text: [Themes: IF Whispers, surreal]
  
  > Go down
  This room is much smaller than what the movies tell you. A stairway leads up to a gallery, though most of the roof and the upper floor is missing. A few chairs and tables gather dust, accompanied by a lone piano in a corner.
  A counter is near the back wall.
  An impressive chandelier dangles from the remains of the ceiling.
  
  Curb detracts from the scenic value of the vicinity.
  
  Behind the counter is a shelf lined with a row of casks.
  
  Curb frantically digs a hole in a corner.
  
  > Wait
  Time passes.
  
  Curb tries to gnaw on the beer cask. You shoo him off before he does too much damage.
  
  > examine the hole
  A hole, not as artfully dug as what you did in the cellar, but what can you expect from Curb?
  In it you can see a skull.
  
  Curb peers curiously at the panga.
  
  > take skull
  Taken.
  
  Curb tries to gnaw on the piano. You shoo him off before he does too much damage.
  
  > look at it
  A human skull. It's wearing an eyepatch that's in surprisingly good condition.
  
  Curb peers curiously at the empty pewter mug.
  
  > take the eyepatch
  You slide the eyepatch off the skull.
  
  Curb scratches at the ground with his forepaws.
  
  > look in the skull
  You find nothing of interest.
  
  Curb peers curiously at the shred of cloth.
  
  > put the bolt in the eyepatch
  The eyepatch won't keep anything in it for long. If you want to sling the old bolt at something, you should just sling the old bolt at it directly.
  
  > Sling bolt at map
  Taking good aim, and a few practice swings, you haul your missile at the treasure map- up and up it goes-
  Hit!
  The treasure map tumbles down. But so does a part of the chandelier, knocking you out. The last thing you hear is Curbs anxious growling. The last thing you feel, unfortunately, is Curbs wet tongue, licking your cheek. Then, thankfully, you pass out.
  
  *** You have knocked yourself out.***
  
  You wake up with a bad headache. Outside, the sun is shining again,
  the sandstorm is gone. Curb has rolled up at your side, and for all his faults, you love him for that.
  
  > put the bolt in the barrel
  (the musket barrel)
  That can't contain things.
  
  > hit the chandelier with the barrel
  (the musket barrel)
  It's high up on the ceiling, out of reach.
  
  Curb sniffs at the counter like the horrible little pervert he is.
  
  > Sling bolt at map
  Taking good aim, and a few practice swings, you haul your missile at the treasure map- up and up it goes-
  Hit!
  The treasure map tumbles down. But so does a part of the chandelier, knocking you out. The last thing you hear is Curbs anxious growling. The last thing you feel, unfortunately, is Curbs wet tongue, licking your cheek. Then, thankfully, you pass out.
  
  *** You have knocked yourself out.***
  
  You wake up with a bad headache. Outside, the sun is shining again,
  the sandstorm is gone. Curb has rolled up at your side, and for all his faults, you love him for that.
  
  Curb stares at the lemonade cask with paranoid fascination.
  
  > take the map
  Taken.
  
  Curb sniffs at the chairs. like the horrible little pervert he is.
  
  > look at the map
  Well, it's obviously a treasure map, because it has a big X on it to mark the spot. But it's a pretty strange map: it's completely blank, and has a light iridescent sheen to it, like a photographic plate. Also, it's strangely warm to the touch.
  
  > touch the map
  It's definitely hotter in some spots than others.
  
  Curb vomits from excitement, his ribcage convulsing. He laps up the result hurriedly, before you steal his prize.
  
  > look at what you're carrying with you
  You are carrying:
  a treasure map
  an eyepatch
  a skull
  a shred of cloth
  an empty pewter mug
  an empty glass bottle
  a piece of paper
  a diary
  a glow-jar (providing light)
  your car keys (disgusting)
  a Son of Toil bar
  a Twinkie
  a musket barrel
  your guitar
  an alligator stetson (being worn)
  your panga
  Treasure Huntery Lesson 1
  
  Curb snaps at flies.
  
  > touch the jar
  You feel nothing unexpected.
  
  Curb fixes you with a look of abject guilt and keens softly.
  
  > Author
  Scene 5, "Invisiclues", was written by Carl Muckenhoupt.
  
  > read the Treasure Huntery
  "For one thing, the maps are often nearly as well-hidden as the treasures themselves. However, that doesn't mean you're left to search aimlessly. The purpose of the map is defeated if no one has access to it, so treasure maps can usually be found among the effects of the treasure-hiders, or in places they frequented. Look in residences, gathering-places, and vehicles."
  
  Curb peers curiously at Treasure Huntery Lesson 1.
  
  > Keep going
  "Once you've found your map, the next step is deciphering it. Treasure maps are usually encrypted or obfuscated in some way. Edgar Allan Poe's short story The Gold Bug tells about a map that has instructions written in code... and also in invisible ink!"
  
  > Continue
  "Invisible ink is actually surprisingly common in authentic treasure maps -- and one of the main reasons that there are still treasure maps that have gone undetected. The most popular form of invisible ink is ordinary lemon juice, although any weak acid works just as well. When heat is applied to the paper, the parts weakened by the lemon juice discolor more quickly. There are recorded attempts at developing an ink that would work the other way around, but to our knowledge this has never been done successfully."
  
  Curb scratches his ear.
  
  > look at the lemonade
  You see nothing special about the lemonade cask.
  
  Curb attempts to howl, but it devolves into a whimper.
  
  > fill the mug with the lemonade
  The lemonade cask seems to be empty.
  
  > look at the lemon
  It's a clear glass bottle with a jaunty picture of an anthropomorphized lemon on the label. However, it is bone dry inside.
  
  > Inventory
  You are carrying:
  a treasure map
  an eyepatch
  a skull
  a shred of cloth
  an empty pewter mug
  an empty glass bottle
  a piece of paper
  a diary
  a glow-jar (providing light)
  your car keys (disgusting)
  a Son of Toil bar
  a Twinkie
  a musket barrel
  your guitar
  an alligator stetson (being worn)
  your panga
  Treasure Huntery Lesson 1
  
  Curb peers curiously at the diary.
  
  > look at cask
  Which do you mean, the beer cask, the wine cask, the moonshine cask, the rum cask, the sarsaparilla cask, or the lemonade cask?
  
  > fill the mug with the wine
  The pewter mug is now full of vinegar.
  
  Curb skitters about.
  
  > pour the vinegar on the map
  (the pewter mug of vinegar on the treasure map)
  Little wisps of vinegar-scented smoke curl upward as an image appears on the map.
  
  > examine the map
  The map shows an incomprehensible noisy pattern of red and blue pixels with a big black X in the middle.
  
  Curb fixes you with a look of abject guilt and keens softly.
  
  > fill the bottle with the rum
  The glass bottle is now full of rum.
  
  Curb scratches at the ground with his forepaws.
  
  > examine the rum
  (the glass bottle of rum)
  The rum is a brilliant red color, but it smells like rum all the same.
  
  > look at the map through bottle
  Aha! When you look through the red rum, you the pattern becomes clear. Instead of a map, all you see is the word "LUXOR".
  
  What the heck? The treasure is in Egypt?
  
  Well, there's nothing for it. If you're going to get that treasure, you'll have to get to Egypt. One plane flight later, some checking with the remainder of the map, and you find your way to a worn-down souk by the Necropolis.
  
  You've followed your treasure map to this dingy little tobacco house on the eastern bank of the Nile. Sleepy old men gather around the hookahs and trade smoke. A cabinet full of curiosities lines the back wall.
  
  Curb detracts from the scenic value of the vicinity.
  
  Curb scratches at the ground with his forepaws.
  
  > Author
  Scene 6, "The One-Armed Time Bandit", was written by Michael Martin.
  
  > look at the men
  The clientele here doesn't seem to be paying attention to much. Even the nicotine isn't keeping them alert.
  
  > examine the cabinet
  In the cabinet are some artifacts.
  
  Curb tries to gnaw on the tables. You shoo him off before he does too much damage.
  
  > look at artifacts
  These are relics and gewgaws from all over the world. One in particular catches your eye - a softwood box with your family crest imprinted on it.
  
  Curb peers curiously at the alligator stetson.
  
  > Examine box
  This fine sandalwood box must be some lost heirloom of your family line; it's got your crest on the lid.
  
  Curb peers curiously at the diary.
  
  > examine the crest
  It's the same symbol and motto that has been passed down through your family for generations: An extinguished lantern under the phrase SIC SEMPER RIMORIS.
  
  Curb savagely gnaws at his genitals with slurpy snarls of contentment.
  
  > take the box
  Taken.
  
  Curb peers curiously at the piece of paper.
  
  > open the box
  You open the heirloom box, revealing a decoder ring and a slip of paper.
  
  Curb peers curiously at the panga.
  
  > read the slip
  This old slip of paper has the mysterious message DSAJX YPFC, XUJPER on it.
  
  Curb peers curiously at the Twinkie and makes a famished whine.
  
  > examine the ring
  This decoder ring has a wheel that matches letters to other letters. Surely, with this, the darkest secrets of the cosmos are yours.
  
  [To use the decoder ring, type the command DECODE (text), where (text) is the text you wish to decode.]
  
  > wear the ring
  (first taking the decoder ring)
  You put on the decoder ring.
  
  Curb stares at the tables with paranoid fascination.
  
  > look at the tables
  The tables here are stained with years of smoking.
  
  Curb snaps at flies.
  
  > Xujper
  Using your mighty ancestral decoder ring, you decode DSAJX YPFC, XUJPER to WRONG CITY, GENIUS.
  
  > Decode luxor
  You ponder the map. "LUXOR" alone really isn't much of a clue to finding the treasure on its own. Perhaps if you put your ancestral decoder ring to work, it will produce a new clue. Let's see. "L" maps to "V", "U" to "E"...
  
  You feel a certain sinking feeling as you guess the rest. Yep. "LUXOR" decodes to "VEGAS". You've been searching on the wrong continent all this time. At least you did get that it was in a desert, though.
  
  Time to book another flight.
  
  It's dry as a bone out there, but at least in here the drinks flow freely. The map, suitably reinterpreted to this locale, lead you to this slot machine, right on the X in LUXOR. All around you, blinking, screaming electronics want to take your money, but your steely resolve remains undeterred.
  
  Curb detracts from the scenic value of the vicinity.
  
  Curb skitters about.
  
  > examine the machine
  This slot machine looks much like the others here; video screens showing results, lots and lots of flashing lights and exciting sounds, and a slot with which you may insert all your money.
  
  > Play machine
  You stick a token in the machine and pull the lever. Lemon, Lemon, and... your family crest? This is no ordinary slot machine.
  
  It's no ordinary payout mechanism, either. A chute opens up beneath you, and you slide into darkness.
  
  This is more like it! The chute took you into this awesome command center. An important-looking door leads off to the north, while more unassuming ones lead in all other cardinal directions. Surely some hint to the treasure must be in this secret complex.
  
  Curb detracts from the scenic value of the vicinity.
  
  You can also see a ladder here.
  
  Curb peers curiously at the alligator stetson.
  
  > climb the ladder
  You're here in front of a slot machine situated right on top of the X in the Luxor's logo. All around you, blinking, screaming electronics want to take your money, but your steely resolve remains undeterred. A dark passage in front of the slot machine leads down.
  
  Curb scampers after you.
  
  > look at the slot
  This slot machine looks much like the others here; video screens showing results, lots and lots of flashing lights and exciting sounds, and a slot with which you may insert all your money.
  
  Curb peers curiously at the decoder ring.