text: > look around
  You have happened upon a magical reverie! In the open clearing encircled by the giant leafy trees, tiny fairies giggle and play as they dance on the giant petals of white orchids which grow abundantly in this soft earth. Mistletoe rich with tiny white berries, spiral up through the branches of the surrounding trees. Moonbeams streak down through the tops of the giant trees illuminating a gurgling spring that wells up warm water in a circular pond at the center of the clearing. Several small doe lie on the soft, lilting grass enchanted by the merry tunes from a company of fauns playing an assortment of flutes, lyres, and reed pipes. The wondrous scene is even more remarkable by the presence of numerous floating orbs that swirl about the clearing seemingly of their own accord.
  
  > examine the pond
  Concentric circles continually ripple over the surface of the circular pool of water fueled at the center by the warm spring. It gurgles in accompaniment to the fauns' woodwind songs.
  
  > examine the fauns
  The jovial fauns are small creatures in stature with the torso and head of a man, and haunches of a pony. The faun playing the reed pipe sits near the spring allowing one hoof to be immersed in the warm water, while the faun with the flute dances and twirls joyously about the clearing. The third faun strums a lyre while sitting placidly in the soft grass.
  
  > touch the pond
  The warm water feels very soothing against your skin.
  
  > Swim
  You dip into the spring water relishing in its warmth. After splashing about for a time, you exit the spring and sit on the grass with a doe and the fauns listening to their music until your dress has dried.
  
  > ask the fauns about the fauns
  The fauns are too involved in their music to reply. They do however give you a kindly smile and a nod.
  
  > look at the trees
  The tall leafy trees encircle this magical area almost like an enchanted barrier from the stark, cold landscape beyond.
  
  > examine mistletoe
  surrounding this clearing. Their white berries glisten like pearls in the moonlight.
  
  Mistletoe vines hang from the branches of the tall leafy trees surrounding this clearing. Their white berries glisten like pearls in the moonlight.
  
  > take the berries
  The mistletoe grows beyond your reach.
  
  > take the orb
  Which do you mean, the blue baubles or the colored baubles?
  
  > look at the blue baubles
  The blue baubles from the cottage have made their long trek across the starry night sky to this enchanted island. They swirl about the clearing with the rest of the beautifully colored floating spheres.
  
  > examine the colored baubles
  The baubles are fist-sized translucent orbs that float and swirl about in the air. Their smooth, glossy surfaces reflect wonderful shades of blue, yellow, green, pink, and silver when they pass through the moonbeams. As you watch them dance about this enchanted clearing, you notice one of the fairies hold out a pink wand. The nearest pink bauble suddenly circles about the point of the outstretched wand and then alights directly on the tip. As you observe the other fairies playing, you see that the orbs have landed upon several other wands as well.
  
  > Inventory
  You are carrying:
  a long wooden pole
  a lantern (providing light)
  handsome leather shoes
  a candle stick
  
  > wave it
  You have fun waving the candle stick.
  
  > Wave pole
  You have fun waving the long wooden pole.
  
  > Sing
  You do your best to join in the fauns' little concerto first by humming in accompaniment. When you feel a little braver, you begin to sing a favorite solstice carol to the tune that they play. The creatures of the island seem to approve of your addition. The fauns smile and nod affectionately, and a few of the fairies circle close by while others braid strands of your hair.
  
  > Dance
  You dance a pretty little waltz to the rhythm of the woodwinds. The fauns nod and smile encouragingly.
  
  > Go east
  You wander into the wood and eventually find yourself back on the eastern shore of the island.
  
  You are standing on the shore of a little island in the midst of a vast expanse of ice floes gleaming brilliantly white in the moonlight. A channel of water leads back to the east, and brilliantly green leafy trees nearly forming a wall grow to the west.
  
  A small floe is lodged into the ice sheet on the near bank of the chilly water channel.
  
  > go south
  As you crawl through the tunnel under the mountain, the long wooden pole you carry becomes increasingly cumbersome, and you are forced to retreat back to the ice floes and deposit the pole on that side of the mountain before proceeding back to the forest.
  
  You crawl on your belly through the tunnel which is illuminated by the lantern you carry. After a time, you see a brighter light ahead and keep crawling until you find yourself on the other side of the mountain.
  
  The forest has thinned in this area at the foothills of a great mountain range that lies to the north. In the moonlight, you see that the undergrowth has thinned to the southwest which leads toward the forest. A small hole, barely noticeable in the shadows, extends into the mountain directly to the north.
  
  > show the candle to the fairies
  The fairies is unimpressed.
  
  > Wave candle
  You have fun waving the candle stick.
  
  > look at the poinsettias
  Flower fairies play gaily on the petals of the white poinsettias. When a firefly passes close by to one of the flowers close by, you notice a little wand resting on its petals.
  
  > examine the shoes
  You now hold in your hands a magnificent present for Sander that is sure to brighten his spirit on this solstice eve. Quite simply, these are the finest, most handsome pair of shoes you have ever laid eyes upon. You could not imagine a more perfect solstice gift for Sander who has had to wear his tight and tattered old shoes for so long.
  
  > get the flower
  The white poinsettias look so fresh and beautiful that you decide to leave them to grow in peace.
  
  > examine the lantern
  The lantern emits a bright and glowing yellow light.
  
  > climb the trees
  None of the surrounding fir trees seem to have good branches for climbing.
  
  > Poinsettias
  What do you want to dig the white poinsettias with?
  
  > check your inventory
  You are carrying:
  a handful of snow
  a lantern (providing light)
  handsome leather shoes
  a candle stick
  
  > Go south
  The silvery moonlight softly illuminates the nearby branches of this dense forest and reflects from snowy patches along the cold ground. Although your range of sight is limited by the darkness, the brambles appear passable to the north and southwest.
  
  > go to the west
  The oak dryad peers down at you as you as you stand in this small clearing in the dark wood. He seems to be humming softly with his deep throaty voice. Brightly glowing orbs of little pastel lights, accentuated against the midnight blue sky, fill the branches of the oak. A path runs through the little clearing from the east to the west, but many other directions appear passable as well.
  
  As you walk, the forest thins and soon, you leave it behind entirely.
  
  This is the edge of a vast expanse of snowy hills that continue to the north and northeast. The hills are completely covered in powdery white snow that glistens in the soft moonlight. A path extends from the northwest to the east. The forest continues in all other directions.
  
  A mischievous little snow sprite is standing here making faces at you and giggling.
  
  > ask the dryad about fairies
  The dryad chuckles, "Oh, those fairies with their tricks and lights, they are welcome on any and all solstice nights."
  
  > ask the dryad about the moon
  The dryad stares whimsically at the moon, "Look how it shines so pure and white as it bursts from the night. Lo, what a sight!"
  
  > ask the dryad about the horse
  Bark creaks as the dryad raises his wooden eyebrows, "Where is he? Have you seen him here? I have not one, but hundreds of solstice tokens this year!" The dryad wriggles his branches causing the pastel lights to dance and sway.
  
  > ask the dryad about the fauns
  The dryad chuckles in his deep resonating voice, "Fantastic creatures, wouldn't you say? They play music on through the night to the light of day."
  
  > go west
  As you walk, the forest thins and soon, you leave it behind entirely.
  
  This is the edge of a vast expanse of snowy hills that continue to the north and northeast. The hills are completely covered in powdery white snow that glistens in the soft moonlight. A path extends from the northwest to the east. The forest continues in all other directions.
  
  A mischievous little snow sprite is standing here making faces at you and giggling.
  
  > ask the sprite about the horse
  The sprite hugs his golden bell saying, "Mine! All mine!" He then burst into a taunting singsong, "Takers, keepers! Missers, weepers!"
  
  > give the bell to you
  "No, no, no!" the snow sprite chides. He hugs the bell lovingly, "Mine, all mine!"
  
  > ring bell
  (the snow sprite at the snow sprite)
  (first taking the snow sprite)
  The little snow sprite is much too quick for you.
  
  The snow sprite laughs raucously, then picks up a handful of snow and hurls it in your direction.
  
  > check your inventory
  You are carrying:
  a lantern (providing light)
  handsome leather shoes
  a candle stick