Start of a transcript of

Player B- The Purple Pearl: A Two Player Adventure
An Interactive Fiction by Amanda W
Release 1 / Serial number 230630 / Inform 7 build 6M62 (I6/v6.34 lib 6/12N) 
Identification number: //E7D3111B-77B6-4A1D-BDA4-EF4ED869CC26//
Interpreter version 1.3.6 / VM 3.1.2 / Library serial number 080126
Standard Rules version 3/120430 by Graham Nelson
Glulx Image Centering version 4 by Emily Short
Undo Output Control version 5/170902 by Erik Temple

>about
This two-player parser game was inspired by Milo van Mesdag's The Last Night of Alexisgrad and Rusty Lake's The Past Within.

Thanks to my fabulous beta testers: BJ Best, Henry Best (the Bests really lived up to their surname as they did last minute testing!), Jade, Zed Lopez, Travis Moy, Eva Radke, and Edo Rajh.

And thanks most of all to my sweet love, Tom, for everything.

You're clutching a note in your shaky hand.

>* oh, odd for that update to fire after an out of world action
You seem to want to talk to someone, but I can't see whom.

>* The room description focusing on the four walls does feel very Cube Escape-y
That's not a verb I recognise.

>help
This game assumes that you have a partner playing Part A. You should be in communication with your partner during your play, either in person, over the phone, or by text or a messaging system It is expected that you will tell each other what you have and what you need. You will need to work together to complete the game.

When your partner wants to send you an object, they should give you a partner code. Every time your partner sends you a partner code, type CODE and then the 3-digit code. Every time your game gives you a partner code, give it to your partner.

There is no way to lose or lock this game in an unwinnable position.

There is a hint system, but it contains hints only for your partner. If you want a hint, your partner has your hints, so you'll need to ask them for help. To get a hint for your partner, type HINT at any time.

Type HELP to come back to this information.

Type PLAY for general directions for playing parser IF.

Type ABOUT to see information about this game.

You're clutching a note in your shaky hand.

>* getting this back in the transcript
That's not a verb I recognise.

>* I'm guessing we'll need to swap various component parts and clues back and forth
That's not a verb I recognise.

>x me
You are Mike, looking a little more haggard than usual since foolishly volunteering for this mission, being drugged, and waking up in a stone cell.

You're clutching a note in your shaky hand.

>* Honestly that's probably about as haggard as I usually look, I have a two year old
You seem to want to talk to someone, but I can't see whom.

>i
You are carrying:
  a note

You're clutching a note in your shaky hand.

>x note
A note that reads:

Welcome to the challenge! We WILL take back our Pearl with your help. We have sent many battle-hardened warriors to take it back over the last year, and none have returned. We have decided to send teams of two, tested in their ability to work together. You have a partner in another location. Your job is to figure out how to communicate with them to escape my dungeons. If only one of you escapes, your team is a failure. If you both escape, you will have the honor of retrieving the Pearl for the glory of the Kingdom! If you fail, here you will rot.

Your partner's name is Pinkunz.

Your first task is to open the brass panel on the wall. To open it:

Picture our Pearl so rare;
Switch clues can be found there.

>x window
A very small window. It's not even big enough to put your head through. It provides fresh air, sunlight, and a view of the castle's turrets. You're quite high up, it seems.

>x hole
A small round hole in the wall with a black button next to it.

>push black button
You hear a click, but nothing happens.

>x panel
A brass panel on the wall, with 3 brass switches on it in a row.

You can FLIP or SWITCH the switches.

>x picture
A painting on the wall of King Myron holding two cats on a leash. Purple pearls are painted in each of the four corners of the painting. The text on the painting says:

Upon the throne
Or down in the fray
Our King, amidst us always.


>x switches
Which do you mean, Switch 1, Switch 2 or Switch 3?

>1
(Switch 1)
A switch that can be switched to the down, middle, or up position. It is currently in the down position.

You can SWITCH or FLIP a switch.

>flip 1
(Switch 1)
You switch the switch to the middle position.

>g
(Switch 1)
You switch the switch to the up position.

>x 2
(the knob 2)
You see nothing special about the knob 2.

>x switch 2
A switch that can be switched to the down, middle, or up position. It is currently in the down position.

You can SWITCH or FLIP a switch.

>x switch 3
A switch that can be switched to the down, middle, or up position. It is currently in the down position.

You can SWITCH or FLIP a switch.

>flip switch 3
You switch the switch to the middle position.

The brass panel flips and pulls into the wall, revealing a niche in the stone wall. The switches are gone.

>x niche
A niche in the wall.

In the niche is a rock.

>x rock
A hefty round rock.

>x rock
A hefty round rock.

>take rock
Taken.

>l
Stone Cell
A stone cell.

A painting with writing on it is on one wall next to a purple plaque.

The opposite wall is made of bricks, with a niche in it.

 Another wall has a round hole with a black button next to it. There is also a very small window on this wall.

The fourth wall has a large glass-fronted vending machine against it.

There is an opening in the ceiling.

There's a gray square in the middle of the floor with a birdcage on it.

>x opening
An opening in the ceiling. It's big enough for a person, but is too high up to reach.

>say hello
(to the pigeon)
There is no reply.

>x pigeon
A typical pigeon, in the birdcage, eying you warily. It has something in its beak, but you can't see what it is, because the pigeon is all fluffed up. It also has a bag around its neck.

>x bag
A bag around the pigeon's neck.

>pet pigeon
It shrieks and pecks viciously at you and you back away.

>x beak
A typical pigeon, in the birdcage, eying you warily. It has something in its beak, but you can't see what it is, because the pigeon is all fluffed up. It also has a bag around its neck.

>l
Stone Cell
A stone cell.

A painting with writing on it is on one wall next to a purple plaque.

The opposite wall is made of bricks, with a niche in it.

 Another wall has a round hole with a black button next to it. There is also a very small window on this wall.

The fourth wall has a large glass-fronted vending machine against it.

There is an opening in the ceiling.

There's a gray square in the middle of the floor with a birdcage on it.

>x plaque
A purple plaque with a drawing of an ear above a small cavity in the plaque.

>x cavity
A cavity in the plaque beneath the drawing of an ear. You can hear something faintly coming from the cavity.

>listen to cavity
You put your ear to the cavity and hear a whispering voice saying "Before, before, before..."

>x window
A very small window. It's not even big enough to put your head through. It provides fresh air, sunlight, and a view of the castle's turrets. You're quite high up, it seems.

>x hole
A small round hole in the wall with a black button next to it.

>x button
A big black button on the wall next to the hole in the wall.

>x bricks
A wall made of bricks, with a niche in it. There is a depression in the wall where a single brick has been pushed back. It's probably poking out of the wall on the other side.

>push brick
You can't fit your hand in it far enough.

>pull brick
You can't get your hand in the depression well enough to grab the pushed-in brick. It will have to be pushed from the other side.

>hit wall
(the hole in the wall)
Violence isn't the answer to this one.

>yell at wall
That's not a verb I recognise.

>shout
I didn't understand that sentence.

>x square
A gray square in the middle of the floor with a birdcage on it.

>x cage
A wire birdcage with a pigeon in it and a mess at the bottom. The pigeon is eyeing you warily. A label on the cage reads: "HOMER."

>say homer
(to the pigeon)
There is no reply.

>x homer
A typical pigeon, in the birdcage, eying you warily. It has something in its beak, but you can't see what it is, because the pigeon is all fluffed up. It also has a bag around its neck.

>x machine
A large rectangular vending machine with a glass front. There is an assortment of white packages in the vending machine. A plate with two rows of knobs are above a tray at the base of the machine, and there is a slot in the side. There is a light by the slot, glowing red.

You can TURN the knobs.

>x packages
White packages in the vending machine.

>x slot
A typical slot for a coin, with a light glowing red.

>x light
A light by the slot in the vending machine, glowing red.

>x plate
A plate with two rows of knobs on it. The top row has 26 knobs, each labelled with a letter of the alphabet.
The bottom row has 10 knobs, labelled 0-9.

>* oof
That's not a verb I recognise.

>x rock
A hefty round rock.

>give rock
(to the pigeon)
The pigeon pecks viciously at you, and you pull your hand back.

>hekp
That's not a verb I recognise.

>help
This game assumes that you have a partner playing Part A. You should be in communication with your partner during your play, either in person, over the phone, or by text or a messaging system It is expected that you will tell each other what you have and what you need. You will need to work together to complete the game.

When your partner wants to send you an object, they should give you a partner code. Every time your partner sends you a partner code, type CODE and then the 3-digit code. Every time your game gives you a partner code, give it to your partner.

There is no way to lose or lock this game in an unwinnable position.

There is a hint system, but it contains hints only for your partner. If you want a hint, your partner has your hints, so you'll need to ask them for help. To get a hint for your partner, type HINT at any time.

Type HELP to come back to this information.

Type PLAY for general directions for playing parser IF.

Type ABOUT to see information about this game.

>hint
These hints are for your partner. If you need a hint, communicate with your partner. They have access to your hint system. You should always be communicating with and helping your partner. You may be able to help each other solve problems without using hints.

Does your partner need a hint? >no

OK, type hint again if your partner needs a hint. Ask them to type hint if you need one.

>listen to cavity
You put your ear to the cavity and hear a whispering voice saying "Before, before, before..."

>l
Stone Cell
A stone cell.

A painting with writing on it is on one wall next to a purple plaque.

The opposite wall is made of bricks, with a niche in it.

 Another wall has a round hole with a black button next to it. There is also a very small window on this wall.

The fourth wall has a large glass-fronted vending machine against it.

There is an opening in the ceiling.

There's a gray square in the middle of the floor with a birdcage on it.

>move painting
It is fixed in place.

>look under painting
You find nothing of interest.

>hit wall with rock
You can't see any such thing.

>x rock
A hefty round rock.

>take rock
You already have that.

>l
Stone Cell
A stone cell.

A painting with writing on it is on one wall next to a purple plaque.

The opposite wall is made of bricks, with a niche in it.

 Another wall has a round hole with a black button next to it. There is also a very small window on this wall.

The fourth wall has a large glass-fronted vending machine against it.

There is an opening in the ceiling.

There's a gray square in the middle of the floor with a birdcage on it.

>put rock in hole
You put the rock into the hole in the wall.

>push button
You hear a click, but nothing happens.

>take rock
Taken.

>throw rock
Dropped.

>take it
Taken.

>throw rock at opening
You'd lose the rock if you throw it up there!

>x switches
You can't see any such thing.

>x plaque
A purple plaque with a drawing of an ear above a small cavity in the plaque.

>read painting
A painting on the wall of King Myron holding two cats on a leash. Purple pearls are painted in each of the four corners of the painting. The text on the painting says:

Upon the throne
Or down in the fray
Our King, amidst us always.


>l
Stone Cell
A stone cell.

A painting with writing on it is on one wall next to a purple plaque.

The opposite wall is made of bricks, with a niche in it.

 Another wall has a round hole with a black button next to it. There is also a very small window on this wall.

The fourth wall has a large glass-fronted vending machine against it.

There is an opening in the ceiling.

There's a gray square in the middle of the floor with a birdcage on it.

>x square
A gray square in the middle of the floor with a birdcage on it.

>open birdcage
You reach for the cage door, and the pigeon shrieks, flaps its wings, and pecks at your hand. You back away.

>i
You are carrying:
  a rock
  a note

>read note
A note that reads:

Welcome to the challenge! We WILL take back our Pearl with your help. We have sent many battle-hardened warriors to take it back over the last year, and none have returned. We have decided to send teams of two, tested in their ability to work together. You have a partner in another location. Your job is to figure out how to communicate with them to escape my dungeons. If only one of you escapes, your team is a failure. If you both escape, you will have the honor of retrieving the Pearl for the glory of the Kingdom! If you fail, here you will rot.

Your partner's name is Pinkunz.

Your first task is to open the brass panel on the wall. To open it:

Picture our Pearl so rare;
Switch clues can be found there.

>open panel
You can't see any such thing.

>l
Stone Cell
A stone cell.

A painting with writing on it is on one wall next to a purple plaque.

The opposite wall is made of bricks, with a niche in it.

 Another wall has a round hole with a black button next to it. There is also a very small window on this wall.

The fourth wall has a large glass-fronted vending machine against it.

There is an opening in the ceiling.

There's a gray square in the middle of the floor with a birdcage on it.

>look out window
I only understood you as far as wanting to look outside.

>x outside
You see nothing unexpected in that direction.

>x ceiling
An opening in the ceiling. It's big enough for a person, but is too high up to reach.

>u
You can't reach the opening in the ceiling. Even if you stood on something here, the ceiling would be too far away to reach.

>d
You can't go that way.

>x cage
A wire birdcage with a pigeon in it and a mess at the bottom. The pigeon is eyeing you warily. A label on the cage reads: "HOMER."

>x mess
A wire birdcage with a pigeon in it and a mess at the bottom. The pigeon is eyeing you warily. A label on the cage reads: "HOMER."

>search mess
The pigeon shrieks, flaps its wings, and pecks viciously at your hand. You back away.

>talk to pigeon
That's not a verb I recognise.

>ask pigeon about himself
There is no reply.

>x machine
A large rectangular vending machine with a glass front. There is an assortment of white packages in the vending machine. A plate with two rows of knobs are above a tray at the base of the machine, and there is a slot in the side. There is a light by the slot, glowing red.

You can TURN the knobs.

>listen to cavity
You put your ear to the cavity and hear a whispering voice saying "Before, before, before..."

>x painting
A painting on the wall of King Myron holding two cats on a leash. Purple pearls are painted in each of the four corners of the painting. The text on the painting says:

Upon the throne
Or down in the fray
Our King, amidst us always.


>x pearls
You can't see any such thing.

>x cats
A painting on the wall of King Myron holding two cats on a leash. Purple pearls are painted in each of the four corners of the painting. The text on the painting says:

Upon the throne
Or down in the fray
Our King, amidst us always.


>x corners
You can't see any such thing.

>hit vending machine with rock
I only understood you as far as wanting to hit the vending machine.

>x machien
You can't see any such thing.

>x machine
A large rectangular vending machine with a glass front. There is an assortment of white packages in the vending machine. A plate with two rows of knobs are above a tray at the base of the machine, and there is a slot in the side. There is a light by the slot, glowing red.

You can TURN the knobs.

>x slot
A typical slot for a coin, with a light glowing red.

>x light
A light by the slot in the vending machine, glowing red.

>x riddle
You can't see any such thing.

>x painting
A painting on the wall of King Myron holding two cats on a leash. Purple pearls are painted in each of the four corners of the painting. The text on the painting says:

Upon the throne
Or down in the fray
Our King, amidst us always.


>x rok
You can't see any such thing.

>x rock
A hefty round rock.

>throw rock
Dropped.

>take it
Taken.

>spin
What do you want to spin?

>l
Stone Cell
A stone cell.

A painting with writing on it is on one wall next to a purple plaque.

The opposite wall is made of bricks, with a niche in it.

 Another wall has a round hole with a black button next to it. There is also a very small window on this wall.

The fourth wall has a large glass-fronted vending machine against it.

There is an opening in the ceiling.

There's a gray square in the middle of the floor with a birdcage on it.

>x machine
A large rectangular vending machine with a glass front. There is an assortment of white packages in the vending machine. A plate with two rows of knobs are above a tray at the base of the machine, and there is a slot in the side. There is a light by the slot, glowing red.

You can TURN the knobs.

>x knobs
A row of 26 knobs labeled A through Z above a row of ten knobs labeled 0 through 9.

>x dial
You can't see any such thing.

>turn 3
Nothing happens, because the light by the slot is red. You have to feed the machine a coin to get it to do anything.

>l
Stone Cell
A stone cell.

A painting with writing on it is on one wall next to a purple plaque.

The opposite wall is made of bricks, with a niche in it.

 Another wall has a round hole with a black button next to it. There is also a very small window on this wall.

The fourth wall has a large glass-fronted vending machine against it.

There is an opening in the ceiling.

There's a gray square in the middle of the floor with a birdcage on it.

>i
You are carrying:
  a rock
  a note

>x button
A big black button on the wall next to the hole in the wall.

>l
Stone Cell
A stone cell.

A painting with writing on it is on one wall next to a purple plaque.

The opposite wall is made of bricks, with a niche in it.

 Another wall has a round hole with a black button next to it. There is also a very small window on this wall.

The fourth wall has a large glass-fronted vending machine against it.

There is an opening in the ceiling.

There's a gray square in the middle of the floor with a birdcage on it.

>code 481
With a WHOOSH and a thunk, a clear cylinder arrives in the hole.

>x cylinder
A clear cylinder.

In the cylinder is a silver coin.

>take it
Taken.

>open it
No need to open and close it. You can put things in it and take things out of it.

>take coin
You open the cylinder and remove the silver coin.

>put coin in slot
You drop the silver coin into the slot and the light under the slot turns green.

>i
You are carrying:
  a cylinder (empty)
  a rock
  a note

>put rock in cylinder
You open the cylinder, put the rock in it, and close it again.

>turn knob 4
The machine beeps encouragingly.

>turn knob 1
The machine buzzes angrily. That wasn't a correct code.

>close cylinder
No need to open and close it. You can put things in it and take things out of it.

>put cylinder in hole
You put the cylinder into the hole in the wall.

>push button
With a whoosh, the cylinder is sucked away into the hole. Your partner code is 276.

Every time you see a partner code like this one, give it to your partner.

>l
Stone Cell
A stone cell.

A painting with writing on it is on one wall next to a purple plaque.

The opposite wall is made of bricks, with a niche in it.

 Another wall has a round hole with a black button next to it. There is also a very small window on this wall.

The fourth wall has a large glass-fronted vending machine against it.

There is an opening in the ceiling.

There's a gray square in the middle of the floor with a birdcage on it.

>x window
A very small window. It's not even big enough to put your head through. It provides fresh air, sunlight, and a view of the castle's turrets. You're quite high up, it seems.

>x turrets
A very small window. It's not even big enough to put your head through. It provides fresh air, sunlight, and a view of the castle's turrets. You're quite high up, it seems.

>l
Stone Cell
A stone cell.

A painting with writing on it is on one wall next to a purple plaque.

The opposite wall is made of bricks, with a niche in it.

 Another wall has a round hole with a black button next to it. There is also a very small window on this wall.

The fourth wall has a large glass-fronted vending machine against it.

There is an opening in the ceiling.

There's a gray square in the middle of the floor with a birdcage on it.

>x opening
An opening in the ceiling. It's big enough for a person, but is too high up to reach.

>x cage
A wire birdcage with a pigeon in it and a mess at the bottom. The pigeon is eyeing you warily. A label on the cage reads: "HOMER."

>turn b
The machine beeps encouragingly.

>turn 4
The machine drops an oval package into the tray below, and the light under the slot turns red.

The purple plaque shimmers in the corner of your eye. It's changing. Now it has a drawing of a mouth, lips puckered as if for a kiss.

>x mouth
A picture of a mouth, lips puckered for a kiss.

>kiss mouth
You kiss the picture of the mouth, and suddenly the gray square in the floor rises up. It's now a large metal box in the center of the room, with the birdcage on top of it.

The purple plaque shimmers and changes: now it has a drawing of an eye, with a crack underneath it.

>x box
A plain square metal safe, with a hex lock holding the door closed. You need a hex key to unlock it.

There's a birdcage on top of the safe.

>x crack
A crack under the drawing of an eye. You could look in or search it.

>look in crack
There's some black gunk in the crack. You can't see anything. You'll have to clean out the crack.

>x gunk
Some black gunk in the crack.

>search crack
There's some black gunk in the crack. You can't see anything. You'll have to clean out the crack.

>i
You are carrying:
  a note

>x package
(the oval package)
A white package.

>take it
Taken.

>open it
You open the package, revealing an egg. You take the egg.

>x egg
A speckled egg.

>give egg to homer
The pigeon pecks viciously at you, and you pull your hand back.

>x safe
A plain square metal safe, with a hex lock holding the door closed. You need a hex key to unlock it.

There's a birdcage on top of the safe.

>x lock
A hex lock holding the safe's front door closed. You need a hex key to open it.

>* Sorry, i haven't been very chatty, since my running commentary is going in the chat
You seem to want to talk to someone, but I can't see whom.

>sing
You hum a tune, a little off-key.

>sing to bird
I only understood you as far as wanting to sing.

>sing
You hum a tune, a little off-key.

>g
You hum a tune, a little off-key.

>g
You hum a tune, a little off-key.

>sing tubthumping
I only understood you as far as wanting to sing.

>* it feels like there's a bit more going on in game A right now
That's not a verb I recognise.

>swat
That's not a verb I recognise.

>i
You are carrying:
  an egg
  a note

>l
Stone Cell
A stone cell.

A painting with writing on it is on one wall next to a purple plaque.

The opposite wall is made of bricks, with a niche in it.

Another wall has a round hole with a black button next to it. There is also a very small window on this wall.

The fourth wall has a large glass-fronted vending machine against it.

There is an opening in the ceiling.

There's a metal box in the middle of the floor with a birdcage on it.

>hatch egg
That's not a verb I recognise.

>hug egg
Ew. You think not.

>x box
A plain square metal safe, with a hex lock holding the door closed. You need a hex key to unlock it.

There's a birdcage on top of the safe.

>x machine
A large rectangular vending machine with a glass front. There is an assortment of white packages in the vending machine. A plate with two rows of knobs are above a tray at the base of the machine, and there is a slot in the side. There is a light by the slot, glowing red.

You can TURN the knobs.

>x packages
White packages in the vending machine.

>turn a
(the knob A)
Nothing happens, because the light by the slot is red. You have to feed the machine a coin to get it to do anything.

>
I beg your pardon?

>* By the way, I struggled with that B4 puzzle for a while because my brain told me that the voice was actually saying "remember"
You seem to want to talk to someone, but I can't see whom.

>* Ah, parent-brain
You seem to want to talk to someone, but I can't see whom.

>code 748
With a THUNK, a brick pushes partway out of the brick wall where the depression was.

>x brick
(the brick)
A single brick which is poking out of the wall. There is some writing on it, which reads:

Come
Laugh
And
Play.

>clap
(your hands)
You clap your hands together loudly, and a small cube drops out of the opening in the ceiling.

>x cube
A small colorless cube.

>take it
Taken.

>l
Stone Cell
A stone cell.

A painting with writing on it is on one wall next to a purple plaque.

The opposite wall is made of bricks, with a niche in it.

Another wall has a round hole with a black button next to it. There is also a very small window on this wall.

The fourth wall has a large glass-fronted vending machine against it.

There is an opening in the ceiling.

There's a metal box in the middle of the floor with a birdcage on it.

>open cube
It isn't something you can open.

>push cube
Nothing obvious happens.

>pull cube
Nothing obvious happens.

>throw cube out window
I only understood you as far as wanting to throw the small cube.

>* probably a bad idea in any case
That's not a verb I recognise.

>l
Stone Cell
A stone cell.

A painting with writing on it is on one wall next to a purple plaque.

The opposite wall is made of bricks, with a niche in it.

Another wall has a round hole with a black button next to it. There is also a very small window on this wall.

The fourth wall has a large glass-fronted vending machine against it.

There is an opening in the ceiling.

There's a metal box in the middle of the floor with a birdcage on it.

>x box
A plain square metal safe, with a hex lock holding the door closed. You need a hex key to unlock it.

There's a birdcage on top of the safe.

>put cube in hole
You put the small cube into the hole in the wall.

>push button
You hear a click, but nothing happens, because the cylinder isn't in the hole.

>take cube
Taken.

>* nice update!
That's not a verb I recognise.

>i
You are carrying:
  a small cube
  an egg
  a note

>x niche
A niche in the wall.

>push brick
(the brick)
It's stuck in the wall.

>code 106
A frog with a tiny basket strapped to it suddenly comes leaping out of the hole in the wall. It stops in front of you, croaking.

>pet frog
Slimy.

>kiss frog
Ew. You think not.

>x basket
A tiny basket strapped to the frog.

In the tiny basket is a hex key.

>take key
You take the hex key from the tiny basket strapped to the frog. It blinks at you, then leaps out the window. Startled, you try to poke your head out to see where it went, but the window isn't big enough for your head to fit through. In any case, the frog is gone.

>unlock safe with key
You unlock the metal box with the hex key, which then breaks into pieces.

>x key
You can't see any such thing.

>undo
Stone Cell
[Previous turn undone.]

>undo
Stone Cell
[Previous turn undone.]

>x key
A metal hex key.

>unlock safe with key
You unlock the metal box with the hex key, which then breaks into pieces.

>open safe
You open the metal box, revealing some seeds.

>take seeds
Taken.

>x seeds
A small pile of seeds.

>give seeds to pigeon
You carefully reach out, open the cage door, and hold the seeds out. The pigeon perks up, eats all the seeds out of your hand, and flutters out of its cage. It has a bag around its neck.

>x bag
A bag around the pigeon's neck.

>x cage
An empty cage with a mess at the bottom and a pigeon sitting on it. A label on the cage reads: "HOMER."

>x mess
An empty cage with a mess at the bottom and a pigeon sitting on it. A label on the cage reads: "HOMER."

>x label
An empty cage with a mess at the bottom and a pigeon sitting on it. A label on the cage reads: "HOMER."

>l
Stone Cell
A stone cell.

A painting with writing on it is on one wall next to a purple plaque.

The opposite wall is made of bricks, with a niche in it.

Another wall has a round hole with a black button next to it. There is also a very small window on this wall.

The fourth wall has a large glass-fronted vending machine against it.

There is an opening in the ceiling.

There's a metal box in the middle of the floor with a birdcage on it.

>search mess
Ew. Bird poop.

>l
Stone Cell
A stone cell.

A painting with writing on it is on one wall next to a purple plaque.

The opposite wall is made of bricks, with a niche in it.

Another wall has a round hole with a black button next to it. There is also a very small window on this wall.

The fourth wall has a large glass-fronted vending machine against it.

There is an opening in the ceiling.

There's a metal box in the middle of the floor with a birdcage on it.

>i
You are carrying:
  a small cube
  an egg
  a note

>put note in bag
Perhaps you'll hold on to the note. It might come in handy. Try putting something else in the bag.

>put egg in bag
Best to hold on to it. Unless you want to break it.

>give egg to pigeon
The pigeon looks disdainfully at you.

>put cube in bag
You put the small cube into the bag around the pigeon's neck. It shakes its tail, coughs a silver coin onto the floor with a loud hacking noise, and flies out the window.

A single feather falls to the floor as it leaves.

Partner code 346.

>take coin
Taken.

>put coin in slot
You drop the silver coin into the slot and the light under the slot turns green.

>x feather
A wing feather of Homer's, with a sharp tip to its shaft.

>take feather
Taken.

>l
Stone Cell
A stone cell.

A painting with writing on it is on one wall next to a purple plaque.

The opposite wall is made of bricks, with a niche in it.

Another wall has a round hole with a black button next to it. There is also a very small window on this wall.

The fourth wall has a large glass-fronted vending machine against it.

There is an opening in the ceiling.

There's a metal box in the middle of the floor with a birdcage on it.

>i
You are carrying:
  a feather
  an egg
  a note

>put feather in egg
That can't contain things.

>l
Stone Cell
A stone cell.

A painting with writing on it is on one wall next to a purple plaque.

The opposite wall is made of bricks, with a niche in it.

Another wall has a round hole with a black button next to it. There is also a very small window on this wall.

The fourth wall has a large glass-fronted vending machine against it.

There is an opening in the ceiling.

There's a metal box in the middle of the floor with a birdcage on it.

>x box
A plain square metal box, open.

>x cage
An empty cage with a mess at the bottom and a pigeon sitting on it. A label on the cage reads: "HOMER."

>x pigeon
You can't see any such thing.

>* oops, didn't update!
You seem to want to talk to someone, but I can't see whom.

>x label
An empty cage with a mess at the bottom and a pigeon sitting on it. A label on the cage reads: "HOMER."

>take label
it's firmly attached to the safe.

>* should be capitalized
That's not a verb I recognise.

>take all
There are none at all available!

>l
Stone Cell
A stone cell.

A painting with writing on it is on one wall next to a purple plaque.

The opposite wall is made of bricks, with a niche in it.

Another wall has a round hole with a black button next to it. There is also a very small window on this wall.

The fourth wall has a large glass-fronted vending machine against it.

There is an opening in the ceiling.

There's a metal box in the middle of the floor with a birdcage on it.

>eat egg
You suspect that this is not a snack.

>boil egg
That's not a verb I recognise.

>soft boil egg
That's not a verb I recognise.

>scramble egg
That's not a verb I recognise.

>poach egg
That's not a verb I recognise.

>devil egg
That's not a verb I recognise.

>* I'm not sure that's right, admittedly
You seem to want to talk to someone, but I can't see whom.

>fry egg
That's not a verb I recognise.

>cook egg
That's not a verb I recognise.

>saute egg
That's not a verb I recognise.

>grill egg
That's not a verb I recognise.

>julienne egg
That's not a verb I recognise.

>sear egg
That's not a verb I recognise.

>bake egg
That's not a verb I recognise.

>put egg in slow-cooker
You can't see any such thing.

>put egg in sous vide
You can't see any such thing.

>l
Stone Cell
A stone cell.

A painting with writing on it is on one wall next to a purple plaque.

The opposite wall is made of bricks, with a niche in it.

Another wall has a round hole with a black button next to it. There is also a very small window on this wall.

The fourth wall has a large glass-fronted vending machine against it.

There is an opening in the ceiling.

There's a metal box in the middle of the floor with a birdcage on it.

>x opening
An opening in the ceiling. It's big enough for a person, but is too high up to reach.

>l
Stone Cell
A stone cell.

A painting with writing on it is on one wall next to a purple plaque.

The opposite wall is made of bricks, with a niche in it.

Another wall has a round hole with a black button next to it. There is also a very small window on this wall.

The fourth wall has a large glass-fronted vending machine against it.

There is an opening in the ceiling.

There's a metal box in the middle of the floor with a birdcage on it.

>break egg
The egg breaks. There's a scroll inside it, which you take.

>* Oh I should have been working this whole time!
That's not a verb I recognise.

>x scroll
A small scroll reading:
Spin it: cats, people, pearls.

>read it
A small scroll reading:
Spin it: cats, people, pearls.

>spin
What do you want to spin?

>knob
Which do you mean, the knob A, the knob B, the knob C, the knob D, the knob E, the knob F, the knob G, the knob H, the knob I, the knob J, the knob K, the knob L, the knob M, the knob N, the knob O, the knob P, the knob Q, the knob R, the knob S, the knob T, the knob U, the knob V, the knob W, the knob X, the knob Y, the knob Z, the knob 1, the knob 2, the knob 3, the knob 4, the knob 5, the knob 6, the knob 7, the knob 8, the knob 9 or the knob 0?

>2
I didn't understand that sentence.

>turn 2
The machine beeps encouragingly.

>turn 1
The machine buzzes angrily. That wasn't a correct code.

>l
Stone Cell
A stone cell.

A painting with writing on it is on one wall next to a purple plaque.

The opposite wall is made of bricks, with a niche in it.

Another wall has a round hole with a black button next to it. There is also a very small window on this wall.

The fourth wall has a large glass-fronted vending machine against it.

There is an opening in the ceiling.

There's a metal box in the middle of the floor with a birdcage on it.

You can see some pieces of eggshell here.

>x dia
You can't see any such thing.

>x dial
You can't see any such thing.

>x window
A very small window. It's not even big enough to put your head through. It provides fresh air, sunlight, and a view of the castle's turrets. You're quite high up, it seems.

>x niche
A niche in the wall.

>l
Stone Cell
A stone cell.

A painting with writing on it is on one wall next to a purple plaque.

The opposite wall is made of bricks, with a niche in it.

Another wall has a round hole with a black button next to it. There is also a very small window on this wall.

The fourth wall has a large glass-fronted vending machine against it.

There is an opening in the ceiling.

There's a metal box in the middle of the floor with a birdcage on it.

You can see some pieces of eggshell here.

>x wall
(the hole in the wall)
A small round hole in the wall with a black button next to it.

>x eggshell
Pieces of broken eggshell.

>take it
You can't get the hole in the wall.

>take shell
They're just tiny bits of eggshell. Useless.

>l
Stone Cell
A stone cell.

A painting with writing on it is on one wall next to a purple plaque.

The opposite wall is made of bricks, with a niche in it.

Another wall has a round hole with a black button next to it. There is also a very small window on this wall.

The fourth wall has a large glass-fronted vending machine against it.

There is an opening in the ceiling.

There's a metal box in the middle of the floor with a birdcage on it.

You can see some pieces of eggshell here.

>x bricks
A wall made of bricks, with a niche in it.

There is a single brick poking out of the wall.

>x painting
A painting on the wall of King Myron holding two cats on a leash. Purple pearls are painted in each of the four corners of the painting. The text on the painting says:

Upon the throne
Or down in the fray
Our King, amidst us always.


>x plaque
A purple plaque with a drawing of an eye above a crack.

>look in crack
There's some black gunk in the crack. You can't see anything. You'll have to clean out the crack.

>cleak crack
That's not a verb I recognise.

>clean crack
What do you want to clean the crack with?

>i
You are carrying:
  a scroll
  a feather
  a note

>clean crack with feather
You poke the shaft of the feather into the crack and wiggle it around. When you pull the feather out, it's covered in black gunk.

>write
That's not a verb I recognise.

>l
Stone Cell
A stone cell.

A painting with writing on it is on one wall next to a purple plaque.

The opposite wall is made of bricks, with a niche in it.

Another wall has a round hole with a black button next to it. There is also a very small window on this wall.

The fourth wall has a large glass-fronted vending machine against it.

There is an opening in the ceiling.

There's a metal box in the middle of the floor with a birdcage on it.

You can see some pieces of eggshell here.

>x crack
A crack under the drawing of an eye. You could look in or search it.

>look in crack
You squint into the crack, and see a word written on the wall behind the plaque: ELATE.

>turn e
(the knob E)
The machine beeps encouragingly.

>turn 8
The machine buzzes angrily. That wasn't a correct code.

>turn l
The machine beeps encouragingly.

>turn 8
The machine drops a round package into the tray below, and the light under the slot turns red.

>take package
(the round package)
Taken.

>open it
You open the package, revealing a potion. You take the potion.

>x it
You can't see 'it' (nothing) at the moment.

>x potion
A small flask containing a fizzy lemon-colored potion.

>drink it
Tiny Room
You take a deep breath and drink the potion. You feel a tingle throughout your body and hear a buzzing in your ears, and suddenly you are floating up... up.. through the opening in the ceiling. And just as suddenly, the feeling dissipates and you collapse on the floor of the tiny room above the stone cell.

A small, cramped room with a narrow door to the north and an opening in the floor. There is a dial on the door.

A tiny copy of the painting downstairs has been crudely scratched into the wall: King Myron holding two cats on a leash. Purple pearls are in each of the four corners of the picture.

>x scroll
A small scroll reading:
Spin it: cats, people, pearls.

>turn dial to 2
Nothing happens. That's the wrong combination of numbers.

>turn dial to 214
You hear a CLUNK, but nothing happens here. Perhaps something happened for your partner.

Partner code is 067.

>l
Tiny Room
A small, cramped room with a narrow door to the north and an opening in the floor. There is a dial on the door.

A tiny copy of the painting downstairs has been crudely scratched into the wall: King Myron holding two cats on a leash. Purple pearls are in each of the four corners of the picture.

>x door
A narrow door to the north with a dial on it.

>x opening
An opening in the floor, looking down into the stone cell.

>enter opening
It's a long way to fall. You're stuck here.

>d
It's a long way down. You are stuck here.

>l
Tiny Room
A small, cramped room with a narrow door to the north and an opening in the floor. There is a dial on the door.

A tiny copy of the painting downstairs has been crudely scratched into the wall: King Myron holding two cats on a leash. Purple pearls are in each of the four corners of the picture.

>x painting
A tiny copy of the painting downstairs has been crudely scratched into the wall: King Myron holding two cats on a leash. Purple pearls are in each of the four corners of the picture.

>code 725
You hear sounds outside the narrow door, and suddenly it opens a bit.

>open door
That's already open.

>out
>* oops!
That's not a verb I recognise.

>l
Tiny Room
A small, cramped room with a narrow door to the north and an opening in the floor. There is a dial on the door.

A tiny copy of the painting downstairs has been crudely scratched into the wall: King Myron holding two cats on a leash. Purple pearls are in each of the four corners of the picture.

>n
You push the door open, and there is a person standing there in a stone hall, smiling at you. Your partner, who says, "Mike?"

You nod and say, "And you're Pinkunz. Great to finally meet you!" and Pinkunz nods and says, "Yep. Ready to go get our pearl back?"

You say, "Oh, yeah, I'm ready. Let's do it." And you link arms with Pinkunz and walk west down the stone hall, ready for the next adventure.



**** The End ***

Would you like to read the author's note? >y
Since I enjoy playing IF concurrently with my bestie, I've always wished there was more parser IF that could be played by two people. Milo van Mesdag's two-player game, The Last Night of Alexisgrad put the idea of a two-player parser game on the front burner of my mind. Rusty Lake's non-IF two-player game The Past Within gave me a lot of ideas about how to make such a game without needing the two games to be actually linked to each other. I'd appreciate feedback from players on how this model could be improved-- email me at beachwalkera@gmail.com with any comments, transcripts, or suggestions.

Thanks to my fabulous beta testers: BJ Best, Henry Best (the Bests really lived up to their surname as they did last minute testing!), Jade, Zed Lopez, Travis Moy, Eva Radke, and Edo Rajh.

Thanks to Milo van Mesdag and Rusty Lake for inspiring me.

And thanks most of all to my sweet love, Tom, for everything.



    *** The End ***




Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, QUIT or UNDO the last command?
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