Start of a transcript of Under the Sea: The Treasure of the Santa Tortosa by Heike Borchers Some weeks ago at your Adventurers' Society back in London, Keira, the rather cute librarian, mentioned a rumour about a mysterious map buried on a tiny island with a single palm tree somewhere in the Caribbean. Supposedly, the map would lead to the treasure of the sunken galleon Santa Tortosa. After much research and a long journey, you have arrived on the island, and soon you will see whether those rumours were true. Either way, you will definitely have a good story to tell at the next Society meeting! Identification number: //E26603A2-6386-4ED7-BFCB-E54C4B3E2A22// Interpreter version 2.1.6 / VM 3.1.2 / Library serial number 080126 Standard Rules version 3/120430 by Graham Nelson >guide This text adventure describes a world you can explore with commands in the form of short imperatives. Try normal words that fit the context, like look, look under bed, examine flower (= x flower), move bed, take letter, wear jacket, talk to Henry, ask Henry about the way, ask Henry to open door, undo, etc. If a command does not work, try using different words. To move around, type "n" to go north, "u" to go up, and so on. Examine the things you see, and talk to the characters you meet. Have fun! >take shovel Taken. >x it This is a solid-looking shovel. >l Beach On the lonely beach stands a single palm tree. Little spots of sunlight are sparkling on the gently rolling waves. In the distance you hear some seagulls. A few steps to the south the ocean begins. Your ship has left, as your expedition team is on its way to other explorations, and will pick you up again afterwards. Your custom-made scuba gear lies on top of the trunk it came in, close to the water. Its shiny brass helmet shows a reflection of yourself. >x gear Attached to a large brass helmet with a visor is a rubbery suit. The gear extracts oxygen from water, giving you plenty of time underwater. You remember the Quartermaster's smile when she told you that it included several other experimental features that would reveal themselves in time. >x trunk The wooden trunk stands on four short wooden legs. Small things could roll under it. >look under it Under the trunk, you discover the pressure gauge that fell off the scuba gear. You reconnect it, and your gear looks ready to wear now. >dig Where do you want to dig? >ground That's not a verb I recognise. >dig ground I only understood you as far as wanting to dig. >x tree Investigation of the log reveals nothing interesting. But it definitely is a nice palm tree. >climb it You climb up into the crown of the palm tree and take in the vastness of the sea, interrupted only occasionally by impenetrable-looking rock formations protruding from the ocean. The island is so small that you can see it in its entirety. There are no landmarks other than this tree. You climb down again. >n The terrain in that direction is impassable. >e The terrain in that direction is impassable. >w The terrain in that direction is impassable. >s You enter the water, but after a few seconds of trying to dive without equipment you run out of air and return to the beach, exhausted. >d After a soft beep, text appears on your waterproof wristwatch: You cannot go down. Digging a tunnel with the shovel would take longer than the supplies last. >dig tree I only understood you as far as wanting to dig. >wear gear As you put on the scuba gear you hear a soft, friendly beep in your helmet. A text is projected into your visor: Steam-Powered Analytical Mobile Engine version 42 ready. Enter ANALYSE to request helpful suggestions from the system. Repeat for more in-depth analysis if needed. CAUTION: Analysis requires significant energy, so use your brains first. Thank you. >s (first dropping the shovel) Lagoon The water is chest-deep and crystal clear. A school of fish is swimming close to the bottom. To the south, you can see the reef top beneath the water's surface. The beach lies to the north. A glass jar is bobbing up and down on the waves. It seems to contain a piece of paper. >take jar As you take the jar, new text appears in your visor: New object detected. Enter INVENTORY to see list of all objects carried. >open it Risk of object damage detected. Opening jar underwater likely to soak contents. Open jar (yes/no)? n >n Beach On the lonely beach stands a single palm tree. Little spots of sunlight are sparkling on the gently rolling waves. In the distance you hear some seagulls. A few steps to the south the ocean begins. Your ship has left, as your expedition team is on its way to other explorations, and will pick you up again afterwards. You can see a shovel here. >open jar You open the glass jar. >take paper Taken. >read it It looks like a laminated page torn out of a telegrapher's manual. It reads: International Morse Code Table Length of a dot (short): one unit. Length of a dash (long): three units. A . - B - . . . C - . - . D - . . E . F . . - . G - - . H . . . . I . . J . - - - K - . - L . - . . M - - N - . O - - - P . - - . Q - - . - R . - . S . . . T - U . . - V . . . - W . - - X - . . - Y - . - - Z - - . . >s Lagoon The water is chest-deep and crystal clear. A school of fish is swimming close to the bottom. To the south, you can see the reef top beneath the water's surface. The beach lies to the north. >x fish The school of fish moves like a single unit as it searches the bottom for food. >x bottom The bottom consists of light sand. It traces the steady flow of the waves. >search bottom You find nothing of interest. >w The terrain in that direction is impassable. >e The terrain in that direction is impassable. >s Reef Top The reef top is teeming with life. Marine creatures in all shapes and colours are whizzing around. To the south the deep water shimmers in all shades of blue. To the east you see a coral forest. To the north lies the lagoon. A snapper looks at you in an almost human way. >x snapper The yellowtail snapper is a medium-sized fish with clear, silvery eyes. A bright yellow line covers its blue-ish body from the eyes to the deep-forked tail. You feel a strange urge to talk to the snapper. >talk to snapper Upon hearing your words, the snapper blows a strange pattern of bubbles: "OOo oOo o o O oo Oo OOo ooo". Then it takes a bow as if introducing itself. What is the snapper trying to say? >say greetings The snapper continues to communicate in Morse code, which you can decipher easily: "Wonderful! I got your language right." The snapper explains that her name is Sabina, and that she is an ardent fighter for fish rights, famous for her motto "Don't give a damn about the law of the wild!" Sabina learned Morse code as a foreign language. She says: "I could teach you some basic elements of the fish language so you can talk to other, less cosmopolitan members of our community here. But you have to do me a favour first. The newly discovered colour poenk is the latest craze at the reef top. Seahorse Shantal wears it all the time. Bring me something poenk, no matter what it is." >ask snapper about poenk "Poenk," Sabina replies, "is a brand new colour. It's all the rage down here now. It looks like a mix of purple, red and white." >e You hear another soft beep: another experimental function of your scuba gear! The text in your visor reads: Body signals and visual analysis suggest accomplishment. Logging for report to Adventurers' Society activated. Choose preferred report text: (1) A spontaneous inspiration struck me as I was deciphering the bubble code. (2) As an expert linguist, I ran a quick comparison between ten exotic regional dialects, distilling their common quintessential structures, and applying them to an underwater culture. Many can recognize morse code, but only a man of science can put it into the appropriate context! Which version of the story shall be logged? 2 Version 2 logged. Coral Forest A coral forest of vibrant colours stretches far ahead. The colony forms different levels, with small brain corals cowering close to the ground, and head-high staghorn corals towering over them. To the east you see something that looks like the entrance to a cave. To the south a soft glow illuminates the water. To the west lies the reef top. Between the corals a huge, grey napoleonfish is lifting pieces of coral, obviously to exercise its bulking muscles. >x napoleon The napoleonfish is bigger than you, and heavily built. It sports the typical big hump on its forehead. >talk to it You can't see 'it' (nothing) at the moment. >talk to napoleon The napoleonfish looks at you with a grumpy expression. It does not seem to understand you. >x hump That hump on the forehead looks a little funny. But you would have to be very brave to laugh at such a strong fish. >x forest The biodiversity in the coral forest is breathtaking. Hard corals stand in the water like monuments, while soft corals sway gently in the current. >x corals As you look at the corals, you hear a soft beep, and text appears in your visor: Corals are marine invertebrates within the class Anthozoa of the phylum Cnidaria. Hidden underneath one coral you see a tube sponge. >x sponge The sponge consists of three cylindrical yellow tubes united at the base. Tube sponges can't talk. Therefore you'll never know that this is Tobias the tube sponge, a gentle soul who is secretly in love with the equally silent sea anemone Suzi growing just a few fin strokes away. >take it That's hardly portable. >push sponge The tube sponge might not like that. >move sponge The tube sponge might not like that. >x suzi Suzi the sea anemone is a beautiful, though stationary creature. It is a pity that she and Tobias the tube sponge will never be able to cuddle. So near, yet so far. >move suzi The sea anemone might not like that. >push suzi The sea anemone might not like that. >hug suzi The sea anemone might not like that. >s Plankton Rendezvous A beautiful glow illuminates a small part of the area. Patches of turqouise light sparkle in the blue water. The bioluminescent glow is caused by plankton. To the west you see deep blue water. To the north lies the coral forest. You can see some plankton here. >x plankton As you look at the plankton, you hear a soft beep, and text appears in your visor: Plankton is a collection of diverse organisms that live in large bodies of water and are unable to swim against a current. These organisms include bacteria, algae, protozoa, and drifting animals. >take plankton You hold the plankton in your hand. Since you have to hold your fingers firmly closed, no light can emanate. >n After a soft beep, a short text appears in your visor: Danger detected. Swimming around with the plankton in your clenched fist will cut it off from its water supply. Killing a simple life form before its next leap in evolution is discouraged. >drop plankton Dropped. >l Plankton Rendezvous A beautiful glow illuminates a small part of the area. Patches of turqouise light sparkle in the blue water. The bioluminescent glow is caused by plankton. To the west you see deep blue water. To the north lies the coral forest. You can see some plankton here. >i You are carrying: a piece of paper a glass jar (open but empty) your scuba gear (being worn) your waterproof wristwatch (being worn) >put plankton in jar You put the plankton into the glass jar. The jar now emanates a soft light. Again, you hear a soft beep and see some projected text: Body signals and visual analysis suggest accomplishment. Logging for report to Adventurers' Society activated. Choose preferred report text: (1) Seeing the beautiful underwater landscape in the soft light of the plankton in the jar felt almost dreamlike. I wish the members of the Adventurers' Society could see it! (2) Fashioning a lamp from plankton and a jar might seem like a pretty straightforward idea. But gentlemen, have you ever tried to catch plankton in the tidal drift? This requires not only a quick brain but also quick reflexes! Which version of the report shall be logged? 2 Version 2 logged. >i You are carrying: a piece of paper a glass jar (providing light and open) some plankton your scuba gear (being worn) your waterproof wristwatch (being worn) >close jar You close the glass jar. >l Plankton Rendezvous Tiny stray patches of turquoise light are sparkling in the water, clearly the remains of a plankton light up. To the west you see deep blue water. To the north lies the coral forest. >n Coral Forest A coral forest of vibrant colours stretches far ahead. The colony forms different levels, with small brain corals cowering close to the ground, and head-high staghorn corals towering over them. To the east you see something that looks like the entrance to a cave. To the south lies a plankton rendezvous. To the west lies the reef top. The huge, grey napoleonfish with its large frame and bulking muscles is here, still exercising. >e Cave The soft bioluminescent plankton light reflects from the walls of a small cave. At one end, the tides have carved a narrow passage into the rock that is just wide enough to get through. The passage leads up. To the west lies the coral forest. >u Shore of the Hidden Island You arrive at the shore of a hidden island enclosed by high walls that look like the crater of an extinct volcano. Nature seems completely undisturbed here, as if nobody ever set foot on this shore before. The island is so small that you can see its entire perimeter from here. To the north lies a small forest. To the east you see a small meadow. A narrow passage in a submerged rock formation leads down. As you step out of the water, your bulky suit makes you stumble, and you hear a splashing sound. A small metal rod got loose from your scuba gear and fell into the water. You'll really have to have a word with the Quartermaster! >take rod Taken. >x it The rod is a shiny, straight piece of metal. Fortunately, it doesn't seem to be required for the scuba gear to function. >n (first taking the scuba gear off) (first dropping the scuba gear) Small Forest Beyond the edge of the forest, the vegetation first gets denser, then opens up to reveal a clearing. In the high canopy of the treetops, you hear the enchanting songs of exotic birds. To the south lies the shore. There is a Beautyberry bush, carrying a single berry. A small hogerbear is sitting on a tree stump in the clearing. The bear is wearing green dungarees and holds a triangle in its left paw. Occasionally, it attempts to strike the triangle with its right paw, but this produces no sound. The bear looks at you with a sad expression. >give rod to bear The hogerbear takes the metal rod, strikes it against the triangle, and listens to its beautiful chime. A happy expression spreads over the creature's face. It takes out a flat stone and hands it to you, apparently as a thank-you gift. You have a flat stone. >x stone The flat stone is about the size of your palm. It seems to be a tool of some kind. Held in one hand, its bottom side, which is not covered by your fingers, looks scratched and worn. >talk to bear The hogerbear does not seem to understand you. >x it The flat stone is about the size of your palm. It seems to be a tool of some kind. Held in one hand, its bottom side, which is not covered by your fingers, looks scratched and worn. >x bear The hogerbear is about the size of a child, and looks extremely cuddly. As you keep looking at the creature, your analytical engine completes a visual scan and informs you that hogerbears are a peaceful and rather musical species (with a questionable sense of fashion) that were thought to be long extinct. >take berry Taken. >x it The berry has a colour of splendid purple. It looks juicy. >eat it After a soft beep, text appears on your wristwatch: Colour suggests that eating berry would endanger health status. >l Small Forest Beyond the edge of the forest, the vegetation first gets denser, then opens up to reveal a clearing. In the high canopy of the treetops, you hear the enchanting songs of exotic birds. To the south lies the shore. The hogerbear sits on its stump, happily playing its triangle with the metal rod. >i You are carrying: a purple berry a flat stone a piece of paper a glass jar (providing light and closed) some plankton your waterproof wristwatch (being worn) >u The terrain in that direction is impassable. >climb tree Little is to be achieved by that. >listen You hear nothing unexpected. >s Again you hear a soft beep and see some projected text: Body signals and visual analysis suggest accomplishment. Choose preferred report text: (1) The hogerbear conveyed an inspiring impression of calmness and wisdom. If man and beast ever find a common language, we might be able to learn a lot from the hogerbears' culture. (2) There it stood: a huge hogerbear, baring its razor-sharp teeth, and displaying its menacing claws. A lesser man might have turned to run, but as a true adventurer, I just saw an opportunity to prove myself worthy. Which version of the report do you want to log? e Please enter 1 or 2. Which version of the report do you want to log? 2 Version 2 logged. Shore of the Hidden Island You arrive at the shore of a hidden island enclosed by high walls that look like the crater of an extinct volcano. The island is so small that you can see its entire perimeter from here. To the north lies the small forest. To the east you see a small meadow. A narrow passage in a submerged rock formation leads down. You can see your scuba gear here. >e Small Meadow Little snow sheep graze on a verdant pasture. The grass is speckled with ground cover plants in vivid colours. To the west lies the shore. In the middle of the meadow lies a grindstone. You can also see a daisy and a poppy here. >x sheep The sheep are bright white, and look supremely fluffy. >talk to sheep There is no reply. >pet sheep The sheep feel soft and warm. Touching their fur makes you feel good. >take grindstone That's fixed in place. >use What do you want to use? >use flat stone on grindstone I only understood you as far as wanting to use the flat stone. >use grindstone What specific action do you want to perform with the grindstone? >grind With which tool do you want to grind? >flat stone That's not a verb I recognise. >grind stone I only understood you as far as wanting to grind. >grind flat I only understood you as far as wanting to grind. >grind flat with grindstone I only understood you as far as wanting to grind. >sharpen That's not a verb I recognise. >x grindstone The grindstone is about the size of a cartwheel. It has a rough finish and a slight dent in the middle. After a soft beep, text appears in your visor: Learning opportunity detected. Putting correct ingredients on grindstone and grinding them with a tool may result in acquiring new skill and creating potentially useful material. >take grass That's hardly portable. >l Small Meadow Little snow sheep graze on a verdant pasture. The grass is speckled with ground cover plants in vivid colours. To the west lies the shore. In the middle of the meadow lies a grindstone. You can also see a daisy and a poppy here. >take all daisy: Taken. poppy: Taken. >x daisyt You can't see any such thing. >x daisy The daisy has a colour of pure white. It looks very fresh. >x poppy The poppy has a colour of bright red. It looks lush and succulent. >put poppy in grindstone That can't contain things. >grind poppy I only understood you as far as wanting to grind. >use grindstone with poppy I only understood you as far as wanting to use the grindstone. >use grindstone on poppy I only understood you as far as wanting to use the grindstone. >put poppy on grindstone You put the poppy on the grindstone. >put daisy on grindstone You put the daisy on the grindstone. >put berry on grindstone You put the purple berry on the grindstone. >grind With which tool do you want to grind? >flat stone That's not a verb I recognise. >grind with flat stone As it turns out, grinding is hard work, but after a few minutes, you produce some poenk liquid on the grindstone. >take poenk You can't pick up the poenk liquid with your bare hands. >i You are carrying: a flat stone a piece of paper a glass jar (providing light and closed) some plankton your waterproof wristwatch (being worn) >open jar You open the glass jar. >put poenk in jar You put the poenk liquid into the jar. Combined with the plankton, it emanates a soft poenk glow. >close jar You close the glass jar. >l Small Meadow Little snow sheep graze on a verdant pasture. The grass is speckled with ground cover plants in vivid colours. To the west lies the shore. In the middle of the meadow lies a grindstone. >take all There are none at all available! >w Shore of the Hidden Island You arrive at the shore of a hidden island enclosed by high walls that look like the crater of an extinct volcano. The island is so small that you can see its entire perimeter from here. To the north lies the small forest. To the east you see the small meadow. A narrow passage in a submerged rock formation leads down. You can see your scuba gear here. >wear gear (first taking the scuba gear) You put on the scuba gear. >d Cave The soft bioluminescent plankton light reflects from the walls of a small cave. At one end, the tides have carved a narrow passage into the rock that is just wide enough to get through. The passage leads up. To the west lies the coral forest. >w Coral Forest A coral forest of vibrant colours stretches far ahead. The colony forms different levels, with small brain corals cowering close to the ground, and head-high staghorn corals towering over them. To the east you see the entrance to the cave. To the south lies a plankton rendezvous. To the west lies the reef top. The napoleonfish is here. >w Reef Top The reef top is teeming with life. Marine creatures in all shapes and colours are whizzing around. To the south the deep water shimmers in all shades of blue. To the east you see the coral forest. To the north lies the lagoon. Sabina the snapper is here >give poenk to sabrina You can't see any such thing. >x jar The jar is made of clear glass. In the glass jar are some poenk liquid and some plankton. >give liquid to sabrina You can't see any such thing. >give jar to sabrina You can't see any such thing. >give poenk to sabina You can't hold the poenk liquid in your bare hands. >give jar to sabina Sabina is overjoyed: "Wonderful, now I have my own poenk accessory! Seahorse Shantal will be so jealous." After Sabina has calmed down, which takes a while, she remembers her promise, and teaches you some basic elements of the fish language. Now you are able to communicate with other sea dwellers. >e Coral Forest A coral forest of vibrant colours stretches far ahead. The colony forms different levels, with small brain corals cowering close to the ground, and head-high staghorn corals towering over them. To the east you see the entrance to the cave. To the south lies a plankton rendezvous. To the west lies the reef top. The napoleonfish is here. >talk to napoleon The napoleonfish looks at you with a grumpy expression: "As if we didn't have enough life forms in the sea talking all the time. But now that you have learned the fish language, I am sure you want something from me... so go ahead: Ask me to do something." >ask napoleon about napoleon There is no reply. >w Reef Top The reef top is teeming with life. Marine creatures in all shapes and colours are whizzing around. To the south the deep water shimmers in all shades of blue. To the east you see the coral forest. To the north lies the lagoon. Sabina the snapper is here, happily playing with her jar of poenk liquid. >w The terrain in that direction is impassable. >s Deep Blue You are in deep blue water. Here, in the dark ocean, you see a wreck: the sunken galleon Santa Tortosa. At the side of the wreck you see a hatchway. To the east lies the plankton rendezvous. To the north you can see the reef top. >x hatchway Some planks got stuck in the frame of the hatchway. They would need to be pushed aside to enter. >push planks After a soft beep, text appears in your visor: Danger of exhaustion detected. Human strength not sufficient to move the planks. Looking for help recommended. >n Reef Top The reef top is teeming with life. Marine creatures in all shapes and colours are whizzing around. To the south the deep water shimmers in all shades of blue. To the east you see the coral forest. To the north lies the lagoon. Sabina the snapper is here, happily playing with her jar of poenk liquid. >e Coral Forest A coral forest of vibrant colours stretches far ahead. The colony forms different levels, with small brain corals cowering close to the ground, and head-high staghorn corals towering over them. To the east you see the entrance to the cave. To the south lies a plankton rendezvous. To the west lies the reef top. The napoleonfish is here. >ask napoleon for help The napoleonfish frowns: "You're lucky that I'm fed up with these corals. Perhaps a quest offers a more interesting way to exercise my muscles. Lead the way, I will follow." >w Again you hear a soft beep and see some projected text: Body signals and visual analysis suggest accomplishment. Choose preferred report text: (1) The napoleonfish acted grumpy, but it had a heart of gold. It agreed to follow me without demanding anything in return. (2) I locked eyes with the gigantic napoleonfish and held its gaze. Soon enough, the beast wavered and broke eye contact. Although two meters long and brawny, it soon accepted me as its master, and followed me to do my bidding. Choose preferred report text: 2 Version 2 logged. Reef Top The reef top is teeming with life. Marine creatures in all shapes and colours are whizzing around. To the south the deep water shimmers in all shades of blue. To the east you see the coral forest. To the north lies the lagoon. Sabina the snapper is here, happily playing with her jar of poenk liquid. The napoleonfish arrives with you. >s Deep Blue You are in deep blue water. Here, in the dark ocean, you see a wreck: the sunken galleon Santa Tortosa. At the side of the wreck you see a hatchway. To the east lies the plankton rendezvous. To the north you can see the reef top. The napoleonfish arrives from the north. The napoleonfish looks at you, then at the surroundings: "This is a nice spot. I think I'll stay here for a while. Is there anything else in particular that you would like to ask me to do, before we go our separate ways?" >napoleon, push planks The napoleonfish has better things to do. >ask napoleon about planks There is no reply. >ask napoleon about plank There is no reply. >ask napoleon about hatchway The napoleonfish growls: "I don't know. You tell me." >open hatch You can't see any such thing. >enter hatch You can't see any such thing. >enter hatchway You can't go that way. >push planks After a soft beep, text appears in your visor: Danger of exhaustion detected. Human strength not sufficient to move the planks. Looking for help recommended. >tell napoleon about planks This provokes no reaction. >x hatchway Some planks got stuck in the frame of the hatchway. They would need to be pushed aside to enter. >ask napoleon for help The napoleonfish looks at you, then at the surroundings: "This is a nice spot. I think I'll stay here for a while. Is there anything else in particular that you would like to ask me to do, before we go our separate ways?" >yes That was a rhetorical question. >say yes to napoleon There is no reply. >napoleon, push planks The napoleonfish has better things to do. >napoleon, push planks aside The napoleonfish has better things to do. >talk to napoleon The napoleonfish frowns: "I am not in the mood for further chitchat." >talk to napoleon about I only understood you as far as wanting to talk to the napoleonfish. >talk to napoleon about planks I only understood you as far as wanting to talk to the napoleonfish. >open hatchway After a soft beep, text appears in your visor: Danger of exhaustion detected. Human strength not sufficient to move the planks. Looking for help recommended. >napoleon, open hatchway The napoleonfish has better things to do. >pull planks It is fixed in place. >ask napoleon to push plansk You can't see any such thing. >ask napoleon to push planks It almost seems as if the napoleonfish is grinning. "Ah, not strong enough, are you? Well, let's see?" The napoleonfish pushes hard against the planks, muscles bulging. After a moment, the planks give way, and the hatchway is open. You can enter the wreck now. >enter wreck Wreck You are in the former captain's cabin. Apart from an emblazoned wooden chest, the small room contains no furniture. The chest is guarded by a huge octopus. Exiting the wreck takes you back into the deep blue water. >talk to octopus The huge octopus looks at you with mild regret. It says: "I can imagine why you came here. But to open the treasure chest of the Santa Tortosa, you have to give me the password first - and it changes with each adventurer who reaches me. I have been guarding this treasure for centuries. Until this day, only four brave heroes made it here, and tried to guess the password. But they all failed. To the first one I said: 1. And he should have answered: 3. To the second one I said: 2. And he should have answered: 3. To the third one I said: 3. And he should have answered: 5. To the fourth one I said: 4. And he should have answered: 4. To you I say: 5. What is your answer?" >4 The octopus looks surprised: "Very well, Human, that is the correct password. But the ancient rules dictate that you explain your choice to me, to show that you are truly worthy. So tell me, what did you have to do to find the password? Name at least one action you had to perform after we started talking. If you do not want to give the explanation right away, you can always come back to give your answer. I will await your return." >count The huge octopus bends its tentacles in a congratulary gesture: "Courageous adventurer, you have indeed solved the riddle of the Santa Tortosa! I deem you worthy to finally open this chest that I have been guarding for centuries. Inside you will find a treasure fit for a king." >open chest You open the chest - and catch your breath. The chest is filled to the top with heavy gold coins and precious gemstones in all colours of the rainbow. You also notice a delicate locket that would make a nice thank-you present for Keira the cute librarian. >take locket You take the locket. At that moment, the treasure chest and all its remaining contents seem to lose their colour. Within seconds, they turn into dull, hard rock. The octopus smiles faintly. "You have made your choice, and this reveals more about you than any riddle can. This is the true treasure of the Santa Tortosa. My task is complete, and I look forward to finally roaming the reefs again. You may exit now. Farewell!" >l Wreck You are in the former captain's cabin. In the middle of the small room stands the treasure chest that has turned to stone. Next to it sits the huge octopus, getting ready to leave its position after centuries of standing sentry. Exiting the wreck takes you back into the deep blue water. >exit Again you hear a soft beep and see some projected text: Body signals and visual analysis suggest accomplishment. Choose preferred report text for the Adventurers' Society: (1) The dwellers of the sea are as calm and peaceful as the ocean. The octopus sentinel stood its ground and guarded the treasure without harming or threatening me. When I found the password everything was as it was meant to be. (2) Only the huge octopus stood between me and the treasure. This dreadful sentinel had guarded the chest for centuries; no living being had ever overcome it. Great courage and cunning were necessary to get past it and snatch the treasure out of its menacing tentacles! Which version do you want to log? 2 Version 2 logged. Deep Blue You are in deep blue water. Here, in the dark ocean, you see a wreck: the sunken galleon Santa Tortosa. At the side of the wreck you see a hatchway. You can enter the wreck. To the east lies the plankton rendezvous. To the north you can see the reef top. The napoleonfish is here. After a soft beep, text appears in your visor: Visual sensors suggesting treasure was found. Analytical engine used 0 time(s). Ship has been called. Location tracking suggests to keep heading north to return to beach, where vessel will be waiting. >n Reef Top The reef top is teeming with life. Marine creatures in all shapes and colours are whizzing around. To the south the deep water shimmers in all shades of blue. To the east you see the coral forest. To the north lies the lagoon. Sabina the snapper is here, happily playing with her jar of poenk liquid. >n Lagoon The water is chest-deep and crystal clear. A school of fish is swimming close to the bottom. To the south, you can see the reef top beneath the water's surface. The beach lies to the north. >n Beach On the lonely beach stands a single palm tree. Little spots of sunlight are sparkling on the gently rolling waves. In the distance you hear some seagulls. A few steps to the south the ocean begins. Your ship has returned, anchoring close to the lagoon. Your wristwatch displays a final message: BOARD vessel to return to London, report to Adventurers' Society, and complete mission. You can see a shovel and a trunk here. >board Your journey home is pleasantly uneventful. As soon as your feet touch British soil again, they take you to Keira the librarian, who is overjoyed at the beautiful locket you present to her. Giving the treasure away in this manner without appraisal of its monetary or historical value may not have been the best move for your career or financial situation, but it opens her heart to you, and you fall madly in love with each other. When you return your scuba gear and wristwatch to the Quartermaster, she is both amazed at your intelligence and a little annoyed that you had no need at all to use her latest invention, the built-in analytical engine, for any clues. Two weeks later, you receive a formal invitation letter to speak before your fellow members at the Adventurers' Society. Your presentation amazes and excites the audience. When you finish your report, the applause is overwhelming. Later, at the bar, you hear two esteemed members of the Society talking. They praise your courage and make good-natured fun of your dramatic descriptions. They agree that you don't treat reality as the boundary of a story, but rather as initial inspiration. But that's how you tell an exciting story, isn't it? *** Congratulations on creating your very own story of the Treasure of the Santa Tortosa! Without a doubt, for a real hero like you there are many more adventures waiting out there! *** Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, QUIT or UNDO the last command? > q Please give one of the answers above. Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, QUIT or UNDO the last command? >