text: [Themes: Fantasy]
  
  > look around
  The Phil is in the main room of the Spotted Dog, now the village's only inn. The room is dominated by an enormous fireplace in which a fire was burning - it has recently gone out - although it seems the chimney doesn't draw very well, because the air is full of smoke. Through the haze, the Phil can see  a bar, and four or five rough tables and benches. There is no-one sitting at them, though. The floor is strewn with mouldy rushes. A large pot of stew hangs over the ashes of the fire, still bubbling slightly.
  
  Standing stoutly behind the bar is Bardolph the Innkeeper.
  
  The Phil can also see a bow, a violin, a mug (in which is a teabag) and a scruffy black bound book here.
  
  Bardolph takes up a clay pipe and blows smoke rings.
  
  > Go north
  The Phil can't go that way.
  
  Bardolph starts laughing at some private joke. The Phil hopes it isn't him.
  
  > get the violin
  Taken.
  
  Bardolph scrubs the tables.
  
  > get the bow
  Taken.
  
  Bardolph stares intently over the Phil's left shoulder.
  
  > go to the east
  Standing firmly in the middle of the bridge is Bill the Bowman.
  
  Bill the Bowman looks impatient. "This ain't gettin the babby a frock and pinny," he grumbles. "Come on - see if you can knock me off the bridge."
  
  > play the violin with the bow
  The Phil tries manfully to play the violin with the bow, but finds his arms are much too short.
  
  Bill the Bowman gazes south. "It's looking black over Bill's mother's," he says.
  
  > play the violin
  The Phil plays "Have at thy Coat, old Woman" pizzicato.
  
  Bill the Bowman yawns, appreciatively.
  
  > play the violin
  The Phil plays "Stepney Cakes and Ale" pizzicato.
  
  Bill the Bowman yawns, appreciatively.
  
  > play the violin
  The Phil plays "the Beautiful Scrabmagg" pizzicato.
  
  Bill the Bowman yawns, appreciatively.
  
  > Go north
  Standing stoutly behind the bar is Bardolph the Innkeeper.
  
  The Phil can also see a mug (in which is a teabag) and a scruffy black bound book here.
  
  Bardolph scrubs the tables.
  
  > ask Bardolph about Bill
  "Well, sir," says Bardolph, "he likes pushing folk into the river."
  
  > drop the bow
  Dropped.
  
  Bardolph whistles "Akeroyde's Padd".
  
  > buy the beer
  Bardolph takes the Phil's penny, fills up a pint of beer and places it on the bar.
  
  > get the beer
  (the pint of beer)
  Taken.
  
  Bardolph sneezes.
  
  > give the bill beer
  Bill the Bowman takes the pint of beer and drains it in one go, then throws the empty mug into the river. "Very good," he says. "Now, how about that friendly trial of strength?"
  
  "Greetings, Phil," says Bill the Bowman, twirling his quarterstaff. "How about a little friendly trial of strength for passage of the bridge?"
  
  > go south
  The Phil can't go that way.
  
  Bill the Bowman gazes south. "It's looking black over Bill's mother's," he says.
  
  > Go north
  Standing stoutly behind the bar is Bardolph the Innkeeper.
  
  The Phil can also see a bow, a violin, a mug (in which is a teabag) and a scruffy black bound book here.
  
  Bardolph takes up a clay pipe and blows smoke rings.
  
  > Attack bill with ring
  Violence is not the answer to this one.
  
  "Greetings, Phil," says Bill the Bowman, twirling his quarterstaff. "How about a little friendly trial of strength for passage of the bridge?"
  
  > show the bow to Bill
  Bill the Bowman is unimpressed.
  
  "Go on," says Bill, "just you try and get past me."
  
  > go to the north
  Standing stoutly behind the bar is Bardolph the Innkeeper.
  
  The Phil can also see a violin, a mug (in which is a teabag) and a scruffy black bound book here.
  
  Bardolph jingles some coins in his pocket.
  
  > buy Stew
  Bardolph looks nervous. "Stew's not for sale," he says.
  
  > Smell stew
  (pot of stew)
  The smell of of the stew is - not readily describable. It is slightly sour, though.
  
  Bardolph starts laughing at some private joke. The Phil hopes it isn't him.
  
  > taste Stew
  (pot of stew)
  Indeed: "That's plainly inedible" goes nowhere near it.
  
  Bardolph pats his waistcoat pockets as if looking for something.
  
  > examine Stew
  (pot of stew)
  An enormous blackened cauldron of stew. The ingredients of the stew are unknown.
  
  Predictably, the Phil's eyes water.
  
  Bardolph stares intently over the Phil's left shoulder.
  
  > get Stew
  (free stew)
  That seems to belong to Bardolph.
  
  Bardolph pats his waistcoat pockets as if looking for something.
  
  > Go east
  Standing firmly in the middle of the bridge is Bill the Bowman.
  
  Bill the Bowman looks the Phil up and down.
  
  > ask Bill about Stew
  There is no reply.
  
  Bill the Bowman whistles "Stand thy ground, Old Harry."
  
  > ask Bill about the bow
  There is no reply.
  
  Bill the Bowman looks impatient. "This ain't gettin the babby a frock and pinny," he grumbles. "Come on - see if you can knock me off the bridge."
  
  > ask Bill about Sexton
  There is no reply.
  
  Bill the Bowman gazes south. "It's looking black over Bill's mother's," he says.
  
  > ask Bill about the mother
  There is no reply.
  
  Bill the Bowman fiddles with the straps of his knapsack.
  
  > ask Bill about Bardolph
  There is no reply.
  
  "Greetings, Phil," says Bill the Bowman, twirling his quarterstaff. "How about a little friendly trial of strength for passage of the bridge?"
  
  > go southwest
  The Phil is in a very large grassy field, quite empty except for a single, tall, blasted oak. There are no paths here, other than a faint track leading back northeast.
  
  High in the branches of the blasted oak is the Magpie. It has the brass key in its beak.
  
  > look at Oak
  A tall oak tree, which has been struck by lightning, within the last few years probably. One half of the tree is green with leaves and heavy with acorns; the other black, burnt and bare.
  
  Predictably, the Phil's eyes water.
  
  > climb Oak
  The Phil scrutinises the tree from all sides. But there are no good handholds or footholds on this one.
  
  > examine the bow
  Just an ordinary bow. It has a wooden bit and a stringy bit.
  
  Predictably, the Phil's eyes water.
  
  > throw the bow at Magpie
  The Phil lacks the nerve when it comes to the crucial moment.
  
  > examine Magpie
  One for sorrow, they do say, but this fellow looks very cheerful.
  
  Predictably, the Phil's eyes water.
  
  > take the penny
  Taken.
  
  > show the penny to Magpie
  The Magpie is unimpressed.
  
  > put the penny in the purse
  He puts the penny into the purse.
  
  > look at the penny
  A very worn copper coin - it is difficult to tell which King is on the obverse - possibly good King Charles.
  
  Predictably, the Phil's eyes water.
  
  > Rub penny
  The Phil rubs the penny.
  
  > Inventory
  The Phil is carrying:
  a bow
  a rusty ring (to which are attached a red ribbon, a blue ribbon and
  a yellow ribbon)
  a purse
  five pennies
  a hat (being worn)
  a little card
  
  > go southeast
  Sunken Lane (West)
  The Phil has stumbled into a sunken east-west lane near his cottage. It is deeper than he is tall, and by the look of the footprints, is trafficked mostly by sheep. To the west, the lane is blocked by tumbled stones and other debris, the ruins of a small building which - long ago - collapsed into the lane from its south side. However, the lane is open to the east, and a little path leads northwest up the side.
  
  Draped over a little scrubby bush is a discarded shepherd's smock.
  
  > take the smock
  The smock is a skittish and faintly magical thing. As the Phil reaches out to take the smock, a little wind springs up, and blows it away.
  
  > look
  Sunken Lane (West)
  The Phil has stumbled into a sunken east-west lane near his cottage. It is deeper than he is tall, and by the look of the footprints, is trafficked mostly by sheep. To the west, the lane is blocked by tumbled stones and other debris, the ruins of a small building which - long ago - collapsed into the lane from its south side. However, the lane is open to the east, and a little path leads northwest up the side.
  
  > examine the debris
  The Phil scrabbles around in the ruins and eventually finds something...
  
  > search debris
  He sees nothing special about the tumbled stones.
  
  Predictably, the Phil's eyes water.
  
  > Inventory
  The Phil is carrying:
  a bow
  a rusty ring (to which are attached a red ribbon, a blue ribbon and
  a yellow ribbon)
  a purse
  five pennies
  a hat (being worn)
  a little card