For the Love Of Ornery Blue Yaks
Doug Jones
TADS TADS 2
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The house at the end of the street has stood empty for a long time. After much reflection, and goading from your friends, you decide to venture forth into this house and try to unlock its mysteries...



Please type 'ABOUT'.

You are standing on the front porch of the house. The boards are warped and the porch itself has fallen into disrepair. You can enter the house to the east.
Lying on the porch is a newspaper that looks like it's been here
for weeks.
You take the newspaper
Taken.
You read it
You turn to a random page in the newspaper. You read the headline:

"Saying 'Arthur' at lakeshores may have a positive effect"

Unfortunately, the text of the article has faded.
About you
You look about the same as always.
You check your inventory
You have a backpack (being worn) and a newspaper.
Examine backpack
It's your backpack. You've had it for years, and no matter how hard you've tried, you've never been able to completely fill it.
You spy a loose thread between the seams of the backpack.
You take the thread
With a firm yank, you pull the thread free.
You put the thread and the newspaper in the backpack
thread: Done.
newspaper: Done.
You look at your surroundings
You are standing on the front porch of the house. The boards are warped and the porch itself has fallen into disrepair. You can enter the house to the east.
You go east
You are standing at one end of a finely decorated hallway. There
is a doorway to the north and some stairs leading down to the south. The way west leads to the front porch, and the hallway continues east.
Go downward
You are standing in the cellar of the house. It is hard to walk without distrubing the cobwebs. Breathing is difficult due to the high dust content. The only way out is up the steps.
You examine cobwebs
There are cobwebs everywhere you look.
You go to the north
This is the kitchen of the house. In one corner is a table that
still has food set for a meal. Unfortunately, the food is too mouldy to eat. The sink is piled with dishes that look like they have been there for weeks. The only passage is back to the south.
You examine the food
The food looks very inedible.
You examine the dishes
The dishes are very dirty and would take a long time to clean.
You look at the table
You go to the east
You are standing at one end of a finely decorated hallway. There
are doorways to the north and south. The hallway continues west.
You go north
This is the living room of the house. Everything is covered with
dust and the room looks like it has not been cleaned for weeks. Along the back wall is what used to be a finely decorated sofa, but the moths have not left much. There are also the remains of two chairs here. The only passage is back to the south.
You look at the sofa
It looks like this couch was very nice at one point. There's really nothing left of it.
You look at the chairs
Not much remains of the chairs.
You go to the south
You are standing in the bedroom of the house. There is a big king-sized bed in one of the corners. Next to it is a nightstand.

The only other piece of furniture is a big wardrobe, which stands on the east wall of the room.
Sitting on the nightstand is a matchbox.
You examine the bed
The bed is unmade.
You look at the nightstand
The nightstand sits by the bed.
You look at the matchbox
It's a box of matches. There are currently 10 matches inside.
You take it
Taken.
You open it
Opened.
You enter the wardrobe
This is a big walk-in closet. You can see the bedroom through the open door to the west. The wardrobe appears to extend much further back than expected behind the coats to the east.
You examine the coats
Some coats hang in ruins.
Go east
As you walk to the east, you feel a tingling sensation.
Forest
This is a large redwood forest with large eerie and somewhat
strange trees. Sitting here, very much out of place, is a lamppost. There is a path leading from the north to the east. Another path leading south enters an area of much larger and older trees.

[Your score just went up by 5 points. You can turn these notifications off at any time by typing 'notify'.]
You examine the lamppost
The lamppost sits here folornly, its light shining bright in the forest.
You examine the trees
The trees line the path and tower above your head.
Go north
This is an area of a large forest. Paths lead north and south.
You go north
A heavily nested tree is crouching at the edge of the forest. It appears to be climbable. A path leading south enters the forest and there is a clearing to the east.
You climb the tree
You are sitting on the branch of a heavily-nested tree about ten
feet above the ground. Most of the nests are above you and out of reach. The only way out of here is back down the tree.
Sitting in the nest is an emerald that is shaped like an egg,
probably brought here by some lonely mother bird.
You put it in pack
Done.
You examine the emerald
An emerald shaped like an egg that is about as big as your hand.
Go east
You have come to a clearing on the edge of the forest. There is a path leading south, and you can re-enter the forest to the north. Off in the distance, you can see a giant hedge extending from the east to the west.
You examine the hedge
The hedge extends from the west to the east as far as you can see.
You go northeast
The stream is very shallow here and can be crossed to the east.
The stream continues to the south and there is a path to the southwest.
A giant clam lies by the stream.
You examine the clam
The clam is about four feet across. Its shell is closed.
Open clam
You are unable to open the clam with your bare hands.
You open
What do you want the giant clam to open?
Clam
You have lost your mind.
You go east
You look up the trail to past the stream and decide that it's much too long a hike to make at this time.
You go south
You are standing at the top of a deep canyon. The stream enters
the canyon from the north and flows into a lake to the south. You can see that there used to be a bridge that crossed here, but it is long since gone. A path leads west.
Go south
Before you lays a calm crystal-clear lake reminiscent of medieval England. Trails lead north along a stream, south to a hedged wall, and west.
You say Arthur
As the words fade over the lake, a silence is stilled as a long forgotten realm is reborn. Elegantly, the hand of a fair lady rises out of the lake. Sweet music plays in your heart. In the hand of the Lady of the Lake is Excalibur.

[Your score just went up by 13 points.]
Go south
You are standing inside the entrance to a hedge maze. The maze
itself is to the south, and there is a path to the north.
Go south
You walk 10 feet to the south.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading north, south and east.
Go south
You walk 40 feet to the south.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. The only exit is to the north.
You see a brick here.
You examine the brick
It's a brick that appears to be made out of lead.
Go north
You walk 40 feet to the north.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading north, south and east.
You go east
You walk 40 feet to the east.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading east, west and south.
You go east
You walk 50 feet to the east.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading east, west and south.
You go to the east
You walk 40 feet to the east.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. The only path is back to the west.
Go west
You walk 40 feet to the west.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading east, west and south.
You go south
You walk 20 feet to the south.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading east, west and north.
Go east
You walk 10 feet to the east.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading east, west and south.
Go east
You walk 30 feet to the east.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. The only exit is to the west.
You go to the west
You walk 30 feet to the west.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading east, west and south.
Go south
You walk 20 feet to the south.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading north and east.
Go east
You walk 30 feet to the east.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading south and west.
You go south
You walk 20 feet to the south.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading north and west.
Go west
You walk 10 feet to the west.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading east, west and south.
You go east
You walk 10 feet to the east.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading south and west.
You go west
You walk 30 feet to the west.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading east and south.
You go to the south
You walk 20 feet to the south.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading north, south and east.
Go east
You walk 30 feet to the east.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading south and west.
You go to the west
You walk 30 feet to the west.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading east, west and north.
You go to the north
You walk 20 feet to the north.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading north, south and east.
You go south
You walk 20 feet to the south.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading east, west and north.
You go to the west
You walk 60 feet to the west.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading north and east.
Go north
You walk 20 feet to the north.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading north, south,
east and west.
You go to the east
You walk 40 feet to the east.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading north and west.
Go north
You walk 60 feet to the north.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. The only exit is to the south.
Go south
You walk 60 feet to the south.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading north and west.
Go west
You walk 40 feet to the west.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading north, south,
east and west.
You go west
You walk 20 feet to the west.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading east and south.
You go to the west
You walk 30 feet to the west.
Entrance to Hedge Maze
You are standing inside the entrance to a hedge maze. The maze
itself is to the east and there is a path to the west.
You go east
You walk 30 feet to the east.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading north and west.
You go north
You walk 20 feet to the north.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading east and south.
Go east
You walk 20 feet to the east.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading north, south,
east and west.
You go to the north
You walk 20 feet to the north.
Minotaur Room
This is a room that is growing up out of the hedge maze. All the walls are hedges, and the floor is dirt. The way out is to the south. A minotaur stands here, looking very menacing. He has a battleaxe
in his hand pointed toward you.
You kill Minotaur with the sword
You lash out with the sword and connect a direct hit on the minotaur! The minotaur lashes out with the battleaxe and misses you by a mile.
You keep going
You lash out with the sword and connect a direct hit on the minotaur! The minotaur lashes out with the battleaxe and connects a direct hit on you!
You continue
You lash out with the sword and connect a direct hit on the minotaur! That last blow was too much for the minotaur. It succumbs to the great beyond.
As you watch the minotaur fade, you hear a rustling to the north.

[Your score just went up by 20 points.]
Look around
This is a room that is growing up out of the hedge maze. All the walls are hedges, and the floor is dirt. The way out is to the south.
Dig
What do you want to dig in?
Floor
What do you want to dig in it with?
You go south
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading north, south,
east and west.
Go south
You walk 20 feet to the south.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading north and east.
Go east
You walk 60 feet to the east.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading east, west and north.
You go to the north
You walk 20 feet to the north.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading south and west.
You go west
You walk 10 feet to the west.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading east, west and north.
Go west
You walk 20 feet to the east.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading north and east.
Go east
You walk 20 feet to the east.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading east, west and south.
Go east
You walk 10 feet to the east.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading north and west.
You go west
You walk 30 feet to the west.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading north and east.
Go north
You walk 20 feet to the north.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading east, west and south.
You go west
You walk 10 feet to the west.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading east, west and north.
You go to the west
You walk 10 feet to the west.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading east and south.
You go south
You walk 20 feet to the south.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading north and west.
You go west
You walk 20 feet to the west.
Crystal Room
This is a room that is growing up out of the hedge maze. All the walls are hedges, and the floor is dirt. The way out is to the east. You see a crystal (providing light) here.
You examine Crystal
The crystal shines with an inner light all its own.
Go east
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading north and west.
Go east
You walk 10 feet to the east.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading east, west and north.
Go north
You walk 20 feet to the north.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading east, west and south.
Go west
You walk 50 feet to the west.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading east, west and south.
You go east
You walk 20 feet to the east.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. The only exit is to the west.
Go west
You walk 20 feet to the west.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading east, west and north.
You go west
You walk 20 feet to the west.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading east and south.
Go south
You walk 40 feet to the south.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading north, south and west.
Go south
You walk 60 feet to the south.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. The only exit is to the north.
You go north
You walk 60 feet to the north.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading east and south.
You go east
You walk 20 feet to the east.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading north, south and west.
Go south
You walk 40 feet to the south.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. The only exit is to the north.
You go north
You walk 40 feet to the north.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading north, south and west.
You go north
You walk 40 feet to the north.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading east and south.
Go east
You walk 20 feet to the east.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading east, west and north.
You go west
You walk 40 feet to the west.
Hedge Maze
You are in a hedge maze. There are paths leading north, south and east.
Go west
You are standing in the eastern end of a large flowing meadow. Hundreds of sheep graze freetly here. You can see a lake to the north and to the south is an unclimable cliff. There appears to be a cave entrance at the bottom of the cliff. You observe a hedged wall with an opening in it to the east. The meadow continues westward.
You examine the sheep
The herd of sheep parts as you pass through them.

Towards you runs a giant cyclops. He grabs you around the waist, lifts you over his shoulder and says, "Nasty thief! Trying to steal my sheep, are you? Oh, do I have a craving for boiled flesh tonight!" He hits you over the head with a club, and all goes black.Cyclops Cave, in the black cauldron
When you come to, you see a fire in the center of a cavernous room. Around the fire, the cyclops is muttering something about how to cook his meal for the night. Above the fire is a black cauldron that contains the meal. (YOU are in the cauldron.)
Leaning against the corner of the cave is a trident. Maybe the cyclops uses it to stir his food.
There is a cyclops here, muttering to himself about his dinner
Go outside
Okay, you're now out of the black cauldron.Cyclops Cave
You see a fire in the center of a cavernous room. Above the fire
is a black cauldron. The exit to the north is blocked by a massive stone. In the northwest corner is a pen that contains sleeping sheep. Leaning against the corner of the cave is a trident. Maybe the cyclops uses it to stir his food.
There is a cyclops here, muttering to himself about his dinner

The cyclops hears his sheep bleating, and checks their pen.
You kill the Cyclops with the sword
You attack the cyclops with the sword, which bounces off his thick hide. He turns to you, and looks at you with pity in his eye. He reaches out his mighty fist, and snaps your neck like a twig.
You take the trident
Taken.

The cyclops hears his sheep bleating, and checks their pen.
You kill the Cyclops with the trident
You attack the cyclops with the trident, which bounces off his thick hide. He turns to you, and looks at you with pity in his eye. He reaches out his mighty fist, and snaps your neck like a twig.
You enter pen
I don't know how to enter the pen.

The cyclops searches around his cave for more wood to put on the fire.
You go to the northwest
You can't go that way.

The cyclops hears his sheep bleating, and checks their pen.
You take the fire
You can't have the fire.

The cyclops hears his sheep bleating, and checks their pen.
You look around
You see a fire in the center of a cavernous room. Above the fire
is a black cauldron. The exit to the north is blocked by a massive stone. In the northwest corner is a pen that contains sleeping sheep. There is a cyclops here, muttering to himself about his dinner

The cyclops searches around his cave for more wood to put on the fire.
You look at the stone
The stone blocks the entrance to the cave.
You move the stone
The massive stone is too heavy for you to move.

The cyclops hears his sheep bleating, and checks their pen.
You examine the cauldron
The black cauldron hangs above the fire. There appears to be water and some vegetables in it.

The cyclops hears his sheep bleating, and checks their pen.

The cyclops finishes his preparations, picks you up, and breaks your neck.
You ask the Cyclops about the sheep
"I don't know much about that."

The cyclops hears his sheep bleating, and checks their pen.

The cyclops finishes his preparations, picks you up, and breaks your neck.
You look at the fire
The fire burns under the cauldron, heating up the contents. You find a sharp stick lying next to the fire.

The cyclops hears his sheep bleating, and checks their pen.
You take the stick
Taken.

The cyclops searches around his cave for more wood to put on the fire.

The cyclops finishes his preparations, picks you up, and breaks your neck.
You examine the fire
The fire burns under the cauldron, heating up the contents. You find a sharp stick lying next to the fire.

The cyclops searches around his cave for more wood to put on the fire.
You take the stick
Taken.

The cyclops searches around his cave for more wood to put on the fire.
You kill the Cyclops with the stick
You throw the sharp stick as hard as you can, and it hits the cyclops in the eye. In pain and anguish, he screams, waking the sheep in the process. He rolls the boulder away from the door, and runs out, followed by the sheep.

[Your score just went up by 15 points.]
Go north
You are standing in the eastern end of a large flowing meadow. Hundreds of sheep graze freetly here. You can see a lake to the north and to the south is an unclimable cliff. There appears to be a cave entrance at the bottom of the cliff. You observe a hedged wall with an opening in it to the east. The meadow continues westward.
You go east
You are standing inside the entrance to a hedge maze. The maze
itself is to the east and there is a path to the west.
You open the clam with the trident
You open the giant clam with the trident. A giant pearl rolls out and drops into the river with a SPLASH! Goodness me! This must be an oyster instead!
You go south
Before you lays a calm crystal-clear lake reminiscent of medieval England. Trails lead north along a stream, south to a hedged wall, and west.
You see a giant pearl here.
You take the pearl
Taken.

[Your score just went up by 7 points.]
You go north
The stream is very shallow here and can be crossed to the east.
The stream continues to the south and there is a path to the southwest.
A giant oyster lies by the stream.
You go east
You look up the trail to past the stream and decide that it's much too long a hike to make at this time.
You go south
You are standing at the northern end of a large flowing meadow. An old pine forest begins to the northwest and a walk to the north puts you beyond the meadow. The meadow continues south.
You go to the south
You are standing at the southern end of a large flowing meadow. To the east, you observe sheep grazing in the open field. Green meadows continue north, east and west.
Go west
You are at the western end of a large flowing meadow. An old pine forest begins to the north and the meadow continues east.
You go north
This is an area of a large forest. Paths lead north, south and
west.
Go north
This is an area of a large forest. Paths lead east, west and
south.
Go west
path. Paths lead north and east.
You enter the hollow
You are just inside the hollow of the tree. You can still see the forest to the north and up of here. The hollow continues downward.
Go downwards
The bark seems to be more stone than wood. You can still see some light trickling in from the forest above. The hollow continues downward.
Go downwards
With light in hand, you continue downward ready to explore the world beneath. You wonder what new dangers and puzzles await you.

Congratulations! You have finished the introduction to For the Love of Ornery Blue Yaks! Thanks for playing!

* * * YOU HAVE WON!! * * *

In a total of 213 turns, you have achieved a score of 60 points out of a possible 60.

You may restore a saved game, start over, or quit.