Start of a transcript of

Search for the Lost Ark
Copyright © 2023 Garry Francis
Type ABOUT for further info and credits.

Release 1 / Serial number 230629 / Inform v6.41 PunyInform v4.6

> about
This game was written for ParserComp 2023, which ran from 30 April to 30 June 2023.

The idea for the game came from an unpublished AdventureWriter program called 'Kingdom of the Arc' written by Jeff Smith circa 1986 for the Atari 8-bit computer.

Concept by Jeff Smith.
Game design and coding by Garry Francis.
Play testing by Jade J Aincioa, John Ziegler, Larry Horsfield, Max Fog, Reiko Yukawa, Trenton Thompson and VanishingSky.

> x me
Your name is Jean Rousseau. You are tall, fair skinned and frail, but God gives you strength. Faith runs in your family. Your parents named you Jean, because it means 'God is gracious'. You are now training to be a priest.

> * hey similar last name!
That's not a verb I recognise.

> * "Rousseau" means "little redhead" so a little less impressive
That's not a verb I recognise.

> i
You're carrying your cassock (worn).

> x cassock
It's a long, black, ankle-length garment, buttoned down the front with a clerical collar around the neck. It's part of the canonical costume of the clergy, though not a liturgical vestment.

	> l
Outside Church
You're outside the church where you've been doing your training to enter the priesthood. The steeple at the west end of the church casts a shadow over the church grounds. There are paths to the north, south and west, or you can enter the church to the east.

> x steeple
The stone steeple towers overhead at the western end of the church. There is no obvious way of climbing it from outside the church.

> x church
The church is an old stone building, probably hundreds of years old. It's quite small by church standards, but still one of the larger buildings in the village.

> n
South Forest
You're in the southern part of the forest. The path heads north and south with a faint branch to the east that leads into a cave.

> e
Cave Entrance
You're in the entrance of a cave. It looks like a naturally-formed cave, but it's hard to tell in the darkness. Light filters in from the entrance to the west and the cave continues to the east. However, any progress to the east is blocked by a man-made wall.

> x wall
It's a very solid-looking wall made from clay bricks. The wall goes from floor to ceiling, so you can't see what's on the other side.

> push wall
What a concept!

> x bricks
It's a very solid-looking wall made from clay bricks. The wall goes from floor to ceiling, so you can't see what's on the other side.

> hit wall
You pound away at the wall with your clenched fists, but only hurt your hands.

> x bricks
It's a very solid-looking wall made from clay bricks. The wall goes from floor to ceiling, so you can't see what's on the other side.

> w
South Forest
You're in the southern part of the forest. The path heads north and south with a faint branch to the east that leads into a cave.

> n
Forest
You're in the middle of the forest. The path winds its way through the trees to the north and south.

> n
North Forest
You're at the northern end of the forest. The path ends here, but there is a clearing to the west or you can head back to the south.

> w
Clearing West of Forest
This area was probably once part of the forest, but it's now been cleared. You can return to the forest path back to the east.

You can see a stump (on which is a seal) here.

> x stump
The stump is nearly 1 metre in diameter, so it's from a very old tree. The roots extend from the base of the stump like the gnarled fingers of an old woman. On the stump is a seal.

> * so is this like a marine-animal seal or like a signet-ring seal?
That's not a verb I recognise.

> * any bets?
That's not a verb I recognise.

> x seal
The seal is quite weathered. It consists of two concentric rings with some writing between the rings. There's a diagram in the centre, which looks like a dome on five pillars. From your religious studies, you guess that it could be 'The Dome of the Rock' or a circular dome of the 'Church of the Holy Sepulchre'. Perhaps you should read it.

> read seal
The writing on the seal says, 'CRISTI DE TEMPLO'. It could be Latin. If it is, 'Cristi' would mean 'Christ' and 'Templo' would mean 'Temple', or maybe 'Templar'?

> take seal
The seal looks like it's been burned into the stump with a branding iron.

> * oh I see
That's not a verb I recognise.

> * These are both holy sites in Jerusalem, wonder if that's the clue?
That's not a verb I recognise.

> l
Clearing West of Forest
This area was probably once part of the forest, but it's now been cleared. You can return to the forest path back to the east.

You can see a stump (on which is a seal) here.

> x roots
The roots are rough and knobbly and extend from the base of the stump for a short distance before diving beneath the ground. You can see a small hole at the base of the stump between two of the roots.

> x hole
It's a small hole, about the width of a candle, where the soil has been eroded away from beneath the stump. It's quite dark, but you think you can see something in the hole where the original tree has grown over the top of it.

> look in hole
You can see something in the hole beneath the stump, but you can't tell what it is and you can't reach it. The only way to get to it would be to remove the stump, but you can't remove it by hand.

> remove stump
You're not wearing the stump.

> take stump
That would require the strength of Samson.

> push stump
Your faith can move mountains, but it can't move this stump. You'll need something more explosive than faith alone.

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

> l
Clearing West of Forest
This area was probably once part of the forest, but it's now been cleared. You can return to the forest path back to the east.

You can see a stump (on which is a seal) here.

> e
North Forest
You're at the northern end of the forest. The path ends here, but there is a clearing to the west or you can head back to the south.

> s
Forest
You're in the middle of the forest. The path winds its way through the trees to the north and south.

> s
South Forest
You're in the southern part of the forest. The path heads north and south with a faint branch to the east that leads into a cave.

> s
Outside Church
You're outside the church where you've been doing your training to enter the priesthood. The steeple at the west end of the church casts a shadow over the church grounds. There are paths to the north, south and west, or you can enter the church to the east.

> w
Path
You're on a gravel path that runs east to west between the church and the vicarage. You can leave the church grounds through the gate to the south.

You can see a billboard here.

> x billboard
It's a wooden billboard located just inside the gate. You can only see the back of it from here. If you want to see the front, you'll have to go outside the gate.

> * ah, that answers the question of whether we're contemporary, I guess
That's not a verb I recognise.

> x gate
It's a small wrought iron gate that's currently closed.

> w
East of Vicarage
You're at the east side of the vicarage. There's no entry to the vicarage from here. You know it's on the other side of the building. You can follow the path north or south around the vicarage or follow the branch to the east.

> e
Path
You're on a gravel path that runs east to west between the church and the vicarage. You can leave the church grounds through the gate to the south.

You can see a billboard here.

> s
You can't, since the gate is closed.

> open gate
You open the gate.

> s
Road
You're on the road south of the church gate. There are some roadworks underway, but there's no one around at the moment. Everything is in disarray and the workers have left lots of tools and equipment lying around. The road continues east and west through the forest.

You can see a billboard, a trench, a pile of dirt and a sledge hammer here.

> x billboard
It's a wooden billboard located just inside the gate. There's a notice glued to the billboard.

> read it
There's nothing written on the billboard, but there's something written on the notice.

> x notice
It's the last notice that Father Matisse glued to the billboard before he passed away. He used to paste a new one every few weeks. Perhaps you should read it.

> read notice
The notice says, 'Today's Weather Forecast: God reigns and Son shines'.

You've got to hand it to Father Matisse. He had a keen sense of humour.

> take notice
It's glued down, remember.

> l
Road
You're on the road south of the church gate. There are some roadworks underway, but there's no one around at the moment. Everything is in disarray and the workers have left lots of tools and equipment lying around. The road continues east and west through the forest.

You can see a billboard, a trench, a pile of dirt and a sledge hammer here.

> x trench
You assume that it's a newly-started trench, as it's not very deep. The trench contains a shovel.

> x shovel
It's a well-worn, long-handled shovel that's used for digging holes and shovelling earth. The Lord can move heaven and earth, but this can only move earth.

> take it
Taken.

> x roadworks
They must have only started recently, as there is no sign of anything significant, other than a trench at the side of the road and a pile of dirt.

> x dirt
This is the dirt that's been shovelled out of the trench.

> search dirt
You find nothing special.

> x hammer
The sledge hammer has a heavy iron head and a long wooden handle. This combination makes it good for breaking big rocks into little rocks. Did you know that 'sledge' is derived from the old English 'slægan', which means 'to strike violently'. No? Well, now you do.

> take it
Taken.

> l
Road
You're on the road south of the church gate. There are some roadworks underway, but there's no one around at the moment. Everything is in disarray and the workers have left lots of tools and equipment lying around. The road continues east and west through the forest.

You can see a billboard, a trench and a pile of dirt here.

> w
End of Road
You're at the end of the road. The parishioners use this area as a parking lot when they come to church on a Sunday, but there are no cars or carriages here today, as it's not a Sunday. The only way out of here is back east through the forest.

> save
Ok.

> e
Road
You're on the road south of the church gate. There are some roadworks underway, but there's no one around at the moment. Everything is in disarray and the workers have left lots of tools and equipment lying around. The road continues east and west through the forest.

You can see a billboard, a trench and a pile of dirt here.

> e
That direction leads to the village, but you have no need to visit the village at the moment. You're sure that your goal is somewhere in the church grounds or the surrounding forest.

> n
Path
You're on a gravel path that runs east to west between the church and the vicarage. You can leave the church grounds through the gate to the south.

You can see a billboard here.

> e
Outside Church
You're outside the church where you've been doing your training to enter the priesthood. The steeple at the west end of the church casts a shadow over the church grounds. There are paths to the north, south and west, or you can enter the church to the east.

> n
South Forest
You're in the southern part of the forest. The path heads north and south with a faint branch to the east that leads into a cave.

> e
Cave Entrance
You're in the entrance of a cave. It looks like a naturally-formed cave, but it's hard to tell in the darkness. Light filters in from the entrance to the west and the cave continues to the east. However, any progress to the east is blocked by a man-made wall.

> hit wall with hammer
When you pound into the wall with the sledge hammer, it comes tumbling down like the walls of Jericho. You can only see darkness on the other side of the rubble.

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

> w
South Forest
You're in the southern part of the forest. The path heads north and south with a faint branch to the east that leads into a cave.

> s
Outside Church
You're outside the church where you've been doing your training to enter the priesthood. The steeple at the west end of the church casts a shadow over the church grounds. There are paths to the north, south and west, or you can enter the church to the east.

> w
Path
You're on a gravel path that runs east to west between the church and the vicarage. You can leave the church grounds through the gate to the south.

You can see a billboard here.

> w
East of Vicarage
You're at the east side of the vicarage. There's no entry to the vicarage from here. You know it's on the other side of the building. You can follow the path north or south around the vicarage or follow the branch to the east.

> e
Path
You're on a gravel path that runs east to west between the church and the vicarage. You can leave the church grounds through the gate to the south.

You can see a billboard here.

> e
Outside Church
You're outside the church where you've been doing your training to enter the priesthood. The steeple at the west end of the church casts a shadow over the church grounds. There are paths to the north, south and west, or you can enter the church to the east.

> s
Graveyard
You're in the church's graveyard. It's full of very old graves, so it's not exactly the cheeriest place to be. You can leave by going back to the north.

You can see some gravestones and some freshly-turned earth here.

> x stones
Most of the gravestones are very old and covered in moss. The one in front of the freshly-turned earth is for Father Matisse.

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

> x stone
Most of the gravestones are very old and covered in moss. The one in front of the freshly-turned earth is for Father Matisse.

> x earth
Most of the graves are covered in grass, but this one is covered in freshly-turned earth, indicating that it's fairly recent.

> search earth
You find nothing special.

> dig it
(with the shovel)
You dig into the freshly-turned earth until you hit something solid. You tap on it with the shovel and deduce that the hollow echo sounds like a coffin. Well, what else is it likely to be in a graveyard? You continue clearing the dirt until you have a freshly dug grave.

> * I'm sure I have a good reason for this
That's not a verb I recognise.

> x coffin
It's a beautiful cherry wood coffin with brass fittings. You can't see inside, since the coffin is closed.

> open it
You open the coffin, revealing a body and a silver key.

> x body
It's the body of Father Matisse. He's the one who hid the Ark of the Covenant before World War I. There are minimal signs of decay, so the body must have been buried quite recently.

> x key
It's a large silver key, but why would anyone bury a key with a body? Unless they were trying to hide it for some reason...

> take it
Taken.

> search body
Ooh, gross. No thank you.

> * you and me both, pal
That's not a verb I recognise.

> e
You can't go that way.

> n
Outside Church
You're outside the church where you've been doing your training to enter the priesthood. The steeple at the west end of the church casts a shadow over the church grounds. There are paths to the north, south and west, or you can enter the church to the east.

> w
Path
You're on a gravel path that runs east to west between the church and the vicarage. You can leave the church grounds through the gate to the south.

You can see a billboard here.

> w
East of Vicarage
You're at the east side of the vicarage. There's no entry to the vicarage from here. You know it's on the other side of the building. You can follow the path north or south around the vicarage or follow the branch to the east.

> x vicarage
The vicarage is the residence of the vicar. This particular vicarage is a stone building, but looks to have been built more recently than the church.

> n
You follow the path as it turns a corner to the west.

North of Vicarage
You're at the north side of the vicarage. The path goes east and west around the vicarage with a faint path leading off to the north.

> e
You follow the path as it turns a corner to the south.

East of Vicarage
You're at the east side of the vicarage. There's no entry to the vicarage from here. You know it's on the other side of the building. You can follow the path north or south around the vicarage or follow the branch to the east.

> s
You follow the path as it turns a corner to the west.

South of Vicarage
You're at the south side of the vicarage. You can follow the path east or west around the vicarage.

> w
You follow the path as it turns a corner to the north.

West of Vicarage
You're at the west side of the vicarage. The path around the vicarage goes north and south and the front door is to the east.

> n
You follow the path as it turns a corner to the east.

North of Vicarage
You're at the north side of the vicarage. The path goes east and west around the vicarage with a faint path leading off to the north.

> n
Path through Forest
You're wandering down a faint path that meanders south and west through the forest.

> w
Shore of Pond
You're on the southern shore of a clear pond. This is a great waterhole for swimming and fishing in warm weather, but it's very cold today. It looks quite deep, so keep away from the edge. The only path is back to the east.

> save
Ok.

> x pond
The water is crystal clear.

> drink water
Ah, very refreshing.

> i
You're carrying a silver key, a sledge hammer, a shovel and your cassock (worn).

> take water
That would require divine intervention.

> e
Path through Forest
You're wandering down a faint path that meanders south and west through the forest.

> s
North of Vicarage
You're at the north side of the vicarage. The path goes east and west around the vicarage with a faint path leading off to the north.

> w
You follow the path as it turns a corner to the south.

West of Vicarage
You're at the west side of the vicarage. The path around the vicarage goes north and south and the front door is to the east.

> x door
It's a simple wooden door that leads in to the vicarage. It's currently closed.

> open door
You open the front door.

> e
Living Room
You're in the living room of the vicarage, although it looks so dirty and unkempt that 'dying room' would be a more apt description. It was never like this when Father Matisse was alive. He kept the vicarage very clean and tidy. The curtains on the windows are closed, so it's quite dark and dingy. The bedroom door is to the north and the front door is to the west.

You can see Father Alucard here.

> save
Ok.

> * he seems trustworthy
That's not a verb I recognise.

> x draclua
Sorry, I don't understand what "draclua" means.

> oops dracula
You can't see any such thing.

> x alucard
Father Alucard is a tall, thin man with a very pale complexion, possibly because he never goes out into the sunlight, which you find very strange. Although he speaks good French, his accent is distinctly east European, possibly Romanian. He very rarely smiles, but when he does he exposes two sharp canine teeth, which you find very creepy.

> x "alucard"
Sorry, I don't understand what """ means.

> x alucard
Father Alucard is a tall, thin man with a very pale complexion, possibly because he never goes out into the sunlight, which you find very strange. Although he speaks good French, his accent is distinctly east European, possibly Romanian. He very rarely smiles, but when he does he exposes two sharp canine teeth, which you find very creepy.

> talk to alucard
"Good morning, Jean. It's a lovely day indoors. Did you want to ask me about something?"

There are lots of things that you'd like to ask Father Alucard about. Perhaps you should ask him about the Ark.

> ask alucard about dracula
Father Alucard twitches nervously, as though you have raised a touchy subject. "Why do you ask about vampires, my son? Surely, you must know that these are fictitious imaginings of those with weak minds."

> ask alucard about backwards writing
"I can't answer that, but you can trust in God when you have unanswered questions."

> ask alucard about castlevania
"I can't answer that, but you can trust in God when you have unanswered questions."

> ask alucard about himself
"I used to ask God if He could help me. And He did. Then I asked if I could help Him. I am now but a servant of God, here to serve the people of this village in their religious upbringing."

> ask alucard about transylvania
"Does my accent give me away? Yes, I originally came from Romania."

> ask alucard about romania
"Does my accent give me away? Yes, I originally came from Romania."

> ask alucard about mina
"I can't answer that, but you can trust in God when you have unanswered questions."

> ask alucard about jonathan
"I can't answer that, but you can trust in God when you have unanswered questions."

> ask alucard about lucy
"You sure do ask a lot of questions. If I can't answer you, then pray to God, for he surely can."

> ask alucard about bram stoker
"I can't answer that, but you can trust in God when you have unanswered questions."

> ask alucard about van helsing
"I can't answer that, but you can trust in God when you have unanswered questions."

> ask alucard about that one weird cowboy character
"I can't answer that, but you can trust in God when you have unanswered questions."

> ask him about matisse
"Father Matisse was my predecessor. I didn't know him personally, but the parishioners speak highly of him. I buried him a couple of days ago, just before you arrived."

> ask him about key
"I can't answer that, but you can trust in God when you have unanswered questions."

> ask him about ark
"I have been on a lifelong quest to find the Ark of the Covenant, as it is Christianity's most holy relic. That quest has brought me to this village, but my search here has only just begun." With this revelation, you detect a glint of evil in the eyes of Father Alucard. You wonder whether his intentions are noble.

> x me
Your name is Jean Rousseau. You are tall, fair skinned and frail, but God gives you strength. Faith runs in your family. Your parents named you Jean, because it means 'God is gracious'. You are now training to be a priest.

> * that's funny, it doesn't mention that I'm currently suffering from a head injury
That's not a verb I recognise.

> ask him about church
"The church may be made of stone, but its foundations are based on our faith in the Lord."

> tell alucard about peter
This provokes no reaction.

> * I mean like the pun
That's not a verb I recognise.

> x curtains
The curtains are made of a coarse black material that doesn't let any light in. Father Alucard must have replaced them, as they were a white lacy material when Father Matisse was alive. The curtains are currently closed to block out the sunlight.

> open curtains
Father Alucard stops you opening the curtains. "My dear boy, I am sensitive to the light. Please leave the curtains closed."

> g
Father Alucard stops you opening the curtains. "My dear boy, I am sensitive to the light. Please leave the curtains closed."

> * no but really
That's not a verb I recognise.

> l
Living Room
You're in the living room of the vicarage, although it looks so dirty and unkempt that 'dying room' would be a more apt description. It was never like this when Father Matisse was alive. He kept the vicarage very clean and tidy. The curtains on the windows are closed, so it's quite dark and dingy. The bedroom door is to the north and the front door is to the west.

You can see Father Alucard here.

> x mess
Sorry, I don't understand what "mess" means.

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

> n
Father Alucard steps in front of the door and gives you a spine-chilling grin that exposes his sharp canine teeth. "That's my bedroom, dear boy. There's nothing of interest to you in there."

> i
You're carrying a silver key, a sledge hammer, a shovel and your cassock (worn).

> show key to alucard
Father Alucard looks aghast at the sight of the silver key. "Where did you get that? Return it to where you found it, immediately!"

> hit alucard with hammer
When the Earth was filled with violence, God brought about the great flood. Do not provoke Him or He may flood the Earth again. Save your violence until you really need it.

> * well I guess we'll come back
That's not a verb I recognise.

> w
West of Vicarage
You're at the west side of the vicarage. The path around the vicarage goes north and south and the front door is to the east.

> s
You follow the path as it turns a corner to the east.

South of Vicarage
You're at the south side of the vicarage. You can follow the path east or west around the vicarage.

> e
You follow the path as it turns a corner to the north.

East of Vicarage
You're at the east side of the vicarage. There's no entry to the vicarage from here. You know it's on the other side of the building. You can follow the path north or south around the vicarage or follow the branch to the east.

> e
Path
You're on a gravel path that runs east to west between the church and the vicarage. You can leave the church grounds through the gate to the south.
 
You can see a billboard here.

> e
Outside Church
You're outside the church where you've been doing your training to enter the priesthood. The steeple at the west end of the church casts a shadow over the church grounds. There are paths to the north, south and west, or you can enter the church to the east.

> e
Nave of Church
You're in the nave. It stretches from the main entrance at the western end of the church to the transept at the east. Rows of pews are located at each side of the central aisle. There's also a door to the north.

You can see a noticeboard and a stone stoup here.

> * always like a good transept
That's not a verb I recognise.

> x pews
The pews are located on each side of the central aisle that goes down the centre of the nave. There is nothing on the pews.

> look under pews
It's not unusual to find a dropped prayer book under the pews, but not today.

> x door
It's a heavy wooden door that's currently closed.

> x noticeboard
The noticeboard is just inside the main entrance. This is used to place church notices and classifieds. At the moment, it only has one notice and a list of jokes.

> read it
There's nothing written on the noticeboard itself, but you can read the notice or the jokes.

> read notice
It says, 'Seven days without prayer makes one weak'. That sounds like one of Father Matisse's puns.

> read jokes
Q: Where was Solomon's Temple located?
A: On the side of his head.

Enter G (for AGAIN) if you'd like to read another joke.

> g
Q: What sort of lights were on Noah's Ark?
A: Flood lights.

Enter G (for AGAIN) if you'd like to read another joke.

> g
Q: How do we know Peter was a rich fisherman?
A: By his net income.

Enter G (for AGAIN) if you'd like to read another joke.

> g
Q: If Moses were alive today, why would he be considered a remarkable man?
A: Because he would be several thousand years old.

Enter G (for AGAIN) if you'd like to read another joke.

> g
Q: Who was the fastest man in the Bible?
A: Adam, because he was first in the human race.

Enter G (for AGAIN) if you'd like to read another joke.

> g
Q: Why did the hawk sit on the church steeple?
A: Because it was a bird of pray.

Enter G (for AGAIN) if you'd like to read another joke.

> g
Q: What is the most religious cheese?
A: Swiss cheese, because it's holy.

Enter G (for AGAIN) if you'd like to read another joke.

> g
Q: Why didn't they play cards on the Noah's ark?
A: Because Noah was standing on the deck.

Enter G (for AGAIN) if you'd like to read another joke.

> g
Q: Why did God make man before He made woman?
A: Because He didn't want any advice on how to do it.

Enter G (for AGAIN) if you'd like to read another joke.

> g
Q: What does God call his nose?
A: God knows.

Enter G (for AGAIN) if you'd like to read another joke.

> g
Q: Who was the greatest comedian in the Bible?
A: Samson, because he brought the house down.

Enter G (for AGAIN) if you'd like to read another joke.

> g
Q: When was medicine first mentioned in the Bible?
A: When God gave Moses two tablets.

Speaking of Moses, this reminds you that you have a mission to complete, so you shouldn't be wasting time reading jokes.

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

> * those were good!
That's not a verb I recognise.

> l
Nave of Church
You're in the nave. It stretches from the main entrance at the western end of the church to the transept at the east. Rows of pews are located at each side of the central aisle. There's also a door to the north.

You can see a noticeboard and a stone stoup here.

> * slash bad
That's not a verb I recognise.

> x stoup
The stoup is located inside the entrance of the church. This tradition comes from the Roman basilicas that had a fountain for washing in front of the entrance. However, this stoup has a bowl of holy water and one should not wash in the holy water.

> touch water
You don't feel anything unexpected.

> make sign of cross
That's not a verb I recognise.

> * ah well
That's not a verb I recognise.

> take water
The holy water trickles through your fingers, but you do feel cleansed.

> i
You're carrying a silver key, a sledge hammer, a shovel and your cassock (worn).

> put key in water
The holy water can't contain things.

> l
Nave of Church
You're in the nave. It stretches from the main entrance at the western end of the church to the transept at the east. Rows of pews are located at each side of the central aisle. There's also a door to the north.

You can see a noticeboard and a stone stoup here.

> dip key in water
That's not a verb I recognise.

> * good to know
That's not a verb I recognise.

> n
You can't, since the wooden door is closed.

> open door
It's locked.

> unlock door
(with the silver key)
You unlock the wooden door.

> ont it
That's not a verb I recognise.

> open it
You open the wooden door.

> n
Bottom of Stone Steps
You're at the bottom of some stone steps that spiral around the inner wall of the church to the daylight above. If you don't want to climb the steps, you can return to the nave through the wooden door to the south.

> x steps
The stone steps form a spiral staircase that goes up to the steeple.

> u
Steeple
You're in the church steeple. It provides a grand view over the forest to the north, the graveyard to the south and the roof of the vicarage to the west. The steeple itself is made from local stone and warrants a closer inspection. The only exit is back down the steps.

You can see a diving suit here.

> * huh that is not what I was expecting to find up here
That's not a verb I recognise.

> x forest
You can't distinguish the individual trees from this distance, but you recognise common oak, Scots pine and birch trees.

> x oak
You can't distinguish the individual trees from this distance, but you recognise common oak, Scots pine and birch trees.

> x graveyard
The graveyard looks quite beautiful from up here. The gravestones are scattered across the green lawn apart from one open grave.

> x roof
The roof of the vicarage appears to be made of slate. You can see something painted on it, but you need to get much closer to see what it says.

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

> l
Steeple
You're in the church steeple. It provides a grand view over the forest to the north, the graveyard to the south and the roof of the vicarage to the west. The steeple itself is made from local stone and warrants a closer inspection. The only exit is back down the steps.

You can see a diving suit here.

> x steeple
The steeple is quite high above the ground, so be careful not to fall. On closer inspection you see an engraving in one of the stones.

> x engraving
There's an engraving in the stone of the steeple. Perhaps you should read it.

> read it
It says, 'Exodus 25:37'.

> * ah, this is about the ark
That's not a verb I recognise.

> * " “Then make its seven lamps and set them up on it so that they light the sp
That's not a verb I recognise.

> * maybe ties in with the notice?
That's not a verb I recognise.

> 
You need to enter a command.

> l
Steeple
You're in the church steeple. It provides a grand view over the forest to the north, the graveyard to the south and the roof of the vicarage to the west. The steeple itself is made from local stone and warrants a closer inspection. The only exit is back down the steps.

You can see a diving suit here.

> x suit
It's a very cumbersome waterproof suit made from a thin sheet of solid rubber laminated between layers of tan twill. This particular suit has a helmet and rebreather for short stints underwater.

> take it
Taken.

> d
Bottom of Stone Steps
You're at the bottom of some stone steps that spiral around the inner wall of the church to the daylight above. If you don't want to climb the steps, you can return to the nave through the wooden door to the south.

> s
Nave of Church
You're in the nave. It stretches from the main entrance at the western end of the church to the transept at the east. Rows of pews are located at each side of the central aisle. There's also a door to the north.

You can see a noticeboard and a stone stoup here.

> s
You can't go that way.

> n
Bottom of Stone Steps
You're at the bottom of some stone steps that spiral around the inner wall of the church to the daylight above. If you don't want to climb the steps, you can return to the nave through the wooden door to the south.

> s
Nave of Church
You're in the nave. It stretches from the main entrance at the western end of the church to the transept at the east. Rows of pews are located at each side of the central aisle. There's also a door to the north.

You can see a noticeboard and a stone stoup here.

> e
Transept
You're in the transept of the church. The transept branches off to the north and south to form the cross bar of the cross, but the northern transept has been closed off by a wooden door. The sanctuary is to the east and the nave is to the west.

> x door
It's a heavy wooden door that's currently closed.

> open it
It's locked.

> unlock it
(with the silver key)
You unlock the wooden door.

> n
You can't, since the wooden door is closed.

> open door
You open the wooden door.

> n
North Transept
You're in the north transept. In most churches, this would be open to the public, but this church has blocked it off with a wooden door to the south. As you're only a seminarian, this area would normally be off limits to you, but you can now see that it's full of holy relics. This might have been where the Ark of the Covenant was kept before it was hidden and this would explain why it's kept under lock and key.

You can see some holy relics and a crucifix here.

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

> x relics
The relics include paintings, small statues and various knick knacks. There doesn't appear to be anything of any great value, but they are interesting from a historical point of view.

> * I feel like we might need more time in priest school given that we're referr
That's not a verb I recognise.

> * referring to holy relics as "knick knacks"
That's not a verb I recognise.

> take relics
The holy relics belong to the church, so you should leave them be. The crucifix is an exception. You're sure that belongs in the vicarage.

> x crucifix
It's a beautifully sculpted crucifix, about 15 cm long, with little trefoils at the end of each arm. It looks like it's made of solid silver.

> take it
Taken.

> * We have an appointment with someone...
That's not a verb I recognise.

> s
Transept
You're in the transept of the church. The transept branches off to the north and south to form the cross bar of the cross, but the northern transept has been closed off by a wooden door. The sanctuary is to the east and the nave is to the west.

> s
South Transept
This is the south transept. It's used as a store room and contains lots of religious items, but nothing of any great value. The exit is to the north.

You can see some religious items, some brochures, some prayer books and a box of matches here.

> x items
The religious items include prayer books, brochures and miscellaneous bits and pieces. There doesn't appear to be anything of any value or anything that will help your quest.

> x brochures
There are various brochures, pamphlets and leaflets that are intended to teach the parishioners about the wisdom of God, how to be a good Christian, how the church works and things like that.

> read them
You've read enough of these to last a lifetime. Maybe later.

> x books
They're battered and dog-eared from years of use.

> read books
You don't have time for that now.

> x matches
The box contains enough matches to light many candles.

> take matches
Taken.

> * wonder if that's enough for a light source
That's not a verb I recognise.

> n
Transept
You're in the transept of the church. The transept branches off to the north and south to form the cross bar of the cross, but the northern transept has been closed off by a wooden door. The sanctuary is to the east and the nave is to the west.

> e
Sanctuary
The sanctuary is at the head of the church. The rest of the church is back to the west.

You can see an altar (on which is a candle (providing light)), a lectern (on which is a holy Bible) and a pulpit here.

> * ah, there's our candle
That's not a verb I recognise.

> x altar
The altar is a bench-like table where the bread and wine are blessed during the Eucharist. On the altar is a candle (providing light).

> x candle
The beeswax candle symbolises the pure flesh of Christ received from His virgin mother. The wick signifies His soul and the flame represents His divinity.

> take candle
Taken.

> x lectern
The lectern is where the lessons from the Bible are read by the priest. This is something that you look forward to doing when you've finished your training. On the lectern is a holy Bible.

> x bible
It's a leather-bound edition of the holy Bible. According to the title page, it's the 'Authorised King James Version'. You wonder why there's an English Bible in a French church. Luckily, you can read English.

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

> read it
There's a lot to read. It would be quicker to just read the contents or a specific passage, e.g. LOOK UP CONTENTS IN BIBLE or READ GENESIS 1:1 IN BIBLE or CONSULT BIBLE ABOUT GENESIS 1:1.

> look up contents in bible
You browse the contents. The five books of Moses are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. These are followed by Joshua, Judges, Ruth and so on. You know the sequence off by heart, so there's no point reading it all.

> consult bible about acts
You have no reason to read that now.

> read exodus 25:37
I think you wanted to say "read something in something". Please try again.

> read exodus 25:37 in bible
It says, 'And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it.'

> read exodus 25:38 in bible
You have no reason to read that now.

> l
Sanctuary
The sanctuary is at the head of the church. The rest of the church is back to the west.

You can see an altar, a lectern (on which is a holy Bible) and a pulpit here.

> take bible
When you take the Bible, you see that it was covering a message scratched onto the lectern.

> x message
It's a message scratched into the varnish of the lectern. Perhaps you should read it.

> read it
It says, 'Numbers 19:11'.

> read number 19:11 in bible
You have no reason to read that now.

> * er don't I?
That's not a verb I recognise.

> look up numbers in bible
You have no reason to read that now.

> consult bible about numbers 19:11
It says, 'He that toucheth the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days.'

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

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

> l
Sanctuary
The sanctuary is at the head of the church. The rest of the church is back to the west.

You can see an altar, a lectern (on which is a message) and a pulpit here.

> x pulpit
The pulpit is where the priest delivers his sermons. When you've finished your training, that will be one of your duties, but, for now, you are just an assistant.

> enter pulpit
You can't enter that.

> stand in pulpit
I think you wanted to say "stand". Please try again.

> w
Transept
You're in the transept of the church. The transept branches off to the north and south to form the cross bar of the cross, but the northern transept has been closed off by a wooden door. The sanctuary is to the east and the nave is to the west.

> w
Nave of Church
You're in the nave. It stretches from the main entrance at the western end of the church to the transept at the east. Rows of pews are located at each side of the central aisle. There's also a door to the north.

You can see a noticeboard and a stone stoup here.

> i
You're carrying a holy Bible, a candle (providing light), a box of matches, a crucifix, a diving suit, a silver key, a sledge hammer, a shovel and your cassock (worn).

> w
Outside Church
You're outside the church where you've been doing your training to enter the priesthood. The steeple at the west end of the church casts a shadow over the church grounds. There are paths to the north, south and west, or you can enter the church to the east.

The candle blows out.

> 
You need to enter a command.

> n
South Forest
You're in the southern part of the forest. The path heads north and south with a faint branch to the east that leads into a cave.

> e
Cave Entrance
You're in the entrance of a cave. It looks like a naturally-formed cave, but it's hard to tell in the darkness. Light filters in from the entrance to the west and the cave continues to the east.

You can see a pile of rubble here.

> light candle
(with the matches)
The candle is now burning with a soft yellow glow.

> e
Cave
The cave ends rather abruptly. There's nothing much here, although the chisel marks on the wall indicate that somebody has been mining here in the past. The exit is back to the west through the pile of rubble.

You can see a pile of rubble, some writing on the wall and a stick of dynamite here.

> x rubble
This is the remains of the clay brick wall.

> search rubble
There's nothing but smashed clay bricks.

> x writing
The writing looks like it's been done in chalk, so it's quite hard to read in the flickering light of your candle. Perhaps you should read it.

> read it
It says, 'Deuteronomy 3:8'.

> consult bible about deuteronomy 3:8
It says, 'And we took at that time out of the hand of the two kings of the Amorites the land that was on this side Jordan, from the river of Arnon unto mount Hermon;'

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

> l
Cave
The cave ends rather abruptly. There's nothing much here, although the chisel marks on the wall indicate that somebody has been mining here in the past. The exit is back to the west through the pile of rubble.

You can see a pile of rubble, some writing on the wall and a stick of dynamite here.

> x dynamite
It's a red stick of dynamite with a long fuse.

> take it
Taken.

> l
Cave
The cave ends rather abruptly. There's nothing much here, although the chisel marks on the wall indicate that somebody has been mining here in the past. The exit is back to the west through the pile of rubble.

You can see a pile of rubble and some writing on the wall here.

> w
Cave Entrance
You're in the entrance of a cave. It looks like a naturally-formed cave, but it's hard to tell in the darkness. Light filters in from the entrance to the west and the cave continues to the east.

You can see a pile of rubble here.

> w
South Forest
You're in the southern part of the forest. The path heads north and south with a faint branch to the east that leads into a cave.

The candle blows out.

> n
Forest
You're in the middle of the forest. The path winds its way through the trees to the north and south.

> w
The forest is too dense in that direction.

> n
North Forest
You're at the northern end of the forest. The path ends here, but there is a clearing to the west or you can head back to the south.

> w
Clearing West of Forest
This area was probably once part of the forest, but it's now been cleared. You can return to the forest path back to the east.

You can see a stump (on which is a seal) here.

> put dynamite in stump
The stump can't contain things.

> x stump
The stump is nearly 1 metre in diameter, so it's from a very old tree. The roots extend from the base of the stump like the gnarled fingers of an old woman. On the stump is a seal.

> x roots
The roots are rough and knobbly and extend from the base of the stump for a short distance before diving beneath the ground. You can see a small hole at the base of the stump between two of the roots.

> put dynamite in hole
You put the stick of dynamite into the small hole.

> light it
(with the matches)
The wick of the dynamite is now burning like a sparkler. You'd better get out of here before it blows up!

> e
North Forest
You're at the northern end of the forest. The path ends here, but there is a clearing to the west or you can head back to the south.

> z
Nothing happens.

> z
Nothing happens.

KABOOM! You hear an explosion nearby. You can now inspect the damage.

> w
Clearing West of Forest
This area was probably once part of the forest, but it's now been cleared. You can return to the forest path back to the east.

You can see a large hole in the ground here.

> x hole
Wow. The stick of dynamite sure blew a big hole here.

> enter hole
Hole
You're in a hole where the stump used to be. You can only go up to climb out of the hole.

You can see a chest here.

> x chest
It's a heavy wooden chest with iron reinforcing. It's locked with a five-digit combination lock. You will need to ENTER the combination to unlock it. 

> * OK this might be the ark?
That's not a verb I recognise.

> u
Clearing West of Forest
This area was probably once part of the forest, but it's now been cleared. You can return to the forest path back to the east.

You can see a large hole in the ground here.

> e
North Forest
You're at the northern end of the forest. The path ends here, but there is a clearing to the west or you can head back to the south.

> s
Forest
You're in the middle of the forest. The path winds its way through the trees to the north and south.

> s
South Forest
You're in the southern part of the forest. The path heads north and south with a faint branch to the east that leads into a cave.

> w
The forest is too dense in that direction.

> s
Outside Church
You're outside the church where you've been doing your training to enter the priesthood. The steeple at the west end of the church casts a shadow over the church grounds. There are paths to the north, south and west, or you can enter the church to the east.

> w
Path
You're on a gravel path that runs east to west between the church and the vicarage. You can leave the church grounds through the gate to the south.

You can see a billboard here.

> w
East of Vicarage
You're at the east side of the vicarage. There's no entry to the vicarage from here. You know it's on the other side of the building. You can follow the path north or south around the vicarage or follow the branch to the east.

> n
You follow the path as it turns a corner to the west.

North of Vicarage
You're at the north side of the vicarage. The path goes east and west around the vicarage with a faint path leading off to the north.

> n
Path through Forest
You're wandering down a faint path that meanders south and west through the forest.

> w
Shore of Pond
You're on the southern shore of a clear pond. This is a great waterhole for swimming and fishing in warm weather, but it's very cold today. It looks quite deep, so keep away from the edge. The only path is back to the east.

> wear suit
You can't wear the diving suit over your cassock, so you'll have to remove your cassock first.

> remove cassock
You look around to make sure no one is looking, then remove your cassock and drop it on the ground.

> x me
Your name is Jean Rousseau. You are tall, fair skinned and frail, but God gives you strength. Faith runs in your family. Your parents named you Jean, because it means 'God is gracious'. You are now training to be a priest.

> i
You're carrying your underwear (worn), a holy Bible, a candle, a box of matches, a crucifix, a diving suit, a silver key, a sledge hammer and a shovel.

> wear suit
You put on the awkward diving suit and attach the helmet. You are now ready to venture into the pond.

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

> undo
Previous turn undone.

> undo
Previous turn undone.

> x underwear
Your underwear consists of a white cotton singlet and baggy Y-fronts.

> wear suit
You put on the awkward diving suit and attach the helmet. You are now ready to venture into the pond.

> enter pond
You'll have to drop everything before entering the pond because you don't want to get anything wet and it's too awkward to carry things while wearing the diving suit.

> drop all
holy Bible: Dropped.
candle: Dropped.
box of matches: Dropped.
crucifix: Dropped.
silver key: Dropped.
sledge hammer: Dropped.
shovel: Dropped.

> enter pond
Pond
You're splashing about in a cold pond in the forest. As you're wearing a diving suit, you can dive to the bottom. Otherwise, the shore is back to the south.

> d
Bottom of Pond
You're clomping about on the bottom of the pond in your awkward diving suit. Every time you take a step, little puffs of mud cloud the water, making it difficult to see. When you've finished searching the pond, you can go up to return to the surface.

You can see some reeds here.

> x mud
The bottom of the pond is full of reeds and the water is cloudy from where you've disturbed the mud.

> search mud
You find nothing special.

> x reed
The reeds are quite thick and make exploration difficult. They are particularly thick towards the north.

> take reeds
That would require the strength of Samson.

> n
The reeds are too thick to go that way. You could try clearing them out of the way.

> clear reeds
When you move the reeds aside, you see an underwater grotto to the north.

> x grotto
The water in the grotto is quite clear, except where you've disturbed the mud by clomping around in your diving suit.

> n
Underwater Grotto
You're in an underwater grotto beneath the pond. It's dominated by a large boulder surrounded by reeds. The exit from the grotto is back to the south.

You can see some reeds and a large boulder here.

> x reeds
The reeds are quite thick and make exploration difficult. They are growing around a large boulder.

> x boulder
There's a carving in the boulder.

> read it
There's nothing legible on that.

> read carving
It says, 'Genesis 7:10'.

> push boulder
That's fixed in place.

> x carving
Someone has carved a crude message in the boulder.

> read message
It says, 'Genesis 7:10'.

> u
You can't go that way.

> s
Bottom of Pond
You're clomping about on the bottom of the pond in your awkward diving suit. Every time you take a step, little puffs of mud cloud the water, making it difficult to see. When you've finished searching the pond, you can go up to return to the surface.

You can see some reeds here.

> u
Pond
You're splashing about in a cold pond in the forest. As you're wearing a diving suit, you can dive to the bottom. Otherwise, the shore is back to the south.

> s
Shore of Pond
You're on the southern shore of a clear pond. This is a great waterhole for swimming and fishing in warm weather, but it's very cold today. It looks quite deep, so keep away from the edge. The only path is back to the east.

You can see a shovel, a sledge hammer, a silver key, a crucifix, a box of matches, a candle, a holy Bible and your cassock here.

> consult bible about genesis 7:10
It says, 'And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth.'

> * so I guess these passages are the combo?  Lotta 7s, one 2...
That's not a verb I recognise.

> remove suit
You remove the diving suit and drop it on the ground. You're now wearing only your underwear. You'd better get dressed before heading back.

> take all
diving suit: Taken.
shovel: Taken.
sledge hammer: Taken.
silver key: Taken.
crucifix: Taken.
box of matches: Taken.
candle: Taken.
holy Bible: Taken.
cassock: Taken.

> e
You can't go wandering around in your underwear. Put your cassock back on.

> wear cassock
You feel much better now that you're wearing your normal attire.

> e
Path through Forest
You're wandering down a faint path that meanders south and west through the forest.

> s
North of Vicarage
You're at the north side of the vicarage. The path goes east and west around the vicarage with a faint path leading off to the north.

> w
You follow the path as it turns a corner to the south.

West of Vicarage
You're at the west side of the vicarage. The path around the vicarage goes north and south and the front door is to the east.

> w
You can't go that way.

> e
Living Room
You're in the living room of the vicarage, although it looks so dirty and unkempt that 'dying room' would be a more apt description. It was never like this when Father Matisse was alive. He kept the vicarage very clean and tidy. The curtains on the windows are closed, so it's quite dark and dingy. The bedroom door is to the north and the front door is to the west.

You can see Father Alucard here.

> show crucifix to alucard
Father Alucard screams at the sight of the crucifix and tries to cover his eyes. There's a bright flash of white light and you are temporarily blinded. When your eyes recover, you see that Father Alucard has turned to ashes.

> poke ashes
That's not a verb I recognise.

> x ashes
These are the remains of Father Alucard. From what you experienced here, you deduce that he must have been a vampire. You wonder whether the ashes may conceal something.

> eat ashes
You don't have the ashes.

> take ashes
The ashes sift through your fingers. You feel something solid. Perhaps you should search the ashes more carefully.

> search ashes
When you sift through the ashes, you find an iron key.

> x key
Do you mean the iron key or the silver key?

> iron
It's an old-fashioned iron key.

> open door
It's locked.

> unlock it
You don't have the key.

> i
You're carrying your cassock (worn), a holy Bible, a candle, a box of matches, a crucifix, a silver key, a sledge hammer, a shovel and a diving suit.

> take iron
Taken.

> unlock door
(with the iron key)
You unlock the bedroom door.

> open it
You open the bedroom door.

> n
Bedroom
This is obviously a bedroom, as it's dominated by a large bed. You haven't been in here before. You are surprised at how spartan it is. Father Matisse obviously lived a very frugal lifestyle and Father Alucard has not had time to change the decor. You notice a faint image of a cross on the wall above the bed. The exit is to the south.

You can see a bed here.

> x cross
It's a beautifully sculpted crucifix, about 15 cm long, with little trefoils at the end of each arm. It looks like it's made of solid silver.

> x image
The paint on the wall has faded after years of exposure to the sunlight, leaving a very faint image of a cross with little trefoils at the end of each arm. The shape is the same as the crucifix you found in the north transept. You deduce that Father Alucard removed the crucifix and hid it to protect himself from the power of the Lord.

> put crucific on image
Sorry, I don't understand what "crucific" means.

> put crucifix on image
You can't put things on top of that.

> x bed
The bed looks very comfy, but it doesn't look like it's been slept in for quite some time.

> look under bed
When you look under the bed, you find a ladder. That's a strange place to keep a ladder, so you pull it out.

> x ladder
It's a simple wooden ladder, maybe 3.5 m long.

> x ceiling
Sorry, I don't understand what "ceiling" means.

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

> x floor
A look in that direction reveals nothing new.

> take ladder
Taken.

> s
Living Room
You're in the living room of the vicarage, although it looks so dirty and unkempt that 'dying room' would be a more apt description. It was never like this when Father Matisse was alive. He kept the vicarage very clean and tidy. The curtains on the windows are closed, so it's quite dark and dingy. The bedroom door is to the north and the front door is to the west.

You can see some ashes here.

> w
West of Vicarage
You're at the west side of the vicarage. The path around the vicarage goes north and south and the front door is to the east.

> u
You would need a ladder to climb up there.

> drop ladder
You prop the ladder against the wall.

> u
You clamber up the ladder.

Roof of Vicarage
You're on the roof of the vicarage. Be careful not to fall. The only exit is back down the ladder.

You can see the top of the ladder here.

> u
Now that you're on the roof, you might be closer to God, but that doesn't mean you can ascend into heaven.

> e
If you were to step off the edge of the roof, you would tumble to the ground below. You're too young to visit St Peter, so you decide to leave your visit to the Pearly Gates until another time.

> x roof
The vicarage roof is made from rustic-looking slate tiles. There's some painting on one of the tiles.

> x painting
It's a painted message, partially obscured by moss. Perhaps you should read it.

> read it
It says, 'Leviticus 7:7'.

> consult bible about leviticus 7:7
It says, 'As the sin offering is, so is the trespass offering: there is one law for them: the priest that maketh atonement therewith shall have it.'

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

> * OK that should be all of them, right?
That's not a verb I recognise.

> * we have one from genesis, one from exodus, one from deutoronomy, one from le
That's not a verb I recognise.

> * leviticus one from numbers
That's not a verb I recognise.

> * so that's the pentateuch
That's not a verb I recognise.

> * and it's actually leviticus numbers deuteronomy
That's not a verb I recognise.

> * so then if the combo is in order, which it should be, we've got 77172
That's not a verb I recognise.

> d
You climb back down the ladder.

West of Vicarage
You're at the west side of the vicarage. The path around the vicarage goes north and south and the front door is to the east.

You can see a ladder here.

> e
Living Room
You're in the living room of the vicarage, although it looks so dirty and unkempt that 'dying room' would be a more apt description. It was never like this when Father Matisse was alive. He kept the vicarage very clean and tidy. The curtains on the windows are closed, so it's quite dark and dingy. The bedroom door is to the north and the front door is to the west.

You can see some ashes here.

> w
West of Vicarage
You're at the west side of the vicarage. The path around the vicarage goes north and south and the front door is to the east.

You can see a ladder here.

> s
You follow the path as it turns a corner to the east.

South of Vicarage
You're at the south side of the vicarage. You can follow the path east or west around the vicarage.

> e
You follow the path as it turns a corner to the north.

East of Vicarage
You're at the east side of the vicarage. There's no entry to the vicarage from here. You know it's on the other side of the building. You can follow the path north or south around the vicarage or follow the branch to the east.

> e
Path
You're on a gravel path that runs east to west between the church and the vicarage. You can leave the church grounds through the gate to the south.

You can see a billboard here.

> n
You can't go that way.

> e
Outside Church
You're outside the church where you've been doing your training to enter the priesthood. The steeple at the west end of the church casts a shadow over the church grounds. There are paths to the north, south and west, or you can enter the church to the east.

> n
South Forest
You're in the southern part of the forest. The path heads north and south with a faint branch to the east that leads into a cave.

> n
Forest
You're in the middle of the forest. The path winds its way through the trees to the north and south.

> n
North Forest
You're at the northern end of the forest. The path ends here, but there is a clearing to the west or you can head back to the south.

> w
Clearing West of Forest
This area was probably once part of the forest, but it's now been cleared. You can return to the forest path back to the east.

You can see a large hole in the ground here.

> d
Hole
You're in a hole where the stump used to be. You can only go up to climb out of the hole.

You can see a chest here.

> enter 77172
You enter "77172".

You hear a click. That must have been the correct combination.

> open chest
Oh, wow! Your eyes are dazzled by the brilliance of the gold-covered object in the chest. It's the Ark of the Covenant! It's not the real thing, but a one-fifth size replica. Even so, it's just as beautiful as you imagine the real Ark to be and you immediately understand why the Church Council wants it to be recovered.

> x ark
It's an absolutely beautiful reproduction of the most sacred relic of the Israelites. You estimate that it's one fifth the size of the original. It consists of a rectangular box 16 cm wide, 16 cm high, 26 cm long and gilded with gold. There are gold rings attached to the four corners with two gold staves passing lengthwise through the rings on each side. The golden lid is ornamented with two golden cherubim.

> * We're taking a stance on the length of the Biblical cubit, I see
That's not a verb I recognise.

> open ark
You can't open that.

> * probably for the best
That's not a verb I recognise.

> take ark
Taken.

> u
Clearing West of Forest
This area was probably once part of the forest, but it's now been cleared. You can return to the forest path back to the east.

You can see a large hole in the ground here.

> e
North Forest
You're at the northern end of the forest. The path ends here, but there is a clearing to the west or you can head back to the south.

> s
Forest
You're in the middle of the forest. The path winds its way through the trees to the north and south.

> s
South Forest
You're in the southern part of the forest. The path heads north and south with a faint branch to the east that leads into a cave.

> s
Outside Church
You're outside the church where you've been doing your training to enter the priesthood. The steeple at the west end of the church casts a shadow over the church grounds. There are paths to the north, south and west, or you can enter the church to the east.

> e
Nave of Church
You're in the nave. It stretches from the main entrance at the western end of the church to the transept at the east. Rows of pews are located at each side of the central aisle. There's also a door to the north.

You can see a noticeboard and a stone stoup here.

> e
Transept
You're in the transept of the church. The transept branches off to the north and south to form the cross bar of the cross, but the northern transept has been closed off by a wooden door. The sanctuary is to the east and the nave is to the west.

> n
North Transept
You're in the north transept. In most churches, this would be open to the public, but this church has blocked it off with a wooden door to the south. As you're only a seminarian, this area would normally be off limits to you, but you can now see that it's full of holy relics. This might have been where the Ark of the Covenant was kept before it was hidden and this would explain why it's kept under lock and key.

You can see some holy relics here.

> drop ark
Dropped.

> take it
Taken.

> * oops it said the altar, I think
That's not a verb I recognise.

> s
Transept
You're in the transept of the church. The transept branches off to the north and south to form the cross bar of the cross, but the northern transept has been closed off by a wooden door. The sanctuary is to the east and the nave is to the west.

> e
Sanctuary
The sanctuary is at the head of the church. The rest of the church is back to the west.

You can see an altar, a lectern (on which is a message) and a pulpit here.

> put ark on altar
In your mind, you hear a choir of angels singing, "Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Glory be to the Lord."

You have found the reproduction of the Ark of the Covenant and returned it to its rightful place on the altar in your local church. That will look good on your resumé when your training is complete. Congratulations!


  *** You have won ***


Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE, UNDO the last move, see some suggestions for AMUSING things to do or QUIT? amusing

Have you tried:
* Examining yourself.
* Using FART, JUMP, PRAY, SING, THINK or the magic word XYZZY.
* Reading the notice on the billboard outside the gate.
* Examining the shovel and the sledge hammer.
* Examining the cars or carriages at the end of the road.
* Searching, smelling or taking the body of Father Matisse.
* Taking the coffin.
* Filling in the grave.
* Drinking the holy water in the stoup.
* Reading the notice and the jokes on the noticeboard in the nave.
* Sitting, standing or lying on the pews, the bed and the stump.
* Putting anything other than the Bible on the lectern.
* Going any direction other than down in the steeple or on the vicarage roof.
* Asking Father Alucard about himself, me, accent, Ark, Bible, Canaan, church, commandments, council, cross, crucifix, Jesus, love, God, Matisse, Moses, the five books of Moses, Romania, vicarage, Yahweh and (most importantly) vampires.
* Removing your cassock anywhere other than the pond.
* Removing your underwear at the pond.
* Examining the shore at the pond.
* Drinking the water in the pond before and after diving to the bottom.
* Climbing a tree in the forest, then using HINT.
* Moving the stump using (say) PULL or PUSH.
* Lighting the dynamite while you're holding it.
* Blowing up the stump and not moving away to safety.

Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE, UNDO the last move, see some suggestions for AMUSING things to do or QUIT? * fun!

Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE, UNDO the last move, see some suggestions for AMUSING things to do or QUIT? quit