. >take candle Chanting some gibberish, Reginald takes one of the candles and raises it over his head. He shouts "Light!" then continues mumbling in his made up demon language. What else can he do that would be sufficiently demonic? Holding the candle aloft, he decides to do some slow, rhythmic squats. The senior demon summoners look very impressed. Reginald repeats the process for a few more of the candles. Satisfied, he leaves a couple on the altar. His thighs and the candles continue to burn. >* ha! Comment recorded. >x table A whole host of objects useful in summoning rituals have been laid out on the table. Reginald sees black candles, coals, mandrake roots, and some pieces of parchment inscribed with runes. There's also a bowl of... lard? "Well, I don't know what they expect me to do with these," Reginald tells you, "But I'm sure I can come up with something. What should I take first?" >take lard Knowing nothing better to do with the lard, Reginald smears some of it on the altar's surface. That's weird enough as is, right? His audience seems let down by his lackluster performance. Not wanting to disappoint, Reginald scoops an entire spoonful of the unrendered pig's fat into his mouth. "What are you doing?" one of the senior members asks. "That's so gross!" "Hush!" another member says. "Maybe that's just his process." Embarrassed, Reginald spits the lard back out into his hand and plops it onto the altar. "Silence please!" he calls. "I can feel the demon's energy now. It's getting closer." He closes his eyes and hums an unrecognizably off-key version of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. The other summoners stand in awed silence. >* ha! Comment recorded. >x table A whole host of objects useful in summoning rituals have been laid out on the table. Reginald sees black candles, coals, mandrake roots, and some pieces of parchment inscribed with runes. There's also a bowl of... lard? "Well, I don't know what they expect me to do with these," Reginald tells you, "But I'm sure I can come up with something. What should I take first?" >take parchment Reginald likes the look of this parchment, but he doesn't have anything to write with. "Does anyone have a pen?" "Of course," one of the senior members says, "you aim to write the demon's name. You are truly a gifted summoner, Reginald." He hands Reginald a quill pen. Fancy. Reginald had not, in fact, aimed to write the demon's name. He had been planning to draw a smiley face. He wracks his brain for demon names. What would a demon be called? He doesn't want to summon Satan himself or anything, so he should probably aim low. The other summoners are watching him. Reginald panics and writes "DAVE" in his best attempt at a flowery script, then sets the parchment on the altar and returns the quill pen to its rightful owner. >take coals Reginald takes three of the bigger chunks of coal and slams them onto the altar. The uneven lumps of coal break apart on impact, spewing black dust everywhere. Reginald frantically swipes his fingers through the soot and gathers enough to throw into the air. He prances around the salt circle, throwing fistfuls of dust in every direction. The senior demon summoners nod in appreciation. Reginald overhears one of them whisper, "He must be making a welcoming environment for the demons. Sometimes the presence of salt scares them off." Feeling confident, Reginald makes a bold move and grasps the hands of one of the senior members. He draws an X on the back of their hand. "Be safe, brother!" With a dramatic flourish of his now-dusty frock, Reginald heads back to the altar. >take mandrake Reginald isn't sure what to do with this. He picks one up and plays with it like a voodoo doll, using the scraggly roots as its arms and legs. After making his root demon perform a little jig, he breaks off each of the plant "limbs" and lets out a high pitched scream. Clearing his throat, Reginald sets the limbless torso of the root down on the altar. One of the senior members claps quietly. Well, that was all of the components. What is Reginald supposed to do now? Nothing's happening. What if nothing actually shows up? The senior summoners will think he's an idiot. Is there some other part of the ritual he doesn't know about? Does he need to prick his finger to give the demon some blood or something? Suddenly, a hot wind blows through the chamber. One by one, the candles float into the air, then fall to the ground. The mandrake root knits itself back together. The lard starts sizzling. The candles all snuff out at once. The mandrake root starts dancing. The parchment catches on fire and burns to cinders. Reginald and the senior summoners all stand with their mouths agape, watching the spectacle. The smoke from the burning parchment clouds their view. A loud bang echoes off the chamber walls. Reginald smells warm melted butter and vanilla extract wafting through the room. A small figure emerges from the smoke, coughing and gasping for air. "Jeez, couldn't you have summoned me without all this smoke? My asthma is acting up!" One of the demon's hands waves the smoke from its face. The other holds a half-eaten cookie. "Y'all got any milk around here?" Reginald was expecting wings, but it doesn't look like the demon has any. He looks like he's around waist-height and is covered in pinkish scales. Reginald gathers up his courage and steps forward. "Mr. Dave? Is that you?" "Mr. Dave is my father. You can just call me Dave." Dave looks around the chamber. "So this is the human world, huh? It's a lot smaller than I imagined." "This isn't all of it. We're in a basement." Before Reginald has the chance to talk more with Dave, the senior demon summoners crowd around him. "What a resounding success, Reginald!" one of the members says. "Your very first time and you successfully summoned a demon. You must take him to Balthazar right away." "Reginald, huh? Nice to meet you," Dave says. "Oh, sorry. I forgot to introduce myself. And nice to meet you, too, Dave." The other summoners usher both Reginald and Dave to the stairs before they have a chance to shake hands. >* "This isn't all of it" is a good gag! Comment recorded. >x dave Reginald eyes Dave's dusty pink complexion and pointy tail. Dave is around three feet tall and not very intimidating. He seems pretty nice, despite the two small horns poking out of his head. Maybe demons aren't all that bad. He's following Reginald around. >talk to dave "How's it going, Dave?" Reginald asks, wondering when his life became so surreal. He is making small talk with a real demon. How odd. Dave shrugs and takes another bite of his cookie. It's almost gone now. "Today's been an exciting day. I've never been summoned before." "Sorry about that, I didn't mean to disrupt your life or anything." Dave shakes his head. "No, I've always wanted to come here. I'm glad you wrote my name on that piece of paper. I thought I'd have to fight all the other Daves to get here, but once they saw how weird you were with the lard, it was pretty easy." Reginald tries to tell Dave that he only tried to eat the lard to be theatrical, but Dave gives him a knowing wink. "Hey man, no judgements here." Perhaps Dave would be interested in learning more about the sanctuary or Balthazar. Reginald wonders what it's like to live in Hell. What are the other demons like? Do they all like cookies? >ask dave about hell "So, Dave, where are you from?" Reginald asks. "Like, what part of... Hell?" "Oh, I'm not from Hell." Reginald frowns. "You're not?" Dave laughs. "Nah, Hell proper is scary. Not to mention the ridiculous rent. I can't afford to live there. I'm from one of the suburbs outside it." Reginald wonders what Dave would think of New York. Perhaps it's best not to mention how exorbitant rent is in some human cities, too. Dave seems to have a rosy image of the human world. "I don't like it back home much," Dave admits. "It's really dark and chaotic everywhere. And all of the tortured human souls are too sad to talk to me about baking." >ask dave about cookies As Dave takes another bite of his demon cookie, Reginald scratches his head. "Where did you get that if there aren't any bakeries in hell?" "Oh, I stole it from the gluttony district." Dave smiles. "I love it there. They have every human food imaginable, imported straight from Earth. The problem is, none of it is fresh, you know? And I'm technically not allowed to eat any of it." "Why not? Who's stopping you?" Dave stares sadly at his cookie. ? "It's not very demonly to eat or make human food," he says. "The other demons make fun of me for it. They always say something like, 'Real demons can feed off of human terror for weeks.' But it's not my fault that human emotions taste disgusting." Reginald pats Dave on the shoulder and pretends to understand. Clearly, demons have a lot of unwritten social rules as well. >tell dave about rent Reginald does his best to explain to Dave the human phenomenon of rent. Dave is appropriately fascinated. >* Nicely handled! Comment recorded. >ask dave about demons "Are all demons like you?" Reginald asks. "What do you mean?" Maybe it's best not to mention Dave's stature. "You know, friendly? And do they love cookies?" Dave sighs and stares off into space. "No." Reginald wonders if Dave will elaborate on that statement. After a moment, he does. "Most other demons are mean. They just like terrorizing people. Even worse, they have no appreciation for the fine art of baking!" Truly heinous. Reginald expected better, even from demons. "Honestly," Dave says, "my best friend in the demon world was my mom, but even she wants me to toughen up." He sighs heavily, looking incredibly glum. Reginald gives him a friendly pat on the back and decides not to talk about Dave's history with other demons anymore. >tell dave about balthazar "The guy they were telling us to go see, Balthazar, is the leader of our Sanctuary. He's the one who had me summon you. He's also a really nice guy. I'm sure you two will get along." "Great," Dave says. "I'm sure he's a nice guy." >tell dave about apocalypse Reginald does his best to explain to Dave the human phenomenon of apocalypse. Dave is appropriately fascinated. >tell dave about demon invasion Reginald does his best to explain to Dave the human phenomenon of demon invasion. Dave is appropriately fascinated. >tell dave about sanctuary "This isn't all of the human world," Reginald tells Dave. "There's so much more outside of this compound. This is like a little pocket of safety." "What's so unsafe about the outside world?" Demons. But Reginald doesn't want to hurt Dave's feelings. "This and that. There's a lot of stuff going on out there." Dave smiles. "I want to see everything. Is there a bakery around here somewhere? I've always wanted to see a real human bakery." Reginald smiles sadly. "Maybe someday, Dave. Now isn't the time." >l Summoning Chamber A lone flickering bulb casts a dim light on the summoning chamber.. An altar stands in the room's center, surrounded by arcane symbols etched into the floor. A circle of salt rings the room's edges. To leave, Reginald must simply go up the stairs back to the church. A folding table covered in various objects sits beside the altar. Several senior community members eye Reginald expectantly from the shadows. "I think they want me to put on a show," Reginald says. "What do you think I should do?" The senior community members are standing here. >u Reginald climbs the stairs and slinks into the church. Luckily, no one is there to see him emerge. Dave skips along beside Reginald. Church Rows of pews fill the interior of the church, leaving an aisle up to the podium. An impressive tapestry covers the length of the entire back wall. Next to it, an open archway leads into a stairwell in the corner. Well-thumbed texts from various religious traditions are organized in a small bookcase by the front door. Reginald can exit by going south to leave the church. The wooden floor sounds hollow under Reginald's feet. Reginald opens the door to the church and leads Dave out of the basement. "So this is a church, huh? I don't know what the big deal is. It's not that scary." "Oh, I didn't think you would like churches. Since... you know. You're a demon and all." Dave shrugs. "Demons hate churches. This one seems fine, though." As Dave admires the archway by the stairwell, one of the senior members runs up from the basement, breathing heavily. "Thank goodness you're still here! We were so amazed that you actually summoned a demon that we almost forgot our demon safety protocols." He hands Dave a hat and a fake mustache. "Here, wear this disguise. The other community members aren't used to seeing demons. We don't want them to panic when they see you." Dave puts on the hat and mustache. "Well?" he asks, striking a pose. "How do I look?" It's still plainly obvious that he's not human. "No offense," Reginald says, "but is that disguise really going to work?" "Of course!" the senior member says. "We've disguised several other demons just like this before when they needed to walk around the compound. You never noticed them, did you?" "Fair enough." The senior member retreats back to the summoning chamber, leaving Reginald and Dave alone in the church. >out Reginald pushes past the wooden doors and walks out into the front of the church. The lovely oak tree waves its branches in the warm spring breeze. Dave adjusts his hat and follows suit. Outside Church The lawn in front of the church has been groomed to perfection. Two benches sit underneath a pretty oak tree. The path running in front of the factory is northwest of here. The church lies to the north. To the northeast, the compound's main courtyard. Head south to go to the entry lane. As the two of them exit the church, Reginald watches Dave take his first breath of fresh air. Dave looks around the manicured lawn with a smile on his face. "This is a wonderful place!" he says. "I think I love it on Earth. It's so colorful and warm." Reginald laughs. "That's because it's springtime right now. It'll get colder in the later months." He starts heading towards Balthazar's quarters. "Come on, Dave. Let's go see Balthazar before the other community members get a good look at you. I still don't think that moustache is going to be enough." That very moment, a man walks by and does a double take when he sees Dave. Reginald stops in his tracks, a petrified smile frozen on his face. The community members are all going to turn against him for bringing a demon into the sanctuary! Should he mention that Balthazar had ordered him to do this? Would Balthazar be angry at him for not keeping his mouth shut? The man takes off his sunglasses and smiles at them. "Ryan? Good to see you, man! I thought you would be working at this hour." Who is Ryan? Does Reginald know this guy? Did he just forget Reginald's name? "Oh, I took today off," says Dave. "It seemed like such a nice day, you know?" Reginald awkwardly stands to the side as Dave continues to make small talk with the man for a couple of minutes. He's amazed at Dave's smooth response. He hadn't even realized that the guy was talking to Dave and not him. "Anyway, I'll catch you later, dude." The man gives them a wave and continues on his way. Crisis averted. "Dave, that was awesome!" Reginald whispers. "Where'd you learn to act like that?" Dave tips his hat and gives Reginald a grand bow. "Oh, here and there. I've had a lot of practice. Especially since I don't really like taking part in the usual demon activities." "But never mind that now," he says. "Where are we going again?" Reginald reiterates that they are going to see Balthazar. "He's like the leader of this entire place," he explains. "He really wants to meet you and I think you're going to like him. He's the whole reason I summoned you in the first place." Dave beams and taps his chin thoughtfully. "You know, that's really nice of him. I thought humans all hated demons, but y'all are so nice." He wistfully looks around the compound at the many different buildings. "Say, this Balthazar guy wouldn't mind if we took a small detour, right?" Reginald hesitates. He doesn't want to keep Balthazar waiting, but it is Dave's first time on Earth. If Balthazar wants to recruit Dave's help for the demon apocalypse, surely he'd want to keep Dave happy, right? "Well," Reginald says, "what did you have in mind?" Dave puts on what Reginald thinks is supposed to be a bashful expression. "I've always wanted to eat freshly baked chocolate chip cookies." He looks up at Reginald with hope shining in his eyes. "We could bake some? I know ours will be better than the ones from the Gluttony district." "Well, I'm not much of a baker," Reginald says. In fact, he had baked a grand total of two times in his thirty-two years of being alive. Dave can't contain his excitement. "All we need is a kitchen. Do you have one of those here?" "Yeah, we have a kitchen. It's between the mess hall and the livestock field." In his head, Reginald asks you what he should do. On one hand, they really should go to see Balthazar straight away. Demon invasions are serious business. Then again, baking some cookies with Dave seems really fun. A couple of community members have decided to eat their meals outside. It's a lovely day. >save Saved. >e Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead north (or in), back to the church; south; northeast; and northwest, to the outside factory. >s Reginald walks to the entry lane. It's very quiet here. Dave follows, his pointy tail flicking from side to side. Entry lane The only way in or out of the compound is here, through the gate in the entry lane. The utilitarian fence that surrounds the compound feels at odds with the rest of its welcoming atmosphere. To go to the front of the church, Reginald can head north. To the east, livestock roam the lush grass. To the west, a cornfield. Three armed guards stand by the gate chatting amongst themselves. >e Reginald braces himself against the smell of livestock and heads into the field. Dave strokes his fake mustache and falls into step beside Reginald. Cattle Fields Cows lazily roam around the grass, flicking their tails back and forth. A couple of them lie beside the small tool shed in the shade. Next to the shed, the chicken coop is alive with the sound of squawking hens. The stench of livestock fills the air, and Reginald is reminded of why he chose to work in the factory. The kitchen door opens out into this field, and through the glass Reginald can see Chef Johnson and his workers busily preparing tonight's dinner. There is a worm bin filled with unwanted meat scraps outside the kitchen. Reginald can enter the shed, walk north to the kitchen, or go west to the entry lane. >x meat Reginald sees no meat here. >x scraps The word “scraps” is not necessary in this story. >in Reginald enters the shed. Unfortunately, the smell of livestock is just as strong here. "Slow down," Dave says as he scampers along behind Reginald. "I'm not as tall as you are." Storage shed The inside of the shed is nothing special. Some farming tools and a nasty knife hang on the equipment rack. A butter churn sits next to a stack of hay bales. A bag of chicken food leans against the door. A bucket lies underneath the equipment rack. >out Reginald goes outside into the field, making sure no chickens sneak in through the door as he leaves. Dave skips along beside Reginald. Cattle Fields Cows lazily roam around the grass, flicking their tails back and forth. A couple of them lie beside the small tool shed in the shade. Next to the shed, the chicken coop is alive with the sound of squawking hens. The stench of livestock fills the air, and Reginald is reminded of why he chose to work in the factory. The kitchen door opens out into this field, and through the glass Reginald can see Chef Johnson and his workers busily preparing tonight's dinner. There is a worm bin filled with unwanted meat scraps outside the kitchen. Reginald can enter the shed, walk north to the kitchen, or go west to the entry lane. >n Reginald weaves in between the cows and walks towards the kitchen door. Grimacing at the smell of the worm bin, he heads inside. Dave follows, his pointy tail flicking from side to side. Kitchen Chef Johnson keeps the kitchen pristine. He stands over the gleaming meat grinder preparing his special sausages for tonight's dinner. The kitchen workers are busy massaging thick slabs of dough on the heavily floured countertops. A couple of industrial grade wall cabinets seem to hold most of the common non-perishables, spices, and seasonings. To the north, the mess hall. Reginald can also go south to the field with the livestock. "Squeeze those buns as hard as you can!" Chef Johnson roars. "Knead the dough like your lives depend on it!" He glares at all of his workers in turn before noticing Reginald standing by the door. "Oh, hello! Reginald. Ryan." He nods at each of them in turn. "What brings you here today?" "Ryan here felt like whipping up a batch of cookies," Reginald says. "Do you mind, Chef? We wouldn't want to intrude." Chef Johnson narrows his eyes. "Baking is hard, especially for first-timers. Are you sure you two have what it takes?" Dave nods. He glances around the kitchen with sincere admiration before declaring, "Baking has been a secret dream of mine for years! You can't scare me away." He looks so fierce that Reginald feels a little intimidated. "Well, why didn't you ever tell me, then?" Chef Johnson is beaming. "We could've been baking buddies all this time." He glances back at his meat grinder, then plants one hand on Dave's shoulder. "As much as I'd like to lend you a hand, I don't have time to help you two right now. But you are more than welcome to use our oven to bake the cookies. As long as I get one." "Of course!" Dave says. "You can find all the dry ingredients you'll need right here, but the wet ones you'll have to gather for yourselves. We only keep just as much of our perishables in the kitchen as we're going to use. You need to go get your own eggs and butter." Chef Johnson continues to give them advice. "A happy dough is a hydrated dough. Nothing good ever happens when things are dry. By the time you get your fingers in there, make sure everything is nice and moist. And don't overmix your dough! It'll get too stiff, and you'll end up with rock hard cookies." Dave nods solemnly. "We'll make you proud, Chef!" Chef Johnson walks over to the counter, grabs a long wooden spoon and starts seasoning his meat. "Have fun, you two. Just don't forget to be careful." He starts feeding the meat grinder some firm hunks of beef. "Tonight, as you bite into your warm, soft cookies, remember that you have become men!" >l Kitchen Chef Johnson keeps the kitchen pristine. He stands over the gleaming meat grinder preparing his special sausages for tonight's dinner. The kitchen workers are busy massaging thick slabs of dough on the heavily floured countertops. A couple of industrial grade wall cabinets seem to hold most of the common non-perishables, spices, and seasonings. To the north, the mess hall. Reginald can also go south to the field with the livestock. "What are we doing back here?" Dave asks. "We need butter AND eggs before we can bake cookies." >x caabinets The word “caabinets” is not necessary in this story. >x cabinets Big cabinets used to hold nonperishables. Reginald doesn't see anything too interesting in there. >open them The word “them” doesn’t refer to anything right now. >n Waving goodbye to the kitchen workers, Reginald walks out into the mess hall. Dave strokes his fake mustache and falls into step beside Reginald. Mess hall On one side of the mess hall, the hot bar is almost ready for the next meal. On the opposite end of the room, the salad bar has been converted into a makeshift popsicle stand. Long folding tables flanked by tiny round seats line the room's interior. To the west, a plaque hangs above the door leading into the main courtyard. The kitchen is to the south. Only a few people have decided to enjoy their snacks indoors today. Reginald supposes that popsicles are an outside food anyway. >x plaque Reginald looks at the engraved likeness of Balthazar hanging on the wall. "Hidden Hills Sanctuary, est. April 19, 1993." >w Reginald pushes open the door to the main courtyard. The sunlight beckons him outside. Dave adjusts his hat and follows suit. Main courtyard The main courtyard bustles with life. People sit around the picnic tables, chatting and eating snacks. A few kids toss a ball around in the grass. Reginald can continue north to enter the people's quarters or east to the mess hall. The lawn in front of the church is to the southwest. >e Reginald enters the mess hall. It's much less lively in here, but more relaxing. "Slow down," Dave says as he scampers along behind Reginald. "I'm not as tall as you are." Mess hall On one side of the mess hall, the hot bar is almost ready for the next meal. On the opposite end of the room, the salad bar has been converted into a makeshift popsicle stand. Long folding tables flanked by tiny round seats line the room's interior. To the west, a plaque hangs above the door leading into the main courtyard. The kitchen is to the south. Only a few people have decided to enjoy their snacks indoors today. Reginald supposes that popsicles are an outside food anyway. >s Reginald snakes his way between the tables and goes into the kitchen. Dave strokes his fake mustache and falls into step beside Reginald. Kitchen Chef Johnson keeps the kitchen pristine. He stands over the gleaming meat grinder preparing his special sausages for tonight's dinner. The kitchen workers are busy massaging thick slabs of dough on the heavily floured countertops. A couple of industrial grade wall cabinets seem to hold most of the common non-perishables, spices, and seasonings. To the north, the mess hall. Reginald can also go south to the field with the livestock. "What are we doing back here?" Dave asks. "We need butter AND eggs before we can bake cookies." >out Reginald goes outside into the field, making sure no chickens sneak in through the door as he leaves. "Slow down," Dave says as he scampers along behind Reginald. "I'm not as tall as you are." Cattle Fields Cows lazily roam around the grass, flicking their tails back and forth. A couple of them lie beside the small tool shed in the shade. Next to the shed, the chicken coop is alive with the sound of squawking hens. The stench of livestock fills the air, and Reginald is reminded of why he chose to work in the factory. The kitchen door opens out into this field, and through the glass Reginald can see Chef Johnson and his workers busily preparing tonight's dinner. There is a worm bin filled with unwanted meat scraps outside the kitchen. Reginald can enter the shed, walk north to the kitchen, or go west to the entry lane. >x coop Chickens are pesky creatures. Watching them walk around and peck at the ground, Reginald can see how they are descended from dinosaurs. Reginald notices that a few of them are sitting on eggs. Reginald notices that a few of them are sitting on eggs. >* hmm, duplicate Comment recorded. >take eggs Reginald reaches out to grab an egg from under one of the birds, but the hens squawk and vigorously peck at his hand. "Ouch!" he says. "I should've known better than to listen to you about this." "I didn't tell you to do anything," Dave says. "Don't go blaming this on me." "Not you. I'm just talking to myself," Reginald says. He'll have to be more careful in the future. He doesn't want anyone to know that he's hearing your voice. >g Reginald reaches out to grab an egg from under one of the birds, but the hens squawk and vigorously peck at his hand. "Ouch!" he says. "I should've known better than to listen to you about this." "I didn't tell you to do anything," Dave says. "Don't go blaming this on me." "Not you. I'm just talking to myself," Reginald says. He'll have to be more careful in the future. He doesn't want anyone to know that he's hearing your voice. >n Reginald weaves in between the cows and walks towards the kitchen door. Grimacing at the smell of the worm bin, he heads inside. Dave adjusts his hat and follows suit. Kitchen Chef Johnson keeps the kitchen pristine. He stands over the gleaming meat grinder preparing his special sausages for tonight's dinner. The kitchen workers are busy massaging thick slabs of dough on the heavily floured countertops. A couple of industrial grade wall cabinets seem to hold most of the common non-perishables, spices, and seasonings. To the north, the mess hall. Reginald can also go south to the field with the livestock. "What are we doing back here?" Dave asks. "We need butter AND eggs before we can bake cookies." >s Reginald goes outside into the field, making sure no chickens sneak in through the door as he leaves. Dave follows, his pointy tail flicking from side to side. Cattle Fields Cows lazily roam around the grass, flicking their tails back and forth. A couple of them lie beside the small tool shed in the shade. Next to the shed, the chicken coop is alive with the sound of squawking hens. The stench of livestock fills the air, and Reginald is reminded of why he chose to work in the factory. The kitchen door opens out into this field, and through the glass Reginald can see Chef Johnson and his workers busily preparing tonight's dinner. There is a worm bin filled with unwanted meat scraps outside the kitchen. Reginald can enter the shed, walk north to the kitchen, or go west to the entry lane. >in Reginald enters the shed. Unfortunately, the smell of livestock is just as strong here. Dave skips along beside Reginald. Storage shed The inside of the shed is nothing special. Some farming tools and a nasty knife hang on the equipment rack. A butter churn sits next to a stack of hay bales. A bag of chicken food leans against the door. A bucket lies underneath the equipment rack. >take food Taken. >take bucket Taken. >take churn The butter churn is too heavy. >take knife Taken. >take tools Reginald furrows his brow and begins to wonder if listening to you is a good idea, after all. >x knife A knife with a ragged handle and long nasty blade. It looks very sharp. >x food The kernels are all different shapes and sizes. It's very brown. >x bucket A metal bucket lies on the ground. It looks cleaner than the equipment rack, but that's not saying much. >x churn The butter churn looks like an antique. Reginald is pretty sure his grandma used to have one of these. The churn is empty. >s Reginald can’t go that way. The only obvious exit leads out, back to cattle fields. >out Reginald goes outside into the field, making sure no chickens sneak in through the door as he leaves. "Slow down," Dave says as he scampers along behind Reginald. "I'm not as tall as you are." Cattle Fields Cows lazily roam around the grass, flicking their tails back and forth. A couple of them lie beside the small tool shed in the shade. Next to the shed, the chicken coop is alive with the sound of squawking hens. The stench of livestock fills the air, and Reginald is reminded of why he chose to work in the factory. The kitchen door opens out into this field, and through the glass Reginald can see Chef Johnson and his workers busily preparing tonight's dinner. There is a worm bin filled with unwanted meat scraps outside the kitchen. Reginald can enter the shed, walk north to the kitchen, or go west to the entry lane. >give food to chickens Reginald cannot give anything to a chicken coop. >feed chickens Reginald carefully pours the chicken food into the coop. Chickens scramble from their nests, pecking and clawing each other in desperation. A cloud of dust and feathers rises from the ground. Reginald cowers in fear as the chickens devour the food. Dave is very impressed. "We need to bring some of these birds to hell. They're pretty vicious." >* Hmm, could have been a little smoother there Comment recorded. >take eggs Taken. >x eggs One white and one brown egg. Perfect for a batch of cookies. >l Cattle Fields Cows lazily roam around the grass, flicking their tails back and forth. A couple of them lie beside the small tool shed in the shade. Next to the shed, the chicken coop is alive with the sound of squawking hens. The stench of livestock fills the air, and Reginald is reminded of why he chose to work in the factory. The kitchen door opens out into this field, and through the glass Reginald can see Chef Johnson and his workers busily preparing tonight's dinner. There is a worm bin filled with unwanted meat scraps outside the kitchen. Reginald can enter the shed, walk north to the kitchen, or go west to the entry lane. >mik cow The word “mik” is not necessary in this story. >milk cow Reginald eyes the bloated udder of a holstein with apprehension. How hard can it be to milk a cow anyway? Reginald's grandfather had owned a farm once. He always said to squeeze, don't pull. Reginald leans down and grabs a single teat. Acting with a confidence he doesn't feel, he squirts a little bit of milk into the bucket. "Hey, good job," Dave says. "I'm going to be honest, I didn't think you'd be able to do it so easily." Bolstered by Dave's backhanded encouragement, Reginald continues to milk the cow until the bucket is half full. >g As fun as it was the first time, Reginald would rather not milk the cow again. >in Reginald enters the shed. Unfortunately, the smell of livestock is just as strong here. Dave follows, his pointy tail flicking from side to side. Storage shed The inside of the shed is nothing special. Some farming tools hang on the equipment rack. A butter churn sits next to a stack of hay bales. >put milk in churn Reginald hesitates before pouring the milk into the butter churn. "Wait, I'm pretty sure we're supposed to wait until the cream separates." Dave frowns. "We don't have time for that. Just pour it all in." Reginald shrugs and pours the milk into the butter churn. Nothing to do now but to hope for the best. >churn butter Reginald begins to churn the butter. If Grandma were here, she would berate him for his bad technique. After what feels like an eternity, Reginald is drenched with sweat and the milk has become butter. He's pretty sure his arms are about to fall off. "Good work," Dave says. "Couldn't you have, you know, helped out with that?" Reginald asks. "I'm the brains, you're the muscle. Besides, I'm too short. Let's go Reginald, it smells really bad in here and I want to bake. Oh, and don't forget to take the butter!" >take butter Taken. >out Reginald goes outside into the field, making sure no chickens sneak in through the door as he leaves. Dave adjusts his hat and follows suit. Cattle Fields Cows lazily roam around the grass, flicking their tails back and forth. A couple of them lie beside the small tool shed in the shade. Next to the shed, the chicken coop is alive with the sound of squawking hens. The stench of livestock fills the air, and Reginald is reminded of why he chose to work in the factory. The kitchen door opens out into this field, and through the glass Reginald can see Chef Johnson and his workers busily preparing tonight's dinner. There is a worm bin filled with unwanted meat scraps outside the kitchen. Reginald can enter the shed, walk north to the kitchen, or go west to the entry lane. >n Reginald weaves in between the cows and walks towards the kitchen door. Grimacing at the smell of the worm bin, he heads inside. Dave strokes his fake mustache and falls into step beside Reginald. Kitchen Chef Johnson keeps the kitchen pristine. He stands over the gleaming meat grinder preparing his special sausages for tonight's dinner. The kitchen workers are busy massaging thick slabs of dough on the heavily floured countertops. A couple of industrial grade wall cabinets seem to hold most of the common non-perishables, spices, and seasonings. To the north, the mess hall. Reginald can also go south to the field with the livestock. Chef Johnson waves them over to the ovens. "I've cleared a little bit of counter space over here for you two." Reginald and Dave place the fruits of their labor on the counter with pride. Chef Johnson winks. "Now do you see why I said you'd become men? Milking a cow is hard work!" He reaches over Dave and cranks a knob to preheat the oven. "I've put out the rest of the ingredients in these bowls," he says. With that, Chef Johnson walks away. Reginald stares at Dave expectantly. He stares back. "What are you staring at me for?" Dave asks. "I was just waiting for you to start. You're the baking enthusiast, after all." Dave has a curiously blank expression on his face. Reginald narrows his eyes. "You do know how to make these, right?" "Of course," Dave says. He narrows his eyes at all of the ingredients arranged on the counter before heading to the kitchen sink. "First we have to wash our hands." Reginald gets the feeling that Dave has no idea what he's doing, but washes his hands anyway. Once both of their hands are clean and dry, Reginald asks, "Well, what now?" "Now we mix all our ingredients," Dave says. He walks over to the flour and scoops a few spoonfuls into a large mixing bowl. "Yes, yes. Nothing to it." Reginald watches with concern as Dave shovels in a large scoop of sugar, and then another one. That's a lot of sugar. "Do you have measuring cups? How much is supposed to go in?" "You bake with your heart and soul, Reginald, not with your mind," Dave says, throwing some salt into the mix. "Now, where's that baking soda?" Reginald passes the baking soda and stands to the side as Dave works his magic. At least, Reginald hopes he has baking magic. He clearly doesn't have a recipe. A few minutes later, Reginald slides a tray of cookie dough balls into the oven. Having never made cookies himself, he doesn't know if they look right or not. Dave stands with his eyes glued to the oven door the entire time the cookies are baking. "How long do we wait?" Reginald asks. Dave can't tear his eyes away from the cookies. "Until they're done." Of course. Reginald settles down next to Dave and waits. A flurry of culinary activity blows through the kitchen as the two of them sit in companionable silence, watching the dough flatten and spread on the sheet pan. "I think they're done," Dave says. His brow furrows and his mustache wiggles in concentration. He tosses Reginald a red oven mitt. "You take them out. My claws aren't made for this oven mitt." They still look a little underdone to Reginald, but he isn't going to start questioning Dave now. He opens the oven door and carefully pulls the cookies out. Chef Johnson swoops in from the other side of the room. "Good work, Reginald and Ryan!" He pulls a spatula out of his apron and scoops a cookie into his hands. "You're supposed to let them cool, but I like my cookies scorching hot. There's no fun without a little bit of pain, right guys?" Reginald watches in fascination as Chef Johnson shoves the entire cookie in his mouth. That has to burn. Somehow, he's unfazed and goes right back to overseeing his workers. "Great cookie!" he calls out over his shoulder with tears in his eyes. Dave watches the chef walk away. "I know I said I wanted freshly baked cookies, but that's a little extreme." Dave and Reginald's caution only lasts so long. After watching Chef Johnson scarf down one of the cookies, they can't help taking one themselves. Against all odds, the cookies turn out to be delicious. Maybe Dave does actually have some sort of magical baking powers. "Dave, these are really good. Really, really good." Dave nods. "Yeah, of course they are. I told you I knew what I was doing." Reginald grabs another one and starts munching away. "Seriously, you should open a bakery or something." Dave looks at his cookie thoughtfully. "I'd like that. It sounds like a lot of fun." He brushes crumbs from his mustache and points to the rest of the cookies. "You should pack that up. We don't want to leave them behind. They'll be gone in no time!" Reginald looks around at the mess they made and thinks about how fun Dave is. He's such a cool guy. Balthazar is going to love him. >take cookies Reginald is already carrying the cookies. >i Reginald is carrying some chicken food, a milk bucket, a nasty knife, and some cookies. >out Reginald goes outside into the field, making sure no chickens sneak in through the door as he leaves. Dave skips along beside Reginald. Cattle Fields Cows lazily roam around the grass, flicking their tails back and forth. A couple of them lie beside the small tool shed in the shade. Next to the shed, the chicken coop is alive with the sound of squawking hens. The stench of livestock fills the air, and Reginald is reminded of why he chose to work in the factory. The kitchen door opens out into this field, and through the glass Reginald can see Chef Johnson and his workers busily preparing tonight's dinner. There is a worm bin filled with unwanted meat scraps outside the kitchen. Reginald can enter the shed, walk north to the kitchen, or go west to the entry lane. >n Reginald weaves in between the cows and walks towards the kitchen door. Grimacing at the smell of the worm bin, he heads inside. Dave follows, his pointy tail flicking from side to side. Kitchen Chef Johnson keeps the kitchen pristine. He stands over the gleaming meat grinder preparing his special sausages for tonight's dinner. The kitchen workers are busy massaging thick slabs of dough on the heavily floured countertops. A couple of industrial grade wall cabinets seem to hold most of the common non-perishables, spices, and seasonings. To the north, the mess hall. Reginald can also go south to the field with the livestock. >w Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead north, to the mess hall; and south (or out), back to cattle fields. >n Waving goodbye to the kitchen workers, Reginald walks out into the mess hall. Dave adjusts his hat and follows suit. Mess hall On one side of the mess hall, the hot bar is almost ready for the next meal. On the opposite end of the room, the salad bar has been converted into a makeshift popsicle stand. Long folding tables flanked by tiny round seats line the room's interior. To the west, a plaque hangs above the door leading into the main courtyard. The kitchen is to the south. Only a few people have decided to enjoy their snacks indoors today. Reginald supposes that popsicles are an outside food anyway. >out Reginald pushes open the door to the main courtyard. The sunlight beckons him outside. Dave strokes his fake mustache and falls into step beside Reginald. Main courtyard The main courtyard bustles with life. People sit around the picnic tables, chatting and eating snacks. A few kids toss a ball around in the grass. Reginald can continue north to enter the people's quarters or east to the mess hall. The lawn in front of the church is to the southwest. >n Reginald walks into the people's quarters, high-fiving the welcome sign on his way in. Dave skips along beside Reginald. People's quarters The entryway of the people's quarters opens into a small lounge area. Armchairs and squashy bean bags circle coffee tables. It's deserted: most people are at work or outside, and anyone else is probably in their room. A narrow hallway lined with rooms branches off to either side of the lounge. Reginald sees one open door down the hallway. Towards the back of the room, a staircase leads up to the second floor. The exit leads south to the main courtyard. From here, Reginald can enter the open room or go upstairs. >exit Reginald follows the cheerful sounds of people talking and children playing out into the courtyard. "Slow down," Dave says as he scampers along behind Reginald. "I'm not as tall as you are." Main courtyard The main courtyard bustles with life. People sit around the picnic tables, chatting and eating snacks. A few kids toss a ball around in the grass. Reginald can continue north to enter the people's quarters or east to the mess hall. The lawn in front of the church is to the southwest. >sw Reginald ducks as the ball soars over to his head. He grabs it and hands it back to the children before going to the front of the church. Dave strokes his fake mustache and falls into step beside Reginald. Outside Church The lawn in front of the church has been groomed to perfection. Two benches sit underneath a pretty oak tree. The path running in front of the factory is northwest of here. The church lies to the north. To the northeast, the compound's main courtyard. Head south to go to the entry lane. A couple of community members have decided to eat their meals outside. It's a lovely day. >ne Reginald turns his back on the beautiful lawn in front of the church and walks into the main courtyard. Dave skips along beside Reginald. Main courtyard The main courtyard bustles with life. People sit around the picnic tables, chatting and eating snacks. A few kids toss a ball around in the grass. Reginald can continue north to enter the people's quarters or east to the mess hall. The lawn in front of the church is to the southwest. >sw Reginald ducks as the ball soars over to his head. He grabs it and hands it back to the children before going to the front of the church. Dave follows, his pointy tail flicking from side to side. Outside Church The lawn in front of the church has been groomed to perfection. Two benches sit underneath a pretty oak tree. The path running in front of the factory is northwest of here. The church lies to the north. To the northeast, the compound's main courtyard. Head south to go to the entry lane. A couple of community members have decided to eat their meals outside. It's a lovely day. >nw Reginald walks past the community members to the front of the factory. Dave adjusts his hat and follows suit. Outside factory The front of the factory is decorated by a couple of scruffy shrubs and an old, rusty cannon. A stack of cannonballs sit nearby. From here, a dirt pathway leads west towards the entrance of the factory. Reginald can also choose to head southeast towards the front of the church. Up north, the leader's quarters loom. >n Reginald wipes his shoes on the doormat before entering Balthazar's chambers. He wouldn't want to track dirt onto those pristine floors. "Slow down," Dave says as he scampers along behind Reginald. "I'm not as tall as you are." Leader's quarters Now this place looks fit for a king! The polished wooden floors shine and the walls are lined with bookcases stretching to the ceiling. Balthazar's personal desk sits in the back of the room and a plush bearskin rug stares up at Reginald from the floor. To leave the room, Reginald can go south to the front of the factory. As Dave tries to enter Balthazar's chambers, he's blocked by Garry or Larry. "You are not authorized to enter." "Sorry, Ryan," says the other one. "Now, now. I wouldn't want to deny one of our citizens the chance to meet me." Balthazar wears his usual friendly smile. "I'm sure Reginald brought Ryan here for a good reason. Let him pass." Dave shuffles under G/Larry's outstretched arm and sits down beside Reginald. Apparently his disguise is enough to fool even Balthazar himself. Reginald expects Dave to say something, but he seems to be waiting for Reginald to introduce him. "Balthazar, I've brought you the demon I summoned. This isn't Ryan. Dave, go ahead and take off that disguise." Dave peels off his fake mustache and removes his hat. Gary and Larry look stunned at his transformation. Balthazar's friendly smile twists into something different as he fails to stifle a derisive snort. He scrutinizes Dave, his brows furrowing in distaste. "So," he says. "The demon you summoned me is... this?" What was that supposed to mean? Does Balthazar not like Dave? "Dave's great! He loves baking." Dave sits next to Reginald with a cool expression on his face. He does not seem to be particularly impressed with Balthazar's welcome. Reginald doesn't understand what's wrong with the two of them. Balthazar and Dave are both cool guys! Why aren't they getting along? Reginald shifts around in his seat and waits for one of them to break the silence. Balthazar shakes his head dismissively and gestures towards Dave. "Send him away." "What?" Balthazar shrugs and points to Dave again. "Him. The demon, if you can even call him that. Send him back." Reginald stares at Balthazar but doesn't know what to say. "Get rid of him?" he echos in disbelief. That doesn't sound like something the Balthazar he met this morning would say. Is this even the same guy? "He's too small," Balthazar says. "We need menacing warriors by our side when we take on the apocalypse. He's useless." Dave bristles. "You watch who you call useless. You're lucky I can't reach you over this desk!" Balthazar laughs at him and turns to Reginald once again. "See? Now take him to the summoning chamber and send him back to where he belongs." Banish Dave back into the underworld? That doesn't make any sense. "Isn't it better to have as many friendly demons on our side as possible? Dave could help us convince other demons to work with us." Balthazar narrows his eyes. "I hadn't realized that you were the leader of this sanctuary, Reginald. Now, enough of this nonsense. I won't tell you again. Go banish... Dave." Something weird is going on here. "Dave is nothing like the demons you describe in your sermons. He's reasonable and nice and doesn't want to destroy our world. What's really happening right now?" "Nothing's happening. Just do as I say." With that, Balthazar signals to his bodyguards. It's clear he wants Reginald and Dave to leave. Balthazar sits in his chair, looking displeased. >out Reginald exits Balthazar's quarters. The dirt path feels especially rustic by comparison. Dave skips along beside Reginald. Outside factory The front of the factory is decorated by a couple of scruffy shrubs and an old, rusty cannon. A stack of cannonballs sit nearby. From here, a dirt pathway leads west towards the entrance of the factory. Reginald can also choose to head southeast towards the front of the church. Up north, the leader's quarters loom. Dave pokes Reginald in the back. "Hey," he says. "What was that all about? You said Balthazar would like me." "I don't know what's with him. It's like he's a completely different person." Reginald paces around, deep in thought. What happened to the friendly Balthazar who just wanted what's best for the people in the Sanctuary? What harm could Dave possibly do them? Why would he need to banish Dave? Dave plops on the ground with a glum frown on his face. "So, what are you going to do now?" He avoids making eye contact with Reginald. "Are you going to banish me?" Reginald shakes his head absentmindedly. "I don't know," he says. "What other option do I have? They already know you're not really Ryan. If Garry or Larry catches me with you again, we're both toast." Dave plays around with his mustache. "The adhesive on this thing is wearing off anyway." He slaps it back on his face. It hangs there, limp and lifeless. "It'll probably last another hour or so, tops." A community member walks out of the factory and waves at Dave. "What's wrong, Ryan? You're looking a little down. Even your mustache is drooping." Dave shrugs. "It's just one of those days, man." The community member nods sympathetically. He pats Dave on the shoulder before heading towards the church lawn. Dave watches him leave with a thoughtful expression on his face. "I think I might have an idea." "It's probably a long shot, anyway," Dave says. He seems a little shy. "I don't even know if I can do it." Reginald rolls his eyes. "Come on, spit it out. We're not exactly swimming in options. I'm sure it's a good idea." "Demons are supposed to be able to possess people, right?" Dave fiddles with his hat. "I've obviously never done it before, so I'd be horrible at it, but it would be a great way to hide me from Balthazar and his goons." "You want to possess someone? Isn't that a little bit... unethical?" Dave smiles but it looks more like an uncertain grimace. "Well... as long as we get their consent, it's fine, right? We just need to find the right person." "Hmm," Reginald says. He's still not convinced. What kind of an idiot would willingly let a demon possess them? Not to mention the fact that he'd be directly disobeying Balthazar if he went through with Dave's plan. "So, pal?" Dave looks nervous. "What do you say? Are you gonna help me find someone to possess?" He doesn't want to go against Balthazar's wishes, but he doesn't want to banish Dave, either, and he doesn't understand why Balthazar would want him to. "I'll think about it. In the meantime, why don't we take a look around the compound. Maybe we'll even run into someone you can possess." Dave beams. "Yeah, if you think of anybody who seems like a good candidate, just show them to me. I'll let you know if I like them." Reginald smiles back, even though he still isn't sure of what to do. So far, Dave has seemed like a stand up guy, but he is a demon. Is it right to help him possess someone? Reginald isn't exactly Mr. Popular, but he knows a couple of lovable weirdos who might be willing to house a demon. He could ask his friend Chris, or Chef Johnson, or Buster. Maybe there's someone else suitable hiding somewhere in the Sanctuary. Or maybe it's time to say goodbye. Dave is probably harmless, but what if he isn't? Perhaps Reginald should just do what Balthazar says. >save Saved. >e Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead north, back to the leader's quarters; west (or in), to the factory; and southeast, to the outside church. >w Reginald crosses the dirt path to the factory and steps inside. Dave adjusts his hat and follows suit. Factory The hum of machines and the chatter of workers fill the air. There are a dozen long plastic tables evenly spaced along the floor. Rays of sunlight beam down from high windows above the factory entrance to the east. Buster is sitting at his usual spot. >talk to buster Reginald and Buster greet each other with the ease of good friends. "How's it going?" "Great. You?" "I'm fine. You?" "Yes." >ask buster about demon "You know, man, I don't know all that much about demons," Buster says. "Everyone seems terrified of them, and Balthazar says they're planning to attack us. That wouldn't be very cool." >ask buster about possession Buster thinks about Reginald's question for a while and then replies, "I'm going to be honest with you, Reginald. I really don't know anything useful about possession." >ask buster about housing Buster thinks about Reginald's question for a while and then replies, "I'm going to be honest with you, Reginald. I really don't know anything useful about housing." >ask buster about housing a demon Buster thinks about Reginald's question for a while and then replies, "I'm going to be honest with you, Reginald. I really don't know anything useful about housing a demon." >* hmm Comment recorded. >show buster to dave Reginald watches Buster happily putting stickers into boxes. "When's your break?" he asks. Buster shrugs. "I forgot to sign up for one. It's okay, stickers are pretty fun and I heard it's hot dogs for dinner tonight. Things are looking good." That moment, a worker drops off another enormous pile of stickers next to Buster. He thanks them and continues to work, humming a jolly tune. Reginald shakes his head and gestures towards Dave. "Well, I just dropped by to introduce you to Ryan. He's Balthazar's demon expert, and I'm learning stuff from him today." Buster shakes Dave's hand enthusiastically. "Yo, that's awesome. I know I'm supposed to be scared of demons, but they've never bothered me, so they can't be that bad, right?" Dave is absolutely delighted. "I'm so glad you think so! Lots of people are unwilling to look past the general demon stereotypes." "Thanks, man. I'm not really sure what general demon stereotypes are, but if you tell me, I'll definitely keep an eye out for them." Buster thinks about what he said for a couple of seconds. "And then I'm supposed to ignore them, right? Yeah, I'll do that." Dave inspects Buster. He nods approvingly at Buster's neatly buzzed head, his slightly pudgy belly, and his muscular forearms. "Demons can sometimes enter the bodies of humans," he says. "It's a painless process where two beings inhabit the same body." Buster scratches his head. "Like sex? Or is it more like having a roommate?" "Like having a roommate." "Oh." Buster nods. "You know, that sounds pretty cool. I'd be down with that. I want to start a band, and having a demon in my band would be totally badass." Reginald raises an eyebrow at Dave. Is that enough? Did Buster just give verbal consent? Dave takes a deep breath and walks a few feet away. Reginald watches with fascination as Dave closes his eyes and starts running at full speed towards Buster. Just before Dave is about to crash into Buster, he disappears. A shiny pink cloud envelopes Buster, and he starts levitating out of his seat. His eyes are closed and his hands are clenched into fists. Reginald grabs him by the shoulders before he can float up too high and pushes him back into the chair. After a moment, the cloud vanishes as abruptly as it had appeared, and Buster's body stops resisting Reginald's efforts to keep it on the ground. Dave is nowhere to be seen. "Buster? Dave?" Buster turns to Reginald with wide eyes. "Dude,"he says. "Ryan's a demon! He just possessed me! Woah, I did not see that coming at all." Reginald shushes Buster and quickly explains the situation. "Basically, we have to keep this arrangement a secret," Reginald says. "Buster, something funny is going on with Balthazar, and he wants Dave gone. Don't tell anyone I let Dave possess you." "So let me get this straight. Ryan's name is actually Dave?" "Yeah, that about sums it up." "That's wild, man. Never thought I'd see the day. Nice to meet you for real, Dave." Buster pats himself on the shoulder. "You too, Buster. I think this partnership will turn out wonderfully. There's so much space in this brain. Thanks, man! I like to keep an empty mind, Zen style." Oh no. This is going to be confusing. How will Reginald know who's talking? What will Reginald even call them? Bave? Duster? He decides to let Buster and Dave figure out their new shared existence. "Speaking of Balthazar," he says, "I better go tell him I banished Dave." >out Reginald walks out the factory's large front doors, squinting at the bright sunlight. Outside factory The front of the factory is decorated by a couple of scruffy shrubs and an old, rusty cannon. A stack of cannonballs sit nearby. From here, a dirt pathway leads west towards the entrance of the factory. Reginald can also choose to head southeast towards the front of the church. Up north, the leader's quarters loom. >n Reginald wipes his shoes on the doormat before entering Balthazar's chambers. He wouldn't want to track dirt onto those pristine floors. Leader's quarters Now this place looks fit for a king! The polished wooden floors shine and the walls are lined with bookcases stretching to the ceiling. Balthazar's personal desk sits in the back of the room and a plush bearskin rug stares up at Reginald from the floor. To leave the room, Reginald can go south to the front of the factory. As Reginald enters Balthazar's quarters, he reminds himself of his story. He banished Dave, it was difficult but the right thing to do, and now he's coming back to report. He just needs to be convincing enough that Balthazar won't suspect anything. Garry and Larry part to allow Reginald into the room and he trudges over to the seat in front of Balthazar's desk. "I did it. Dave's gone." Balthazar nods approvingly. "I knew I could rely on you, Reginald. I know it must have been hard, but I can assure you that getting rid of Dave was the best thing for the community." "Don't worry, Balthazar. I trust your judgement." "I'm glad, Reginald." Balthazar leans back on his chair. "Even though Dave was... ill-suited for our purposes, you were still successful in summoning a demon. That's impressive, and I want you to be proud of that." Reginald mutters a quiet thank you. "In time, I will have you summon another demon. However, there are some things I'd like you to do first." Balthazar opens one of his desk drawers and pulls out a protein bar. "I believe that the larger, more powerful demons will be attracted to a sacrificial element in your summoning ritual." "A sacrificial element? What do you mean?" Balthazar dramatically chews and swallows all of his protein bar before giving Reginald his answer. "I need you to get an ear for me." Reginald scratches his head. "An ear?" "Yes, Reginald." Balthazar unwraps another protein bar. "The ritual needs... an organic component, so to say, to attract a more vicious demon. I thought the lard would be enough, but clearly that was not the case. An ear should suffice." "Where am I supposed to get an ear?" Balthazar has nearly finished the second protein bar already. His speed is astounding. "I'll leave that up to you, Reginald. It's not important where the ear comes from. I won't question your methods. Just bring it to me when you're done." Garry and Larry stand by the door. Balthazar sits in a leather armchair behind his desk. He looks up expectantly. >* ick Comment recorded. >cut balthazar (with the nasty knife) The nasty knife can’t seem to cut Balthazar. >* Hmmm Comment recorded. >save Saved. >out Reginald exits Balthazar's quarters. The dirt path feels especially rustic by comparison. Outside factory The front of the factory is decorated by a couple of scruffy shrubs and an old, rusty cannon. A stack of cannonballs sit nearby. From here, a dirt pathway leads west towards the entrance of the factory. Reginald can also choose to head southeast towards the front of the church. Up north, the leader's quarters loom. >se Reginald strolls along the path to the lawn in front of the church. Outside Church The lawn in front of the church has been groomed to perfection. Two benches sit underneath a pretty oak tree. The path running in front of the factory is northwest of here. The church lies to the north. To the northeast, the compound's main courtyard. Head south to go to the entry lane. A couple of community members have decided to eat their meals outside. It's a lovely day. >ne Reginald turns his back on the beautiful lawn in front of the church and walks into the main courtyard. Main courtyard The main courtyard bustles with life. People sit around the picnic tables, chatting and eating snacks. A few kids toss a ball around in the grass. Reginald can continue north to enter the people's quarters or east to the mess hall. The lawn in front of the church is to the southwest. >n Reginald walks into the people's quarters, high-fiving the welcome sign on his way in. People's quarters The entryway of the people's quarters opens into a small lounge area. Armchairs and squashy bean bags circle coffee tables. It's deserted: most people are at work or outside, and anyone else is probably in their room. A narrow hallway lined with rooms branches off to either side of the lounge. Reginald sees one open door down the hallway. Towards the back of the room, a staircase leads up to the second floor. The exit leads south to the main courtyard. From here, Reginald can enter the open room or go upstairs. >in (the ruth's room) Inside Ruth's Room Two beds lie along the wall by the door across from a large window. The open blinds let in sunlight and brighten up the room. A dresser sits opposite each bed. Two small built-in closets line the left wall. Curiosity overcomes any reservations Reginald has about snooping through other people's belongings. He wants to look around. To leave, Reginald can go out the door into the first floor hallway of the people's quarters. >x beds Both of the beds are covered in matching quilts and pillows. Cozy. >x windows Reginald sees no windows here. >x dresser Which dresser do you mean, the right dresser, or the left dresser? >right The top two drawers of this dresser hold socks and underwear, but the bottom drawer catches Reginald's eye. Inside are a stack of pictures, a comb, and a small notebook. >x pictures All the pictures are of Reginald's friend Chris. Most seem to have been taken without her noticing. Creepy. >x comb A few strands of short blue hair curl out from between the comb's teeth. Chris is the only member of the Sanctuary who has blue hair, but this isn't her room. >x notebook There are pages and pages of handwritten material. Reginald flips to a random part of the notebook and reads: Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of vibrant blue hair. She was, without a doubt, the most strikingly beautiful woman I'd ever seen. Her porcelain white skin gleamed in the morning sunlight. Her cheekbones were so sharp it was as though Aphrodite herself had carved them out of the finest block of marble. A smattering of freckles ran across her nose, adding to her fresh-faced angelicism. "Hello," she whispered. Her stormy gray eyes reached into the depths of my soul. "My name is Chris, and I'm here to save you." I couldn't believe my ears. "Save me?" I echoed helplessly. "That's impossible. This is my fate. I've been enslaved on this pirate ship for too long and Captain Bluebeard will never let me go. If he finds out you tried to help me, he will kill you." Chris shook her head and laughed bitterly, her curly hair bouncing around her face. "Bluebeard won't kill me, I'm his daughter." Did Ruth really write eighty pages of this? Reginald places the notebook back in the drawer without reading the rest. Ruth is way too obsessed with Chris. Maybe he should tell her. >x left The dresser is full of socks and women's undergarments. Reginald blushes and closes the drawers. >x right The top two drawers of this dresser hold socks and underwear, but the bottom drawer catches Reginald's eye. Inside are a stack of pictures, a comb, and a small notebook. >l Inside Ruth's Room Two beds lie along the wall by the door across from a large window. The open blinds let in sunlight and brighten up the room. A dresser sits opposite each bed. Two small built-in closets line the left wall. Curiosity overcomes any reservations Reginald has about snooping through other people's belongings. He wants to look around. To leave, Reginald can go out the door into the first floor hallway of the people's quarters. >x closets Both of the closets have simple white frocks hanging from the metal bars. Almost everyone in the community wears these. >out Reginald slinks out of the room and breathes a sigh of relief. The hallway is empty so no one saw him creeping around in someone else's room. People's quarters The entryway of the people's quarters opens into a small lounge area. Armchairs and squashy bean bags circle coffee tables. It's deserted: most people are at work or outside, and anyone else is probably in their room. A narrow hallway lined with rooms branches off to either side of the lounge. Reginald sees one open door down the hallway. Towards the back of the room, a staircase leads up to the second floor. The exit leads south to the main courtyard. From here, Reginald can enter the open room or go upstairs. >u Reginald climbs up the staircase onto the second floor. People's quarters (Second Floor) The upstairs hallway practically mirrors the one below, except there isn't a lounge area. A janitor's closet lies in the middle of the hallway. A sign on the door reads EMPLOYEES ONLY. Reginald could either go to his room or down the stairs to the first floor of the people's quarters. >x closet Reginald notices a faint savory smell wafting from the locked door. Wait a minute. "Do we even have a janitor?" Reginald asks himself. >open closet That is not something Reginald can open. >enter closet The door into the janitor's closet is locked. >in Reginald can go into the janitor's closet or into his room. To enter the closet, type 'enter closet'. To enter Reginald's room, type 'enter reginald's room' (just 'enter room' should work as well). >enter closet The door into the janitor's closet is locked. >enter room Reginald and Buster's room Reginald's room that he shares with Buster. Just like all the other rooms in this building, there are two beds, two dressers, and two closets. Reginald's side of the room might be slightly messier than Buster's, but Buster doesn't mind... probably. He's never mentioned it if he does. Bumper stickers advertising The Hidden Hills Sanctuary cover their window. A dartboard hangs on the wall next to the window. A couple of fancy soaps decorate the side tables next to their beds. To leave this room, Reginald simply has to walk out the door into the second floor hallway of the people's quarters. A bottle of pills sits on Reginald's dresser. >x dartboard A picture of Reginald's ex-girlfriend Angela stares back at him from the dartboard. Her face is the bullseye. >x soaps Leftovers from Reginald's soap-making days. He may have left the fragrance industry behind, but he still likes to smell good. >x angela Reginald is very good at throwing darts. One dart is stuck in each of Angela's eyes, and a few more pepper the dartboard. >take darrts The word “darrts” is not necessary in this story. >take darts The darts aren’t important. >l Reginald and Buster's room Reginald's room that he shares with Buster. Just like all the other rooms in this building, there are two beds, two dressers, and two closets. Reginald's side of the room might be slightly messier than Buster's, but Buster doesn't mind... probably. He's never mentioned it if he does. Bumper stickers advertising The Hidden Hills Sanctuary cover their window. A dartboard hangs on the wall next to the window. A couple of fancy soaps decorate the side tables next to their beds. To leave this room, Reginald simply has to walk out the door into the second floor hallway of the people's quarters. A bottle of pills sits on Reginald's dresser. >x pills A bottle of sleeping pills. Reginald needs them to help with his insomnia. >take pills Taken. >l Reginald and Buster's room Reginald's room that he shares with Buster. Just like all the other rooms in this building, there are two beds, two dressers, and two closets. Reginald's side of the room might be slightly messier than Buster's, but Buster doesn't mind... probably. He's never mentioned it if he does. Bumper stickers advertising The Hidden Hills Sanctuary cover their window. A dartboard hangs on the wall next to the window. A couple of fancy soaps decorate the side tables next to their beds. To leave this room, Reginald simply has to walk out the door into the second floor hallway of the people's quarters. >x dressers The word “dressers” is not necessary in this story. >x left Reginald sees no left here. >x left dresser Reginald sees no left dresser here. >d dresser The story doesn’t understand that command. >x dresser Reginald's dresser is just like everyone else's in the Sanctuary. >x buster's dresser Buster does not appear to have any such thing. >l Reginald and Buster's room Reginald's room that he shares with Buster. Just like all the other rooms in this building, there are two beds, two dressers, and two closets. Reginald's side of the room might be slightly messier than Buster's, but Buster doesn't mind... probably. He's never mentioned it if he does. Bumper stickers advertising The Hidden Hills Sanctuary cover their window. A dartboard hangs on the wall next to the window. A couple of fancy soaps decorate the side tables next to their beds. To leave this room, Reginald simply has to walk out the door into the second floor hallway of the people's quarters. >x dresser Reginald's dresser is just like everyone else's in the Sanctuary. >x closet Reginald looks at the two small closets in the room. Buster's closet has nothing in it. Reginald wonders where he keeps his frocks. >* hmm Comment recorded. >out Reginald exits his room back into the second floor hallway. People's quarters (Second Floor) The upstairs hallway practically mirrors the one below, except there isn't a lounge area. A janitor's closet lies in the middle of the hallway. A sign on the door reads EMPLOYEES ONLY. Reginald could either go to his room or down the stairs to the first floor of the people's quarters. >d Reginald walks down the staircase back onto the first floor lounge area. People's quarters The entryway of the people's quarters opens into a small lounge area. Armchairs and squashy bean bags circle coffee tables. It's deserted: most people are at work or outside, and anyone else is probably in their room. A narrow hallway lined with rooms branches off to either side of the lounge. Reginald sees one open door down the hallway. Towards the back of the room, a staircase leads up to the second floor. The exit leads south to the main courtyard. From here, Reginald can enter the open room or go upstairs. >out Reginald follows the cheerful sounds of people talking and children playing out into the courtyard. Main courtyard The main courtyard bustles with life. People sit around the picnic tables, chatting and eating snacks. A few kids toss a ball around in the grass. Reginald can continue north to enter the people's quarters or east to the mess hall. The lawn in front of the church is to the southwest. >e Reginald enters the mess hall. It's much less lively in here, but more relaxing. Mess hall On one side of the mess hall, the hot bar is almost ready for the next meal. On the opposite end of the room, the salad bar has been converted into a makeshift popsicle stand. Long folding tables flanked by tiny round seats line the room's interior. To the west, a plaque hangs above the door leading into the main courtyard. The kitchen is to the south. Only a few people have decided to enjoy their snacks indoors today. Reginald supposes that popsicles are an outside food anyway. >x people The Sanctuary's members come from all walks of life, but one wouldn't be able to tell by looking at them. >x hot bar The hot bar's not looking too hot right now. Probably because it's between meals and there's no food out. >x salad Normally the less popular food bar, but today it's really poppin'! A sign on the stand reads: Courtesy of Chef Johnson. Take one! >s Reginald snakes his way between the tables and goes into the kitchen. Kitchen Chef Johnson keeps the kitchen pristine. He stands over the gleaming meat grinder preparing his special sausages for tonight's dinner. The kitchen workers are busy massaging thick slabs of dough on the heavily floured countertops. A couple of industrial grade wall cabinets seem to hold most of the common non-perishables, spices, and seasonings. To the north, the mess hall. Reginald can also go south to the field with the livestock. >n Waving goodbye to the kitchen workers, Reginald walks out into the mess hall. Mess hall On one side of the mess hall, the hot bar is almost ready for the next meal. On the opposite end of the room, the salad bar has been converted into a makeshift popsicle stand. Long folding tables flanked by tiny round seats line the room's interior. To the west, a plaque hangs above the door leading into the main courtyard. The kitchen is to the south. Only a few people have decided to enjoy their snacks indoors today. Reginald supposes that popsicles are an outside food anyway. >l Mess hall On one side of the mess hall, the hot bar is almost ready for the next meal. On the opposite end of the room, the salad bar has been converted into a makeshift popsicle stand. Long folding tables flanked by tiny round seats line the room's interior. To the west, a plaque hangs above the door leading into the main courtyard. The kitchen is to the south. Only a few people have decided to enjoy their snacks indoors today. Reginald supposes that popsicles are an outside food anyway. >x popsicle These popsicles are pretty hefty. Long, thick, and many different flavors. >take one Reginald sees no one here. >take popsicle Taken. >i Reginald is carrying some chicken food, a milk bucket, a nasty knife, some cookies, some sleeping pills, and a popsicle. >x popsicle These popsicles are pretty hefty. Long, thick, and many different flavors. >s Reginald snakes his way between the tables and goes into the kitchen. Kitchen Chef Johnson keeps the kitchen pristine. He stands over the gleaming meat grinder preparing his special sausages for tonight's dinner. The kitchen workers are busy massaging thick slabs of dough on the heavily floured countertops. A couple of industrial grade wall cabinets seem to hold most of the common non-perishables, spices, and seasonings. To the north, the mess hall. Reginald can also go south to the field with the livestock. >x chef A true beast of a man. He handles each wiener with skillful professionalism. >ask chef about ear "Oh, I don't know, Reginald. I don't think ear would go very well with my hot dogs." >* ummm Comment recorded. >out Reginald goes outside into the field, making sure no chickens sneak in through the door as he leaves. Cattle Fields Cows lazily roam around the grass, flicking their tails back and forth. A couple of them lie beside the small tool shed in the shade. Next to the shed, the chicken coop is alive with the sound of squawking hens. The stench of livestock fills the air, and Reginald is reminded of why he chose to work in the factory. The kitchen door opens out into this field, and through the glass Reginald can see Chef Johnson and his workers busily preparing tonight's dinner. There is a worm bin filled with unwanted meat scraps outside the kitchen. Reginald can enter the shed, walk north to the kitchen, or go west to the entry lane. >x scraps The word “scraps” is not necessary in this story. >x bin A simple trash bin filled with dirt, paper, and worms. It's unpleasant, to say the least, but Chef Johnson insists that it's the best way to recycle all the food scraps. There are pieces of rotting flesh poking out from the dirt. Reginald turns away in disgust. >search bin [Runtime error: wrong number of arguments ] >* oops Comment recorded. >search [Runtime error: wrong number of arguments ] >x bin A simple trash bin filled with dirt, paper, and worms. It's unpleasant, to say the least, but Chef Johnson insists that it's the best way to recycle all the food scraps. There are pieces of rotting flesh poking out from the dirt. Reginald turns away in disgust. >take bin The worm bin is too heavy. >open bi The word “bi” is not necessary in this story. >open bin That is not something Reginald can open. >l Cattle Fields Cows lazily roam around the grass, flicking their tails back and forth. A couple of them lie beside the small tool shed in the shade. Next to the shed, the chicken coop is alive with the sound of squawking hens. The stench of livestock fills the air, and Reginald is reminded of why he chose to work in the factory. The kitchen door opens out into this field, and through the glass Reginald can see Chef Johnson and his workers busily preparing tonight's dinner. There is a worm bin filled with unwanted meat scraps outside the kitchen. Reginald can enter the shed, walk north to the kitchen, or go west to the entry lane. >w Reginald leaves the cows and chickens behind him and walks to the entry lane. Entry lane The only way in or out of the compound is here, through the gate in the entry lane. The utilitarian fence that surrounds the compound feels at odds with the rest of its welcoming atmosphere. To go to the front of the church, Reginald can head north. To the east, livestock roam the lush grass. To the west, a cornfield. Three armed guards stand by the gate chatting amongst themselves. >e Reginald braces himself against the smell of livestock and heads into the field. Cattle Fields Cows lazily roam around the grass, flicking their tails back and forth. A couple of them lie beside the small tool shed in the shade. Next to the shed, the chicken coop is alive with the sound of squawking hens. The stench of livestock fills the air, and Reginald is reminded of why he chose to work in the factory. The kitchen door opens out into this field, and through the glass Reginald can see Chef Johnson and his workers busily preparing tonight's dinner. There is a worm bin filled with unwanted meat scraps outside the kitchen. Reginald can enter the shed, walk north to the kitchen, or go west to the entry lane. >x ear (the ear) Reginald's ear has been hurting all day. Maybe he'd feel better if he just didn't have it attached to his head. >* umm no Comment recorded. >w Reginald leaves the cows and chickens behind him and walks to the entry lane. Entry lane The only way in or out of the compound is here, through the gate in the entry lane. The utilitarian fence that surrounds the compound feels at odds with the rest of its welcoming atmosphere. To go to the front of the church, Reginald can head north. To the east, livestock roam the lush grass. To the west, a cornfield. Three armed guards stand by the gate chatting amongst themselves. >w Reginald heads into the fields, trying his best not to step on any crops. Crop fields Most of the compound's food supply is grown here. Rows of corn have begun to sprout next to the wheat and potatoes. A big barn stands on the edge of the cornfield. Off in the distance, Chris tends to a little vegetable farm. She is wearing a big straw hat. From here, Reginald can go east to the entry lane or inside the big red barn. The wheat is rustling, despite the lack of wind. >x chris The blue hair was a bold move, but it paid off. It really suits her. She has a smattering of freckles across her face. >talk to chris "How are the vegetables doing?" Reginald asks. Chris takes off her hat and wipes away sweat from her brow. "The onions are coming along nicely. The carrots are looking a little small, though." Reginald doesn't know enough about farming to keep this line of conversation going. Maybe he should change the subject. >tell chris about ruth "So, Ruth seems really... interested in you." Chris smiles. "Isn't she great? She's my best friend. I love hanging out with her. It's like she already knows everything about me." "Well, she has been following you around and watching you. Isn't that a little bit creepy?" Chris shrugs and pulls up a weed. "Don't be ridiculous. I'm sure it's just a coincidence that she runs into me several times a day." It seems like Chris isn't getting it. Perhaps Reginald should tell her about the items he found in Ruth's room. >tell chris about comb "I saw a comb in Ruth's room with a lock of your hair caught in it. She keeps it in a drawer beside her bed." Chris looks absolutely delighted. "I lost that comb a few weeks ago! I'm so glad that Ruth found it. It's just like her to put it in a drawer for safekeeping." "Chris, she's keeping a lock of your hair." "She really likes the shade. She probably wanted a reference in case she decides to dye hers, too." >tell chris about pictures Reginald leans closer to Chris and whispers his own secret theory about pictures. Weirdly enough, Chris thinks he has no evidence and says his theory is ridiculous. >tell chris about photos "Ruth has a whole stack of photos of you." "Well, of course! She's my best friend. I have a few photos of her, too. In fact, she gave them to me. Isn't that nice of her?" >tell chris about notes Reginald leans closer to Chris and whispers his own secret theory about notes. Weirdly enough, Chris thinks he has no evidence and says his theory is ridiculous. >tell chris about notebook "She wrote an entire journal's worth of... stories about you." "Oh, Ruth is such a talented writer! I didn't know she was writing a story about me, but that's so thoughtful of her. I can't believe I'm somebody's muse." The world's most secret truths may not be able to hide from Chris's eyes, but sometimes the most obvious ones are the hardest to see. >tell chris about ruth "So, Ruth seems really... interested in you." Chris smiles. "Isn't she great? She's my best friend. I love hanging out with her. It's like she already knows everything about me." "Well, she has been following you around and watching you. Isn't that a little bit creepy?" Chris shrugs and pulls up a weed. "Don't be ridiculous. I'm sure it's just a coincidence that she runs into me several times a day." It seems like Chris isn't getting it. Perhaps Reginald should tell her about the items he found in Ruth's room. >* This seems OK? Comment recorded. >l Crop fields Most of the compound's food supply is grown here. Rows of corn have begun to sprout next to the wheat and potatoes. A big barn stands on the edge of the cornfield. Off in the distance, Chris tends to a little vegetable farm. She is wearing a big straw hat. From here, Reginald can go east to the entry lane or inside the big red barn. The wheat is rustling, despite the lack of wind. Chris is standing here. >ask chris about ruth "Hey Chris, do you know Ruth, by chance?" "Yeah, I know Ruth. She's a great friend." >x ron The word “ron” is not necessary in this story. >x corn The corn was planted not too long ago. It isn't tall yet. >x hat The word “hat” is not necessary in this story. >ask chris about ear Reginald asks Chris if she has any opinions on ear. She happily lays out a surprisingly detailed theory about the subject that Reginald hadn't even considered. Maybe some of her theories are actually right. >in Reginald walks over to the big barn in the middle of the crop fields. Barn There isn't much in here except for some farm equipment. A large yellow tractor sits in the middle of the barn. To leave the barn, Reginald should go back out into the cornfield. A discarded wrench lies in the corner. >x equipment Reginald feels out of place here. He doesn't know much about farming. >x wrench Out of all the industrial farm equipment, the only thing he recognizes is the wrench. >take it Taken. >x tractor The yellow tractor has a large hay spear attached to the front of it. Reginald isn't exactly sure how to use it, but it looks clunky and impractical. The keys are on the dashboard. >out Reginald exits the barn and waves at Chris on his way by. Crop fields Most of the compound's food supply is grown here. Rows of corn have begun to sprout next to the wheat and potatoes. A big barn stands on the edge of the cornfield. Off in the distance, Chris tends to a little vegetable farm. She is wearing a big straw hat. From here, Reginald can go east to the entry lane or inside the big red barn. The wheat is rustling, despite the lack of wind. >save Saved. >hint Done. >s Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead east, to the entry lane; and in, back to the barn. >out What do you want Reginald to get out of? >x corn The corn was planted not too long ago. It isn't tall yet. >x ear Reginald's ear has been hurting all day. Maybe he'd feel better if he just didn't have it attached to his head. >cut corn (with the nasty knife) The corn isn’t important. >take corn The corn isn’t important. >* Look let me just do a pun solution here Comment recorded. >e Reginald wades through the corn on his way to the entry lane. Entry lane The only way in or out of the compound is here, through the gate in the entry lane. The utilitarian fence that surrounds the compound feels at odds with the rest of its welcoming atmosphere. To go to the front of the church, Reginald can head north. To the east, livestock roam the lush grass. To the west, a cornfield. Three armed guards stand by the gate chatting amongst themselves. >w Reginald heads into the fields, trying his best not to step on any crops. Crop fields Most of the compound's food supply is grown here. Rows of corn have begun to sprout next to the wheat and potatoes. A big barn stands on the edge of the cornfield. Off in the distance, Chris tends to a little vegetable farm. She is wearing a big straw hat. From here, Reginald can go east to the entry lane or inside the big red barn. The wheat is rustling, despite the lack of wind. >x chris' ear Reginald sees no chris' ear here. >e Reginald wades through the corn on his way to the entry lane. Entry lane The only way in or out of the compound is here, through the gate in the entry lane. The utilitarian fence that surrounds the compound feels at odds with the rest of its welcoming atmosphere. To go to the front of the church, Reginald can head north. To the east, livestock roam the lush grass. To the west, a cornfield. Three armed guards stand by the gate chatting amongst themselves. >n Reginald walks along the scenic path towards the church's lawn. Outside Church The lawn in front of the church has been groomed to perfection. Two benches sit underneath a pretty oak tree. The path running in front of the factory is northwest of here. The church lies to the north. To the northeast, the compound's main courtyard. Head south to go to the entry lane. A couple of community members have decided to eat their meals outside. It's a lovely day. >e Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead north (or in), to the church; south, back to the entry lane; northeast, to the main courtyard; and northwest, to the outside factory. >n Reginald makes his way towards the red brick church. Church Rows of pews fill the interior of the church, leaving an aisle up to the podium. An impressive tapestry covers the length of the entire back wall. Next to it, an open archway leads into a stairwell in the corner. Well-thumbed texts from various religious traditions are organized in a small bookcase by the front door. Reginald can exit by going south to leave the church. The wooden floor sounds hollow under Reginald's feet. >s Reginald pushes past the wooden doors and walks out into the front of the church. The lovely oak tree waves its branches in the warm spring breeze. Outside Church The lawn in front of the church has been groomed to perfection. Two benches sit underneath a pretty oak tree. The path running in front of the factory is northwest of here. The church lies to the north. To the northeast, the compound's main courtyard. Head south to go to the entry lane. A couple of community members have decided to eat their meals outside. It's a lovely day. >* Looked in the walkthrough and there is an ear in the bin? Comment recorded. >s Reginald walks to the entry lane. It's very quiet here. Entry lane The only way in or out of the compound is here, through the gate in the entry lane. The utilitarian fence that surrounds the compound feels at odds with the rest of its welcoming atmosphere. To go to the front of the church, Reginald can head north. To the east, livestock roam the lush grass. To the west, a cornfield. Three armed guards stand by the gate chatting amongst themselves. >e Reginald braces himself against the smell of livestock and heads into the field. Cattle Fields Cows lazily roam around the grass, flicking their tails back and forth. A couple of them lie beside the small tool shed in the shade. Next to the shed, the chicken coop is alive with the sound of squawking hens. The stench of livestock fills the air, and Reginald is reminded of why he chose to work in the factory. The kitchen door opens out into this field, and through the glass Reginald can see Chef Johnson and his workers busily preparing tonight's dinner. There is a worm bin filled with unwanted meat scraps outside the kitchen. Reginald can enter the shed, walk north to the kitchen, or go west to the entry lane. >x bin A simple trash bin filled with dirt, paper, and worms. It's unpleasant, to say the least, but Chef Johnson insists that it's the best way to recycle all the food scraps. There are pieces of rotting flesh poking out from the dirt. Reginald turns away in disgust. >x flesh The word “flesh” is not necessary in this story. >x scrap The word “scrap” is not necessary in this story. >x ear (the ear) Reginald's ear has been hurting all day. Maybe he'd feel better if he just didn't have it attached to his head. >take ear Reginald holds his breath and reaches into the worm bin. He pinches the ear with his forefinger and thumb and lifts it out. >* could have been better Comment recorded. >n Reginald weaves in between the cows and walks towards the kitchen door. Grimacing at the smell of the worm bin, he heads inside. Kitchen Chef Johnson keeps the kitchen pristine. He stands over the gleaming meat grinder preparing his special sausages for tonight's dinner. The kitchen workers are busy massaging thick slabs of dough on the heavily floured countertops. A couple of industrial grade wall cabinets seem to hold most of the common non-perishables, spices, and seasonings. To the north, the mess hall. Reginald can also go south to the field with the livestock. >w Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead north, to the mess hall; and south (or out), back to cattle fields. >w Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead north, to the mess hall; and south (or out), back to cattle fields. >n Waving goodbye to the kitchen workers, Reginald walks out into the mess hall. Mess hall On one side of the mess hall, the hot bar is almost ready for the next meal. On the opposite end of the room, the salad bar has been converted into a makeshift popsicle stand. Long folding tables flanked by tiny round seats line the room's interior. To the west, a plaque hangs above the door leading into the main courtyard. The kitchen is to the south. Only a few people have decided to enjoy their snacks indoors today. Reginald supposes that popsicles are an outside food anyway. >w Reginald pushes open the door to the main courtyard. The sunlight beckons him outside. Main courtyard The main courtyard bustles with life. People sit around the picnic tables, chatting and eating snacks. A few kids toss a ball around in the grass. Reginald can continue north to enter the people's quarters or east to the mess hall. The lawn in front of the church is to the southwest. >sw Reginald ducks as the ball soars over to his head. He grabs it and hands it back to the children before going to the front of the church. Outside Church The lawn in front of the church has been groomed to perfection. Two benches sit underneath a pretty oak tree. The path running in front of the factory is northwest of here. The church lies to the north. To the northeast, the compound's main courtyard. Head south to go to the entry lane. A couple of community members have decided to eat their meals outside. It's a lovely day. >nw Reginald walks past the community members to the front of the factory. Outside factory The front of the factory is decorated by a couple of scruffy shrubs and an old, rusty cannon. A stack of cannonballs sit nearby. From here, a dirt pathway leads west towards the entrance of the factory. Reginald can also choose to head southeast towards the front of the church. Up north, the leader's quarters loom. >n Reginald wipes his shoes on the doormat before entering Balthazar's chambers. He wouldn't want to track dirt onto those pristine floors. Leader's quarters Now this place looks fit for a king! The polished wooden floors shine and the walls are lined with bookcases stretching to the ceiling. Balthazar's personal desk sits in the back of the room and a plush bearskin rug stares up at Reginald from the floor. To leave the room, Reginald can go south to the front of the factory. Garry and Larry wave at Reginald as he enters Balthazar's chambers. Reginald gives them a friendly nod and sits down in front of Balthazar. "Ah, Reginald. Do you have something to show me?" >show ear to balthazar Reginald reaches into his pocket and pulls out the ear. He carefully sets it onto Balthazar's desk and avoids making eye contact. Balthazar inspects the ear with a repulsed look on his face. "Ah. I see. You've decided to get an animal ear. How very... humane of you to look out for your fellow community members." "Yes. Well, I didn't want to hurt anyone." "Of course," Balthazar says. "I wouldn't expect anything less. You are resourceful and compassionate, Reginald, two traits I value quite highly. I know you will find the best solution for whatever task I set you next." Reginald isn't sure if he likes the sound of that, but nods along. Balthazar uses one of his papers to scoop the ear into a plastic bag and tucks it away into his robes. "Well, I'll keep it safe until the next demon summoning." "I hate to ask more from you, but I've received some disturbing reports about a few of our community members that need to be investigated right away." Reginald straightens up. "What?" "You are a very devoted member of the Sanctuary, Reginald, so it might be hard to accept this, but some of our members don't share your feelings about our mission." Balthazar runs his fingers through his beard. "I can't think of anyone better than you to talk to them and ensure that they share our values." "Who are these people? What did they do?" "It's important that we don't jump to conclusions, Reginald. They may not have done anything wrong at all. They've just been seen acting strangely. Your job is not to accuse or punish anyone, but to ensure that nothing is wrong." Balthazar gives him a meaningful glance. "If, however, you do find that one of them could be endangering our community, it's imperative that you tell me about it. Do you understand?" Reginald understands perfectly. Balthazar wants him to be a spy. He nods. Balthazar nods along with him. "Good. There are three people I'd like you to speak with. You may have already met them. Their names are Ruth, Chris, and Wayne." Good. So far it seems like Dave is safe. Reginald doesn't know how he feels about having to spy on Ruth, Chris, and Wayne. Hopefully, they aren't doing anything wrong. He'd rather not face another ethical dilemma today. >save Saved. >tell balthazar about ruth Thankfully, he has no reason to turn Ruth in. She isn't doing anything wrong. She's just infatuated. "Ruth's harmless. She's just in love with Chris and has a... unique way of expressing it." Balthazar strokes his mustache. "I'm glad to hear it, but now I'm concerned for Chris's safety. Unrequited love is dangerous business. I should know." >tell balthazar about chris Reginald gives Balthazar all the information he has about Chris. "That's great Reginald, but I think we need a little more before we do anything too rash," Bathazar says. >s Reginald exits Balthazar's quarters. The dirt path feels especially rustic by comparison. Outside factory The front of the factory is decorated by a couple of scruffy shrubs and an old, rusty cannon. A stack of cannonballs sit nearby. From here, a dirt pathway leads west towards the entrance of the factory. Reginald can also choose to head southeast towards the front of the church. Up north, the leader's quarters loom. >se Reginald strolls along the path to the lawn in front of the church. Outside Church The lawn in front of the church has been groomed to perfection. Two benches sit underneath a pretty oak tree. The path running in front of the factory is northwest of here. The church lies to the north. To the northeast, the compound's main courtyard. Head south to go to the entry lane. A couple of community members have decided to eat their meals outside. It's a lovely day. >w Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead north (or in), to the church; south, to the entry lane; northeast, to the main courtyard; and northwest, back to the outside factory. >nw Reginald walks past the community members to the front of the factory. Outside factory The front of the factory is decorated by a couple of scruffy shrubs and an old, rusty cannon. A stack of cannonballs sit nearby. From here, a dirt pathway leads west towards the entrance of the factory. Reginald can also choose to head southeast towards the front of the church. Up north, the leader's quarters loom. >se Reginald strolls along the path to the lawn in front of the church. Outside Church The lawn in front of the church has been groomed to perfection. Two benches sit underneath a pretty oak tree. The path running in front of the factory is northwest of here. The church lies to the north. To the northeast, the compound's main courtyard. Head south to go to the entry lane. A couple of community members have decided to eat their meals outside. It's a lovely day. >s Reginald walks to the entry lane. It's very quiet here. Entry lane The only way in or out of the compound is here, through the gate in the entry lane. The utilitarian fence that surrounds the compound feels at odds with the rest of its welcoming atmosphere. To go to the front of the church, Reginald can head north. To the east, livestock roam the lush grass. To the west, a cornfield. Three armed guards stand by the gate chatting amongst themselves. >w Reginald heads into the fields, trying his best not to step on any crops. Crop fields Most of the compound's food supply is grown here. Rows of corn have begun to sprout next to the wheat and potatoes. A big barn stands on the edge of the cornfield. Off in the distance, Chris tends to a little vegetable farm. She is wearing a big straw hat. From here, Reginald can go east to the entry lane or inside the big red barn. The wheat is rustling, despite the lack of wind. >talk to chris "How are the vegetables doing?" Reginald asks. Chris takes off her hat and wipes away sweat from her brow. "The onions are coming along nicely. The carrots are looking a little small, though." Reginald doesn't know enough about farming to keep this line of conversation going. Maybe he should change the subject. >ask chris about herself Chris tells Reginald that she misses going to concerts and listening to music. "I love living here in Hidden Hills, don't get me wrong, but it's been months since I got to listen to smooth jazz. It's a real shame they didn't let me bring my record player." "The things we sacrifice to be safe from the demons, right?" Reginald says. >ask chris about music Nothing obvious happens. >ne Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead east, back to the entry lane; and in, to the barn. >n Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead east, back to the entry lane; and in, to the barn. >e Reginald wades through the corn on his way to the entry lane. Entry lane The only way in or out of the compound is here, through the gate in the entry lane. The utilitarian fence that surrounds the compound feels at odds with the rest of its welcoming atmosphere. To go to the front of the church, Reginald can head north. To the east, livestock roam the lush grass. To the west, a cornfield. Three armed guards stand by the gate chatting amongst themselves. >n Reginald walks along the scenic path towards the church's lawn. Outside Church The lawn in front of the church has been groomed to perfection. Two benches sit underneath a pretty oak tree. The path running in front of the factory is northwest of here. The church lies to the north. To the northeast, the compound's main courtyard. Head south to go to the entry lane. A couple of community members have decided to eat their meals outside. It's a lovely day. >nw Reginald walks past the community members to the front of the factory. Outside factory The front of the factory is decorated by a couple of scruffy shrubs and an old, rusty cannon. A stack of cannonballs sit nearby. From here, a dirt pathway leads west towards the entrance of the factory. Reginald can also choose to head southeast towards the front of the church. Up north, the leader's quarters loom. >n Reginald wipes his shoes on the doormat before entering Balthazar's chambers. He wouldn't want to track dirt onto those pristine floors. Leader's quarters Now this place looks fit for a king! The polished wooden floors shine and the walls are lined with bookcases stretching to the ceiling. Balthazar's personal desk sits in the back of the room and a plush bearskin rug stares up at Reginald from the floor. To leave the room, Reginald can go south to the front of the factory. Garry and Larry stand by the door. Balthazar sits in a leather armchair behind his desk. He looks up expectantly. >tell balthazar about chris Reginald gives Balthazar all the information he has about Chris. "That's great Reginald, but I think we need a little more before we do anything too rash," Bathazar says. >sw Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead south (or out), back to the outside factory; and down. >se Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead south (or out), back to the outside factory; and down. >ask balthazar about music Balthazar shares his sage wisdom about music as Reginald listens intently. Balthazar has so much knowledge about everything. Reginald is impressed. >tell balthazar about music Balthazar listens to Reginald's input on music and gives his own opinion on the subject. He is such a wonderful conversationalist. >out Reginald exits Balthazar's quarters. The dirt path feels especially rustic by comparison. Outside factory The front of the factory is decorated by a couple of scruffy shrubs and an old, rusty cannon. A stack of cannonballs sit nearby. From here, a dirt pathway leads west towards the entrance of the factory. Reginald can also choose to head southeast towards the front of the church. Up north, the leader's quarters loom. >se Reginald strolls along the path to the lawn in front of the church. Outside Church The lawn in front of the church has been groomed to perfection. Two benches sit underneath a pretty oak tree. The path running in front of the factory is northwest of here. The church lies to the north. To the northeast, the compound's main courtyard. Head south to go to the entry lane. A couple of community members have decided to eat their meals outside. It's a lovely day. >nw Reginald walks past the community members to the front of the factory. Outside factory The front of the factory is decorated by a couple of scruffy shrubs and an old, rusty cannon. A stack of cannonballs sit nearby. From here, a dirt pathway leads west towards the entrance of the factory. Reginald can also choose to head southeast towards the front of the church. Up north, the leader's quarters loom. >in Reginald crosses the dirt path to the factory and steps inside. Factory The hum of machines and the chatter of workers fill the air. There are a dozen long plastic tables evenly spaced along the floor. Rays of sunlight beam down from high windows above the factory entrance to the east. Bave is sitting at Buster's usual spot packing stickers. >x wayne Reginald sees no wayne here. >ask buster about wayne "Hey, Buster," Reginald says, "Did you ever see Wayne again after he went to check out his new room?" Bave puts his hand to his chin in thought. "Nope. I figure he's decorating the place or something. Why? Did something happen?" "Nobody's seen him since then. Balthazar is getting suspicious, and I'm worried about him." "Weird. I hope he's alright. He seemed like a cool guy." Bave's eyes light up. "Maybe he snuck off somewhere to eat contraband pizza rolls." >ask buster about ruth Reginald had hoped that the combined wisdom of Buster and Dave would shed some light on ruth. Unfortunately, their opinions seem to conflict. >ask buster about chris Reginald had hoped that the combined wisdom of Buster and Dave would shed some light on chris. Unfortunately, their opinions seem to conflict. >out Reginald walks out the factory's large front doors, squinting at the bright sunlight. Outside factory The front of the factory is decorated by a couple of scruffy shrubs and an old, rusty cannon. A stack of cannonballs sit nearby. From here, a dirt pathway leads west towards the entrance of the factory. Reginald can also choose to head southeast towards the front of the church. Up north, the leader's quarters loom. >e Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead north, to the leader's quarters; west (or in), back to the factory; and southeast, to the outside church. >se Reginald strolls along the path to the lawn in front of the church. Outside Church The lawn in front of the church has been groomed to perfection. Two benches sit underneath a pretty oak tree. The path running in front of the factory is northwest of here. The church lies to the north. To the northeast, the compound's main courtyard. Head south to go to the entry lane. A couple of community members have decided to eat their meals outside. It's a lovely day. >ne Reginald turns his back on the beautiful lawn in front of the church and walks into the main courtyard. Main courtyard The main courtyard bustles with life. People sit around the picnic tables, chatting and eating snacks. A few kids toss a ball around in the grass. Reginald can continue north to enter the people's quarters or east to the mess hall. The lawn in front of the church is to the southwest. >e Reginald enters the mess hall. It's much less lively in here, but more relaxing. Mess hall On one side of the mess hall, the hot bar is almost ready for the next meal. On the opposite end of the room, the salad bar has been converted into a makeshift popsicle stand. Long folding tables flanked by tiny round seats line the room's interior. To the west, a plaque hangs above the door leading into the main courtyard. The kitchen is to the south. Only a few people have decided to enjoy their snacks indoors today. Reginald supposes that popsicles are an outside food anyway. >s Reginald snakes his way between the tables and goes into the kitchen. Kitchen Chef Johnson keeps the kitchen pristine. He stands over the gleaming meat grinder preparing his special sausages for tonight's dinner. The kitchen workers are busy massaging thick slabs of dough on the heavily floured countertops. A couple of industrial grade wall cabinets seem to hold most of the common non-perishables, spices, and seasonings. To the north, the mess hall. Reginald can also go south to the field with the livestock. >x wayne Reginald sees no wayne here. >n Waving goodbye to the kitchen workers, Reginald walks out into the mess hall. Mess hall On one side of the mess hall, the hot bar is almost ready for the next meal. On the opposite end of the room, the salad bar has been converted into a makeshift popsicle stand. Long folding tables flanked by tiny round seats line the room's interior. To the west, a plaque hangs above the door leading into the main courtyard. The kitchen is to the south. Only a few people have decided to enjoy their snacks indoors today. Reginald supposes that popsicles are an outside food anyway. >x wayne Reginald sees no wayne here. >w Reginald pushes open the door to the main courtyard. The sunlight beckons him outside. Main courtyard The main courtyard bustles with life. People sit around the picnic tables, chatting and eating snacks. A few kids toss a ball around in the grass. Reginald can continue north to enter the people's quarters or east to the mess hall. The lawn in front of the church is to the southwest. >e Reginald enters the mess hall. It's much less lively in here, but more relaxing. Mess hall On one side of the mess hall, the hot bar is almost ready for the next meal. On the opposite end of the room, the salad bar has been converted into a makeshift popsicle stand. Long folding tables flanked by tiny round seats line the room's interior. To the west, a plaque hangs above the door leading into the main courtyard. The kitchen is to the south. Only a few people have decided to enjoy their snacks indoors today. Reginald supposes that popsicles are an outside food anyway. >s Reginald snakes his way between the tables and goes into the kitchen. Kitchen Chef Johnson keeps the kitchen pristine. He stands over the gleaming meat grinder preparing his special sausages for tonight's dinner. The kitchen workers are busy massaging thick slabs of dough on the heavily floured countertops. A couple of industrial grade wall cabinets seem to hold most of the common non-perishables, spices, and seasonings. To the north, the mess hall. Reginald can also go south to the field with the livestock. >ask chef about chris "Oh, I don't know, Reginald. I don't think chris would go very well with my hot dogs." >ask chef about ruth "Oh, I don't know, Reginald. I don't think ruth would go very well with my hot dogs." >* eek Comment recorded. >w Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead north, back to the mess hall; and south (or out), to cattle fields. >n Waving goodbye to the kitchen workers, Reginald walks out into the mess hall. Mess hall On one side of the mess hall, the hot bar is almost ready for the next meal. On the opposite end of the room, the salad bar has been converted into a makeshift popsicle stand. Long folding tables flanked by tiny round seats line the room's interior. To the west, a plaque hangs above the door leading into the main courtyard. The kitchen is to the south. Only a few people have decided to enjoy their snacks indoors today. Reginald supposes that popsicles are an outside food anyway. >w Reginald pushes open the door to the main courtyard. The sunlight beckons him outside. Main courtyard The main courtyard bustles with life. People sit around the picnic tables, chatting and eating snacks. A few kids toss a ball around in the grass. Reginald can continue north to enter the people's quarters or east to the mess hall. The lawn in front of the church is to the southwest. > Main courtyard The main courtyard bustles with life. People sit around the picnic tables, chatting and eating snacks. A few kids toss a ball around in the grass. Reginald can continue north to enter the people's quarters or east to the mess hall. The lawn in front of the church is to the southwest. >n Reginald walks into the people's quarters, high-fiving the welcome sign on his way in. People's quarters The entryway of the people's quarters opens into a small lounge area. Armchairs and squashy bean bags circle coffee tables. It's deserted: most people are at work or outside, and anyone else is probably in their room. A narrow hallway lined with rooms branches off to either side of the lounge. Reginald sees one open door down the hallway. Towards the back of the room, a staircase leads up to the second floor. The exit leads south to the main courtyard. From here, Reginald can enter the open room or go upstairs. >x people Reginald sees no people here. >u Reginald climbs up the staircase onto the second floor. People's quarters (Second Floor) The upstairs hallway practically mirrors the one below, except there isn't a lounge area. The door to the janitor's closet has been left ajar. The smell of pizza rolls fills the entire hallway. Reginald could either go to his room or down the stairs to the first floor of the people's quarters. >enter closet Mysterious closet The inside of the closet is equal parts normal and thoroughly unexpected. Mops and cleaning supplies line one wall. Another is taken up by a cork board covered in photographs. A microwave sits on a stool in the corner. To exit the closet, Reginald can go out the door into the second floor hallway. Wayne stands in front of the cork board. >* ah hah! Comment recorded. >save Saved. >x microwave Looks like Wayne is currently microwaving some pizza rolls. Where did he even get those? >x cork board Numerous photographs are pinned on the cork board and connected with red string. It looks like something out of a TV show. Wayne must be cooking up some crazy conspiracy theories along with his pizza rolls. >x photographs Reginald sees pictures of Balthazar, other residents of the Sanctuary, and several of the buildings. Pieces of bright red string interconnect the photos. Why does Wayne have all these? >talk to wayne "Wayne? What's going on?" Wayne whirls around. "Reginald!" he says. "How did you get in here?" Reginald points to the open door. "The door was open." Wayne looks at the door, then back to Reginald. "Yes, I suppose it was." Suddenly, his face breaks out into a confused smile and he gestures to the corkboard. "You guys have the weirdest janitor," he says. "I just came in here to use the microwave, and there was this... thingamajig on the wall!" Reginald finds it hard to believe him. His tone sounds genuine, but that's the worst excuse Reginald has ever heard. >ask wayne about pizza rolls "Finally," he says, "Some good fucking conversation." Wayne starts talking about all of the pizza roll flavors to ever exist and ranks them in order. "Obviously the best flavor is Combination." Reginald nods, even though he's never tried a Combination pizza roll. >ask wayne about cork board "So, you came in this closet to use the microwave and just stumbled across this board? It's not yours?" Wayne's story is ridiculous, but maybe Reginald can get some information out of him. "Yep. Weird, isn't it?" "Yeah. What do you think it's for?" "Well, from what I can see, your janitor seems to have taken photos of a lot of the Sanctuary's buildings, plus a few shots of Balthazar and other residents. Maybe he's making a travel brochure." >ask wayne about photographs "Are you sure you have nothing to do with these photos?" Reginald asks. "You have some string hanging out of your pocket." Wayne looks down and hastily tries to shove the string back into his frock. "I figured it would come handy and picked some up from over there," he says, gesturing toward the corner. "It's not mine." Reginald tries to take another approach. "Why do you think the janitor took these pictures? Do you think he's trying to prove something?" "Good question," Wayne says. "What do you think?" >ask wayne about janitor Wayne skillfully evades Reginald's line of questioning about janitor. >tell wayne about photographs Wayne listens to what Reginald has to say about photographs, but it doesn't prompt him to share any secrets of his own. >out Wayne stands between Reginald and the door. "Reginald, I need to know that I can trust you not to rat me out. Are you on my side?" Reginald has no idea whose side he is on, or how things got to the point where he needs to pick sides. "Sure," he says, knowing that Wayne probably wouldn't let him out otherwise, "I keep my word." Reginald backs into the second floor hallway, his clothes reeking of pizza rolls. People's quarters (Second Floor) The upstairs hallway practically mirrors the one below, except there isn't a lounge area. The door to the janitor's closet has been left ajar. The smell of pizza rolls fills the entire hallway. Reginald could either go to his room or down the stairs to the first floor of the people's quarters. >save Saved. >d Reginald walks down the staircase back onto the first floor lounge area. People's quarters The entryway of the people's quarters opens into a small lounge area. Armchairs and squashy bean bags circle coffee tables. It's deserted: most people are at work or outside, and anyone else is probably in their room. A narrow hallway lined with rooms branches off to either side of the lounge. Reginald sees one open door down the hallway. Towards the back of the room, a staircase leads up to the second floor. The exit leads south to the main courtyard. From here, Reginald can enter the open room or go upstairs. >s Reginald follows the cheerful sounds of people talking and children playing out into the courtyard. Main courtyard The main courtyard bustles with life. People sit around the picnic tables, chatting and eating snacks. A few kids toss a ball around in the grass. Reginald can continue north to enter the people's quarters or east to the mess hall. The lawn in front of the church is to the southwest. >w Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead north, back to the people's quarters; east, to the mess hall; and southwest, to the outside church. >sw Reginald ducks as the ball soars over to his head. He grabs it and hands it back to the children before going to the front of the church. Outside Church The lawn in front of the church has been groomed to perfection. Two benches sit underneath a pretty oak tree. The path running in front of the factory is northwest of here. The church lies to the north. To the northeast, the compound's main courtyard. Head south to go to the entry lane. A couple of community members have decided to eat their meals outside. It's a lovely day. >s Reginald walks to the entry lane. It's very quiet here. Entry lane The only way in or out of the compound is here, through the gate in the entry lane. The utilitarian fence that surrounds the compound feels at odds with the rest of its welcoming atmosphere. To go to the front of the church, Reginald can head north. To the east, livestock roam the lush grass. To the west, a cornfield. Three armed guards stand by the gate chatting amongst themselves. >w Reginald heads into the fields, trying his best not to step on any crops. Crop fields Most of the compound's food supply is grown here. Rows of corn have begun to sprout next to the wheat and potatoes. A big barn stands on the edge of the cornfield. Off in the distance, Chris tends to a little vegetable farm. She is wearing a big straw hat. From here, Reginald can go east to the entry lane or inside the big red barn. The wheat is rustling, despite the lack of wind. >x ruth Her hair is amazingly large. Reginald is reminded of a decade he desperately wants to forget. >* Ruth not described here, had to go to the walkthrough Comment recorded. >ask ruth about chris "So, Ruth, why are you hiding here, spying on Chris?" Ruth's hair bounces all over her face as she looks up in shock. "What? I'm not spying on Chris! I'm just hanging out with her, learning what she likes to do in her free time. A solid relationship is built on mutual interests." "Does she know you're here?" "Why does that matter?" Ruth asks. "Now, be quiet. She's not deaf, you know." >tell ruth about chris "You know, Ruth." Reginald says, "Chris and I are friends." Ruth raises an eyebrow and appraises Reginald with a new interest. "Yes, you are. Hmm, well, what can you tell me about her? Anything I don't already know?" "Well, she likes coconuts. She lived in Hawaii for a year and misses it." "I know. Isn't she such a sweetheart?" "Oh. She also wants to try woodworking someday." "I know. She's such an artistic soul." Reginald shares a few more tidbits about Chris. Unfortunately, Ruth already knows all of them. >ask chris about music "How are the vegetables doing?" Reginald asks. Chris takes off her hat and wipes away sweat from her brow. "The onions are coming along nicely. The carrots are looking a little small, though." Reginald doesn't know enough about farming to keep this line of conversation going. Maybe he should change the subject. >* huh? Comment recorded. >ask ruth about music Ruth artfully avoids answering the question. It seems as though she doesn't want to talk about music. >ne Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead east, back to the entry lane; and in, to the barn. >e Reginald wades through the corn on his way to the entry lane. Entry lane The only way in or out of the compound is here, through the gate in the entry lane. The utilitarian fence that surrounds the compound feels at odds with the rest of its welcoming atmosphere. To go to the front of the church, Reginald can head north. To the east, livestock roam the lush grass. To the west, a cornfield. Three armed guards stand by the gate chatting amongst themselves. >n Reginald walks along the scenic path towards the church's lawn. Outside Church The lawn in front of the church has been groomed to perfection. Two benches sit underneath a pretty oak tree. The path running in front of the factory is northwest of here. The church lies to the north. To the northeast, the compound's main courtyard. Head south to go to the entry lane. A couple of community members have decided to eat their meals outside. It's a lovely day. >e Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead north (or in), to the church; south, back to the entry lane; northeast, to the main courtyard; and northwest, to the outside factory. >ne Reginald turns his back on the beautiful lawn in front of the church and walks into the main courtyard. Main courtyard The main courtyard bustles with life. People sit around the picnic tables, chatting and eating snacks. A few kids toss a ball around in the grass. Reginald can continue north to enter the people's quarters or east to the mess hall. The lawn in front of the church is to the southwest. >n Reginald walks into the people's quarters, high-fiving the welcome sign on his way in. People's quarters The entryway of the people's quarters opens into a small lounge area. Armchairs and squashy bean bags circle coffee tables. It's deserted: most people are at work or outside, and anyone else is probably in their room. A narrow hallway lined with rooms branches off to either side of the lounge. Reginald sees one open door down the hallway. Towards the back of the room, a staircase leads up to the second floor. The exit leads south to the main courtyard. From here, Reginald can enter the open room or go upstairs. >u Reginald climbs up the staircase onto the second floor. People's quarters (Second Floor) The upstairs hallway practically mirrors the one below, except there isn't a lounge area. The door to the janitor's closet has been left ajar. The smell of pizza rolls fills the entire hallway. Reginald could either go to his room or down the stairs to the first floor of the people's quarters. >enter closet Mysterious closet The inside of the closet is equal parts normal and thoroughly unexpected. Mops and cleaning supplies line one wall. Another is taken up by a cork board covered in photographs. A microwave sits on a stool in the corner. To exit the closet, Reginald can go out the door into the second floor hallway. Wayne stands in front of the cork board. >ask wayne about balthazar "Wayne? What's going on?" Wayne whirls around. "Reginald!" he says. "How did you get in here?" Reginald points to the open door. "The door was open." Wayne looks at the door, then back to Reginald. "Yes, I suppose it was." Suddenly, his face breaks out into a confused smile and he gestures to the corkboard. "You guys have the weirdest janitor," he says. "I just came in here to use the microwave, and there was this... thingamajig on the wall!" Reginald finds it hard to believe him. His tone sounds genuine, but that's the worst excuse Reginald has ever heard. "What do you know about Balthazar?" "What do I know? I just got here today. I haven't even met him yet. A better question would be: what do you know about Balthazar?" This is going nowhere. >tell wayne about balthazar Maybe Wayne would be more willing to talk if Reginald shared some information as well. He decides on a direct approach. It won't matter what Reginald tells Wayne if he's already doing something questionable. "Look, Wayne. We both know that board is yours. You tell me what you're up to and I'll tell you anything you want to know." Wayne raises an eyebrow. "If, theoretically, I were up to something, I would need you to spill the beans first. Has Balthazar ever asked you to do something out of the ordinary?" Reginald thinks back to everything Balthazar asked him to do today. "I suppose he has. Once or twice." "Anything illegal?" Wayne looks way too excited. Reginald shrugs. "I don't know, man. Is summoning a demon illegal?" Wayne's shoulders slump. "I already knew about that. And no, it's not illegal. Believe me, I've checked." He puts his head in his hands. "This is great. Not only am I already getting flagged for suspicious behavior, it seems like no one is actually doing anything illegal in this cult. I'm never going to get promoted!" "Cult? What cult?" Wayne looks at Reginald incredulously. "Reginald, you're in a cult. Wake up. We're wearing frocks. You all live together far away from civilization and provide free labor. You have a reclusive leader who preaches about impending doom. You're literally summoning demons." This is absolutely ridiculous. "I'm not in a cult." Wayne's not listening. He's too busy having a mental breakdown. "This must literally be the first time in history that the cult leader isn't engaging in sexual misconduct with his members or selling drugs. What am I supposed to do? Just hope that all of you guys don't commit mass suicide someday? This is a disaster. What do I tell my boss?" >tell wayne about ear "You know, Balthazar did tell me to bring him an ear earlier. Is that illegal?" Wayne's spirits immediately seem to lift. "That depends. What kind of ear? Whose was it? Did you take it by force? I might have to incriminate you with him, but I'll try to get you a plea deal." "I got a cow's ear from the compost. We have a worm bin for our recyclable trash." "Are you telling me that so far this cult is not only doing everything legally, but also taking care to reduce their carbon footprint? Fuck!" >* ha! Comment recorded. >tell wayne about dave Maybe Wayne would be more willing to talk if Reginald shared some information as well. He decides on a direct approach. It won't matter what Reginald tells Wayne if he's already doing something questionable. "Look, Wayne. We both know that board is yours. You tell me what you're up to and I'll tell you anything you want to know." Wayne raises an eyebrow. "If, theoretically, I were up to something, I would need you to spill the beans first. Has Balthazar ever asked you to do something out of the ordinary?" Reginald thinks back to everything Balthazar asked him to do today. "I suppose he has. Once or twice." "Anything illegal?" Wayne looks way too excited. tell wayne about chris Reginald shrugs. "I don't know, man. Is summoning a demon illegal?" Wayne's shoulders slump. "I already knew about that. And no, it's not illegal. Believe me, I've checked." He puts his head in his hands. "This is great. Not only am I already getting flagged for suspicious behavior, it seems like no one is actually doing anything illegal in this cult. I'm never going to get promoted!" "Cult? What cult?" Wayne looks at Reginald incredulously. "Reginald, you're in a cult. Wake up. We're wearing frocks. You all live together far away from civilization and provide free labor. You have a reclusive leader who preaches about impending doom. You're literally summoning demons." This is absolutely ridiculous. "I'm not in a cult." Wayne's not listening. He's too busy having a mental breakdown. "This must literally be the first time in history that the cult leader isn't engaging in sexual misconduct with his members or selling drugs. What am I supposed to do? Just hope that all of you guys don't commit mass suicide someday? This is a disaster. What do I tell my boss?" >tell wayne about chris Wayne listens to what Reginald has to say about chris, but it doesn't prompt him to share any secrets of his own. >tell wayne about ruth Wayne listens to what Reginald has to say about ruth, but it doesn't prompt him to share any secrets of his own. >ask wayne about plan "I'm convinced. What's your plan?" Reginald is not convinced, but he wants to gather as much information as possible before he decides what to do about this situation. Wayne beckons him closer. "If there's anything incriminating in this compound, it'll be in Balthazar's chambers. Problem is, Balthazar never lets anyone snoop around there. But I think he trusts you. You have a chance at finding some proof." "Balthazar isn't going to let me poke through his stuff!" Reginald protests. "Keep your cover and go along with what he says until you see an opportunity. He has to leave his room eventually." >save Saved. >out Wayne stands between Reginald and the door. "Reginald, I need to know that I can trust you not to rat me out. Are you on my side?" Reginald has no idea whose side he is on, or how things got to the point where he needs to pick sides. "Sure," he says, knowing that Wayne probably wouldn't let him out otherwise, "I keep my word." Reginald backs into the second floor hallway, his clothes reeking of pizza rolls. People's quarters (Second Floor) The upstairs hallway practically mirrors the one below, except there isn't a lounge area. The door to the janitor's closet has been left ajar. The smell of pizza rolls fills the entire hallway. Reginald could either go to his room or down the stairs to the first floor of the people's quarters. >d Reginald walks down the staircase back onto the first floor lounge area. People's quarters The entryway of the people's quarters opens into a small lounge area. Armchairs and squashy bean bags circle coffee tables. It's deserted: most people are at work or outside, and anyone else is probably in their room. A narrow hallway lined with rooms branches off to either side of the lounge. Reginald sees one open door down the hallway. Towards the back of the room, a staircase leads up to the second floor. The exit leads south to the main courtyard. From here, Reginald can enter the open room or go upstairs. >s Reginald follows the cheerful sounds of people talking and children playing out into the courtyard. Main courtyard The main courtyard bustles with life. People sit around the picnic tables, chatting and eating snacks. A few kids toss a ball around in the grass. Reginald can continue north to enter the people's quarters or east to the mess hall. The lawn in front of the church is to the southwest. >w Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead north, back to the people's quarters; east, to the mess hall; and southwest, to the outside church. >sw Reginald ducks as the ball soars over to his head. He grabs it and hands it back to the children before going to the front of the church. Outside Church The lawn in front of the church has been groomed to perfection. Two benches sit underneath a pretty oak tree. The path running in front of the factory is northwest of here. The church lies to the north. To the northeast, the compound's main courtyard. Head south to go to the entry lane. A couple of community members have decided to eat their meals outside. It's a lovely day. >nw Reginald walks past the community members to the front of the factory. Outside factory The front of the factory is decorated by a couple of scruffy shrubs and an old, rusty cannon. A stack of cannonballs sit nearby. From here, a dirt pathway leads west towards the entrance of the factory. Reginald can also choose to head southeast towards the front of the church. Up north, the leader's quarters loom. >n Reginald wipes his shoes on the doormat before entering Balthazar's chambers. He wouldn't want to track dirt onto those pristine floors. Leader's quarters Now this place looks fit for a king! The polished wooden floors shine and the walls are lined with bookcases stretching to the ceiling. Balthazar's personal desk sits in the back of the room and a plush bearskin rug stares up at Reginald from the floor. To leave the room, Reginald can go south to the front of the factory. Garry and Larry stand by the door. Balthazar sits in a leather armchair behind his desk. He looks up expectantly. >tell balthazar about chris Reginald gives Balthazar all the information he has about Chris. "That's great Reginald, but I think we need a little more before we do anything too rash," Bathazar says. >ask balthazar about chris "What did Chris do?" Balthazar shakes his head. "It would be easier to ask what Chris didn't do. She is very strange." Reginald holds back his laugh. It's true that Chris is pretty unique, but surely she isn't dangerous? "She just likes the paranormal." "The most concerning thing is that she keeps trying to break into my quarters," Balthazar complains. "Yesterday, we caught her attempting to sneak through the back window. She claimed she saw a demon inside and was trying to catch it." His face makes it clear he doesn't believe her explanation. "I need to know what she's really up to, Reginald. She might trust you enough to tell the truth." >ask balthazar about ruth "Can you tell me a little more about Ruth?" Balthazar scratches his head. "Some people have expressed concern about Ruth. According to the residents on the first floor, she routinely goes into someone else's room. She's also been spotted hiding behind random bushes or buildings throughout the day." Reginald suspects that Ruth's strange behavior has nothing to do with Balthazar, but it can't hurt to make sure. >out Reginald exits Balthazar's quarters. The dirt path feels especially rustic by comparison. Outside factory The front of the factory is decorated by a couple of scruffy shrubs and an old, rusty cannon. A stack of cannonballs sit nearby. From here, a dirt pathway leads west towards the entrance of the factory. Reginald can also choose to head southeast towards the front of the church. Up north, the leader's quarters loom. >se Reginald strolls along the path to the lawn in front of the church. Outside Church The lawn in front of the church has been groomed to perfection. Two benches sit underneath a pretty oak tree. The path running in front of the factory is northwest of here. The church lies to the north. To the northeast, the compound's main courtyard. Head south to go to the entry lane. A couple of community members have decided to eat their meals outside. It's a lovely day. >s Reginald walks to the entry lane. It's very quiet here. Entry lane The only way in or out of the compound is here, through the gate in the entry lane. The utilitarian fence that surrounds the compound feels at odds with the rest of its welcoming atmosphere. To go to the front of the church, Reginald can head north. To the east, livestock roam the lush grass. To the west, a cornfield. Three armed guards stand by the gate chatting amongst themselves. >w Reginald heads into the fields, trying his best not to step on any crops. Crop fields Most of the compound's food supply is grown here. Rows of corn have begun to sprout next to the wheat and potatoes. A big barn stands on the edge of the cornfield. Off in the distance, Chris tends to a little vegetable farm. She is wearing a big straw hat. From here, Reginald can go east to the entry lane or inside the big red barn. The wheat is rustling, despite the lack of wind. >ask chris about balthazar "How are the vegetables doing?" Reginald asks. Chris takes off her hat and wipes away sweat from her brow. "The onions are coming along nicely. The carrots are looking a little small, though." Reginald doesn't know enough about farming to keep this line of conversation going. Maybe he should change the subject. "So, what do you know about Balthazar?" Chris looks startled. She gives a generic non-answer about how friendly Balthazar is and how thankful she is that he established the Sanctuary, but she seems on-edge. Reginald gets the sense that she's holding something back. "You're acting really weird about Balthazar. What's going on?" Chris lowers her voice and leans in closer to Reginald. "You can't tell anyone else about this, but I have a super secret theory about Balthazar. I can't say much else right now, because I'm still gathering the evidence." >ask chris about theory "Chris, I know you tried to break into Balthazar's chambers. He's suspicious of you. I need to know what's really going on so I can clear your name." Chris reaches into her pocket and pulls out a small notebook. "Okay, but you can't tell anyone else about this, especially Balthazar. Promise?" Reginald nods. He doesn't want to actually make a promise he isn't sure he'll be able to keep, but he isn't going to tell Chris that. He just hopes whatever she's discovered turns out to be harmless. "What Balthazar doesn't know is that I actually did manage to get inside his chamber. There's a book on demon lore hidden on his bookshelf. I only managed to skim a couple of pages before Garry and Larry showed up, but you'll never guess what it said." Reginald squints at her notebook. "How to conceal demon possession," he reads out loud. "Ten ways the strongest demons stayed hidden throughout history." He looks up. "What does that mean?" "It means that Balthazar has a book written for demons wanting to possess humans," Chris says. "The question is why. I've been trying to figure that out for myself. Why would a man who devoted his entire life to staying hidden from demons have this book?" "Maybe he wants to be able to figure out if someone gets possessed. Know your enemy and all that jazz." "Maybe," Chris doesn't look too convinced. "But I have a feeling that it's more sinister than that. Lately, he's just seemed a little off. I've been listening in on his conversations from outside of that window for a week now, and he talks to himself when no one else is there." "I talk to myself sometimes too!" Reginald protests. "It's not that weird." "But do you yell at yourself?" Chris asks. "Fight with yourself? Lose your temper with yourself when no one is there? Argue for hours and get into little shaking fits? Because he does, all the time." Ever since Reginald set foot in the Hidden Hills Sanctuary, Balthazar has been a comforting, if distant, presence in his life, making him feel protected and safe from the woes of the world. There's no way that's all an act, right? Chris points at her notebook again. "And look. The very first tip for concealing a demon possession? Keep to yourself and avoid surprises. Balthazar almost never lets anyone into his quarters." Still, Reginald isn't convinced. Balthazar might be a little weird, slightly unpredictable, and extremely private, but that doesn't mean anything. Chris pockets her notebook. "You don't have to believe me, but I know the truth. And I'm going to prove it and expose him to the rest of the sanctuary. Everyone deserves to know." >* Am I demon? Comment recorded. >e Reginald wades through the corn on his way to the entry lane. Entry lane The only way in or out of the compound is here, through the gate in the entry lane. The utilitarian fence that surrounds the compound feels at odds with the rest of its welcoming atmosphere. To go to the front of the church, Reginald can head north. To the east, livestock roam the lush grass. To the west, a cornfield. Three armed guards stand by the gate chatting amongst themselves. >n Reginald walks along the scenic path towards the church's lawn. Outside Church The lawn in front of the church has been groomed to perfection. Two benches sit underneath a pretty oak tree. The path running in front of the factory is northwest of here. The church lies to the north. To the northeast, the compound's main courtyard. Head south to go to the entry lane. A couple of community members have decided to eat their meals outside. It's a lovely day. >n Reginald makes his way towards the red brick church. Church Rows of pews fill the interior of the church, leaving an aisle up to the podium. An impressive tapestry covers the length of the entire back wall. Next to it, an open archway leads into a stairwell in the corner. Well-thumbed texts from various religious traditions are organized in a small bookcase by the front door. Reginald can exit by going south to leave the church. The wooden floor sounds hollow under Reginald's feet. >s Reginald pushes past the wooden doors and walks out into the front of the church. The lovely oak tree waves its branches in the warm spring breeze. Outside Church The lawn in front of the church has been groomed to perfection. Two benches sit underneath a pretty oak tree. The path running in front of the factory is northwest of here. The church lies to the north. To the northeast, the compound's main courtyard. Head south to go to the entry lane. A couple of community members have decided to eat their meals outside. It's a lovely day. >ne Reginald turns his back on the beautiful lawn in front of the church and walks into the main courtyard. Main courtyard The main courtyard bustles with life. People sit around the picnic tables, chatting and eating snacks. A few kids toss a ball around in the grass. Reginald can continue north to enter the people's quarters or east to the mess hall. The lawn in front of the church is to the southwest. >n Reginald walks into the people's quarters, high-fiving the welcome sign on his way in. People's quarters The entryway of the people's quarters opens into a small lounge area. Armchairs and squashy bean bags circle coffee tables. It's deserted: most people are at work or outside, and anyone else is probably in their room. A narrow hallway lined with rooms branches off to either side of the lounge. Reginald sees one open door down the hallway. Towards the back of the room, a staircase leads up to the second floor. The exit leads south to the main courtyard. From here, Reginald can enter the open room or go upstairs. >s Reginald follows the cheerful sounds of people talking and children playing out into the courtyard. Main courtyard The main courtyard bustles with life. People sit around the picnic tables, chatting and eating snacks. A few kids toss a ball around in the grass. Reginald can continue north to enter the people's quarters or east to the mess hall. The lawn in front of the church is to the southwest. >sw Reginald ducks as the ball soars over to his head. He grabs it and hands it back to the children before going to the front of the church. Outside Church The lawn in front of the church has been groomed to perfection. Two benches sit underneath a pretty oak tree. The path running in front of the factory is northwest of here. The church lies to the north. To the northeast, the compound's main courtyard. Head south to go to the entry lane. A couple of community members have decided to eat their meals outside. It's a lovely day. >nw Reginald walks past the community members to the front of the factory. Outside factory The front of the factory is decorated by a couple of scruffy shrubs and an old, rusty cannon. A stack of cannonballs sit nearby. From here, a dirt pathway leads west towards the entrance of the factory. Reginald can also choose to head southeast towards the front of the church. Up north, the leader's quarters loom. >n Reginald wipes his shoes on the doormat before entering Balthazar's chambers. He wouldn't want to track dirt onto those pristine floors. Leader's quarters Now this place looks fit for a king! The polished wooden floors shine and the walls are lined with bookcases stretching to the ceiling. Balthazar's personal desk sits in the back of the room and a plush bearskin rug stares up at Reginald from the floor. To leave the room, Reginald can go south to the front of the factory. Garry and Larry stand by the door. Balthazar sits in a leather armchair behind his desk. He looks up expectantly. >save Saved. >tell balthazar about chris You're right. Chris could endanger the whole Sanctuary with her theory about Balthazar. Reginald takes a deep breath. "Chris thinks you're possessed by a demon." Balthazar freezes. "What?" he asks. "How did she, I mean, why would she think that? You don't think I'm a demon, do you, Reginald?" Reginald ignores the sliver of doubt in his heart and shakes his head. Balthazar's eyes glow with anger, or maybe they're just glowing. Reginald gulps and sinks into his chair as Balthazar rises from his desk. The stench of sulfur fills the air. Reginald turns to see Garry and Larry eating hard boiled eggs. By the time Reginald turns back, Balthazar looks like his normal self again. "Thank you, Reginald. The information you've given me will prove valuable. I'd been looking for a suitable sacrifice for a... special demon ritual, and now I believe I've found one." Before Reginald has a chance to speak, Balthazar is out the door. Garry and Larry follow, leaving Reginald alone in Balthazar's chamber. "Oh my gosh," Reginald says. He stares up at the ceiling in a daze. "Balthazar is possessed by a demon. This really is a cult, isn't it?" Chris is in grave danger. And so is everyone else in the Sanctuary. Reginald needs to find a way to deal with Balthazar. >x papers Important documents, certainly. Probably dealing with taxes or land ownership. Reginald doesn't know enough about such topics to decipher their contents, since Angela always used to do his taxes for him. For all he knows, these papers could be sketchy or incriminating. >read them Important documents, certainly. Probably dealing with taxes or land ownership. Reginald doesn't know enough about such topics to decipher their contents, since Angela always used to do his taxes for him. For all he knows, these papers could be sketchy or incriminating. >l Leader's quarters Now this place looks fit for a king! The polished wooden floors shine and the walls are lined with bookcases stretching to the ceiling. Balthazar's personal desk sits in the back of the room and a plush bearskin rug stares up at Reginald from the floor. To leave the room, Reginald can go south to the front of the factory. >x desk An imposing mahogany desk. Its surface is mostly bare, but a few neat stacks of papers occupy one corner. Reginald rummages through the drawers. The only interesting thing he notices is an epinephrine injector. >take injector Taken. >x it These are used for severe allergic reactions, right? Why does Balthazar have one? >l Leader's quarters Now this place looks fit for a king! The polished wooden floors shine and the walls are lined with bookcases stretching to the ceiling. Balthazar's personal desk sits in the back of the room and a plush bearskin rug stares up at Reginald from the floor. To leave the room, Reginald can go south to the front of the factory. >x rug The bearskin rug seems to be snarling at Reginald. It's slightly crooked. A corner of different flooring peeks out from underneath. >look under rug Reginald sees nothing unusual under the bearskin rug. >move rug Reginald grabs a front paw and tugs it to the side, revealing a trap door underneath. He peers inside. A small ladder leads into the basement. >d Reginald opens the trap door and climbs down the ladder into a hidden gym. Gym Underneath Balthazar's reception room is a full gym. One wall is lined with two giant cabinets and a mini-fridge; another holds a bathroom stall. The rest of the room is dedicated to exercise equipment and weights. The floor is covered in yoga mats. Pipes run along the ceiling and down one wall into the floor. >* nice! Comment recorded. >x cabinets These two massive cabinets are completely filled with the Sanctuary's stockpile of firearms. This must be how Balthazar plans to fight off demons. It's highly unlikely that all of these guns are legal. >x fridge Reginald admires Balthazar's bold color choices. A lime green fridge wouldn't have been Reginald's first choice, but it adds a refreshing pop of color to the room. It’s closed. >take gun The cabinets are locked. Even if they weren't, there is no way Reginald could carry all these. >open frige The word “frige” is not necessary in this story. >oops fridge Opened. >x it Reginald admires Balthazar's bold color choices. A lime green fridge wouldn't have been Reginald's first choice, but it adds a refreshing pop of color to the room. It’s open. >l Gym Underneath Balthazar's reception room is a full gym. One wall is lined with two giant cabinets and a mini-fridge; another holds a bathroom stall. The rest of the room is dedicated to exercise equipment and weights. The floor is covered in yoga mats. Pipes run along the ceiling and down one wall into the floor. >look in fridge The fridge is weirdly well-organized. The shelves are populated by water bottles and huge quantities of plain-looking meat, rice, and pasta. Who needs vegetables for building muscle? >close it Closed. >x equipment The gym has more equipment than Reginald even knew existed. Dumbbells, bars, and weight plates are stacked neatly in one corner. Balthazar must have spent a fortune on the weights alone, not to mention all the exercise machines. >x mats Yoga mats cover the floor. Reginald wonders whether they're just there for padding or if Balthazar actually does yoga. >look under mats The yoga mats aren’t important. >move mats The yoga mats aren’t important. >l Gym Underneath Balthazar's reception room is a full gym. One wall is lined with two giant cabinets and a mini-fridge; another holds a bathroom stall. The rest of the room is dedicated to exercise equipment and weights. The floor is covered in yoga mats. Pipes run along the ceiling and down one wall into the floor. >x pipes The utility pipes that supply water to Balthazar's quarters. They're plainly exposed and look a little rusty. This is a basement, after all. >x wall Which wall do you mean, the west wall, the east wall, the north wall, or the south wall? >south Reginald sees nothing unusual about it. >x floor Reginald sees nothing unusual about it. >follow pipes Reginald cannot follow those. >u Reginald climbs the ladder to Balthazar's seating room, peeking out at the top to make sure no one is around to see him. Leader's quarters Now this place looks fit for a king! The polished wooden floors shine and the walls are lined with bookcases stretching to the ceiling. Balthazar's personal desk sits in the back of the room and a plush bearskin rug stares up at Reginald from the floor. To leave the room, Reginald can go south to the front of the factory or down to Balthazar's gym. >s Reginald exits Balthazar's quarters. The dirt path feels especially rustic by comparison. Outside factory The front of the factory is decorated by a couple of scruffy shrubs and an old, rusty cannon. A stack of cannonballs sit nearby. From here, a dirt pathway leads west towards the entrance of the factory. Reginald can also choose to head southeast towards the front of the church. Up north, the leader's quarters loom. >s Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead north, back to the leader's quarters; west (or in), to the factory; and southeast, to the outside church. >se Reginald strolls along the path to the lawn in front of the church. Outside Church The lawn in front of the church has been groomed to perfection. Two benches sit underneath a pretty oak tree. The path running in front of the factory is northwest of here. The church lies to the north. To the northeast, the compound's main courtyard. Head south to go to the entry lane. A couple of community members have decided to eat their meals outside. It's a lovely day. >e Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead north (or in), to the church; south, to the entry lane; northeast, to the main courtyard; and northwest, back to the outside factory. >ne Reginald turns his back on the beautiful lawn in front of the church and walks into the main courtyard. Main courtyard The main courtyard bustles with life. People sit around the picnic tables, chatting and eating snacks. A few kids toss a ball around in the grass. Reginald can continue north to enter the people's quarters or east to the mess hall. The lawn in front of the church is to the southwest. >n Reginald walks into the people's quarters, high-fiving the welcome sign on his way in. People's quarters The entryway of the people's quarters opens into a small lounge area. Armchairs and squashy bean bags circle coffee tables. It's deserted: most people are at work or outside, and anyone else is probably in their room. A narrow hallway lined with rooms branches off to either side of the lounge. Reginald sees one open door down the hallway. Towards the back of the room, a staircase leads up to the second floor. The exit leads south to the main courtyard. From here, Reginald can enter the open room or go upstairs. >u Reginald climbs up the staircase onto the second floor. People's quarters (Second Floor) The upstairs hallway practically mirrors the one below, except there isn't a lounge area. The door to the janitor's closet has been left ajar. The smell of pizza rolls fills the entire hallway. Reginald could either go to his room or down the stairs to the first floor of the people's quarters. >enter closet Mysterious closet The inside of the closet is equal parts normal and thoroughly unexpected. Mops and cleaning supplies line one wall. Another is taken up by a cork board covered in photographs. A microwave sits on a stool in the corner. To exit the closet, Reginald can go out the door into the second floor hallway. Wayne stands in front of the cork board. >tell wayne about balthazar "Balthazar's taken Chris as a human sacrifice for some demon ritual! We need to stop him. Chris is going to die!" Wayne strokes his mustache. "Okay, don't panic. We can't wait for him to commit murder to arrest him. We just have to work quickly and stick to the plan." >tell wayne about guns "Balthazar has a secret underground gym." Wayne's shoulders droop. "That's not illegal, Reginald. It just means he's super athletic for an old guy." "No, let me finish. He has these two humongous cabinets filled with guns. Do you know if they're registered?" "This is wonderful news!" Wayne says. "Those firearms are definitely illegal." "Great. So, is that it? Is that all you need for your investigation?" Wayne frowns. "The guns are a great start, but I think we need more. I'm pretty sure something else is off here.Call it a sixth sense, but I think you need to keep searching." >tell wayne about pipes Wayne listens to you talk about pipes, but fails to see how that could help incriminate Balthazar, so he steers you back on topic. >i Reginald is carrying some chicken food, a milk bucket, a nasty knife, some cookies, some sleeping pills, a popsicle, a wrench, and an epinephrine injector. >tell wayne about injector Wayne listens to you talk about injector, but fails to see how that could help incriminate Balthazar, so he steers you back on topic. >put pills in injector Reginald can’t put anything in the epinephrine injector. >out Reginald backs into the second floor hallway, his clothes reeking of pizza rolls. People's quarters (Second Floor) The upstairs hallway practically mirrors the one below, except there isn't a lounge area. The door to the janitor's closet has been left ajar. The smell of pizza rolls fills the entire hallway. Reginald could either go to his room or down the stairs to the first floor of the people's quarters. >s Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead down to the people's quarters, and in. >d Reginald walks down the staircase back onto the first floor lounge area. People's quarters The entryway of the people's quarters opens into a small lounge area. Armchairs and squashy bean bags circle coffee tables. It's deserted: most people are at work or outside, and anyone else is probably in their room. A narrow hallway lined with rooms branches off to either side of the lounge. Reginald sees one open door down the hallway. Towards the back of the room, a staircase leads up to the second floor. The exit leads south to the main courtyard. From here, Reginald can enter the open room or go upstairs. >s Reginald follows the cheerful sounds of people talking and children playing out into the courtyard. Main courtyard The main courtyard bustles with life. People sit around the picnic tables, chatting and eating snacks. A few kids toss a ball around in the grass. Reginald can continue north to enter the people's quarters or east to the mess hall. The lawn in front of the church is to the southwest. >w Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead north, back to the people's quarters; east, to the mess hall; and southwest, to the outside church. >sw Reginald ducks as the ball soars over to his head. He grabs it and hands it back to the children before going to the front of the church. Outside Church The lawn in front of the church has been groomed to perfection. Two benches sit underneath a pretty oak tree. The path running in front of the factory is northwest of here. The church lies to the north. To the northeast, the compound's main courtyard. Head south to go to the entry lane. A couple of community members have decided to eat their meals outside. It's a lovely day. >nw Reginald walks past the community members to the front of the factory. Outside factory The front of the factory is decorated by a couple of scruffy shrubs and an old, rusty cannon. A stack of cannonballs sit nearby. From here, a dirt pathway leads west towards the entrance of the factory. Reginald can also choose to head southeast towards the front of the church. Up north, the leader's quarters loom. >n Reginald wipes his shoes on the doormat before entering Balthazar's chambers. He wouldn't want to track dirt onto those pristine floors. Leader's quarters Now this place looks fit for a king! The polished wooden floors shine and the walls are lined with bookcases stretching to the ceiling. Balthazar's personal desk sits in the back of the room and a plush bearskin rug stares up at Reginald from the floor. To leave the room, Reginald can go south to the front of the factory or down to Balthazar's gym. >n Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead south (or out), back to the outside factory; and down, to the gym. >d Reginald opens the trap door and climbs down the ladder into a hidden gym. Gym Underneath Balthazar's reception room is a full gym. One wall is lined with two giant cabinets and a mini-fridge; another holds a bathroom stall. The rest of the room is dedicated to exercise equipment and weights. The floor is covered in yoga mats. Pipes run along the ceiling and down one wall into the floor. >search weights The weights aren’t important. >search mats The yoga mats aren’t important. >i Reginald is carrying some chicken food, a milk bucket, a nasty knife, some cookies, some sleeping pills, a popsicle, a wrench, and an epinephrine injector. >loosen pipes The word “loosen” is not necessary in this story. >turn pipe The word “pipe” is not necessary in this story. >x wrench Out of all the industrial farm equipment, the only thing he recognizes is the wrench. >hit pipe with wrench The word “pipe” is not necessary in this story. >hit pipes with wrench "How in the hell am I going to kill those with a wrench? You FOOL!" >hint Done. >u Reginald climbs the ladder to Balthazar's seating room, peeking out at the top to make sure no one is around to see him. Leader's quarters Now this place looks fit for a king! The polished wooden floors shine and the walls are lined with bookcases stretching to the ceiling. Balthazar's personal desk sits in the back of the room and a plush bearskin rug stares up at Reginald from the floor. To leave the room, Reginald can go south to the front of the factory or down to Balthazar's gym. >take papers Taken. >s Reginald exits Balthazar's quarters. The dirt path feels especially rustic by comparison. Outside factory The front of the factory is decorated by a couple of scruffy shrubs and an old, rusty cannon. A stack of cannonballs sit nearby. From here, a dirt pathway leads west towards the entrance of the factory. Reginald can also choose to head southeast towards the front of the church. Up north, the leader's quarters loom. >sw Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead north, back to the leader's quarters; west (or in), to the factory; and southeast, to the outside church. >se Reginald strolls along the path to the lawn in front of the church. Outside Church The lawn in front of the church has been groomed to perfection. Two benches sit underneath a pretty oak tree. The path running in front of the factory is northwest of here. The church lies to the north. To the northeast, the compound's main courtyard. Head south to go to the entry lane. A couple of community members have decided to eat their meals outside. It's a lovely day. >e Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead north (or in), to the church; south, to the entry lane; northeast, to the main courtyard; and northwest, back to the outside factory. >ne Reginald turns his back on the beautiful lawn in front of the church and walks into the main courtyard. Main courtyard The main courtyard bustles with life. People sit around the picnic tables, chatting and eating snacks. A few kids toss a ball around in the grass. Reginald can continue north to enter the people's quarters or east to the mess hall. The lawn in front of the church is to the southwest. >n Reginald walks into the people's quarters, high-fiving the welcome sign on his way in. People's quarters The entryway of the people's quarters opens into a small lounge area. Armchairs and squashy bean bags circle coffee tables. It's deserted: most people are at work or outside, and anyone else is probably in their room. A narrow hallway lined with rooms branches off to either side of the lounge. Reginald sees one open door down the hallway. Towards the back of the room, a staircase leads up to the second floor. The exit leads south to the main courtyard. From here, Reginald can enter the open room or go upstairs. >u Reginald climbs up the staircase onto the second floor. People's quarters (Second Floor) The upstairs hallway practically mirrors the one below, except there isn't a lounge area. The door to the janitor's closet has been left ajar. The smell of pizza rolls fills the entire hallway. Reginald could either go to his room or down the stairs to the first floor of the people's quarters. >n Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead down, back to the people's quarters; and in. >enter Reginald can go into the janitor's closet or into his room. To enter the closet, type 'enter closet'. To enter Reginald's room, type 'enter reginald's room' (just 'enter room' should work as well). >enter closet Mysterious closet The inside of the closet is equal parts normal and thoroughly unexpected. Mops and cleaning supplies line one wall. Another is taken up by a cork board covered in photographs. A microwave sits on a stool in the corner. To exit the closet, Reginald can go out the door into the second floor hallway. Wayne stands in front of the cork board. >show papers to wayne "I KNEW IT! He IS committing tax fraud!" Wayne does a little happy dance and pumps his fist in the air. "So... is that enough?" "It's enough. We've got our legal justification. Now it's time for the fun part." Wayne starts munching on a pizza roll. "We need to disarm this place so there isn't a shootout when the others get here. I'll prepare the papers while you neutralize the underground armory." Reginald takes a nervous breath. "How do I do that?" Wayne shrugs. "Improvise. You're going to have to be innovative, Reginald. After you take care of the guns, do something about that bell. We can't afford to have anyone sounding the alarm when we're sending in troops." >d Reginald can’t go that way. The only obvious exit leads out, back to the people's quarters (second floor). >out Reginald backs into the second floor hallway, his clothes reeking of pizza rolls. People's quarters (Second Floor) The upstairs hallway practically mirrors the one below, except there isn't a lounge area. The door to the janitor's closet has been left ajar. The smell of pizza rolls fills the entire hallway. Reginald could either go to his room or down the stairs to the first floor of the people's quarters. >d Reginald walks down the staircase back onto the first floor lounge area. People's quarters The entryway of the people's quarters opens into a small lounge area. Armchairs and squashy bean bags circle coffee tables. It's deserted: most people are at work or outside, and anyone else is probably in their room. A narrow hallway lined with rooms branches off to either side of the lounge. Reginald sees one open door down the hallway. Towards the back of the room, a staircase leads up to the second floor. The exit leads south to the main courtyard. From here, Reginald can enter the open room or go upstairs. >n Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead south (or out), to the main courtyard; and up, back to the people's quarters (second floor). >d Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead south (or out), to the main courtyard; and up, back to the people's quarters (second floor). >out Reginald follows the cheerful sounds of people talking and children playing out into the courtyard. Main courtyard The main courtyard bustles with life. People sit around the picnic tables, chatting and eating snacks. A few kids toss a ball around in the grass. Reginald can continue north to enter the people's quarters or east to the mess hall. The lawn in front of the church is to the southwest. >sw Reginald ducks as the ball soars over to his head. He grabs it and hands it back to the children before going to the front of the church. Outside Church The lawn in front of the church has been groomed to perfection. Two benches sit underneath a pretty oak tree. The path running in front of the factory is northwest of here. The church lies to the north. To the northeast, the compound's main courtyard. Head south to go to the entry lane. A couple of community members have decided to eat their meals outside. It's a lovely day. >nw Reginald walks past the community members to the front of the factory. Outside factory The front of the factory is decorated by a couple of scruffy shrubs and an old, rusty cannon. A stack of cannonballs sit nearby. From here, a dirt pathway leads west towards the entrance of the factory. Reginald can also choose to head southeast towards the front of the church. Up north, the leader's quarters loom. >n Reginald wipes his shoes on the doormat before entering Balthazar's chambers. He wouldn't want to track dirt onto those pristine floors. Leader's quarters Now this place looks fit for a king! The polished wooden floors shine and the walls are lined with bookcases stretching to the ceiling. Balthazar's personal desk sits in the back of the room and a plush bearskin rug stares up at Reginald from the floor. To leave the room, Reginald can go south to the front of the factory or down to Balthazar's gym. >d Reginald opens the trap door and climbs down the ladder into a hidden gym. Gym Underneath Balthazar's reception room is a full gym. One wall is lined with two giant cabinets and a mini-fridge; another holds a bathroom stall. The rest of the room is dedicated to exercise equipment and weights. The floor is covered in yoga mats. Pipes run along the ceiling and down one wall into the floor. >break guns The guns aren’t important. >i Reginald is carrying some chicken food, a milk bucket, a nasty knife, some cookies, some sleeping pills, a popsicle, a wrench, an epinephrine injector, and some papers. >take guns The cabinets are locked. Even if they weren't, there is no way Reginald could carry all these. >hit pipes Reginald cannot attack those. >hint Done. >break pipe The word “pipe” is not necessary in this story. >hit pipe The word “pipe” is not necessary in this story. >break pipes Reginald attempts to unscrew the nuts that hold the pipes together, before giving up and just bashing the pipes with the wrench. After some clanging and a lot of work, one pipe is sufficiently busted up. Water trickles out, but there's much less than Reginald expected. He needs to find a way to flood this place faster. >* OK, little too much guess the verb -- had to look at walkthrough Comment recorded. >x water Reginald sees no water here. >l Gym Underneath Balthazar's reception room is a full gym. One wall is lined with two giant cabinets and a mini-fridge; another holds a bathroom stall. The rest of the room is dedicated to exercise equipment and weights. The floor is covered in yoga mats. Pipes run along the ceiling and down one wall into the floor. >* lots of water Comment recorded. >x stall A little cubicle indented in the wall. It has a simple shower, toilet, and sink. >x shower It's just a basic shower head. Reginald wonders whether Gary and Larry even fit under it. >turn on shower Reginald turns on the shower, stepping out of its spray. The water flows vigorously from the pipes. >flush toilet Reginald flushes the toilet. It's deafening. Hopefully nobody heard that. A sudden wave of water bursts into the gym. Nice! Reginald flushes the toilet several more times to help speed things along. He has an unfortunate flashback to that one time he ate bad tacos. >turn on sink Reginald turns on the sink. The pipes are leaking much faster now. The water has already risen to Reginald's ankles. The room should be flooded soon. >u Reginald climbs the ladder to Balthazar's seating room, peeking out at the top to make sure no one is around to see him. Leader's quarters Now this place looks fit for a king! The polished wooden floors shine and the walls are lined with bookcases stretching to the ceiling. Balthazar's personal desk sits in the back of the room and a plush bearskin rug stares up at Reginald from the floor. To leave the room, Reginald can go south to the front of the factory or down to Balthazar's gym. >s Reginald exits Balthazar's quarters. The dirt path feels especially rustic by comparison. Outside factory The front of the factory is decorated by a couple of scruffy shrubs and an old, rusty cannon. A stack of cannonballs sit nearby. From here, a dirt pathway leads west towards the entrance of the factory. Reginald can also choose to head southeast towards the front of the church. Up north, the leader's quarters loom. >s Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead north, back to the leader's quarters; west (or in), to the factory; and southeast, to the outside church. >se Reginald strolls along the path to the lawn in front of the church. Outside Church The lawn in front of the church has been groomed to perfection. Two benches sit underneath a pretty oak tree. The path running in front of the factory is northwest of here. The church lies to the north. To the northeast, the compound's main courtyard. Head south to go to the entry lane. A couple of community members have decided to eat their meals outside. It's a lovely day. >s Reginald walks to the entry lane. It's very quiet here. Entry lane The only way in or out of the compound is here, through the gate in the entry lane. The utilitarian fence that surrounds the compound feels at odds with the rest of its welcoming atmosphere. To go to the front of the church, Reginald can head north. To the east, livestock roam the lush grass. To the west, a cornfield. Three armed guards stand by the gate chatting amongst themselves. >u Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead north, back to the outside church; south; east, to cattle fields; west, to the crop fields; and out. >x gate It doesn't look like the gate is locked. It doesn't need to be; people rarely go through in either direction. >x fence A tall chain-link fence topped with barbed wire. Reginald isn't sure why the Sanctuary needs this. Perhaps some demons can't fly. >s Reginald refuses to leave the Sanctuary. Where would he go? What would he do out there? >n Reginald walks along the scenic path towards the church's lawn. Outside Church The lawn in front of the church has been groomed to perfection. Two benches sit underneath a pretty oak tree. The path running in front of the factory is northwest of here. The church lies to the north. To the northeast, the compound's main courtyard. Head south to go to the entry lane. A couple of community members have decided to eat their meals outside. It's a lovely day. >n Reginald makes his way towards the red brick church. Church Rows of pews fill the interior of the church, leaving an aisle up to the podium. An impressive tapestry covers the length of the entire back wall. Next to it, an open archway leads into a stairwell in the corner. Well-thumbed texts from various religious traditions are organized in a small bookcase by the front door. Reginald can exit by going south to leave the church. The wooden floor sounds hollow under Reginald's feet. >u The door to the bell tower is locked. Foiled again! Reginald dejectedly returns to the ground floor. >x door Reginald walks through the archway and enters the stairwell. There is a door at the top of the spiral staircase leading to the bell tower. >x archway Reginald walks through the archway and enters the stairwell. There is a door at the top of the spiral staircase leading to the bell tower. >x podiu The word “podiu” is not necessary in this story. >x podium It's been a couple of weeks since Balthazar delivered one of his impromptu speeches up there. Reginald inspects the inside of the podium and notices a hidden compartment. Inside is a small, sturdy-looking safe with a yellow sticky note attached to the front. >x note Hint: Sanctuary founding date? >s Reginald pushes past the wooden doors and walks out into the front of the church. The lovely oak tree waves its branches in the warm spring breeze. Outside Church The lawn in front of the church has been groomed to perfection. Two benches sit underneath a pretty oak tree. The path running in front of the factory is northwest of here. The church lies to the north. To the northeast, the compound's main courtyard. Head south to go to the entry lane. A couple of community members have decided to eat their meals outside. It's a lovely day. >e Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead north (or in), back to the church; south, to the entry lane; northeast, to the main courtyard; and northwest, to the outside factory. >ne Reginald turns his back on the beautiful lawn in front of the church and walks into the main courtyard. Main courtyard The main courtyard bustles with life. People sit around the picnic tables, chatting and eating snacks. A few kids toss a ball around in the grass. Reginald can continue north to enter the people's quarters or east to the mess hall. The lawn in front of the church is to the southwest. >s Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead north, to the people's quarters; east, to the mess hall; and southwest, back to the outside church. >e Reginald enters the mess hall. It's much less lively in here, but more relaxing. Mess hall On one side of the mess hall, the hot bar is almost ready for the next meal. On the opposite end of the room, the salad bar has been converted into a makeshift popsicle stand. Long folding tables flanked by tiny round seats line the room's interior. To the west, a plaque hangs above the door leading into the main courtyard. The kitchen is to the south. Only a few people have decided to enjoy their snacks indoors today. Reginald supposes that popsicles are an outside food anyway. >s Reginald snakes his way between the tables and goes into the kitchen. Kitchen Chef Johnson keeps the kitchen pristine. He stands over the gleaming meat grinder preparing his special sausages for tonight's dinner. The kitchen workers are busy massaging thick slabs of dough on the heavily floured countertops. A couple of industrial grade wall cabinets seem to hold most of the common non-perishables, spices, and seasonings. To the north, the mess hall. Reginald can also go south to the field with the livestock. >n Waving goodbye to the kitchen workers, Reginald walks out into the mess hall. Mess hall On one side of the mess hall, the hot bar is almost ready for the next meal. On the opposite end of the room, the salad bar has been converted into a makeshift popsicle stand. Long folding tables flanked by tiny round seats line the room's interior. To the west, a plaque hangs above the door leading into the main courtyard. The kitchen is to the south. Only a few people have decided to enjoy their snacks indoors today. Reginald supposes that popsicles are an outside food anyway. >x plaque Reginald looks at the engraved likeness of Balthazar hanging on the wall. "Hidden Hills Sanctuary, est. April 19, 1993." >n Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead south, back to the kitchen; and west (or out), to the main courtyard. >w Reginald pushes open the door to the main courtyard. The sunlight beckons him outside. Main courtyard The main courtyard bustles with life. People sit around the picnic tables, chatting and eating snacks. A few kids toss a ball around in the grass. Reginald can continue north to enter the people's quarters or east to the mess hall. The lawn in front of the church is to the southwest. >sw Reginald ducks as the ball soars over to his head. He grabs it and hands it back to the children before going to the front of the church. Outside Church The lawn in front of the church has been groomed to perfection. Two benches sit underneath a pretty oak tree. The path running in front of the factory is northwest of here. The church lies to the north. To the northeast, the compound's main courtyard. Head south to go to the entry lane. A couple of community members have decided to eat their meals outside. It's a lovely day. >n Reginald makes his way towards the red brick church. Church Rows of pews fill the interior of the church, leaving an aisle up to the podium. An impressive tapestry covers the length of the entire back wall. Next to it, an open archway leads into a stairwell in the corner. Well-thumbed texts from various religious traditions are organized in a small bookcase by the front door. Reginald can exit by going south to leave the church. The wooden floor sounds hollow under Reginald's feet. >open safe It appears that Reginald needs a passcode to open the safe. >>x safe Nothing happens. That must not have been the right passcode. >x safe The safe has a numerical keypad on the door. A yellow sticky note is attached to the front. It’s closed. >type 4191993 What do you want Reginald to type that on? >safe Reginald cannot type anything on that. >type 4191993 What do you want Reginald to type that on? >keypad The word “keypad” is not necessary in this story. >type 4191993 What do you want Reginald to type that on? >door The stairs aren’t important. >open safe It appears that Reginald needs a passcode to open the safe. >>4191993 The safe clicks and swings open. A single key is inside. >Oh, ok -- better prompting [Runtime error: nil object reference ] >take key Taken. >u Reginald unlocks the door at the top of the stairs with the key he found in the safe. Victory is just moments away. Reginald strolls into the bell tower, taking in a breath of fresh air. Sweet victory. Bell Tower Reginald looks around the bell tower with immense satisfaction. In the middle of the room, a bronze bell hangs on its frame. He walks over to the open archway in the red brick wall and looks down at the entire compound. It's all so peaceful here... for now. Stairs lead down to the church. >x bell The surface of the bell isn't exactly rusty, but Reginald can't see his face in it either. It's definitely bigger than a bread box. There's a rope that hangs from the clapper to the ground. >x rope A bronze clapper hanging inside the bell. >cute rope The word “cute” is not necessary in this story. >cut rope (with the nasty knife) Reginald reaches inside the bell and cuts out the clapper. It falls to the floor. >take clapper Reginald can’t take that. >d Reginald closes the door behind him as he goes down the stairs. Maybe some lucky community member will happen to try to sneak up there and find it's unlocked. Church Rows of pews fill the interior of the church, leaving an aisle up to the podium. An impressive tapestry covers the length of the entire back wall. Next to it, an open archway leads into a stairwell in the corner. Well-thumbed texts from various religious traditions are organized in a small bookcase by the front door. Reginald can exit by going south to leave the church. The wooden floor sounds hollow under Reginald's feet. >s Reginald pushes past the wooden doors and walks out into the front of the church. The lovely oak tree waves its branches in the warm spring breeze. Outside Church The lawn in front of the church has been groomed to perfection. Two benches sit underneath a pretty oak tree. The path running in front of the factory is northwest of here. The church lies to the north. To the northeast, the compound's main courtyard. Head south to go to the entry lane. A couple of community members have decided to eat their meals outside. It's a lovely day. >ne Reginald turns his back on the beautiful lawn in front of the church and walks into the main courtyard. Main courtyard The main courtyard bustles with life. People sit around the picnic tables, chatting and eating snacks. A few kids toss a ball around in the grass. Reginald can continue north to enter the people's quarters or east to the mess hall. The lawn in front of the church is to the southwest. >n Reginald walks into the people's quarters, high-fiving the welcome sign on his way in. People's quarters The entryway of the people's quarters opens into a small lounge area. Armchairs and squashy bean bags circle coffee tables. It's deserted: most people are at work or outside, and anyone else is probably in their room. A narrow hallway lined with rooms branches off to either side of the lounge. Reginald sees one open door down the hallway. Towards the back of the room, a staircase leads up to the second floor. The exit leads south to the main courtyard. From here, Reginald can enter the open room or go upstairs. >s Reginald follows the cheerful sounds of people talking and children playing out into the courtyard. Main courtyard The main courtyard bustles with life. People sit around the picnic tables, chatting and eating snacks. A few kids toss a ball around in the grass. Reginald can continue north to enter the people's quarters or east to the mess hall. The lawn in front of the church is to the southwest. >se Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead north, back to the people's quarters; east, to the mess hall; and southwest, to the outside church. >e Reginald enters the mess hall. It's much less lively in here, but more relaxing. Mess hall On one side of the mess hall, the hot bar is almost ready for the next meal. On the opposite end of the room, the salad bar has been converted into a makeshift popsicle stand. Long folding tables flanked by tiny round seats line the room's interior. To the west, a plaque hangs above the door leading into the main courtyard. The kitchen is to the south. Only a few people have decided to enjoy their snacks indoors today. Reginald supposes that popsicles are an outside food anyway. >w Reginald pushes open the door to the main courtyard. The sunlight beckons him outside. Main courtyard The main courtyard bustles with life. People sit around the picnic tables, chatting and eating snacks. A few kids toss a ball around in the grass. Reginald can continue north to enter the people's quarters or east to the mess hall. The lawn in front of the church is to the southwest. >n Reginald walks into the people's quarters, high-fiving the welcome sign on his way in. People's quarters The entryway of the people's quarters opens into a small lounge area. Armchairs and squashy bean bags circle coffee tables. It's deserted: most people are at work or outside, and anyone else is probably in their room. A narrow hallway lined with rooms branches off to either side of the lounge. Reginald sees one open door down the hallway. Towards the back of the room, a staircase leads up to the second floor. The exit leads south to the main courtyard. From here, Reginald can enter the open room or go upstairs. >u Reginald climbs up the staircase onto the second floor. People's quarters (Second Floor) The upstairs hallway practically mirrors the one below, except there isn't a lounge area. The door to the janitor's closet has been left ajar. The smell of pizza rolls fills the entire hallway. Reginald could either go to his room or down the stairs to the first floor of the people's quarters. >enter closet Mysterious closet The inside of the closet is equal parts normal and thoroughly unexpected. Mops and cleaning supplies line one wall. Another is taken up by a cork board covered in photographs. A microwave sits on a stool in the corner. To exit the closet, Reginald can go out the door into the second floor hallway. Wayne stands in front of the cork board. >talk to wayne "It's done. I disabled the guns and the bell. What now?" Wayne triumphantly holds up a tiny cardboard cylinder. "While you were doing that, I've been folding up every single one of those documents you brought me into this really small tube!" "Uh, great. Why?" It's honestly impressive how much paper Wayne managed to fit into the tube, but Reginald can't help but think that the FBI agent should've been the one dealing with guns and sneaking around. Wayne walks over to a pile of cleaning supplies in the corner. He rummages around and emerges with a birdcage in his hand. An ordinary-looking pigeon sits inside. "Ta-da! Behold, my ace in the hole. Totino Due!" Reginald stares at the bird. It looks thoroughly unremarkable. "Don't let his looks deceive you. Totino Due is highly trained. I've been feeding him a steady diet of pizza rolls." "You named your FBI bird Totino Due?" Reginald wracks his brain to remember everything he knows about birds. "And you fed him pizza rolls?" "Of course. I already have a cat named Totino." He reaches between the cage bars and ties the tube of documents to Totino Due's leg. "Oh, man, you do not want to know how I smuggled this little guy in here." With that, Wayne shoves the cage into Reginald's hands and starts pacing around. "Totino Due will get our message to the local FBI office and they'll come to our aid. We can shut this cult down before Balthazar causes any more trouble." Reginald walks over to the window and looks out at the Sanctuary. It's peaceful. Community members greet each other and enjoy popsicles in the light of the setting sun. "What's going to happen to everyone here?' Reginald asks. "You guys are just going to deal with Balthazar, right?" Wayne nods. "If everyone cooperates, things will work out fine. Don't worry. Most of these people have done nothing wrong." He opens the window and gestures to Reginald. "Go ahead. You do the honors." >jump out window Reginald opens the door of the birdcage and Totino Due flies out the window. Wayne stands by Reginald's side as the two of them watch their feathered friend become smaller and smaller until, at last, he's nothing more than a speck in the distance. Epilogue Hours later, Reginald hears shouting coming from the entry lane. He lets Wayne lead him to the gates. Wayne flashes his badge at a group of inbound officers. "Special Agent Wayne Jackson. I see you got my bird." Flashlight beams sweep the compound. Reginald sees Chef Johnson and several other community members being handcuffed and led towards police cruisers. A SWAT team stomps by, running towards the People's Quarters. "What's going on? You told me this would be peaceful." Wayne grabs him by the shoulders and leads him out of the Sanctuary. "All of the community members will be released after questioning. They're not in any danger. Just stay calm, Reginald. You're with me. Nothing's going to happen." Gunfire rings out in the distance, followed by screams of terror. Reginald tries to turn around, but Wayne shoves him into a car. "Let's go. We need to get you out of here," he says, climbing in the driver's seat and slamming the door. A couple of cows make their escape through the now-broken fence. Reginald presses his face against the window and strains his eyes to catch a glimpse of his friends. As the car speeds away, he sees a plume of smoke rising from the Sanctuary into the night sky. Flames lick at the church walls, but the glass feels cool against his cheek. *** THE END *** Would you like to RESTORE a saved position, RESTART the story, UNDO the last move, or QUIT? >restore Restored. Leader's quarters Now this place looks fit for a king! The polished wooden floors shine and the walls are lined with bookcases stretching to the ceiling. Balthazar's personal desk sits in the back of the room and a plush bearskin rug stares up at Reginald from the floor. To leave the room, Reginald can go south to the front of the factory. Garry and Larry stand by the door. Balthazar sits in a leather armchair behind his desk. He looks up expectantly. >* well that wasn't great Comment recorded. >tell balthazar about wayne Reginald gives Balthazar all the information he has about Wayne. "That's great Reginald, but I think we need a little more before we do anything too rash," Bathazar says. >s Reginald exits Balthazar's quarters. The dirt path feels especially rustic by comparison. Outside factory The front of the factory is decorated by a couple of scruffy shrubs and an old, rusty cannon. A stack of cannonballs sit nearby. From here, a dirt pathway leads west towards the entrance of the factory. Reginald can also choose to head southeast towards the front of the church. Up north, the leader's quarters loom. >u Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead north, back to the leader's quarters; west (or in), to the factory; and southeast, to the outside church. >i Reginald is carrying some chicken food, a milk bucket, a nasty knife, some cookies, some sleeping pills, a popsicle, and a wrench. >s Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead north, back to the leader's quarters; west (or in), to the factory; and southeast, to the outside church. >se Reginald strolls along the path to the lawn in front of the church. Outside Church The lawn in front of the church has been groomed to perfection. Two benches sit underneath a pretty oak tree. The path running in front of the factory is northwest of here. The church lies to the north. To the northeast, the compound's main courtyard. Head south to go to the entry lane. A couple of community members have decided to eat their meals outside. It's a lovely day. >ne Reginald turns his back on the beautiful lawn in front of the church and walks into the main courtyard. Main courtyard The main courtyard bustles with life. People sit around the picnic tables, chatting and eating snacks. A few kids toss a ball around in the grass. Reginald can continue north to enter the people's quarters or east to the mess hall. The lawn in front of the church is to the southwest. >n Reginald walks into the people's quarters, high-fiving the welcome sign on his way in. People's quarters The entryway of the people's quarters opens into a small lounge area. Armchairs and squashy bean bags circle coffee tables. It's deserted: most people are at work or outside, and anyone else is probably in their room. A narrow hallway lined with rooms branches off to either side of the lounge. Reginald sees one open door down the hallway. Towards the back of the room, a staircase leads up to the second floor. The exit leads south to the main courtyard. From here, Reginald can enter the open room or go upstairs. >u Reginald climbs up the staircase onto the second floor. People's quarters (Second Floor) The upstairs hallway practically mirrors the one below, except there isn't a lounge area. The door to the janitor's closet has been left ajar. The smell of pizza rolls fills the entire hallway. Reginald could either go to his room or down the stairs to the first floor of the people's quarters. >enter closet Mysterious closet The inside of the closet is equal parts normal and thoroughly unexpected. Mops and cleaning supplies line one wall. Another is taken up by a cork board covered in photographs. A microwave sits on a stool in the corner. To exit the closet, Reginald can go out the door into the second floor hallway. Wayne stands in front of the cork board. >ask wayne about cork board "Wayne? What's going on?" Wayne whirls around. "Reginald!" he says. "How did you get in here?" Reginald points to the open door. "The door was open." Wayne looks at the door, then back to Reginald. "Yes, I suppose it was." Suddenly, his face breaks out into a confused smile and he gestures to the corkboard. "You guys have the weirdest janitor," he says. "I just came in here to use the microwave, and there was this... thingamajig on the wall!" Reginald finds it hard to believe him. His tone sounds genuine, but that's the worst excuse Reginald has ever heard. "So, you came in this closet to use the microwave and just stumbled across this board? It's not yours?" Wayne's story is ridiculous, but maybe Reginald can get some information out of him. "Yep. Weird, isn't it?" "Yeah. What do you think it's for?" "Well, from what I can see, your janitor seems to have taken photos of a lot of the Sanctuary's buildings, plus a few shots of Balthazar and other residents. Maybe he's making a travel brochure." >ask wayne about balthazar "What do you know about Balthazar?" "What do I know? I just got here today. I haven't even met him yet. A better question would be: what do you know about Balthazar?" This is going nowhere. >ask wayne about church Wayne skillfully evades Reginald's line of questioning about church. >tell wayne about cork board Wayne listens to what Reginald has to say about cork board, but it doesn't prompt him to share any secrets of his own. >tell wayne about demons Maybe Wayne would be more willing to talk if Reginald shared some information as well. He decides on a direct approach. It won't matter what Reginald tells Wayne if he's already doing something questionable. "Look, Wayne. We both know that board is yours. You tell me what you're up to and I'll tell you anything you want to know." Wayne raises an eyebrow. "If, theoretically, I were up to something, I would need you to spill the beans first. Has Balthazar ever asked you to do something out of the ordinary?" Reginald thinks back to everything Balthazar asked him to do today. "I suppose he has. Once or twice." "Anything illegal?" Wayne looks way too excited. tell wayne about demon Reginald shrugs. "I don't know, man. Is summoning a demon illegal?" Wayne's shoulders slump. "I already knew about that. And no, it's not illegal. Believe me, I've checked." He puts his head in his hands. "This is great. Not only am I already getting flagged for suspicious behavior, it seems like no one is actually doing anything illegal in this cult. I'm never going to get promoted!" "Cult? What cult?" Wayne looks at Reginald incredulously. "Reginald, you're in a cult. Wake up. We're wearing frocks. You all live together far away from civilization and provide free labor. You have a reclusive leader who preaches about impending doom. You're literally summoning demons." This is absolutely ridiculous. "I'm not in a cult." Wayne's not listening. He's too busy having a mental breakdown. "This must literally be the first time in history that the cult leader isn't engaging in sexual misconduct with his members or selling drugs. What am I supposed to do? Just hope that all of you guys don't commit mass suicide someday? This is a disaster. What do I tell my boss?" >tell wayne about balthazar Maybe Wayne would be more willing to talk if Reginald shared some information as well. He decides on a direct approach. It won't matter what Reginald tells Wayne if he's already doing something questionable. "Look, Wayne. We both know that board is yours. You tell me what you're up to and I'll tell you anything you want to know." Wayne raises an eyebrow. "If, theoretically, I were up to something, I would need you to spill the beans first. Has Balthazar ever asked you to do something out of the ordinary?" Reginald thinks back to everything Balthazar asked him to do today. "I suppose he has. Once or twice." "Anything illegal?" Wayne looks way too excited. Reginald shrugs. "I don't know, man. Is summoning a demon illegal?" Wayne's shoulders slump. "I already knew about that. And no, it's not illegal. Believe me, I've checked." He puts his head in his hands. "This is great. Not only am I already getting flagged for suspicious behavior, it seems like no one is actually doing anything illegal in this cult. I'm never going to get promoted!" "Cult? What cult?" Wayne looks at Reginald incredulously. "Reginald, you're in a cult. Wake up. We're wearing frocks. You all live together far away from civilization and provide free labor. You have a reclusive leader who preaches about impending doom. You're literally summoning demons." This is absolutely ridiculous. "I'm not in a cult." Wayne's not listening. He's too busy having a mental breakdown. "This must literally be the first time in history that the cult leader isn't engaging in sexual misconduct with his members or selling drugs. What am I supposed to do? Just hope that all of you guys don't commit mass suicide someday? This is a disaster. What do I tell my boss?" >out Wayne stands between Reginald and the door. "Reginald, I need to know that I can trust you not to rat me out. Are you on my side?" Reginald has no idea whose side he is on, or how things got to the point where he needs to pick sides. "Sure," he says, knowing that Wayne probably wouldn't let him out otherwise, "I keep my word." Reginald backs into the second floor hallway, his clothes reeking of pizza rolls. People's quarters (Second Floor) The upstairs hallway practically mirrors the one below, except there isn't a lounge area. The door to the janitor's closet has been left ajar. The smell of pizza rolls fills the entire hallway. Reginald could either go to his room or down the stairs to the first floor of the people's quarters. >d Reginald walks down the staircase back onto the first floor lounge area. People's quarters The entryway of the people's quarters opens into a small lounge area. Armchairs and squashy bean bags circle coffee tables. It's deserted: most people are at work or outside, and anyone else is probably in their room. A narrow hallway lined with rooms branches off to either side of the lounge. Reginald sees one open door down the hallway. Towards the back of the room, a staircase leads up to the second floor. The exit leads south to the main courtyard. From here, Reginald can enter the open room or go upstairs. >w Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead south (or out), to the main courtyard; and up, back to the people's quarters (second floor). >sw Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead south (or out), to the main courtyard; and up, back to the people's quarters (second floor). >s Reginald follows the cheerful sounds of people talking and children playing out into the courtyard. Main courtyard The main courtyard bustles with life. People sit around the picnic tables, chatting and eating snacks. A few kids toss a ball around in the grass. Reginald can continue north to enter the people's quarters or east to the mess hall. The lawn in front of the church is to the southwest. >w Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead north, back to the people's quarters; east, to the mess hall; and southwest, to the outside church. >sw Reginald ducks as the ball soars over to his head. He grabs it and hands it back to the children before going to the front of the church. Outside Church The lawn in front of the church has been groomed to perfection. Two benches sit underneath a pretty oak tree. The path running in front of the factory is northwest of here. The church lies to the north. To the northeast, the compound's main courtyard. Head south to go to the entry lane. A couple of community members have decided to eat their meals outside. It's a lovely day. >s Reginald walks to the entry lane. It's very quiet here. Entry lane The only way in or out of the compound is here, through the gate in the entry lane. The utilitarian fence that surrounds the compound feels at odds with the rest of its welcoming atmosphere. To go to the front of the church, Reginald can head north. To the east, livestock roam the lush grass. To the west, a cornfield. Three armed guards stand by the gate chatting amongst themselves. >w Reginald heads into the fields, trying his best not to step on any crops. Crop fields Most of the compound's food supply is grown here. Rows of corn have begun to sprout next to the wheat and potatoes. A big barn stands on the edge of the cornfield. Off in the distance, Chris tends to a little vegetable farm. She is wearing a big straw hat. From here, Reginald can go east to the entry lane or inside the big red barn. The wheat is rustling, despite the lack of wind. >ask ruth about balthazar Ruth doesn't seem to know too much about Balthazar. She thinks he's very friendly and a great leader. It seems unlikely that she has been spying on Balthazar. Her attention seems fixed on Chris. >ask chris about balthazar "How are the vegetables doing?" Reginald asks. Chris takes off her hat and wipes away sweat from her brow. "The onions are coming along nicely. The carrots are looking a little small, though." Reginald doesn't know enough about farming to keep this line of conversation going. Maybe he should change the subject. "So, what do you know about Balthazar?" Chris looks startled. She gives a generic non-answer about how friendly Balthazar is and how thankful she is that he established the Sanctuary, but she seems on-edge. Reginald gets the sense that she's holding something back. "You're acting really weird about Balthazar. What's going on?" Chris lowers her voice and leans in closer to Reginald. "You can't tell anyone else about this, but I have a super secret theory about Balthazar. I can't say much else right now, because I'm still gathering the evidence." >ask chris about theory "Chris, I know you tried to break into Balthazar's chambers. He's suspicious of you. I need to know what's really going on so I can clear your name." Chris reaches into her pocket and pulls out a small notebook. "Okay, but you can't tell anyone else about this, especially Balthazar. Promise?" Reginald nods. He doesn't want to actually make a promise he isn't sure he'll be able to keep, but he isn't going to tell Chris that. He just hopes whatever she's discovered turns out to be harmless. "What Balthazar doesn't know is that I actually did manage to get inside his chamber. There's a book on demon lore hidden on his bookshelf. I only managed to skim a couple of pages before Garry and Larry showed up, but you'll never guess what it said." Reginald squints at her notebook. "How to conceal demon possession," he reads out loud. "Ten ways the strongest demons stayed hidden throughout history." He looks up. "What does that mean?" "It means that Balthazar has a book written for demons wanting to possess humans," Chris says. "The question is why. I've been trying to figure that out for myself. Why would a man who devoted his entire life to staying hidden from demons have this book?" "Maybe he wants to be able to figure out if someone gets possessed. Know your enemy and all that jazz." "Maybe," Chris doesn't look too convinced. "But I have a feeling that it's more sinister than that. Lately, he's just seemed a little off. I've been listening in on his conversations from outside of that window for a week now, and he talks to himself when no one else is there." "I talk to myself sometimes too!" Reginald protests. "It's not that weird." "But do you yell at yourself?" Chris asks. "Fight with yourself? Lose your temper with yourself when no one is there? Argue for hours and get into little shaking fits? Because he does, all the time." Ever since Reginald set foot in the Hidden Hills Sanctuary, Balthazar has been a comforting, if distant, presence in his life, making him feel protected and safe from the woes of the world. There's no way that's all an act, right? Chris points at her notebook again. "And look. The very first tip for concealing a demon possession? Keep to yourself and avoid surprises. Balthazar almost never lets anyone into his quarters." Still, Reginald isn't convinced. Balthazar might be a little weird, slightly unpredictable, and extremely private, but that doesn't mean anything. Chris pockets her notebook. "You don't have to believe me, but I know the truth. And I'm going to prove it and expose him to the rest of the sanctuary. Everyone deserves to know." >save Saved. >ne Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead east, back to the entry lane; and in, to the barn. >n Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead east, back to the entry lane; and in, to the barn. >e Reginald wades through the corn on his way to the entry lane. Entry lane The only way in or out of the compound is here, through the gate in the entry lane. The utilitarian fence that surrounds the compound feels at odds with the rest of its welcoming atmosphere. To go to the front of the church, Reginald can head north. To the east, livestock roam the lush grass. To the west, a cornfield. Three armed guards stand by the gate chatting amongst themselves. >n Reginald walks along the scenic path towards the church's lawn. Outside Church The lawn in front of the church has been groomed to perfection. Two benches sit underneath a pretty oak tree. The path running in front of the factory is northwest of here. The church lies to the north. To the northeast, the compound's main courtyard. Head south to go to the entry lane. A couple of community members have decided to eat their meals outside. It's a lovely day. >nw Reginald walks past the community members to the front of the factory. Outside factory The front of the factory is decorated by a couple of scruffy shrubs and an old, rusty cannon. A stack of cannonballs sit nearby. From here, a dirt pathway leads west towards the entrance of the factory. Reginald can also choose to head southeast towards the front of the church. Up north, the leader's quarters loom. >n Reginald wipes his shoes on the doormat before entering Balthazar's chambers. He wouldn't want to track dirt onto those pristine floors. Leader's quarters Now this place looks fit for a king! The polished wooden floors shine and the walls are lined with bookcases stretching to the ceiling. Balthazar's personal desk sits in the back of the room and a plush bearskin rug stares up at Reginald from the floor. To leave the room, Reginald can go south to the front of the factory. Garry and Larry stand by the door. Balthazar sits in a leather armchair behind his desk. He looks up expectantly. >tell balthazar about wayne Reginald gives Balthazar all the information he has about Wayne. "That's great Reginald, but I think we need a little more before we do anything too rash," Bathazar says. >se Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead south (or out), back to the outside factory; and down. >out Reginald exits Balthazar's quarters. The dirt path feels especially rustic by comparison. Outside factory The front of the factory is decorated by a couple of scruffy shrubs and an old, rusty cannon. A stack of cannonballs sit nearby. From here, a dirt pathway leads west towards the entrance of the factory. Reginald can also choose to head southeast towards the front of the church. Up north, the leader's quarters loom. >se Reginald strolls along the path to the lawn in front of the church. Outside Church The lawn in front of the church has been groomed to perfection. Two benches sit underneath a pretty oak tree. The path running in front of the factory is northwest of here. The church lies to the north. To the northeast, the compound's main courtyard. Head south to go to the entry lane. A couple of community members have decided to eat their meals outside. It's a lovely day. >e Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead north (or in), to the church; south, to the entry lane; northeast, to the main courtyard; and northwest, back to the outside factory. >s Reginald walks to the entry lane. It's very quiet here. Entry lane The only way in or out of the compound is here, through the gate in the entry lane. The utilitarian fence that surrounds the compound feels at odds with the rest of its welcoming atmosphere. To go to the front of the church, Reginald can head north. To the east, livestock roam the lush grass. To the west, a cornfield. Three armed guards stand by the gate chatting amongst themselves. >n Reginald walks along the scenic path towards the church's lawn. Outside Church The lawn in front of the church has been groomed to perfection. Two benches sit underneath a pretty oak tree. The path running in front of the factory is northwest of here. The church lies to the north. To the northeast, the compound's main courtyard. Head south to go to the entry lane. A couple of community members have decided to eat their meals outside. It's a lovely day. >ne Reginald turns his back on the beautiful lawn in front of the church and walks into the main courtyard. Main courtyard The main courtyard bustles with life. People sit around the picnic tables, chatting and eating snacks. A few kids toss a ball around in the grass. Reginald can continue north to enter the people's quarters or east to the mess hall. The lawn in front of the church is to the southwest. >n Reginald walks into the people's quarters, high-fiving the welcome sign on his way in. People's quarters The entryway of the people's quarters opens into a small lounge area. Armchairs and squashy bean bags circle coffee tables. It's deserted: most people are at work or outside, and anyone else is probably in their room. A narrow hallway lined with rooms branches off to either side of the lounge. Reginald sees one open door down the hallway. Towards the back of the room, a staircase leads up to the second floor. The exit leads south to the main courtyard. From here, Reginald can enter the open room or go upstairs. >u Reginald climbs up the staircase onto the second floor. People's quarters (Second Floor) The upstairs hallway practically mirrors the one below, except there isn't a lounge area. The door to the janitor's closet has been left ajar. The smell of pizza rolls fills the entire hallway. Reginald could either go to his room or down the stairs to the first floor of the people's quarters. >enter closet Mysterious closet The inside of the closet is equal parts normal and thoroughly unexpected. Mops and cleaning supplies line one wall. Another is taken up by a cork board covered in photographs. A microwave sits on a stool in the corner. To exit the closet, Reginald can go out the door into the second floor hallway. Wayne stands in front of the cork board. >ask wayne about boss "Wayne? What's going on?" Wayne whirls around. "Reginald!" he says. "How did you get in here?" Reginald points to the open door. "The door was open." Wayne looks at the door, then back to Reginald. "Yes, I suppose it was." Suddenly, his face breaks out into a confused smile and he gestures to the corkboard. "You guys have the weirdest janitor," he says. "I just came in here to use the microwave, and there was this... thingamajig on the wall!" Reginald finds it hard to believe him. His tone sounds genuine, but that's the worst excuse Reginald has ever heard. "Alright, Wayne. I told you my secrets. Now it's your turn. What is your job? Who do you work for? What are you really doing in the Sanctuary?" Wayne lets out a heavy sigh. "I thought it was obvious. Special Agent Wayne Jackson, FBI." Reginald gasps. "That's so cool." "I'm new to the job, Reginald. This is only my second assignment. I still need to prove myself. You have to help me prove that Balthazar's doing something illegal. My coworkers and I have been investigating this cult from the outside for months now, and we don't have jack squat." Reginald alternates between staring at Wayne's corkboard and at Wayne himself. Wayne is an FBI agent who thinks The Hidden Hills Sanctuary is a cult engaging in dangerous and possibly illegal activities. He's exactly the kind of person Balthazar wants Reginald to report. He's also making a lot of sense. Except... Reginald isn't a cultist. He's just a regular guy. "What makes you think this is a cult? Why can't it just be a community of people who care about each other and retrieve ears for their leader when he asks for it? Maybe Balthazar's not doing anything wrong, ever think about that?" Reginald doesn't mean to sound hysterical, but it comes out like that anyway. Wayne doesn't seem offended. "Reginald, I'm going to ask you to take some deep breaths and think about this rationally. Balthazar is dangerous. I have a plan to prove it, but I can't do it alone. Will you help me?" Wayne's calm voice breaks through to Reginald. He still doesn't believe that he's in a cult, but he has to concede that things are a little strange around here. Maybe Wayne's plan can help them both discover what's really going on. >ask wayne about plan "I'm convinced. What's your plan?" Reginald is not convinced, but he wants to gather as much information as possible before he decides what to do about this situation. Wayne beckons him closer. "If there's anything incriminating in this compound, it'll be in Balthazar's chambers. Problem is, Balthazar never lets anyone snoop around there. But I think he trusts you. You have a chance at finding some proof." "Balthazar isn't going to let me poke through his stuff!" Reginald protests. "Keep your cover and go along with what he says until you see an opportunity. He has to leave his room eventually." >out Wayne stands between Reginald and the door. "Reginald, I need to know that I can trust you not to rat me out. Are you on my side?" Reginald has no idea whose side he is on, or how things got to the point where he needs to pick sides. "Sure," he says, knowing that Wayne probably wouldn't let him out otherwise, "I keep my word." Reginald backs into the second floor hallway, his clothes reeking of pizza rolls. People's quarters (Second Floor) The upstairs hallway practically mirrors the one below, except there isn't a lounge area. The door to the janitor's closet has been left ajar. The smell of pizza rolls fills the entire hallway. Reginald could either go to his room or down the stairs to the first floor of the people's quarters. >d Reginald walks down the staircase back onto the first floor lounge area. People's quarters The entryway of the people's quarters opens into a small lounge area. Armchairs and squashy bean bags circle coffee tables. It's deserted: most people are at work or outside, and anyone else is probably in their room. A narrow hallway lined with rooms branches off to either side of the lounge. Reginald sees one open door down the hallway. Towards the back of the room, a staircase leads up to the second floor. The exit leads south to the main courtyard. From here, Reginald can enter the open room or go upstairs. >s Reginald follows the cheerful sounds of people talking and children playing out into the courtyard. Main courtyard The main courtyard bustles with life. People sit around the picnic tables, chatting and eating snacks. A few kids toss a ball around in the grass. Reginald can continue north to enter the people's quarters or east to the mess hall. The lawn in front of the church is to the southwest. >w Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead north, back to the people's quarters; east, to the mess hall; and southwest, to the outside church. >nw Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead north, back to the people's quarters; east, to the mess hall; and southwest, to the outside church. >sw Reginald ducks as the ball soars over to his head. He grabs it and hands it back to the children before going to the front of the church. Outside Church The lawn in front of the church has been groomed to perfection. Two benches sit underneath a pretty oak tree. The path running in front of the factory is northwest of here. The church lies to the north. To the northeast, the compound's main courtyard. Head south to go to the entry lane. A couple of community members have decided to eat their meals outside. It's a lovely day. >nw Reginald walks past the community members to the front of the factory. Outside factory The front of the factory is decorated by a couple of scruffy shrubs and an old, rusty cannon. A stack of cannonballs sit nearby. From here, a dirt pathway leads west towards the entrance of the factory. Reginald can also choose to head southeast towards the front of the church. Up north, the leader's quarters loom. >n Reginald wipes his shoes on the doormat before entering Balthazar's chambers. He wouldn't want to track dirt onto those pristine floors. Leader's quarters Now this place looks fit for a king! The polished wooden floors shine and the walls are lined with bookcases stretching to the ceiling. Balthazar's personal desk sits in the back of the room and a plush bearskin rug stares up at Reginald from the floor. To leave the room, Reginald can go south to the front of the factory. Garry and Larry stand by the door. Balthazar sits in a leather armchair behind his desk. He looks up expectantly. >u Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead south (or out), back to the outside factory; and down. >tell balthazar about wayne Reginald isn't so sure about that. What if Wayne's FBI friends storm into the Sanctuary and arrest him for interfering with his mission? But he decides to trust you anyway. "I discovered that Wayne is an FBI agent who is investigating the Sanctuary. He thinks this is a cult." Balthazar freezes. "What?" he asks. "How did he, I mean, why would he think that? You don't think this is a cult, do you, Reginald?" Reginald ignores the sliver of doubt in his heart and shakes his head. Balthazar's eyes glow with anger, or maybe they're just glowing. Reginald gulps and sinks into his chair as Balthazar rises from his desk. The stench of sulfur fills the air. Reginald turns to see Garry and Larry eating hard boiled eggs. By the time Reginald turns back, Balthazar looks like his normal self again. "Thank you, Reginald. The information you've given me will prove valuable. I'd been looking for a suitable sacrifice for a... special demon ritual, and now I believe I've found one." Before Reginald has a chance to speak, Balthazar is out the door. Garry and Larry follow, leaving Reginald alone in Balthazar's chamber. "Oh my gosh," Reginald says. He stares up at the ceiling in a daze. "Balthazar is possessed by a demon. This really is a cult, isn't it?" Wayne is in grave danger. And it's all Reginald's fault. Reginald needs to find a way to deal with Balthazar before somebody gets hurt. >x papers Important documents, certainly. Probably dealing with taxes or land ownership. Reginald doesn't know enough about such topics to decipher their contents, since Angela always used to do his taxes for him. For all he knows, these papers could be sketchy or incriminating. >take them Taken. >move rug Reginald grabs a front paw and tugs it to the side, revealing a trap door underneath. He peers inside. A small ladder leads into the basement. >d Reginald opens the trap door and climbs down the ladder into a hidden gym. Gym Underneath Balthazar's reception room is a full gym. One wall is lined with two giant cabinets and a mini-fridge; another holds a bathroom stall. The rest of the room is dedicated to exercise equipment and weights. The floor is covered in yoga mats. Pipes run along the ceiling and down one wall into the floor. >x guns The stockpile of guns is truly massive. There must be hundreds in these cabinets. >u Reginald climbs the ladder to Balthazar's seating room, peeking out at the top to make sure no one is around to see him. Leader's quarters Now this place looks fit for a king! The polished wooden floors shine and the walls are lined with bookcases stretching to the ceiling. Balthazar's personal desk sits in the back of the room and a plush bearskin rug stares up at Reginald from the floor. To leave the room, Reginald can go south to the front of the factory or down to Balthazar's gym. >out Reginald exits Balthazar's quarters. The dirt path feels especially rustic by comparison. Outside factory The front of the factory is decorated by a couple of scruffy shrubs and an old, rusty cannon. A stack of cannonballs sit nearby. From here, a dirt pathway leads west towards the entrance of the factory. Reginald can also choose to head southeast towards the front of the church. Up north, the leader's quarters loom. >se Reginald strolls along the path to the lawn in front of the church. Outside Church The lawn in front of the church has been groomed to perfection. Two benches sit underneath a pretty oak tree. The path running in front of the factory is northwest of here. The church lies to the north. To the northeast, the compound's main courtyard. Head south to go to the entry lane. A couple of community members have decided to eat their meals outside. It's a lovely day. >s Reginald walks to the entry lane. It's very quiet here. Entry lane The only way in or out of the compound is here, through the gate in the entry lane. The utilitarian fence that surrounds the compound feels at odds with the rest of its welcoming atmosphere. To go to the front of the church, Reginald can head north. To the east, livestock roam the lush grass. To the west, a cornfield. Three armed guards stand by the gate chatting amongst themselves. >w Reginald heads into the fields, trying his best not to step on any crops. Crop fields Most of the compound's food supply is grown here. Rows of corn have begun to sprout next to the wheat and potatoes. A big barn stands on the edge of the cornfield. Off in the distance, Chris tends to a little vegetable farm. She is wearing a big straw hat. From here, Reginald can go east to the entry lane or inside the big red barn. Ruth stands next to Chris, looking very happy. Chris gestures wildly with her hands as she recounts a story about alien sightings in Omaha. >save Saved. >ask chris about balthazar Balthazar is a danger to everyone in the Sanctuary. Maybe Chris knows a way to stop him. "I don't know enough about demons to do anything," Reginald says. "Chris, you have to help me out here." Chris shrugs. "So much of what I know might not even be true. I think you need to go find that book I saw in Balthazar's quarters. Get it straight from the demon's mouth, so to speak. At this point, you know more than I do." >tell chris about balthazar "Chris, you were right. Balthazar is totally possessed, and he just kidnapped Wayne to sacrifice in a demon ritual. I think Wayne's in real danger." Ruth and Chris both look horrified. "That's horrible!" Ruth says. "Also, who is Wayne?" "He's the new guy. He just came in today. I don't know what I should do." Ruth and Chris shake their heads. It seems like they don't have any ideas either. >e Reginald wades through the corn on his way to the entry lane. Entry lane The only way in or out of the compound is here, through the gate in the entry lane. The utilitarian fence that surrounds the compound feels at odds with the rest of its welcoming atmosphere. To go to the front of the church, Reginald can head north. To the east, livestock roam the lush grass. To the west, a cornfield. Three armed guards stand by the gate chatting amongst themselves. >n Reginald walks along the scenic path towards the church's lawn. Outside Church The lawn in front of the church has been groomed to perfection. Two benches sit underneath a pretty oak tree. The path running in front of the factory is northwest of here. The church lies to the north. To the northeast, the compound's main courtyard. Head south to go to the entry lane. A couple of community members have decided to eat their meals outside. It's a lovely day. >nw Reginald walks past the community members to the front of the factory. Outside factory The front of the factory is decorated by a couple of scruffy shrubs and an old, rusty cannon. A stack of cannonballs sit nearby. From here, a dirt pathway leads west towards the entrance of the factory. Reginald can also choose to head southeast towards the front of the church. Up north, the leader's quarters loom. >n Reginald wipes his shoes on the doormat before entering Balthazar's chambers. He wouldn't want to track dirt onto those pristine floors. Leader's quarters Now this place looks fit for a king! The polished wooden floors shine and the walls are lined with bookcases stretching to the ceiling. Balthazar's personal desk sits in the back of the room and a plush bearskin rug stares up at Reginald from the floor. To leave the room, Reginald can go south to the front of the factory or down to Balthazar's gym. >x book Reginald attempts to pull the book from the shelf. Its fake cover falls to the floor. In his hands is a hefty book titled Dominion: Deelzebub's Tips for Aspiring Demon Lords. Ornate letters snake around its dark leather cover. Reginald wonders if his mind is playing tricks on him or if the book is really giving off an evil aura. >read it Reginald thinks back to his college writing seminars and flips to the table of contents. The book has a subsection devoted to "Exorcism and How To Avoid It." That sounds promising. Reginald skims the exorcism section, looking for anything he could use against Balthazar. The prose is dense and meandering: a sign of a truly evil writer. Reginald's eyes glaze over after one long paragraph, but he powers through. As he approaches the end of the chapter, Reginald realizes that he hasn't retained a single scrap of useful information. He begins hopelessly flipping through pages, looking for a picture or a nice infographic. Luckily, he stumbles upon a quick bullet point list. He's spared from having to actually read this book! To Summarize: 1. Stay safe! If your host dies, so will you. 2. Keep your host happy. A satisfied host is a reliable host. 3. Don't let your host sneeze! In the spring, have them take allergy medication or stay inside. 4. Avoid cucumbers. 5. Never reveal your true name. A note scrawled in the margins by tip number 5 reads: NOTE TO SELF: Don't tell anyone your name is DRAD. VERY IMPORTANT! >* Oh man, also sneezes Comment recorded. >s Reginald exits Balthazar's quarters. The dirt path feels especially rustic by comparison. Outside factory The front of the factory is decorated by a couple of scruffy shrubs and an old, rusty cannon. A stack of cannonballs sit nearby. From here, a dirt pathway leads west towards the entrance of the factory. Reginald can also choose to head southeast towards the front of the church. Up north, the leader's quarters loom. >n Reginald wipes his shoes on the doormat before entering Balthazar's chambers. He wouldn't want to track dirt onto those pristine floors. Leader's quarters Now this place looks fit for a king! The polished wooden floors shine and the walls are lined with bookcases stretching to the ceiling. Balthazar's personal desk sits in the back of the room and a plush bearskin rug stares up at Reginald from the floor. To leave the room, Reginald can go south to the front of the factory or down to Balthazar's gym. >take book In his hands is a hefty book titled Dominion: Deelzebub's Tips for Aspiring Demon Lords. Ornate letters snake around its dark leather cover. Reginald wonders if his mind is playing tricks on him or if the book is really giving off an evil aura. >s Reginald exits Balthazar's quarters. The dirt path feels especially rustic by comparison. Outside factory The front of the factory is decorated by a couple of scruffy shrubs and an old, rusty cannon. A stack of cannonballs sit nearby. From here, a dirt pathway leads west towards the entrance of the factory. Reginald can also choose to head southeast towards the front of the church. Up north, the leader's quarters loom. > Outside factory The front of the factory is decorated by a couple of scruffy shrubs and an old, rusty cannon. A stack of cannonballs sit nearby. From here, a dirt pathway leads west towards the entrance of the factory. Reginald can also choose to head southeast towards the front of the church. Up north, the leader's quarters loom. >s Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead north, back to the leader's quarters; west (or in), to the factory; and southeast, to the outside church. >e Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead north, back to the leader's quarters; west (or in), to the factory; and southeast, to the outside church. >se Reginald strolls along the path to the lawn in front of the church. Outside Church The lawn in front of the church has been groomed to perfection. Two benches sit underneath a pretty oak tree. The path running in front of the factory is northwest of here. The church lies to the north. To the northeast, the compound's main courtyard. Head south to go to the entry lane. A couple of community members have decided to eat their meals outside. It's a lovely day. >e Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead north (or in), to the church; south, to the entry lane; northeast, to the main courtyard; and northwest, back to the outside factory. >s Reginald walks to the entry lane. It's very quiet here. Entry lane The only way in or out of the compound is here, through the gate in the entry lane. The utilitarian fence that surrounds the compound feels at odds with the rest of its welcoming atmosphere. To go to the front of the church, Reginald can head north. To the east, livestock roam the lush grass. To the west, a cornfield. Three armed guards stand by the gate chatting amongst themselves. >e Reginald braces himself against the smell of livestock and heads into the field. Cattle Fields Cows lazily roam around the grass, flicking their tails back and forth. A couple of them lie beside the small tool shed in the shade. Next to the shed, the chicken coop is alive with the sound of squawking hens. The stench of livestock fills the air, and Reginald is reminded of why he chose to work in the factory. The kitchen door opens out into this field, and through the glass Reginald can see Chef Johnson and his workers busily preparing tonight's dinner. There is a worm bin filled with unwanted meat scraps outside the kitchen. Reginald can enter the shed, walk north to the kitchen, or go west to the entry lane. >n Reginald weaves in between the cows and walks towards the kitchen door. Grimacing at the smell of the worm bin, he heads inside. Kitchen Chef Johnson keeps the kitchen pristine. He stands over the gleaming meat grinder preparing his special sausages for tonight's dinner. The kitchen workers are busy massaging thick slabs of dough on the heavily floured countertops. A couple of industrial grade wall cabinets seem to hold most of the common non-perishables, spices, and seasonings. To the north, the mess hall. Reginald can also go south to the field with the livestock. >x spices The word “spices” is not necessary in this story. >take pepper The word “pepper” is not necessary in this story. >* aww man Comment recorded. >x cabinets Big cabinets used to hold nonperishables. Reginald doesn't see anything too interesting in there. >n Waving goodbye to the kitchen workers, Reginald walks out into the mess hall. Mess hall On one side of the mess hall, the hot bar is almost ready for the next meal. On the opposite end of the room, the salad bar has been converted into a makeshift popsicle stand. Long folding tables flanked by tiny round seats line the room's interior. To the west, a plaque hangs above the door leading into the main courtyard. The kitchen is to the south. Only a few people have decided to enjoy their snacks indoors today. Reginald supposes that popsicles are an outside food anyway. >x popsicle These popsicles are pretty hefty. Long, thick, and many different flavors. >x flavors The word “flavors” is not necessary in this story. >taste popsicle Reginald licks the popsicle from base to tip, coating his mouth with the refreshingly sweet pineapple juices. "Mhm," he moans. "Chef Johnson's popsicles are the best I've ever had." >w Reginald pushes open the door to the main courtyard. The sunlight beckons him outside. Main courtyard The main courtyard bustles with life. People sit around the picnic tables, chatting and eating snacks. A few kids toss a ball around in the grass. Reginald can continue north to enter the people's quarters or east to the mess hall. The lawn in front of the church is to the southwest. >s Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead north, to the people's quarters; east, back to the mess hall; and southwest, to the outside church. >e Reginald enters the mess hall. It's much less lively in here, but more relaxing. Mess hall On one side of the mess hall, the hot bar is almost ready for the next meal. On the opposite end of the room, the salad bar has been converted into a makeshift popsicle stand. Long folding tables flanked by tiny round seats line the room's interior. To the west, a plaque hangs above the door leading into the main courtyard. The kitchen is to the south. Only a few people have decided to enjoy their snacks indoors today. Reginald supposes that popsicles are an outside food anyway. >w Reginald pushes open the door to the main courtyard. The sunlight beckons him outside. Main courtyard The main courtyard bustles with life. People sit around the picnic tables, chatting and eating snacks. A few kids toss a ball around in the grass. Reginald can continue north to enter the people's quarters or east to the mess hall. The lawn in front of the church is to the southwest. >w Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead north, to the people's quarters; east, back to the mess hall; and southwest, to the outside church. >nw Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead north, to the people's quarters; east, back to the mess hall; and southwest, to the outside church. >sw Reginald ducks as the ball soars over to his head. He grabs it and hands it back to the children before going to the front of the church. Outside Church The lawn in front of the church has been groomed to perfection. Two benches sit underneath a pretty oak tree. The path running in front of the factory is northwest of here. The church lies to the north. To the northeast, the compound's main courtyard. Head south to go to the entry lane. A couple of community members have decided to eat their meals outside. It's a lovely day. >nw Reginald walks past the community members to the front of the factory. Outside factory The front of the factory is decorated by a couple of scruffy shrubs and an old, rusty cannon. A stack of cannonballs sit nearby. From here, a dirt pathway leads west towards the entrance of the factory. Reginald can also choose to head southeast towards the front of the church. Up north, the leader's quarters loom. >n Reginald wipes his shoes on the doormat before entering Balthazar's chambers. He wouldn't want to track dirt onto those pristine floors. Leader's quarters Now this place looks fit for a king! The polished wooden floors shine and the walls are lined with bookcases stretching to the ceiling. Balthazar's personal desk sits in the back of the room and a plush bearskin rug stares up at Reginald from the floor. To leave the room, Reginald can go south to the front of the factory or down to Balthazar's gym. >d Reginald opens the trap door and climbs down the ladder into a hidden gym. Gym Underneath Balthazar's reception room is a full gym. One wall is lined with two giant cabinets and a mini-fridge; another holds a bathroom stall. The rest of the room is dedicated to exercise equipment and weights. The floor is covered in yoga mats. Pipes run along the ceiling and down one wall into the floor. >x fridge Reginald admires Balthazar's bold color choices. A lime green fridge wouldn't have been Reginald's first choice, but it adds a refreshing pop of color to the room. It’s closed. >take cucumber Reginald sees no cucumber here. >open fridge Opened. >x cucumber Reginald sees no cucumber here. >x vegetables The word “vegetables” is not necessary in this story. >x fridge Reginald admires Balthazar's bold color choices. A lime green fridge wouldn't have been Reginald's first choice, but it adds a refreshing pop of color to the room. It’s open. >search it The fridge is weirdly well-organized. The shelves are populated by water bottles and huge quantities of plain-looking meat, rice, and pasta. Who needs vegetables for building muscle? >u Reginald climbs the ladder to Balthazar's seating room, peeking out at the top to make sure no one is around to see him. Leader's quarters Now this place looks fit for a king! The polished wooden floors shine and the walls are lined with bookcases stretching to the ceiling. Balthazar's personal desk sits in the back of the room and a plush bearskin rug stares up at Reginald from the floor. To leave the room, Reginald can go south to the front of the factory or down to Balthazar's gym. >s Reginald exits Balthazar's quarters. The dirt path feels especially rustic by comparison. Outside factory The front of the factory is decorated by a couple of scruffy shrubs and an old, rusty cannon. A stack of cannonballs sit nearby. From here, a dirt pathway leads west towards the entrance of the factory. Reginald can also choose to head southeast towards the front of the church. Up north, the leader's quarters loom. >s Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead north, back to the leader's quarters; west (or in), to the factory; and southeast, to the outside church. >e Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead north, back to the leader's quarters; west (or in), to the factory; and southeast, to the outside church. >se Reginald strolls along the path to the lawn in front of the church. Outside Church The lawn in front of the church has been groomed to perfection. Two benches sit underneath a pretty oak tree. The path running in front of the factory is northwest of here. The church lies to the north. To the northeast, the compound's main courtyard. Head south to go to the entry lane. A couple of community members have decided to eat their meals outside. It's a lovely day. >w Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead north (or in), to the church; south, to the entry lane; northeast, to the main courtyard; and northwest, back to the outside factory. >s Reginald walks to the entry lane. It's very quiet here. Entry lane The only way in or out of the compound is here, through the gate in the entry lane. The utilitarian fence that surrounds the compound feels at odds with the rest of its welcoming atmosphere. To go to the front of the church, Reginald can head north. To the east, livestock roam the lush grass. To the west, a cornfield. Three armed guards stand by the gate chatting amongst themselves. >w Reginald heads into the fields, trying his best not to step on any crops. Crop fields Most of the compound's food supply is grown here. Rows of corn have begun to sprout next to the wheat and potatoes. A big barn stands on the edge of the cornfield. Off in the distance, Chris tends to a little vegetable farm. She is wearing a big straw hat. From here, Reginald can go east to the entry lane or inside the big red barn. Ruth stands next to Chris, looking very happy. Chris gestures wildly with her hands as she recounts a story about alien sightings in Omaha. >x crops The word “crops” is not necessary in this story. >x cucumbers Reginald sees no cucumbers here. >ask chris about cucumber Reginald asks Chris if she has any opinions on cucumber. She happily lays out a surprisingly detailed theory about the subject that Reginald hadn't even considered. Maybe some of her theories are actually right. >ask chris about cucumbers Reginald asks Chris if she has any opinions on cucumbers. She happily lays out a surprisingly detailed theory about the subject that Reginald hadn't even considered. Maybe some of her theories are actually right. >e Reginald wades through the corn on his way to the entry lane. Entry lane The only way in or out of the compound is here, through the gate in the entry lane. The utilitarian fence that surrounds the compound feels at odds with the rest of its welcoming atmosphere. To go to the front of the church, Reginald can head north. To the east, livestock roam the lush grass. To the west, a cornfield. Three armed guards stand by the gate chatting amongst themselves. >e Reginald braces himself against the smell of livestock and heads into the field. Cattle Fields Cows lazily roam around the grass, flicking their tails back and forth. A couple of them lie beside the small tool shed in the shade. Next to the shed, the chicken coop is alive with the sound of squawking hens. The stench of livestock fills the air, and Reginald is reminded of why he chose to work in the factory. The kitchen door opens out into this field, and through the glass Reginald can see Chef Johnson and his workers busily preparing tonight's dinner. There is a worm bin filled with unwanted meat scraps outside the kitchen. Reginald can enter the shed, walk north to the kitchen, or go west to the entry lane. >in Reginald enters the shed. Unfortunately, the smell of livestock is just as strong here. Storage shed The inside of the shed is nothing special. Some farming tools hang on the equipment rack. A butter churn sits next to a stack of hay bales. >out Reginald goes outside into the field, making sure no chickens sneak in through the door as he leaves. Cattle Fields Cows lazily roam around the grass, flicking their tails back and forth. A couple of them lie beside the small tool shed in the shade. Next to the shed, the chicken coop is alive with the sound of squawking hens. The stench of livestock fills the air, and Reginald is reminded of why he chose to work in the factory. The kitchen door opens out into this field, and through the glass Reginald can see Chef Johnson and his workers busily preparing tonight's dinner. There is a worm bin filled with unwanted meat scraps outside the kitchen. Reginald can enter the shed, walk north to the kitchen, or go west to the entry lane. >n Reginald weaves in between the cows and walks towards the kitchen door. Grimacing at the smell of the worm bin, he heads inside. Kitchen Chef Johnson keeps the kitchen pristine. He stands over the gleaming meat grinder preparing his special sausages for tonight's dinner. The kitchen workers are busy massaging thick slabs of dough on the heavily floured countertops. A couple of industrial grade wall cabinets seem to hold most of the common non-perishables, spices, and seasonings. To the north, the mess hall. Reginald can also go south to the field with the livestock. >ask chef about cucumber "Cucumbers are delightful!" Chef Johnson says. "They add such a satisfying crunch and a slight tang when pickled. It's a shame they're not in season right now." >* ugh Comment recorded. >ask chef about pickles "Oh, I don't know, Reginald. I don't think pickles would go very well with my hot dogs." >hint Done. >ask chef about allergy "Making sure everyone gets fed every single day must be a tough job," Reginald comments. "Especially when you take into account everyone's preferences and food allergies." Chef Johnson lets out a booming laugh. "You have no idea!" he says. "Balthazar is severely allergic to garlic, and I love that stuff." He leans in and whispers, "Just between you and me, I keep a little bit of garlic powder on my person at all times so I can sprinkle it into my food." >ask chef about garlic Chef Johnson takes out an unlabeled plastic container and shows it to Reginald. "See? I make it myself during my free time. Do you want one? I guarantee that it makes everything taste better. Just don't tell Balthazar!" Reginald nods and accepts the garlic powder. >put powder on popsicle There’s no good surface on the popsicle. >i Reginald is carrying some chicken food, a milk bucket, a nasty knife, some cookies, some sleeping pills, a popsicle, a wrench, some papers, doby mick, and some garlic powder. >x doby In his hands is a hefty book titled Dominion: Deelzebub's Tips for Aspiring Demon Lords. Ornate letters snake around its dark leather cover. Reginald wonders if his mind is playing tricks on him or if the book is really giving off an evil aura. >* huh? Comment recorded. >put powder on cookies "I think I'll keep the garlic powder for now." Reginald says, "It might still be useful." >n Waving goodbye to the kitchen workers, Reginald walks out into the mess hall. Mess hall On one side of the mess hall, the hot bar is almost ready for the next meal. On the opposite end of the room, the salad bar has been converted into a makeshift popsicle stand. Long folding tables flanked by tiny round seats line the room's interior. To the west, a plaque hangs above the door leading into the main courtyard. The kitchen is to the south. Only a few people have decided to enjoy their snacks indoors today. Reginald supposes that popsicles are an outside food anyway. >w Reginald pushes open the door to the main courtyard. The sunlight beckons him outside. Main courtyard The main courtyard bustles with life. People sit around the picnic tables, chatting and eating snacks. A few kids toss a ball around in the grass. Reginald can continue north to enter the people's quarters or east to the mess hall. The lawn in front of the church is to the southwest. >n Reginald walks into the people's quarters, high-fiving the welcome sign on his way in. People's quarters The entryway of the people's quarters opens into a small lounge area. Armchairs and squashy bean bags circle coffee tables. It's deserted: most people are at work or outside, and anyone else is probably in their room. A narrow hallway lined with rooms branches off to either side of the lounge. Reginald sees one open door down the hallway. Towards the back of the room, a staircase leads up to the second floor. The exit leads south to the main courtyard. From here, Reginald can enter the open room or go upstairs. >w Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead south (or out), back to the main courtyard; and up, to the people's quarters (second floor). >d Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead south (or out), back to the main courtyard; and up, to the people's quarters (second floor). >l People's quarters The entryway of the people's quarters opens into a small lounge area. Armchairs and squashy bean bags circle coffee tables. It's deserted: most people are at work or outside, and anyone else is probably in their room. A narrow hallway lined with rooms branches off to either side of the lounge. Reginald sees one open door down the hallway. Towards the back of the room, a staircase leads up to the second floor. The exit leads south to the main courtyard. From here, Reginald can enter the open room or go upstairs. >n Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead south (or out), back to the main courtyard; and up, to the people's quarters (second floor). >u Reginald climbs up the staircase onto the second floor. People's quarters (Second Floor) The upstairs hallway practically mirrors the one below, except there isn't a lounge area. The door to the janitor's closet has been left ajar. The smell of pizza rolls fills the entire hallway. Reginald could either go to his room or down the stairs to the first floor of the people's quarters. >enter closet Mysterious closet The inside of the closet is equal parts normal and thoroughly unexpected. Mops and cleaning supplies line one wall. Another is taken up by a cork board covered in photographs. A microwave sits on a stool in the corner. Wayne is nowhere to be seen. His pizza rolls sit in the microwave, abandoned and cold. To exit the closet, Reginald can go out the door into the second floor hallway. >out Reginald backs into the second floor hallway, his clothes reeking of pizza rolls. People's quarters (Second Floor) The upstairs hallway practically mirrors the one below, except there isn't a lounge area. The door to the janitor's closet has been left ajar. The smell of pizza rolls fills the entire hallway. Reginald could either go to his room or down the stairs to the first floor of the people's quarters. >d Reginald walks down the staircase back onto the first floor lounge area. People's quarters The entryway of the people's quarters opens into a small lounge area. Armchairs and squashy bean bags circle coffee tables. It's deserted: most people are at work or outside, and anyone else is probably in their room. A narrow hallway lined with rooms branches off to either side of the lounge. Reginald sees one open door down the hallway. Towards the back of the room, a staircase leads up to the second floor. The exit leads south to the main courtyard. From here, Reginald can enter the open room or go upstairs. >w Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead south (or out), to the main courtyard; and up, back to the people's quarters (second floor). >s Reginald follows the cheerful sounds of people talking and children playing out into the courtyard. Main courtyard The main courtyard bustles with life. People sit around the picnic tables, chatting and eating snacks. A few kids toss a ball around in the grass. Reginald can continue north to enter the people's quarters or east to the mess hall. The lawn in front of the church is to the southwest. >w Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead north, back to the people's quarters; east, to the mess hall; and southwest, to the outside church. >sw Reginald ducks as the ball soars over to his head. He grabs it and hands it back to the children before going to the front of the church. Outside Church The lawn in front of the church has been groomed to perfection. Two benches sit underneath a pretty oak tree. The path running in front of the factory is northwest of here. The church lies to the north. To the northeast, the compound's main courtyard. Head south to go to the entry lane. A couple of community members have decided to eat their meals outside. It's a lovely day. >nw Reginald walks past the community members to the front of the factory. Outside factory The front of the factory is decorated by a couple of scruffy shrubs and an old, rusty cannon. A stack of cannonballs sit nearby. From here, a dirt pathway leads west towards the entrance of the factory. Reginald can also choose to head southeast towards the front of the church. Up north, the leader's quarters loom. >w Reginald crosses the dirt path to the factory and steps inside. Factory The hum of machines and the chatter of workers fill the air. There are a dozen long plastic tables evenly spaced along the floor. Rays of sunlight beam down from high windows above the factory entrance to the east. Bave is sitting at Buster's usual spot packing stickers. >tell bave about balthazar "Guys, Balthazar finally snapped. He kidnapped Wayne and is going to sacrifice him for some ritual. I'm pretty sure he's possessed by a demon, and not a friendly one." "See? I told you! We need to get out of here." Bave leaps up from his chair and starts pacing around. "We can't just leave," Reginald protests, even though he's starting to think that maybe Dave is right. "What about everyone else in the Sanctuary? And what would we do? Where would we go?" Bave puts his hands on Reginald's shoulders. "Reginald, if Balthazar is possessed by a powerful, evil demon, there's nothing we can do. You have no idea what he could be capable of. We have to save ourselves first." "What do you think, Buster?" "Maybe he has a point," Bave says. "Balthazar seems kind of nuts." He grins. "It's decided, then. I'll go scope out the exit. Meet me in the entry lane if you're ready to escape." With that, Bave walks out the door. Hopefully his supervisor doesn't notice he left. >s Reginald can’t go that way. The only obvious exit leads east (or out), back to the outside factory. >out Reginald walks out the factory's large front doors, squinting at the bright sunlight. Outside factory The front of the factory is decorated by a couple of scruffy shrubs and an old, rusty cannon. A stack of cannonballs sit nearby. From here, a dirt pathway leads west towards the entrance of the factory. Reginald can also choose to head southeast towards the front of the church. Up north, the leader's quarters loom. >s Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead north, to the leader's quarters; west (or in), back to the factory; and southeast, to the outside church. >se Reginald strolls along the path to the lawn in front of the church. Outside Church The lawn in front of the church has been groomed to perfection. Two benches sit underneath a pretty oak tree. The path running in front of the factory is northwest of here. The church lies to the north. To the northeast, the compound's main courtyard. Head south to go to the entry lane. A couple of community members have decided to eat their meals outside. It's a lovely day. >in Reginald makes his way towards the red brick church. Church Rows of pews fill the interior of the church, leaving an aisle up to the podium. An impressive tapestry covers the length of the entire back wall. Next to it, an open archway leads into a stairwell in the corner. Well-thumbed texts from various religious traditions are organized in a small bookcase by the front door. Reginald can exit by going south to leave the church. The wooden floor sounds hollow under Reginald's feet. >d Reginald doesn't think he is ready to face Balthazar just yet. He's alone and woefully unprepared. Should he try to expose Balthazar in front of an audience? Or maybe there's still a way to solve this whole mess without causing a spectacle... >i Reginald is carrying some chicken food, a milk bucket, a nasty knife, some cookies, some sleeping pills, a popsicle, a wrench, some papers, some garlic powder, and doby mick. >save Saved. >d Reginald doesn't think he is ready to face Balthazar just yet. He's alone and woefully unprepared. Should he try to expose Balthazar in front of an audience? Or maybe there's still a way to solve this whole mess without causing a spectacle... >d Reginald doesn't think he is ready to face Balthazar just yet. He's alone and woefully unprepared. Should he try to expose Balthazar in front of an audience? Or maybe there's still a way to solve this whole mess without causing a spectacle... >hint Done. >i Reginald is carrying some chicken food, a milk bucket, a nasty knife, some cookies, some sleeping pills, a popsicle, a wrench, some papers, some garlic powder, and doby mick. >n Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead south (or out), back to the outside church; up; and down, to the summoning chamber. >out Reginald pushes past the wooden doors and walks out into the front of the church. The lovely oak tree waves its branches in the warm spring breeze. Outside Church The lawn in front of the church has been groomed to perfection. Two benches sit underneath a pretty oak tree. The path running in front of the factory is northwest of here. The church lies to the north. To the northeast, the compound's main courtyard. Head south to go to the entry lane. A couple of community members have decided to eat their meals outside. It's a lovely day. >nw Reginald walks past the community members to the front of the factory. Outside factory The front of the factory is decorated by a couple of scruffy shrubs and an old, rusty cannon. A stack of cannonballs sit nearby. From here, a dirt pathway leads west towards the entrance of the factory. Reginald can also choose to head southeast towards the front of the church. Up north, the leader's quarters loom. >n Reginald wipes his shoes on the doormat before entering Balthazar's chambers. He wouldn't want to track dirt onto those pristine floors. Leader's quarters Now this place looks fit for a king! The polished wooden floors shine and the walls are lined with bookcases stretching to the ceiling. Balthazar's personal desk sits in the back of the room and a plush bearskin rug stares up at Reginald from the floor. To leave the room, Reginald can go south to the front of the factory or down to Balthazar's gym. >take injector Taken. >s Reginald exits Balthazar's quarters. The dirt path feels especially rustic by comparison. Outside factory The front of the factory is decorated by a couple of scruffy shrubs and an old, rusty cannon. A stack of cannonballs sit nearby. From here, a dirt pathway leads west towards the entrance of the factory. Reginald can also choose to head southeast towards the front of the church. Up north, the leader's quarters loom. >d Reginald can’t go that way. Obvious exits lead north, back to the leader's quarters; west (or in), to the factory; and southeast, to the outside church. >in Reginald crosses the dirt path to the factory and steps inside. Factory The hum of machines and the chatter of workers fill the air. There are a dozen long plastic tables evenly spaced along the floor. Rays of sunlight beam down from high windows above the factory entrance to the east. >d Reginald can’t go that way. The only obvious exit leads east (or out), back to the outside factory. >out Reginald walks out the factory's large front doors, squinting at the bright sunlight. Outside factory The front of the factory is decorated by a couple of scruffy shrubs and an old, rusty cannon. A stack of cannonballs sit nearby. From here, a dirt pathway leads west towards the entrance of the factory. Reginald can also choose to head southeast towards the front of the church. Up north, the leader's quarters loom. >w Reginald crosses the dirt path to the factory and steps inside. Factory The hum of machines and the chatter of workers fill the air. There are a dozen long plastic tables evenly spaced along the floor. Rays of sunlight beam down from high windows above the factory entrance to the east. >e Reginald walks out the factory's large front doors, squinting at the bright sunlight. Outside factory The front of the factory is decorated by a couple of scruffy shrubs and an old, rusty cannon. A stack of cannonballs sit nearby. From here, a dirt pathway leads west towards the entrance of the factory. Reginald can also choose to head southeast towards the front of the church. Up north, the leader's quarters loom. >se Reginald strolls along the path to the lawn in front of the church. Outside Church The lawn in front of the church has been groomed to perfection. Two benches sit underneath a pretty oak tree. The path running in front of the factory is northwest of here. The church lies to the north. To the northeast, the compound's main courtyard. Head south to go to the entry lane. A couple of community members have decided to eat their meals outside. It's a lovely day. >in Reginald makes his way towards the red brick church. Church Rows of pews fill the interior of the church, leaving an aisle up to the podium. An impressive tapestry covers the length of the entire back wall. Next to it, an open archway leads into a stairwell in the corner. Well-thumbed texts from various religious traditions are organized in a small bookcase by the front door. Reginald can exit by going south to leave the church. The wooden floor sounds hollow under Reginald's feet. >d Reginald slips behind the tapestry and descends the stairs into the church's dark basement. Summoning Chamber A lone flickering bulb casts a dim light on the summoning chamber.. An altar stands in the room's center, surrounded by arcane symbols etched into the floor. A circle of salt rings the room's edges. To leave, Reginald must simply go up the stairs back to the church. Wayne is crumpled on the ground next to the altar. Balthazar is hunched over the salt circle, drawing mysterious patterns with his finger. Garry and Larry stand off to the side. >throw garlic at balthazar Reginald uncaps the garlic powder and flings it toward Balthazar in a majestic arc. "Achoo! Achoo! Where did all this garlic come from?" Balthazar wobbles away from the altar, sneezing uncontrollably. "Garry! Larry! My epinephrine!" Garry and Larry shrug helplessly. "Do you want us to go get it, boss?" Before Balthazar has a chance to answer, he lets out a gargantuan sneeze. Reginald sees a glob of wriggling shadows dangling from Balthazar's nose. "Bless you," Garry and Larry say in unison. The blob howls in response. That must be the demon! Reginald rushes over and yanks on the pendulous mass before it can climb back inside Balthazar's nostril. It's clammy and slightly warm to the touch. A neverending rope of gelatinous demon matter unspools from Balthazar's nose. Garry and Larry rush over to help Reginald. "We'll save you, boss!" With their combined efforts, the three of them succeed in extracting the demon from Balthazar's left nostril. Balthazar falls unconscious to the floor. The pulsating mass condenses and morphs into its true, humanoid form. The demon stands roughly seven feet tall. Its reddish skin bulges with muscle, two pointy tails swish around its meaty legs, and the shiny black horns protruding from its head nearly graze the ceiling of the chamber. The demon looms over all of them, his mouth twisting into a cruel sneer. Sharp teeth glint in the light of the room. "You human scum!" he snarls at Reginald. "How dare you interfere with my plans?" Just then, Bave strolls into the summoning chamber and waves. "There you are, Reginald! I figured you'd be around here somewhere. I got tired of waiting for you to show up. Do you want to go get dinner?" He looks around the room and notices the massive demon. His expression twists into one of pure hatred. "You!" he yells. "What are you doing here?" Dave must have met this demon before. "You guys know each other?" Reginald asks. The demon turns his glare to Bave. "Who are you?" he snaps. "You humans all look the same to me." Bave starts shaking. Reginald watches in fascination as Bave lets out three dry heaves. A cloud of smoke erupts from his mouth and Dave materializes into being. "Dave? Again? I thought Reginald banished you!" He conjures a gust of wind and pushes Reginald against the chamber wall. "I knew I shouldn't have trusted you, you rat." "Hey, now," Dave says. "Your fight is with me. Why don't you pick on someone your own size?" The demon snorts. "Trust me, we are not the same size. You can ask your ex- wife if you don't believe me." "Drad, you bastard!" Drad. Wait a minute. Reginald remembers why he came down into this basement in the first place. He has to banish Drad before someone gets killed. "Drad, I banish you!" Reginald yells, trying to sound confident. There's no way it's that easy, right? For a horrible second, nothing happens and Reginald is convinced that they're all going to die. Then Drad starts shriveling up, as if someone sucked all the air out of him. "Damn you, Dave!" Drad yells as his body implodes. Dave puffs up his chest and gives Drad a cheeky wave. He walks over and stomps on Drad's now-miniscule body. "Go back to Hell where you belong! You and Damy deserve each other, you slimeball." With an almost-inaudible wail, Drad vanishes into nothingness. Balthazar lets out a loud wheeze. "Help." Oh, right. Balthazar. Reginald kneels by his fallen leader and administers a shot of epinephrine to his thigh. Garry and Larry rush over in tears. "Boss! We're so glad you're okay." Balthazar blinks a couple of times and focuses on Reginald. "I'm getting too old for this job, aren't I?" He lets out a weary chuckle and gets to his feet, using Garry and Larry for support. "Thank you for saving me, Reginald. I'm ashamed to say that I wasn't strong enough to resist that demon. I thought his hold on my mind would never be broken." "Hey man, we've all been there," Buster says. "You just need a nap." "Actually, I'm pretty sure he needs to go to the hospital. I might've gotten a little carried away with that garlic." Reginald has another sudden realization. Wayne is still lying unconscious on the floor. "Yeah, we should call an ambulance. Do we even have a phone?" Epilogue It takes Balthazar a week to receive a clean bill of health from the hospital. The Sanctuary throws a welcome back party to celebrate his return. Reginald dons his new purple-trimmed frock and heads down to the main courtyard to partake in the festivities. Wayne is nowhere to be found. He must have left already. Reginald would have liked to say goodbye, but perhaps that would be asking for too much. At least Wayne had decided not to press charges. Ruth and Chris stand together next to the punch bowl. Reginald gives them a friendly nod on his way to talk to Balthazar. They've been getting pretty close lately. Reginald wonders if Ruth's finally making some headway in her quest to win Chris's heart.They've been getting pretty close lately as Chris recovers from her mild concussion. Balthazar cuts into the magnificent cake shaped like his head while Dave brags to every single community member who comes by to pick up a piece. "I baked this all by myself!" At the sight of Reginald, Balthazar beams and sets down his cake. "Reginald, my boy!" He pulls Reginald in for a hug. "Your new colors suit you. Have you considered my offer?" "My answer is the same now as it was a week ago, Balthazar. The Sanctuary wouldn't be the same without you as its leader. I'm just happy to have you back to your old self." Balthazar sighs. "I guess it can't be helped. But, you know, someday I'll have no choice but to retire. I hope you'll still be here when that time comes." A cool breeze ruffles Reginald's hair as he looks around at the smiling faces of his friends. "Don't worry, Balthazar. I'm not going anywhere." *** THE END *** Would you like to RESTORE a saved position, RESTART the story, UNDO the last move, or QUIT? > Thanks for playing!