Hunter, in Darkness
Andrew Plotkin
basic difficulty cave compassless darkness guided maze homage I6 source available IF Competition 1999 IFComp Game nature parser short short length violence walkthrough Xyzzy Awards 1999 XYZZY Best Individual Puzzle XYZZY Best Setting
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Nearly -- nearly. The animal stink is rank and close. You raise your crossbow, try to peer beyond dark, wet stone.
Inventory
You are carrying your crossbow (loaded with a bolt), a thighband with four bolts (strapped to your leg), and a brightly-glowing lamplens (on your wrist).

Something shifts in the darkness ahead, a great silent bulk. Your prey.
You examine the prey
You can see nothing of it; only a sense of movement, back and forth, in the depths of the cave ahead.
You check your inventory
You are carrying your crossbow (loaded with a bolt), a thighband with four bolts (strapped to your leg), and a brightly-glowing lamplens (on your wrist).

A faint rustling echoes deep in the side chamber, and the laughing chitter of bats.
About yourself
You're tired and covered with mud.
You examine the lens
A clear glareless light pours from the lamp's curved face.

You glance around again. The cave narrows ahead, a tight crawl winding around folds of limestone. A low passage descends to your right, and there is a side chamber on the left.

A low passage descends out of sight on the right.

A high chamber lies to your left. You cannot see its far side, but the rustle of cave bats drifts from the darkness.
Go downward
The passage drops off suddenly, ending in a deep pit. The sides are steep but not vertical; you might be able to scramble down, but you make no bets about climbing back up.
You examine the pit
The pit is edged in veined, knotted flowstone. A stiff climb, considering its steepness, but possible -- in descent.

You can make out a ledge far below.
You look at the ledge
The ledge is deep in the pit's darkness. You can see no details.
You look at what you're carrying with you
You are carrying your crossbow (loaded with a bolt), a thighband with four bolts (strapped to your leg), and a brightly-glowing lamplens (on your wrist).
You examine the bow
The crossbow is well-designed enough to be simple. Laminated leaf-laths, fiber string, and a cocking lever that runs the full length of the stock.

The bow is loaded with a bolt.
You examine band
It's a long band of heavy leather, with side straps, woven into a foot-long tube. The four bolts inside are secure yet easily slid out, and the whole is strapped comfortably to your leg.

You're tired and covered with mud."
You look at your surroundings
You stand at the bottom of a rising passage. Before you is a deep pit. The sides are steep but not vertical; you might be able to scramble down, but you make no bets about climbing back up.
Jump ledge
The ledge is far out of reach.
Go downwards
You sit at the edge, turn, catch, and hang full-length against the wall. There ought to be a foothold...

Well, perhaps not. You slam into the ledge and lean into stone, face and belly, trying not to slide any farther.

After a moment you retake your balance, and turn. This ledge is barely two feet wide at most. You try not to feel like it's angled slightly outward. The pit stretches above and below you; but you can see no way to climb from here, either way.

A gentle arc hangs across the pit, well above your head.
You examine arc
It's a rope. Someone must have been trying to cross the pit. Yes, you can make out the side passages now -- dark patches in the walls above you. The rope seems to be tied to a pillar by one; the other end is wound around an opposite pillar, hooked precariously by something white and curved.
You examine the white
Long, curved, white -- it's a claw, a broken-off claw of the beast that you seek. The rope is tied to it, and the makeshift grapple is wound precariously around a pillar by the right passage, above you.
You listen
Stone-silence. Water drips somewhere.
Sniff
The air smells of old mud.
You look down
You can make out the pit floor. It's only two or three body-lengths down; but the stone formations directly below you look vicious.
You pull the rope
Even at the center of its arc, the rope is fifteen feet above you.
Look around
This ledge is barely two feet wide at most. You try not to feel like it's angled slightly outward. The pit stretches above and below you; but you can see no way to climb from here, either way.

A rope hangs across the pit, a gentle arc well above your head.
Left
Both side passages are well above you, and a fair distance around the pit wall as well.
You think
That's your job.
You shoot rope with the bolt
(the bolt)
The crossbow isn't cocked.
Cock bow
You pull down the lever, winching the string back until it locks.
Cock bolt
(the bolt)
Don't be absurd.
You shoot the rope with the bolt
(the bolt)
Tunk. Well shot -- the bolt catches the rope neatly in the center, whipping it upward before shearing through. The ends dance like mad snakes, then settle.
You look around
This ledge is barely two feet wide at most. You try not to feel like it's angled slightly outward. The pit stretches above and below you; but you can see no way to climb from here, either way.

Two ends of a rope hang down the pit walls, above you and to either side of the ledge.
You climb the rope
You move to the extreme right side of the ledge and stretch, but the cut end of the rope is too far up and out. The left end is no better.
You take the bolt
You slide a bolt from your thighband.
You shoot the rope with the bolt
(the bolt)
Tunk. Your bolt brushes the dangling rope, which dances gently.
You shoot the fang with the bolt
(the bolt)
Tunk. The bolt rattles among the blades and is lost.
You jump
You back along the ledge, then take a long step and leap...

The cut end of the rope brushes your fingers, but you have no chance to grab it. You twist, plummet, and are impaled on sharp stone.
You examine the grapple
Long, curved, white -- it's a claw, a broken-off claw of the creature that you seek. Half the rope is still tied to it, and the makeshift grapple is wound precariously around a pillar by the right passage, above you.
You shoot grapple with the bolt
(the bolt)
Tunk. Well shot -- the claw is dislodged, whirls furiously around the pillar, and falls free. Its half of the rope snakes down into the darkness.
Look around
This ledge is barely two feet wide at most. You try not to feel like it's angled slightly outward. The pit stretches above and below you; but you can see no way to climb from here, either way.

Half a rope hangs down the pit wall to your left.
Y.
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Nearly -- nearly. The animal stink is rank and close. You raise your crossbow, try to peer beyond dark, wet stone.
You describe your surroundings
You glance around again. The cave narrows ahead, a tight crawl winding around folds of limestone. A low passage descends to your right, and there is a side chamber on the left.

Something shifts in the darkness ahead, a great silent bulk. Your prey.
Go downward
The passage drops off suddenly, ending in a deep pit. The sides are steep but not vertical; you might be able to scramble down, but you make no bets about climbing back up.
Go downwards
You sit at the edge, turn, catch, and hang full-length against the wall. There ought to be a foothold...

Well, perhaps not. You slam into the ledge and lean into stone, face and belly, trying not to slide any farther.

After a moment you retake your balance, and turn. This ledge is barely two feet wide at most. You try not to feel like it's angled slightly outward. The pit stretches above and below you; but you can see no way to climb from here, either way.

A gentle arc hangs across the pit, well above your head.
Cock bow
You pull down the lever, winching the string back until it locks.
You shoot grapple with the bolt
(the bolt)
Tunk. Well shot -- the claw is dislodged, whirls furiously around the pillar, and falls free. The rope swings down past you and hangs to your left, claw still tied to the end.
You climb the rope
You breathe a moment; only one chance at this.

A step and a leap, and you clutch the rope. It's slicker than you expected; chilly and damp. Perhaps a bit of mold, you think abstractedly, as your hands slip, and catch, and slip again --

Ouch. You've fetched up against the knot at the bottom of the rope; and the claw is biting into your hand. Razor-edged on the inside. You hope you never run into one of these alive -- ow. You've slipped again, and now both your hands are clamped around the claw, and your full weight is on them.

You are dangling at the end of the rope, against a sheer stone wall. Directly below you are vicious stone blades, and the claw you hang from is slowly slicing into your palms, and it hurts...
You examine the wall
Limestone, streaked and banded, rippled and bulged and twisted like the flesh of some living thing. You've seen many caves before, but the beauty never wearies.

Your fingers slip, and the claw-edge cuts a little deeper.
Go upwards
You couldn't even hold in place on the rope, and that was before your hands were cut bloody. Climbing is impossible.

Your fingers slip, and the claw-edge cuts a little deeper.
Swing
(yourself)
You lurch yourself to the side, kick at the wall, and manage to set yourself swinging. The pain is amazing, but you have a chance at missing the stone blades now.

Your fingers slip, and the claw-edge cuts a little deeper.

You swing along the wall, fingers screaming at the extra strain.
You jump
You twist back, forth, back, increasing your swing. Now -- you're rising away from the spires, which look sharper than ever -- you let go of the claw, finally, the pain nearly stops -- and you drop --
Bottom of Pit
You begin to drag yourself up. Ah -- no, you won't be putting any weight on your hands. They're badly torn up, and bleeding freely.

This is the bottom of a wide pit. The walls are entirely unclimbable, of course. The floor is rippled and uneven, rising to sharp blades of stone near the edge. Mud and pebbles are strewn everywhere, but there's no standing water, so -- yes -- a narrow crawl leads down in the far corner.

A twisted shape lies nearby.
You look at the shape
It's human.

And it's been here a long time. He has, you think... or she, for all you know. There's little left to recall this broken shape to past life. The bones lie crumpled, clad in tatters of chewed black flesh. The clothes have fared somewhat better -- some resistant fiber -- but even they are brittle and rent.

A bat flutters down from overhead. And another. You wave your arms, but they're keeping their distance.
You get the bolt
You slide a bolt from your thighband.

Blood continues to trickle down your fingers.

More bats gather.
Cock bow
You pull down the lever, winching the string back until it locks.

A stream of bats flickers overhead, around, never settling. You wave again. They seem more attracted than frightened by your hand.
You check what you're carrying
You are carrying your crossbow (loaded and cocked), a thighband with three bolts (strapped to your leg), and a cracked but still glowing lamplens (on your wrist).
You tie the clothes to the hands
You need to be holding the rags before you can put them on top of something else.

Something moves on the ground nearby. You twist around violently, but it's not approaching you; the bat is crouched over the blood-stained stone where you fell.
You remove the clothes
(first taking the rags)
The old fiber tears without too much strain. You manage to rip loose some strips from the loose hems, lying clear of the corpse. What remains behind, stained with old decay, you'd just as soon not touch.

You shake your head to disperse the cold mist, and start to rub your eyes. It doesn't help, except to smear blood all over your face.
You tie the clothes to the hands
(the cloth strips)
You quickly bind up your hands with the cloth. It stanches the bleeding, at least. You only hope that you can get to better care before infection sets in.
You look around
This is the bottom of a wide pit. The walls are entirely unclimbable, of course. The floor is rippled and uneven, rising to sharp blades of stone near the edge. Mud and pebbles are strewn everywhere, but there's no standing water, so -- yes -- a narrow crawl leads down in the far corner.

Bats flutter everywhere, just overhead.

A twisted corpse lies nearby.

The bats seem less agitated now.
You examine corpse
There's little left to recall this broken shape to past life. The bones lie crumpled, clad in tatters of chewed black flesh and torn rags.

A bat darts towards your face, and quickly away.
You search it
You see no gear or equipment on the corpse.

You're starting to feel a bit less shaky.
You move corpse
You have no desire at all to touch the thing. Man. Person.
Clean blood
That hurts. A lot.
You describe your surroundings
This is the bottom of a wide pit. The walls are entirely unclimbable, of course. The floor is rippled and uneven, rising to sharp blades of stone near the edge. Mud and pebbles are strewn everywhere, but there's no standing water, so -- yes -- a narrow crawl leads down in the far corner.

Bats flutter everywhere, just overhead.

A twisted corpse lies nearby.

You're feeling considerably better.
You examine the light
A dimming light gleams from the lamp's cracked face.
You shoot bat
Tunk. The aim is tricky; your bolt misses, and ricochets wildly around the pit.
You take all
bolt: Taken.
bats: The bats whirl away at your approach, staying just out of reach. corpse: You have no desire at all to touch the thing. Man. Person. crossbow: You already have that.
bolt: You slide a bolt from your thighband.
bolt: You slide a bolt from your thighband.
bolt: You slide the last bolt from your thighband.
You look at the walls
Limestone, streaked and banded, rippled and bulged and twisted like the flesh of some living thing. You've seen many caves before, but the beauty never wearies.
You look around
This is the bottom of a wide pit. The walls are entirely unclimbable, of course. The floor is rippled and uneven, rising to sharp blades of stone near the edge. Mud and pebbles are strewn everywhere, but there's no standing water, so -- yes -- a narrow crawl leads down in the far corner.

Bats flutter everywhere, just overhead.

A twisted corpse lies nearby.
Go downwards
You kneel, stiffly, and poke your head into the opening. It's tight, and it looks like it gets tighter ahead. No help for it -- you crawl inside, pushing the crossbow awkwardly ahead of you.

You're on your hands and knees in a throat of stone. The roof dips even lower ahead. If you advance, it'll be squirming forwards on your belly. And squirming backwards will be impossible, you think grimly.
Forward
You hunch your elbows beneath your chest, and wiggle forward on them, into the gullet.

You stop, after a long silent time, to rest. Crawling is hard work, you know well, and your aching shoulders and scraped knees attest to it. But the crawl is no different here than anywhere. You have just enough room to raise your head, and there's nothing to see ahead but more stone to crawl through.
Continue
You begin determinedly working yourself forward, again.

The rock is lower above you. And narrower; you're lying full length now, your arms stretched out ahead, but still rough stone scrapes your shoulders. And you seem to be angling a bit downwards.

Icy water is trickling past you.

Your lamp flickers erratically. The moisture must be getting to its workings.
Drink water
You manage to lip a few drops from the stone. The water is muddy and harsh.
Forward
You continue. Scrabble with fingers, brace arms, push with toes. Shove the crossbow a bit farther ahead. You're definitely tilted head-down now. Is the stone pressing more tightly to either side of you?

You lie on your side, gasping, trying to recover some strength. Your back is sore; your neck is worse. Your head aches from cracking into unexpected stone. A cold stony knot presses into your left side, your right knee.

You stretch forward once more, feeling for a few more inches before you continue.

Splash.

Your fingers are submerged in water.
You feel the water
It's cold.
You search the water
There's either a shallow puddle in the passage ahead... or more than that. From where you lie, there is no way to tell.
You look at the stone
Limestone, streaked and banded, rippled and bulged and twisted like the flesh of some living thing. You've seen many caves before, but the beauty never wearies.
Forward
You stretch your hands forward, submerging them. Hunch, stretch. Inchworm... inchworm...

Your arms are submerged, and water ripples at your chin. No room to lift your head. You turn your face to the side, cheek scraping against the damn everpresent stone, and stretch again.

Your lamp flickers once and goes out.

You are lying in cold still water. It licks at your cheek and arms, and across the backs of your thighs. The chill makes your bruised knees and chest hurt all the more; your neck screams from craning high enough to breathe, but there is no room to sit up. No room to turn. No room.
Forward
You struggle on. You hope the water grows no deeper. That thought occupies you for a few more hunches, a few more stretches. Grow no deeper. If the water grows deeper... Grow no deeper. You shake that away, and nothing comes to replace it.

You crawl on in the dark. The water grows no deeper.

Maybe it's not as deep now?

Water trickles over your hands, but the floor must have risen; there is less of it... a note of hope. But you cannot see.
Continue
You thrust your shoulders forward. They stick.
Continue
You push again. It's just this spot; your hands are free in a wider area ahead. But immovable stone grates against your chest and shoulders.
You keep going
You've got one shoulder past the edge. The other is behind a corner of stone, and you can't imagine how it's going to get through.
You continue
You brace your legs as best you can, and shove futilely against the trap.
Continue
You brace your legs as best you can, and shove futilely against the trap.

You are never going to leave this place.
You look around
Water trickles over your hands, but the floor must have risen; there is less of it. But the roof lowers, and the crawl has become almost impossibly tight. And you cannot see.

The stone is not going to let you go.
Back
You try to shove yourself back, but you cannot move.

It is dark.
You look at the stone
You can make out almost nothing in this dark.

It is dark.
Sing
Your singing is abominable.

It is dark.
You pull the stone
You are unable to.

It is dark.
You hit the stone
There are better targets.

It is dark.
Inventory
You are carrying some cloth strips (tied around your wounded hands), your crossbow (loaded and cocked), a thighband with three bolts (strapped to your leg), and a cracked and darkened lamplens (on your wrist).

It is dark.
You untie the cloth
You're an unknown distance into the most exhausting tunnel-crawl you can remember, and you want to start losing more blood?

It is dark.
You look around
This is the bottom of a wide pit. The walls are entirely unclimbable, of course. The floor is rippled and uneven, rising to sharp blades of stone near the edge. Mud and pebbles are strewn everywhere, but there's no standing water, so -- yes -- a narrow crawl leads down in the far corner.

Bats flutter everywhere, just overhead.

A twisted corpse lies nearby.
You look at your surroundings
This ledge is barely two feet wide at most. You try not to feel like it's angled slightly outward. The pit stretches above and below you; but you can see no way to climb from here, either way.

A gentle arc hangs across the pit, well above your head.
Shoot grapple
Tunk. Well shot -- the claw is dislodged, whirls furiously around the pillar, and falls free. The rope swings down past you and hangs to your left, claw still tied to the end.
You examine the rope
The upper end of the rope is tied to a pillar by the left side passage. The lower end, tied to the claw, dangles free. It hangs at about waist-level, just beyond the left side of the ledge.
You pull the rope
The rope hangs a bit too far beyond the ledge. It would be an easy jump, but you can't simply grab it.
You jump
You breathe a moment; only one chance at this.

A step and a leap, and you clutch the rope. It's slicker than you expected; chilly and damp. Perhaps a bit of mold, you think abstractedly, as your hands slip, and catch, and slip again --

Ouch. You've fetched up against the knot at the bottom of the rope; and the claw is biting into your hand. Razor-edged on the inside. You hope you never run into one of these alive -- ow. You've slipped again, and now both your hands are clamped around the claw, and your full weight is on them.

You are dangling at the end of the rope, against a sheer stone wall. Directly below you are vicious stone blades, and the claw you hang from is slowly slicing into your palms, and it hurts...
You look at the rope
It's an old rope. Somewhere above, it's tied to a stone pillar. At your end, it's tied to a razor-like claw, and that's the end that's got your attention.

Your fingers slip, and the claw-edge cuts a little deeper.
You get the mold
You can't see any such thing.
I beg your pardon?

I beg your pardon?
Yes
Nearly -- nearly. The animal stink is rank and close. You raise your crossbow, try to peer beyond dark, wet stone.
You describe your surroundings
You glance around again. The cave narrows ahead, a tight crawl winding around folds of limestone. A low passage descends to your right, and there is a side chamber on the left.

Something shifts in the darkness ahead, a great silent bulk. Your prey.
Left
You advance into the chamber. A bat flutters in your face. You swipe it away... and three more bats replace it. You duck, swearing; swearing again at a sharp nip on your arm. Drew blood, it did.

There is a rustling all around you. You try to remember what you know about the habits of cave bats --

Oh.

You scramble back, covering your eyes; too late. The swarm is on you, harrying you, small teeth and shrieks like shards of glass. You cannot see. You are running, stumbling ahead of the storm, and as you recall what else you know of the hunting of bats, the floor drops away to nothing beneath you --
You press enter
You roll painfully to hands and knees. Ah -- your arm nearly gives way -- you realize you somehow tore hell out of it on the way down, or landing. It's bleeding freely.

This is the bottom of a wide pit. The walls are entirely unclimbable, of course. The floor is rippled and uneven, rising to sharp blades of stone near the edge. Mud and pebbles are strewn everywhere, but there's no standing water, so -- yes -- a narrow crawl leads down in the far corner.

A twisted shape lies nearby.
You press enter
Nearly -- nearly. The animal stink is rank and close. You raise your crossbow, try to peer beyond dark, wet stone.
Go inside
You can't go that way.

Something shifts in the darkness ahead, a great silent bulk. Your prey.
Look around
You glance around again. The cave narrows ahead, a tight crawl winding around folds of limestone. A low passage descends to your right, and there is a side chamber on the left.
Forward
You creep up the passage, as stealthily as you can. It must be retreating ahead, for you see only empty stone, though the smell grows harsher...

And the eyes of the beast are on you, and claws come out of the night.
Cock bow
You pull down the lever, winching the string back until it locks.

Something shifts in the darkness ahead, a great silent bulk. Your prey.
Left
You advance into the chamber. A bat flutters in your face. You swipe it away... and three more bats replace it. You duck, swearing; swearing again at a sharp nip on your arm. Drew blood, it did.

There is a rustling all around you. You try to remember what you know about the habits of cave bats --

Oh.

You scramble back, covering your eyes; too late. The swarm is on you, harrying you, small teeth and shrieks like shards of glass. You cannot see. You are running, stumbling ahead of the storm, and as you recall what else you know of the hunting of bats, the floor drops away to nothing beneath you --
Cock bow
You roll painfully to hands and knees. Ah -- your arm nearly gives way -- you realize you somehow tore hell out of it on the way down, or landing. It's bleeding freely.

This is the bottom of a wide pit. The walls are entirely unclimbable, of course. The floor is rippled and uneven, rising to sharp blades of stone near the edge. Mud and pebbles are strewn everywhere, but there's no standing water, so -- yes -- a narrow crawl leads down in the far corner.

A twisted shape lies nearby.
About yourself
Your arm is pretty torn up. Also, you're tired and covered with mud.

A bat flutters down from overhead. And another. You wave your arms, but they're keeping their distance.
You get the clothes
The old fiber tears without too much strain. You manage to rip loose some strips from the loose hems, lying clear of the corpse. What remains behind, stained with old decay, you'd just as soon not touch.

Blood continues to trickle down your fingers.

More bats gather.
You wrap the arm with the clothes
(the cloth strips)
You quickly bind up your arm with the cloth. It stanches the bleeding, at least. You only hope that you can get to better care before infection sets in.
Look around
This is the bottom of a wide pit. The walls are entirely unclimbable, of course. The floor is rippled and uneven, rising to sharp blades of stone near the edge. Mud and pebbles are strewn everywhere, but there's no standing water, so -- yes -- a narrow crawl leads down in the far corner.

Several bats flutter overhead.

A twisted corpse lies nearby.

The bats seem less agitated now.

A stream of bats flickers overhead, around, never settling. You wave again. They seem more attracted than frightened by your hand.
You look at the blades
Water dripping down has left runnels across the floor, that rise by some fluke into sharp spires by the edge of the pit. They rise like the teeth of sharks; no doubt you slashed your arm on one as you fell.
You hit the blades
The stone isn't thin enough to break.

You're starting to feel a bit less shaky.

Something moves on the ground nearby. You twist around violently, but it's not approaching you; the bat is crouched over the blood-stained stone where you fell.
You shoot bat
Tunk. The aim is tricky; your bolt misses, and ricochets wildly around the pit.
You get the bat
The bats whirl away at your approach, staying just out of reach.
You check what you're carrying
You are carrying some cloth strips (tied around your wounded arm), your crossbow (loaded and cocked), a thighband with four bolts (strapped to your leg), and a cracked but still glowing lamplens (on your wrist).
Untie band
You unstrap the thighband.
You examine the band
It's a long band of heavy leather, with side straps, woven into a foot-long tube. The four bolts inside are secure yet easily slid out, and the whole can be strapped comfortably to your leg.
Look around
This is the bottom of a wide pit. The walls are entirely unclimbable, of course. The floor is rippled and uneven, rising to sharp blades of stone near the edge. Mud and pebbles are strewn everywhere, but there's no standing water, so -- yes -- a narrow crawl leads down in the far corner.

Bats flutter everywhere, just overhead.

A twisted corpse lies nearby.

You're feeling considerably better.

A bat darts towards your face, and quickly away.
Backwards
You shove yourself a few inches back, trying to adjust your position.
Inventory
You are carrying some cloth strips (tied around your wounded arm), your crossbow (loaded and cocked), a thighband with four bolts, and a cracked and darkened lamplens (on your wrist).
You remove the lamplens
You slip the lamplens from your wrist.
Forward
You push again. It's just this spot; your hands are free in a wider area ahead. But immovable stone grates against your chest and shoulders.
You feel the walls
Cool damp stone.
You remove all
crossbow: You already have that.
thighband: You already have that.
lamplens: You already have that.
bolt: You extract the bolt from the cocked crossbow.
bolt: You can't reach back to your leg with that much dexterity.
bolt: You can't reach back to your leg with that much dexterity.
bolt: You can't reach back to your leg with that much dexterity.
bolt: You can't reach back to your leg with that much dexterity.
You drop all
bolt: Dropped.
crossbow: You're not really holding the bulky thing anyway; you're pushing it down the tunnel ahead of you. You couldn't crawl past it if you tried.
thighband: Dropped.
lamplens: Dropped.
Back
You try to shove yourself back, but you cannot move.

The stone is not going to let you go.
Forward
You brace your legs as best you can, and shove...

It feels like scraping flesh from bone, but your shoulder tears past the edge. You lie and gasp for a moment, and then work your torso painfully through the gap.

The passage slants sharply down now, but it's widening. It's widening. You half-crawl, half-slide downward, dragging your legs out of the gap, and come to rest in what seems like blinding light --
Inventory
You are carrying some cloth strips (tied around your wounded arm), your crossbow (loaded and cocked), a thighband with four bolts, and a cracked and darkened lamplens (on your wrist).
You describe your surroundings
Water trickles over your hands, but the floor must have risen; there is less of it. But the roof lowers, and the crawl has become almost impossibly tight. And you cannot see.
Backward
You hunch back from the edge, twist, and manage to get your other shoulder through instead. At least it's a change.

You are never going to leave this place.
Forward
You brace your legs as best you can, and shove...

It feels like scraping flesh from bone, but your shoulder tears past the edge. You lie and gasp for a moment, and then work your torso painfully through the gap.

The passage slants sharply down now, but it's widening. It's widening. You half-crawl, half-slide downward, dragging your legs out of the gap, and come to rest in what seems like blinding light --
Smallish Cave
Eventually, you manage to sit up and look around.

You are in a smallish roundish cave. Gravel and small rock chips cover the ground. Water trickles audibly, somewhere nearby. A path runs right, a steep crack heads left, and a pit climbs up.
About yourself
Your arm is pretty torn up. Also, you're tired and covered with mud.

You catch a distant whiff of something.
Smell
The faintest trace of the animal hangs in the air. It seems stronger near the steep crack to the left.
Left
This is a largish dome. Needles of yellow calcite spray from the rocks nearby. A steep crawl leads down, a twisting tunnel leads forward, and a low tunnel goes left.
Smell
The air smells of old mud.
You examine floor
The floor is irregular, water-worn.

You catch a distant whiff of something.
Smell
The faintest trace of the beast hangs in the air. It seems stronger near the twisting tunnel ahead.
Forward
This is a roundish room. Stalagmites cluster thickly around you. You can hear water rushing in the distance. A narrow passage heads left, a twisty tunnel runs right, and a twisting path climbs up.
Wave
You put your hands up in the air and wave them like -- you feel foolish.
Wait
Time passes.

You catch a distant whiff of something, drifting from the narrow passage to the left.

You shake your head, side to side, trying to push off the weight of weariness for another few minutes. Keep moving.
Left
You are in a smallish roundish cavern. Stalactites form heavy stone fringes across the ceiling. A wide path leads down, a low crack goes right, and a rough crawl leads up.
You wait
Time passes.

You catch a whiff of something rank from the low crack to the right.
Right
You are in a large, elongated dome. Stalagmites cluster thickly around you. You can hear water rushing in the distance. A passage heads left, a twisting tunnel descends, and a wide passage leads ahead.
You wait
Time passes.

You catch a whiff of something rank from the passage to the left.
Left
This is a cramped round room, with a high roof. Ropy pillars rise from floor to roof, and a small still pool lies to one side. Gravel and chipped rock cover the ground. A rough tunnel goes right, a narrow pit ascends, and a pit leads down.

The scent of the creature hangs all around you. It's welling from the pit leading down.
Down
The pit opens abruptly into vast space.

You emerge onto a steep slope, high above a canyon that stretches out of sight to either side. Twisted and stalactite-hung stone forms a vault overhead, which glimmers with reflections of some unseen source of light; but the canyon below is shadowed. Water rushes somewhere at its root. You could climb farther down, and a narrow crevice leads back into the rock.

Movement, on a level area on the far side of the canyon, partway down. Something gliding silently back and forth, back and forth. Your prey. Waiting.
You look at the prey
The creature does not look small, even from up here, even half-unformed by canyon shadows. It prowls across a wide ledge across the canyon and below your level. You do not think it knows you are here.

Your foot slips. For a moment your fatigue flares into panic, as you clutch to steady yourself, but you know you are tired, tired. This must end soon. Too much blood. Too much stone.
You shoot the prey
Tunk. And you flinch at the hissing shriek that echoes up the cave walls.

The dark shape flees -- not climbing, but running down the canyon slope, vanishing in the depths. Your thudding pulse slows.

Moments later, barely sensed, the scent of blood. You have wounded the Wumpus.
You look at your surroundings
You have emerged onto a steep slope, high above a canyon that stretches out of sight to either side. Twisted and stalactite-hung stone forms a vault overhead, which glimmers with reflections of some unseen source of light; but the canyon below is shadowed. Water rushes somewhere at its root. You could climb farther down, and a narrow crevice leads back into the rock.
You jump
Jumping here would be fruitless.

Your foot slips. For a moment your fatigue flares into panic, as you clutch to steady yourself, but you know you are tired, tired. This must end soon. Too much blood. Too much stone.
You examine the prey
The creature does not look small, even from up here, even half-unformed by canyon shadows. It prowls across a wide ledge across the canyon and below your level. You do not think it knows you are here.
Go downward
You turn, test your balance, and begin edging down the slope. And your foot slips. Again.

You fling your arms out, heedless of your possessions. You grasp at nothing.

Much too tired for this, you think, as you skid wildly down the canyon. A danger to yourself and everyone around you. And below, you add with distant amusement, before the bottom arrives with a horrible jolt.
You get the bolt
You must be getting better at this. You're only freshly bruised. Lying still, even on cold stone, is painfully easy... but after a few minutes, you find yourself struggling to stand.

You are in an alcove, a side chamber at the base of a vaulting canyon. The walls spread upward around you. And the distant roof is hung with glimmering stars -- droplet-tipped stalactites in some hidden suffusion of light. You think, against your will, that it was worth it.

A crevice runs along the canyon at your feet. You can cross it and continue on ahead.

The Wumpus certainly fled this way: a pool of thick, dark, reeking blood is spilled across the ground. Bats crawl all around it -- rustling, fluttering, feasting.
Inventory
You are carrying a bolt, some cloth strips (tied around your wounded arm), a thighband with three bolts, and a cracked and darkened lamplens (on your wrist).

...And no crossbow. Right. You lost hold of it in the fall.
You search the floor
You find nothing of interest.

The bats jostle each other around the pool.
You look around
You are in an alcove, a side chamber at the base of a vaulting canyon. The walls spread upward around you. And the distant roof is hung with glimmering stars -- droplet-tipped stalactites in some hidden suffusion of light. A crevice runs along the canyon at your feet. You can cross it and continue on ahead.

A pool of thick, dark, reeking blood is spilled across the ground. Bats crawl all around it -- rustling, fluttering, feasting.
You look at what you're carrying with you
You are carrying a bolt, some cloth strips (tied around your wounded arm), a thighband with three bolts, and a cracked and darkened lamplens (on your wrist).
You examine the blood
Which do you mean, your bloody wound or the pool of blood?
You look at the pool of the blood
The pool is clotted and dark, nearly black in this dim light. It is bitter and foul; it already smells of decay. And bats squat all around it.
Smell
A violent bitter reek fills the air, overlying even the animal stink of the Wumpus's presence. The blood is cooling, but not yet dry.
Forward
You heave yourself wearily over the crevice, and approach the twisted formations that make up the far canyon wall...

And you round a pillar, and stop there. Here? Now?

Massive buttresses of stone rise all around you, climbing the canyon wall, flowing down again in cascades of pale fluorite. A path seems to climb up among them; but you don't think you can get to it right now.

The Wumpus is crouched before you. Blood trickles from the wound your bolt tore, down its hide, puddling on the floor.

It holds your crossbow in its claws; gently cradled; loaded and cocked; steady on your throat.
You jump
Jumping here would be fruitless.
Forward
You take a tentative step towards the creature. And stop. The crossbow hasn't moved a fraction, but you see a claw moving restlessly on the trigger...
Back
You back up, trying not to take your eyes from its eyes. It works, or the Wumpus decides to allow it.

You are in an alcove, a side chamber at the base of a vaulting canyon. The walls spread upward around you. And the distant roof is hung with glimmering stars -- droplet-tipped stalactites in some hidden suffusion of light. A crevice runs along the canyon at your feet. You can cross it and continue on ahead.

A pool of thick, dark, reeking blood is spilled across the ground. Bats crawl all around it -- rustling, fluttering, feasting.
You continue
The Wumpus does not hesitate. Tunk.

So this is what it's like.
You look at the crevice
A canyon in the canyon. It is only a couple of feet wide, though it seems to widen beneath. At the bottom, perhaps six feet below, water rushes. It is only a remnant of the river that carved this place; but it boils the more furiously for being confined.

Another bats flutters down from above, and pushes into the mass.
You remove the cloth
You carefully unwrap the cloth from your arm. The worst of the bleeding has stopped, although there is still a fierce ache and a slow trickle of blood.
Wave
You put your hands up in the air and wave them like -- you feel foolish.

A bat suddenly pokes its stained nose up above the pool, casting about.
You show the blood to the bats
Which do you mean, your bloody wound or the pool of blood?
You show the wounds to the bats
You can only do that to something animate.
Wave
You put your hands up in the air and wave them like -- you feel foolish.

The bats jostle each other around the pool.
You continue
You put your hands up in the air and wave them like -- you feel foolish.

Two of the bats rattle up and begin circling above you.
Continue
You put your hands up in the air and wave them like -- you feel foolish.
You keep going
You put your hands up in the air and wave them like -- you feel foolish.

Several of the bats are fluttering in the air around you, ignoring the drying pool of blood nearby.
You continue
You put your hands up in the air and wave them like -- you feel foolish.

In a rush, together and by no visible signal, the bats are airborne. The chittering cloud rises -- and then falls towards you.

You scramble back, covering your eyes; too late. The swarm is on you, harrying you, small teeth and shrieks like shards of glass. You cannot see. You stumble away from the storm, and the stone falls away into rushing water beneath you.

No doubt the bats find your body eventually.
Forward
A cluster of bats flickers after you, chittering. You hunch your shoulders and try to ignore them.

You heave yourself wearily over the crevice, and approach the twisted formations that make up the far canyon wall.

Massive buttresses of stone rise all around you, climbing the canyon wall, flowing down again in cascades of pale fluorite. A path seems to climb up among them; but you don't think you can get to it right now.

The Wumpus is crouched before you. Blood trickles from the wound your bolt tore, down its hide, puddling on the floor. It holds your crossbow in its claws; gently cradled; loaded and cocked; steady on your throat.

The bats dive forward, then rise, emitting glass-shrill cries.
You wait
Time passes.

More bats are arriving, streaming across the canyon.
You look at Wumpus
Later, all you will be able to remember are its eyes. They are rich mud-brown, and they hold your own without effort.

The swarm grows thicker, swirling above the Wumpus, which tosses its head around angrily before returning its gaze to you.
Wait
Time passes.

The Wumpus flails furiously within a swarm of biting black shadows.
You get the bow
You begin moving towards the creature. It might be distracted enough...

Perhaps not. The Wumpus lashes out with long claws, and deals a crushing blow.
You look around
Massive buttresses of stone rise all around you, climbing the canyon wall, flowing down again in cascades of pale fluorite. A path seems to climb up among them, beyond the writhing Wumpus.

The Wumpus is crouched before you. It sways forward and back, trying to escape the assault, and the crossbow wavers.

Bats rush overhead in a vast wheeling cloud.

The Wumpus turns towards you, shielding its face from the bats. There is understanding somewhere in there, what you have done to it and why -- and rage.

It lunges at you, heedless now of what the bats might do; it only wants to reach you with its claws.
Back
You back up. The Wumpus doesn't seem to notice your retreat.

You are in an alcove, a side chamber at the base of a vaulting canyon. The walls spread upward around you. And the distant roof is hung with glimmering stars -- droplet-tipped stalactites in some hidden suffusion of light. A crevice runs along the canyon at your feet. You can cross it and continue on ahead.

A pool of thick, dark, reeking blood is spilled across the ground.

Swarms of bats are swirling in from everywhere. A few circle the pool, but most disappear off across the canyon.

There is a roar, and something huge looms over you. The dark eyes of the Wumpus peer out of a chittering swarm. There is understanding somewhere in there, what you have done to it and why -- and rage.

The Wumpus lunges towards you, heedless now of what the bats might do; it only wants to reach you with its claws.
Shout
(to the Wumpus)
You begin moving towards the creature. It might be distracted enough...

Perhaps not. The Wumpus lashes out with long claws, and deals a crushing blow.
Look around
Massive buttresses of stone rise all around you, climbing the canyon wall, flowing down again in cascades of pale fluorite. A path seems to climb up among them; but you don't think you can get to it right now.

The Wumpus is crouched before you. Blood trickles from the wound your bolt tore, down its hide, puddling on the floor. It holds your crossbow in its claws; gently cradled; loaded and cocked; steady on your throat.

Bats circle warily overhead.

More bats are arriving, streaming across the canyon.
Back
You back up, trying not to take your eyes from its eyes. It works, or the Wumpus decides to allow it.

You are in an alcove, a side chamber at the base of a vaulting canyon. The walls spread upward around you. And the distant roof is hung with glimmering stars -- droplet-tipped stalactites in some hidden suffusion of light. A crevice runs along the canyon at your feet. You can cross it and continue on ahead.

A pool of thick, dark, reeking blood is spilled across the ground. Bats still crawl around it, but more are rising every moment.

The last of the bats flutters up from the pool. Others are dropping from above, from every direction, and streaming across the canyon.
Back
You can see no way through in that direction.

You hear an angry hiss from across the canyon.
Go upward
The climb is beyond you.

Streams of bats continue to converge and swarm towards the Wumpus. The rattling of wings is overwhelming.
You go downwards
You lower yourself through the crevice, and drop.

You have underestimated the strength of the current, and the depth. The water seizes you and batters you away.
Inventory
You are carrying a bolt, some cloth strips, a thighband with three bolts, and a cracked and darkened lamplens (on your wrist).

A hissing shriek echoes across the canyon. Bats scatter.
Forward
You heave yourself wearily over the crevice, following the bats.

Massive buttresses of stone rise all around you, climbing the canyon wall, flowing down again in cascades of pale fluorite. A path seems to climb up among them, beyond the writhing Wumpus.

The Wumpus is crouched before you. It sways forward and back, trying to escape the assault, and the crossbow wavers.

Bats rush overhead in a vast wheeling cloud.

The Wumpus flails furiously within a swarm of biting black shadows.
You grab bow
You begin moving towards the creature. It might be distracted enough...

Perhaps not. The Wumpus lashes out with long claws, and deals a crushing blow.
Inventory
You are carrying a bolt, some cloth strips, a thighband with three bolts, and a cracked and darkened lamplens (on your wrist).

The swarm grows thicker, swirling above the Wumpus, which tosses its head around angrily before returning its gaze to you.
Look around
Massive buttresses of stone rise all around you, climbing the canyon wall, flowing down again in cascades of pale fluorite. A path seems to climb up among them, beyond the writhing Wumpus.

The Wumpus is crouched before you. It sways forward and back, trying to escape the assault, and the crossbow wavers.

Bats rush overhead in a vast wheeling cloud.

The Wumpus flails furiously within a swarm of biting black shadows.
You examine the stone
Limestone, streaked and banded, rippled and bulged and twisted like the flesh of some living thing. You've seen many caves before, but the beauty never wearies.

The Wumpus flails furiously within a swarm of biting black shadows.
You grab the bats
You want to get closer to them?

The Wumpus flails furiously within a swarm of biting black shadows.
You hit the stone
There are better targets.

The Wumpus flails furiously within a swarm of biting black shadows.
You get the stone
That's hardly portable.

The Wumpus flails furiously within a swarm of biting black shadows.
You go upward
You take a hesitant step sideways. And another, sliding past the beast, trying to be a thin part of the canyon wall...

The Wumpus, lashing out at bats, doesn't seem to notice.

You are partway up the canyon wall, on a narrow path that climbs from ledge to ledge. The cavern is vast around you, water-hewn strata stretching upward to the stone forest of the roof; and somewhere above you, a crack of daylight sets it all glimmering...

Down on the canyon floor, the Wumpus thrashes within a rustling black cloud. Dark growls rise to you.
Forward
You can see no way through in that direction.

The Wumpus screams.
You climb
(the bolt)
I don't think much is to be achieved by that.

There is a roar, and something huge lurches up the path. The dark eyes of the Wumpus peer out of a chittering swarm. There is understanding somewhere in there, what you have done to it and why -- and rage.

It lunges at you, heedless now of what the bats might do; it only wants to reach you with its claws.
Go upwards
You pick your way... slowly... up the canyon wall. Everything is heavy; you're glad you have nothing more to carry.

Somewhere below, a hissing scream is cut off, abruptly. You round a pale fold of limestone, and you are blinded by daylight.
You look at your surroundings
You are partway up the canyon wall, on a narrow path that climbs from ledge to ledge. The cavern is vast around you, water-hewn strata stretching upward to the stone forest of the roof; and somewhere above you, a crack of daylight sets it all glimmering...

Down on the canyon floor, the Wumpus thrashes within a rustling black cloud. Dark growls rise to you.

There is a roar, and something huge lurches up the path. The dark eyes of the Wumpus peer out of a chittering swarm. There is understanding somewhere in there, what you have done to it and why -- and rage.

It lunges at you, heedless now of what the bats might do; it only wants to reach you with its claws.
You check what you're carrying
You are carrying a bolt, some cloth strips, a thighband with three bolts, and a cracked and darkened lamplens (on your wrist).

There is a roar, and something huge lurches up the path. The dark eyes of the Wumpus peer out of a chittering swarm. There is understanding somewhere in there, what you have done to it and why -- and rage.

It lunges at you, heedless now of what the bats might do; it only wants to reach you with its claws.
You throw the cloth at Wumpus
The Wumpus is down below, on the floor of the canyon.

There is a roar, and something huge lurches up the path. The dark eyes of the Wumpus peer out of a chittering swarm. There is understanding somewhere in there, what you have done to it and why -- and rage.

It lunges at you, heedless now of what the bats might do; it only wants to reach you with its claws.
You wait for a while
Time passes.

There is a roar, and something huge lurches up the path. The dark eyes of the Wumpus peer out of a chittering swarm. There is understanding somewhere in there, what you have done to it and why -- and rage.

It lunges at you, heedless now of what the bats might do; it only wants to reach you with its claws.
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Go upwards
You take a tentative step towards the creature. And stop. The crossbow hasn't moved a fraction, but you see a claw moving restlessly on the trigger...

More bats are arriving, streaming across the canyon.
Wait
Time passes.

The swarm grows thicker, swirling above the Wumpus, which tosses its head around angrily before returning its gaze to you.
You go upward
You take a hesitant step sideways. And another, sliding past the beast, trying to be a thin part of the canyon wall...

The Wumpus, lashing out at bats, doesn't seem to notice.

You are partway up the canyon wall, on a narrow path that climbs from ledge to ledge. The cavern is vast around you, water-hewn strata stretching upward to the stone forest of the roof; and somewhere above you, a crack of daylight sets it all glimmering...

Down on the canyon floor, the Wumpus thrashes within a rustling black cloud. Dark growls rise to you.
Go upwards
You pick your way... slowly... up the canyon wall. Everything is heavy; you're glad you have nothing more to carry.

Somewhere below, a hissing scream is cut off, abruptly. You round a pale fold of limestone, and you are blinded by daylight.
Attack wumpus
The Wumpus is down below, on the floor of the canyon.
You jump
Jumping here would be fruitless.

The Wumpus screams.
Go downward
You begin picking your way back down towards the canyon floor.

There is a roar, and something huge lurches up the path. The dark eyes of the Wumpus peer out of a chittering swarm. There is understanding somewhere in there, what you have done to it and why -- and rage.

It lunges at you, heedless now of what the bats might do; it only wants to reach you with its claws.
You look at the ledge
The path climbs up towards light.

There is a roar, and something huge lurches up the path. The dark eyes of the Wumpus peer out of a chittering swarm. There is understanding somewhere in there, what you have done to it and why -- and rage.

It lunges at you, heedless now of what the bats might do; it only wants to reach you with its claws.
You look at the ledge
The path climbs up towards light.
You examine the wall
Limestone, streaked and banded, rippled and bulged and twisted like the flesh of some living thing. You've seen many caves before, but the beauty never wearies.

The Wumpus screams.
You shout at the wall
(to yourself)
There is no reply.

There is a roar, and something huge lurches up the path. The dark eyes of the Wumpus peer out of a chittering swarm. There is understanding somewhere in there, what you have done to it and why -- and rage.

It lunges at you, heedless now of what the bats might do; it only wants to reach you with its claws.
You hit wall
There are better targets.
Go down
You can see no way through in that direction.

The Wumpus flails furiously within a swarm of biting black shadows.
Go north
Those directions have meaning under the stars and the sun. These caves... contain only themselves.

The Wumpus flails furiously within a swarm of biting black shadows.
North
Those directions have meaning under the stars and the sun. These caves... contain only themselves.

The Wumpus screams.
You check what you're carrying
You are carrying a bolt, some cloth strips, a thighband with three bolts, and a cracked and darkened lamplens (on your wrist).

There is a roar, and something huge lurches up the path. The dark eyes of the Wumpus peer out of a chittering swarm. There is understanding somewhere in there, what you have done to it and why -- and rage.

It lunges at you, heedless now of what the bats might do; it only wants to reach you with its claws.
You get the bolt
(the bolt)
You already have that.

More bats are arriving, streaming across the canyon.
Inventory
You are carrying a bolt, some cloth strips, a thighband with three bolts, and a cracked and darkened lamplens (on your wrist).

The swarm grows thicker, swirling above the Wumpus, which tosses its head around angrily before returning its gaze to you.
You examine lamplens
The lamp's cracked face is dark.

The Wumpus flails furiously within a swarm of biting black shadows.
You throw the bolt at Wumpus
(the bolt at the Wumpus)
You begin moving towards the creature. It might be distracted enough...

Perhaps not. The Wumpus lashes out with long claws, and deals a crushing blow.
You throw the bolt at Wumpus
(the bolt at the Wumpus)
The Wumpus is down below, on the floor of the canyon.
You drop the lamplens
Dropped.
Go upwards
You pick your way... slowly... up the canyon wall. Everything is heavy; you're glad you have nothing more to carry.

Somewhere below, a hissing scream is cut off, abruptly. You round a pale fold of limestone, and you are blinded by daylight.
You remove the lamplens
You slip the lamplens from your wrist.

More bats are arriving, streaming across the canyon.
You check your inventory
You are carrying a bolt, some cloth strips, a thighband with three bolts, and a cracked and darkened lamplens.

The swarm grows thicker, swirling above the Wumpus, which tosses its head around angrily before returning its gaze to you.
Clean lamplens
Nothing happens.

The Wumpus flails furiously within a swarm of biting black shadows.
You fix the lamplens
You're no specialist; you just use the things. You'll be... you hope... buying a new one.

The Wumpus flails furiously within a swarm of biting black shadows.
You tie the cloth to bolt
(the bolt)
You would achieve nothing by this.

The Wumpus flails furiously within a swarm of biting black shadows.
Left
You can see no way through in that direction.

The Wumpus turns towards you, shielding its face from the bats. There is understanding somewhere in there, what you have done to it and why -- and rage.

It lunges at you, heedless now of what the bats might do; it only wants to reach you with its claws.
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You examine the stone
Limestone, streaked and banded, rippled and bulged and twisted like the flesh of some living thing. You've seen many caves before, but the beauty never wearies.

Something shifts in the darkness ahead, a great silent bulk. Your prey.
Ahead
You creep up the passage, as stealthily as you can. It must be retreating ahead, for you see only empty stone, though the smell grows harsher...

And the eyes of the beast are on you, and claws come out of the night.
You look around
The cave narrows ahead, a tight crawl winding around folds of limestone. A low passage descends to your right, and there is a side chamber on the left.

A faint rustling echoes deep in the side chamber, and the laughing chitter of bats.
You look at your surroundings
The cave narrows ahead, a tight crawl winding around folds of limestone. A low passage descends to your right, and there is a side chamber on the left.
Go upwards
Ascent is impossible.
R.
What do you want to drop?
Right
The side passage is out of reach.
Left
Both side passages are well above you, and a fair distance around the pit wall as well.
You climb
What do you want to climb?
You look at pit
Which do you mean, the pit above or the pit below?
You examine the pit below
You can make out the pit floor. It's only two or three body-lengths down; but the stone formations directly below you look vicious.
You jump
The rope curves some fifteen feet above you. Jumping is just a bit optimistic.
You look at the rope
It's a rope. Someone must have been trying to cross the pit. Yes, you can make out the side passages now -- dark patches in the walls above you. The rope seems to be tied to a pillar by one; the other end is wound around an opposite pillar, hooked precariously by something white and curved.
You examine the chamber
A high chamber lies to your left. You cannot see its far side, but the rustle of cave bats drifts from the darkness.
You examine lamplens
A clear glareless light pours from the lamp's curved face.
You look at your surroundings
You stand at the bottom of a rising passage. Before you is a deep pit. The sides are steep but not vertical; you might be able to scramble down, but you make no bets about climbing back up.
Go downwards
You sit at the edge, turn, catch, and hang full-length against the wall. There ought to be a foothold...

Well, perhaps not. You slam into the ledge and lean into stone, face and belly, trying not to slide any farther.

After a moment you retake your balance, and turn. This ledge is barely two feet wide at most. You try not to feel like it's angled slightly outward. The pit stretches above and below you; but you can see no way to climb from here, either way.

A gentle arc hangs across the pit, well above your head.
You examine arc
It's a rope. Someone must have been trying to cross the pit. Yes, you can make out the side passages now -- dark patches in the walls above you. The rope seems to be tied to a pillar by one; the other end is wound around an opposite pillar, hooked precariously by something white and curved.
You look at pillar
Which do you mean, the left side passage or the right side passage?
You examine left pillar
The passage is just a dark patch in the side of the pit, off to the side and far above the ledge you stand on. Its outline is ragged with stalactites and flowstone pillars where water has dripped for millennia down the pit walls. A rope is tied securely to one such pillar, and stretches across the pit.
Go downwards
You dangle your legs over the edge again, and turn and hang... and look down. And change your mind. The spires below are like fangs in a stone maw. You scramble back to the ledge to think it over.
You go downwards
You dangle your legs over the edge again, and turn and hang... and steel yourself, and drop.

The stone blades that impale you probably aren't that large, in truth. You don't care. The sound of fluttering wings draws closer.
You look at the floor
The floor is irregular, water-worn.
You examine the ceiling
Dark stone glistens overhead.
You look at the passage
The passage rises behind you.
You look at the stone
(the stone blades)
Sharp spires rise directly below you -- some chance result of dripping minerals and flowing water. If you try to descend farther, you'll slip and probably fall into them.
You take the bolt
(the bolt)
You extract the bolt from the crossbow.
You put the bolt in the wall
(the bolt in the stone wall)
That can't contain things.
You hit wall
There are better targets.
You look at your surroundings
This ledge is barely two feet wide at most. You try not to feel like it's angled slightly outward. The pit stretches above and below you; but you can see no way to climb from here, either way.

A gentle arc hangs across the pit, well above your head.
Ahead
You creep up the passage, as stealthily as you can. It must be retreating ahead, for you see only empty stone, though the smell grows harsher...

And the eyes of the beast are on you, and claws come out of the night.
Go upwards
You knew when you slid down here that climbing back would be impossible.

Something shifts in the darkness ahead, a great silent bulk. Your prey.
You examine the thighband
It's a long band of heavy leather, with side straps, woven into a foot-long tube. The four bolts inside are secure yet easily slid out, and the whole is strapped comfortably to your leg.
You remove the bolts
bolt: You extract the bolt from the crossbow.
bolt: You slide a bolt from your thighband.
bolt: You slide a bolt from your thighband.
bolt: You slide a bolt from your thighband.
bolt: You slide the last bolt from your thighband.
You check your inventory
You are carrying four bolts, your crossbow (loaded with a bolt), an empty thighband, and a brightly-glowing lamplens (on your wrist).
You examine the thighband
It's a long band of heavy leather, with side straps, woven into a foot-long tube. It can be strapped comfortably to your leg. The band is empty.
You shoot the rope
Tunk. Well shot -- the bolt catches the rope neatly in the center, whipping it upward before shearing through. The ends dance like mad snakes, then settle.
You wear the thigh
(first taking your leg)
Autodismemberment isn't the answer to this one.
You wear the thighband
You fasten the band back on.
You put the bolts in the thighband
bolt: Done.
bolt: Done.
bolt: Done.
You grab the rope
You move to the extreme right side of the ledge and stretch, but the cut end of the rope is too far up and out. The left end is no better.
You look at the rope
You've split the rope. Half hangs down from the left side passage where it's tied; the other dangles from the curved white claw that hooks it by the right passage. The cut ends are several feet above your head.
You examine the hands
It's been there all your life.
Inventory
You are carrying your crossbow, a thighband with four bolts (strapped to your leg), and a brightly-glowing lamplens (on your wrist).
Examine left
The passage is just a dark patch in the side of the pit, off to the side and far above the ledge you stand on. Its outline is ragged with stalactites and flowstone pillars where water has dripped for millennia down the pit walls. A rope is tied securely to one such pillar, and hangs down the wall to a point above your head.
You examine right
The passage is just a dark patch in the side of the pit, off to the side and far above the ledge you stand on. Its outline is ragged with stalactites and flowstone pillars where water has dripped for millennia down the pit walls. A rope is wrapped around one such pillar, hooked to itself with a curved white claw. The rope hangs down the wall to a point above your head.
You look at the claw
Long, curved, white -- it's a claw, a broken-off claw of the animal that you seek. Half the rope is still tied to it, and the makeshift grapple is wound precariously around a pillar by the right passage, above you.
You remove the bolt
(first taking the bolt)
You slide a bolt from your thighband.
You shoot claw
Tunk. Well shot -- the claw is dislodged, whirls furiously around the pillar, and falls free. Its half of the rope snakes down into the darkness.
You look at the white
Long, curved, white -- it's a claw, a broken-off claw of the creature that you seek. The rope is tied to it, and the makeshift grapple is wound precariously around a pillar by the right passage, above you.
You let go
What do you want to let go of?
You let go of the rope
There is a moment of free fall, and then you are impaled on stone spires.
Look around
This ledge is barely two feet wide at most. You try not to feel like it's angled slightly outward. The pit stretches above and below you; but you can see no way to climb from here, either way.

The rope hangs down the pit wall to your left. The claw dangles from its end, at about the level of your waist.
You shoot claw
Tunk. Your bolt sets the claw spinning wildly at the end of the rope.
Cock crossbow
You pull down the lever, winching the string back until the kolt-pin locks behind the warden.
You shoot the rope
Tunk. Well shot again; the bolt snags the middle of the rope and shears through. The lower half of the rope, with claw attached, snakes down into the darkness below.
You grab the rope
You move to the extreme left side of the ledge and stretch, but the cut end of the rope is too far up and out.
Inventory
You are carrying your crossbow, a thighband with four bolts, and a brightly-glowing lamplens (on your wrist).
You let go of the rope
You twist back, forth, back, increasing your swing. Now -- you're rising away from the spires, which look sharper than ever -- you let go of the claw, finally, the pain nearly stops -- and you drop --
Look around
You begin to drag yourself up. Ah -- no, you won't be putting any weight on your hands. They're badly torn up, and bleeding freely.

This is the bottom of a wide pit. The walls are entirely unclimbable, of course. The floor is rippled and uneven, rising to sharp blades of stone near the edge. Mud and pebbles are strewn everywhere, but there's no standing water, so -- yes -- a narrow crawl leads down in the far corner.

A twisted shape lies nearby.
You look at the clothes
The corpse is wrapped in rags gone colorless with time. The cloth is cracked and stained where it rested against flesh, but much is merely old.

Blood continues to trickle down your fingers.

More bats gather.
You get the clothes
The old fiber tears without too much strain. You manage to rip loose some strips from the loose hems, lying clear of the corpse. What remains behind, stained with old decay, you'd just as soon not touch.

You are starting to feel quite chill and distant.
Inventory
You are carrying some cloth strips, your crossbow, a thighband with four bolts (strapped to your leg), and a cracked but still glowing lamplens (on your wrist).

A stream of bats flickers overhead, around, never settling. You wave again. They seem more attracted than frightened by your hand.
You wrap the hand with the cloth
You quickly bind up your hands with the cloth. It stanches the bleeding, at least. You only hope that you can get to better care before infection sets in.
Describe the surroundings
This is the bottom of a wide pit. The walls are entirely unclimbable, of course. The floor is rippled and uneven, rising to sharp blades of stone near the edge. Mud and pebbles are strewn everywhere, but there's no standing water, so -- yes -- a narrow crawl leads down in the far corner.

Bats flutter everywhere, just overhead.

A twisted corpse lies nearby.

The bats seem less agitated now.

Something moves on the ground nearby. You twist around violently, but it's not approaching you; the bat is crouched over the blood-stained stone where you fell.
Go downwards
You kneel, stiffly, and poke your head into the opening. It's tight, and it looks like it gets tighter ahead. No help for it -- you crawl inside, pushing the crossbow awkwardly ahead of you.

You're on your hands and knees in a throat of stone. The roof dips even lower ahead. If you advance, it'll be squirming forwards on your belly. And squirming backwards will be impossible, you think grimly.
You look around
You lie on your side, gasping, trying to recover some strength. Your back is sore; your neck is worse. Your head aches from cracking into unexpected stone. A cold stony knot presses into your left side, your right knee.

A trickle of water runs past you, and merges into a shallow pool at your fingertips.
Ahead
You stretch your hands forward, submerging them. Hunch, stretch. Inchworm... inchworm...

Your arms are submerged, and water ripples at your chin. No room to lift your head. You turn your face to the side, cheek scraping against the damn everpresent stone, and stretch again.

Your lamp flickers once and goes out.

You are lying in cold still water. It licks at your cheek and arms, and across the backs of your thighs. The chill makes your bruised knees and chest hurt all the more; your neck screams from craning high enough to breathe, but there is no room to sit up. No room to turn. No room.
Ahead
You struggle on. You hope the water grows no deeper. That thought occupies you for a few more hunches, a few more stretches. Grow no deeper. If the water grows deeper... Grow no deeper. You shake that away, and nothing comes to replace it.

You crawl on in the dark. The water grows no deeper.

Maybe it's not as deep now?

Water trickles over your hands, but the floor must have risen; there is less of it... a note of hope. But you cannot see.
Right
You are in a small, oblong cave. Cascades of white flowstone billow across the walls, and you can hear water rushing in the distance. The ground is worn into polished flowing curves. A path goes right, a wide crack leads down, and a narrow crawl leads ahead.
Right
You are in a largish roundish cave. A thin layer of mud lies underfoot. Ropy pillars rise from floor to roof, and a small still pool lies to one side. A crack runs left, a narrow crawl ascends, and a twisty passage descends.
Go downwards
This is a smallish round cave, with a low roof. You can hear water rushing in the distance. A low path leads left, a rough crawl leads right, and a crawl heads up.
You examine the pool
Just a bit of muddy water that's gathered at a low point in the cave.
You search the pool
There is nothing in the water but silt.

You catch a distant whiff of something.
Left
You are in a tiny, oblong cavern. A thin layer of mud lies underfoot. Needles of white calcite spray from the rocks nearby, and a small still pool lies to one side. A chimney ascends, a rough path runs right, and a tunnel descends.
You examine chimney
A chimney ascends. You can see only more darkness beyond.
Go upward
This is a small, elongated cave. The floor is crusted with wet sand. A rough crack leads forward, a steep passage goes left, and a passage leads right.
Forward
You grimly push your aching feet onward.

This is a cramped, oblong cavern. Cascades of violet flowstone billow across the walls, and stalagmites cluster thickly around you. A pit climbs up, a path runs down, and a path leads ahead.
Ahead
This is a round room. A small still pool lies to one side, and delicate dark grey crystals grow everywhere. A wide passage leads left, a low tunnel heads up, and a twisty pit runs down.
You examine the pool
Just a bit of muddy water that's gathered at a low point in the cave.
Go down
You are in a smallish cavern, with a low roof. Brown striations band the walls. A chimney leads up, a twisting path leads forward, and a wide crack goes left.
Right
You are in an elongated pit. Stalactites hang low overhead, and stalagmites cluster thickly around you. A low passage climbs up, a tunnel heads left, and a passage heads right.
Right
This is a cramped, oblong room. Orange travertine seems to pour down the wall nearby, and the air is chill and damp. A thick layer of mud lies underfoot. A wide passage runs left, a path leads ahead, and a wide tunnel goes right.
Right
This is a pit. The floor is crusted with damp sand. A steep tunnel leads up, a twisty passage leads right, and a steep crawl heads down.
Right
You are in a large round dome. Gravel and small rock chips cover the ground. Water trickles audibly, somewhere nearby. A crawl descends, a twisty passage runs right, and a tunnel climbs up.
Right
This is a dull room. Lacy, twisted pillars rise from floor to roof. A twisting tunnel goes right, a tunnel goes left, and a twisting passage leads up.
Right
You grimly push your aching feet onward.

You are in a tiny, elongated cavern which is mazed with fine cracks. Water trickles audibly, somewhere nearby, and cascades of greenish flowstone billow across the walls. A path runs down, a tunnel leads forward, and a narrow crawl leads left.
You go upwards
You grimly push your aching feet onward.

You are in a largish roundish cave. A thin layer of mud lies underfoot. Ropy pillars rise from floor to roof, and a small still pool lies to one side. A crack runs left, a narrow crawl ascends, and a twisty passage descends.
Left
You are in a tiny, oblong cavern. A thin layer of mud lies underfoot. Needles of white calcite spray from the rocks nearby, and a small still pool lies to one side. A chimney ascends, a rough path runs right, and a tunnel descends.
Go downwards
This is a roundish pit. Needles of pale grey calcite spray from the rocks here and there, and gravel and chipped rock cover the ground. A twisting crawl heads right, a passage runs down, and a narrow tunnel leads ahead.
Go downwards
You are in a tiny cavern. Fine dry sand is drifted delicately across the floor. A twisty pit heads down, a steep tunnel goes left, and a twisting path leads right.
Ahead
This is a largish, elongated dome. Delicate brown crystals grow everywhere. A narrow crack goes right, a twisty passage leads up, and a twisting passage leads down.
Go down
This is a dull room. Gravel and chipped rock cover the ground. Water trickles audibly, somewhere nearby. A tunnel descends, a tunnel leads ahead, and a twisty tunnel heads left.
Right
You are in a large round pit. Water trickles audibly, somewhere nearby. A wide crawl leads right, a passage leads left, and a wide path heads up.
Go upward
This is a dull room. A thick layer of mud lies underfoot. Stalactites form heavy stone fringes across the roof, and a small still pool lies to one side. A passage leads ahead, a passage runs left, and a narrow passage runs right.
Right
You are in a smallish cave. A thin layer of mud lies underfoot. The uncertain light seems a bit brighter. A rough tunnel leads ahead, a narrow path descends, and a rough tunnel heads left.
You go upwards
You grimly push your aching feet onward.

This is a dull room. A thick layer of mud lies underfoot. Stalactites form heavy stone fringes across the roof, and a small still pool lies to one side. A passage leads ahead, a passage runs left, and a narrow passage runs right.
Smell
The air smells of old mud.
You listen
Stone-silence. Water drips somewhere.

You catch a distant whiff of something.
Ahead
This is a large, oblong dome. A thick layer of mud lies underfoot. The uncertain light seems a bit dimmer. A steep crack climbs up, a crawl leads ahead, and a wide passage heads left.
Left
This is a tiny roundish cavern which is mazed with fine cracks. The uncertain light seems a bit brighter, and lacy, twisted pillars rise from floor to roof. A tunnel heads right, a low crack heads up, and a crack runs down.
You go down
You are in a cramped cavern, with a high roof. Stalactites hang low overhead, and you can hear water rushing in the distance. The ground is worn into polished flowing curves. A pit leads down, a low chimney ascends, and a passage leads ahead.
You listen
Stone-silence. Water drips somewhere.

You catch a whiff of something rank.
Go upward
This is a dull room. A thick layer of mud lies underfoot. Stalactites form heavy stone fringes across the roof, and a small still pool lies to one side. A passage leads ahead, a passage runs left, and a narrow passage runs right.
You examine the pillars
Hours ago, you might have been impressed.
You examine the walls
Limestone, streaked and banded, rippled and bulged and twisted like the flesh of some living thing. You've seen many caves before, but the beauty never wearies.

You shake your head, side to side, trying to push off the weight of weariness for another few minutes. Keep moving.
You go crack
Which do you mean, the low crack up or the crack down?
You go right
You are in a dull room. Brown travertine seems to pour endlessly down the wall nearby. A twisty tunnel leads forward, a pit leads down, and a twisty crawl goes left.
Forward
This is a roundish pit. Needles of pale grey calcite spray from the rocks here and there, and gravel and chipped rock cover the ground. A twisting crawl heads right, a passage runs down, and a narrow tunnel leads ahead.
Go downward
You are in a largish, elongated cave. The uncertain light seems a bit dimmer, and stalactites form heavy stone fringes across the roof. A low crawl leads forward, a wide passage runs down, and a low path leads left.
Go downwards
You are in a tiny, oblong cavern. A thin layer of mud lies underfoot. Needles of white calcite spray from the rocks nearby, and a small still pool lies to one side. A chimney ascends, a rough path runs right, and a tunnel descends.
You descend
You grimly push your aching feet onward.

You are in a tiny cavern. Fine dry sand is drifted delicately across the floor. A twisty pit heads down, a steep tunnel goes left, and a twisting path leads right.
Go downwards
You grimly push your aching feet onward.

You are in a small round cave. Ragged fringes of violet mineral hang from the ceiling, and stalagmites cluster thickly around you. A crack heads left, a twisting crawl leads ahead, and a tunnel heads right.
You go upwards
This is a tiny roundish cavern. Gravel and chipped rock cover the ground. Stalactites hang low overhead, and the uncertain light seems a bit brighter. A narrow chimney descends, a crack leads ahead, and a narrow passage runs left.
Smell
The air smells of old mud.
Smell
The faintest trace of the animal hangs in the air. It seems stronger near the crack ahead.
Ahead
You are in a smallish roundish cavern. Stalactites form heavy stone fringes across the ceiling. A wide path leads down, a low crack goes right, and a rough crawl leads up.
Sniff
The air smells of old mud.

You catch a distant whiff of something.
Sniff
The faintest trace of the animal hangs in the air. It seems stronger near the low crack to the right.
Right
You grimly push your aching feet onward.

You are in a large, elongated dome. Stalagmites cluster thickly around you. You can hear water rushing in the distance. A passage heads left, a twisting tunnel descends, and a wide passage leads ahead.
Sniff
The smell of the animal is stronger here. It's coming from the passage to the left.

You catch a whiff of something rank from the passage to the left.
Left
This is a cramped round room, with a high roof. Ropy pillars rise from floor to roof, and a small still pool lies to one side. Gravel and chipped rock cover the ground. A rough tunnel goes right, a narrow pit ascends, and a pit leads down.
Sniff
The smell of the animal is stronger here. It's coming from the pit leading down.

You catch a whiff of something rank from the pit leading down.
Go downward
This is a small, elongated cave, with a high roof. Stalactites form heavy stone fringes across the roof, and a small still pool lies to one side. Gravel and chipped rock cover the ground. A steep crawl leads ahead, a passage ascends, and a tunnel leads down.

The scent of the animal hangs all around you. It's welling from the steep crawl ahead.
Ahead
The steep crawl opens abruptly into vast space.

You emerge onto a steep slope, high above a canyon that stretches out of sight to either side. Twisted and stalactite-hung stone forms a vault overhead, which glimmers with reflections of some unseen source of light; but the canyon below is shadowed. Water rushes somewhere at its root. You could climb farther down, and a narrow crevice leads back into the rock.

Movement, on a level area on the far side of the canyon, partway down. Something gliding silently back and forth, back and forth. Your prey. Waiting.
Go downward
You turn, test your balance, and begin edging down the slope. And your foot slips.

You fling your arms out, heedless of your possessions. You grasp at nothing.

Much too tired for this, you think, as you skid wildly down the canyon. A danger to yourself and everyone around you. And below, you add with distant amusement, before the bottom arrives with a horrible jolt.
Space
You must be getting better at this. You're only freshly bruised. Lying still, even on cold stone, is painfully easy... but after a few minutes, you find yourself struggling to stand.

You are in an alcove, a side chamber at the base of a vaulting canyon. The walls spread upward around you. And the distant roof is hung with glimmering stars -- droplet-tipped stalactites in some hidden suffusion of light. You think, against your will, that it was worth it.

And then the light is blocked, and a dark and stinking shape looms over you. You are an intruder; and the beast has claws.
Look around
You have emerged onto a steep slope, high above a canyon that stretches out of sight to either side. Twisted and stalactite-hung stone forms a vault overhead, which glimmers with reflections of some unseen source of light; but the canyon below is shadowed. Water rushes somewhere at its root. You could climb farther down, and a narrow crevice leads back into the rock.

Movement, on a level area on the far side of the canyon, partway down. Something gliding silently back and forth, back and forth. Your prey. Waiting.

Your foot slips. For a moment your fatigue flares into panic, as you clutch to steady yourself, but you know you are tired, tired. This must end soon. Too much blood. Too much stone.
You check what you're carrying
You are carrying some cloth strips (tied around your wounded hands), your crossbow, a thighband with four bolts (strapped to your leg), and a cracked and darkened lamplens (on your wrist).
Back
This is a small, elongated cave, with a high roof. Stalactites form heavy stone fringes across the roof, and a small still pool lies to one side. Gravel and chipped rock cover the ground. A steep crawl leads ahead, a passage ascends, and a tunnel leads down.
You examine the slope
Which do you mean, the slope above or the slope below?
You examine the slope above
The canyon wall slopes upward to meet the roof.
You examine slope below
The canyon wall slants away below. Old, old stone has been water-worn, layer by layer, into a deep, V-shaped canyon. It doesn't look an impossible climb, even tired as you are, if you take care.
You look at the stone
Limestone, streaked and banded, rippled and bulged and twisted like the flesh of some living thing. You've seen many caves before, but the beauty never wearies.
You climb down
You turn, test your balance, and begin edging down the slope. And your foot slips. Again.

You fling your arms out, heedless of your possessions. You grasp at nothing.

Much too tired for this, you think, as you skid wildly down the canyon. A danger to yourself and everyone around you. And below, you add with distant amusement, before the bottom arrives with a horrible jolt.
You sit
What do you want to sit on top of?
You ascend
You only manage to ascend a few feet before the stone becomes too smooth and featureless. The roof of the cavern is out of reach.
Left
The slope is steeper on both sides of you. You cannot safely traverse the canyonside in either direction.
You describe your surroundings
You have emerged onto a steep slope, high above a canyon that stretches out of sight to either side. Twisted and stalactite-hung stone forms a vault overhead, which glimmers with reflections of some unseen source of light; but the canyon below is shadowed. Water rushes somewhere at its root. You could climb farther down, and a narrow crevice leads back into the rock.

Movement, on a level area on the far side of the canyon, partway down. Something gliding silently back and forth, back and forth. Your prey. Waiting.
You examine the prey
The creature does not look small, even from up here, even half-unformed by canyon shadows. It prowls across a wide ledge across the canyon and below your level. You do not think it knows you are here.
Space
You must be getting better at this. You're only freshly bruised. Lying still, even on cold stone, is painfully easy... but after a few minutes, you find yourself struggling to stand.

You are in an alcove, a side chamber at the base of a vaulting canyon. The walls spread upward around you. And the distant roof is hung with glimmering stars -- droplet-tipped stalactites in some hidden suffusion of light. You think, against your will, that it was worth it.

A crevice runs along the canyon at your feet. You can cross it and continue on ahead.

The Wumpus certainly fled this way: a pool of thick, dark, reeking blood is spilled across the ground. Bats crawl all around it -- rustling, fluttering, feasting.

A bat chitters angrily at its neighbor.
You wait
Time passes.
You look at the bats
Bats squat all around the spill of clotting blood. They do not seem to be paying you much heed; they are intent on their feast.

A bat chitters angrily at its neighbor.
Inventory
You are carrying some cloth strips (tied around your wounded hands), a thighband with three bolts (strapped to your leg), and a cracked and darkened lamplens (on your wrist).

...And no crossbow. Right.
You take the cloth
You already have those.
You remove the cloth
You carefully unwrap the cloth from your hands. The worst of the bleeding has stopped, although there is still a fierce ache and a slow trickle of blood.
You wait a while
Time passes.

The Wumpus screams.
Go upwards
You pick your way... slowly... up the canyon wall. Everything is heavy; you're glad you have nothing more to carry.

Somewhere below, a hissing scream is cut off, abruptly. You round a pale fold of limestone, and you are blinded by daylight.