text: [Themes: Espionage, supernatural, Evil protagonist]
  
  > Go downwards
  I make my way back down to the lounge, past rows of uninteresting
  guest rooms.
  
  The hotel's lounge is a maze of overstuffed leather chairs. Next to each one is a narrow table with an ashtray and an occasional discarded newspaper or magazine on it. A trolley with drinks sits at the ready against the far wall. Passages lie in all four cardinal directions. In addition, an ornate, sweeping staircase leads upward into the part of the hotel for guests. While the human guests are of little interest,
  my predecessor also kept a room here on one of the upper floors.
  
  The drunk sprawls nearby.
  
  The tourist sits off to one side.
  
  > pull the hatrack
  It is fixed in place.
  
  > Climb hatrack
  Little is to be achieved by that.
  
  > put candle on the hatrack
  The hatrack is the wrong shape for that.
  
  > put the explore on the hatrack
  I put the explore intent on the hatrack.
  
  > put the take on the hatrack
  I put the take intent on the hatrack.
  
  > get all
  take intent: Taken.
  explore intent: Taken.
  
  > examine the hatrack
  It's a little-known fact that humans sometimes wear hats, though
  nobody knows why. When they're not being worn, hats are often placed
  on a hatrack like this one. Not exactly like this one, of
  course, because this one is a spiritual object. The principle is the same, though.
  
  > check your inventory
  Intentions:
  the explore intent
  the take intent
  the drink intent
  the clean up intent
  the open intent
  the select intent
  the read intent
  the block intent
  the defend intent
  the serve intent
  the wait intent
  the sell intent
  the buy intent
  the warm intent
  
  Manners:
  the greedily manner
  the generously manner
  the seriously manner
  the aggressively manner
  the recklessly manner
  the slowly manner
  the lazily manner
  
  Codebooks:
  three confidential codebooks
  three secret codebooks
  two top secret codebooks
  
  Other possessions:
  a detector
  an intercepted communiqu??
  a bell
  the almanach
  a candle
  a wiretap
  
  > put open on the hatrack
  I put the open intent on the hatrack.
  
  > get all
  open intent: Taken.
  
  > examine the agent
  A human in a sharp black suit.
  
  > Go east
  The detector blinks briefly, indicating that I've moved into a new region of the compound.
  
  Humans flitter across this wide hallway, clumping into and breaking
  out of knots of intense, whispered intrigue. A table next to the
  double doors to the west is laden with delicate champagne flutes,
  which some of the humans stalking around the room are also
  brandishing. Nondescript oil paintings hang at regular intervals
  around the room. A small hallway leads south, and a wider passage
  leads east.
  
  There's a set of open double doors here leading west.
  
  The reporter surveils the crowd.
  
  > examine reporter
  A human carrying a notebook and wearing a press pass.
  
  The reporter asks one of the dignitaries some pointed questions.
  
  > look at the pass
  Although the human press (footnote 10) is often useful to us, I don't have much respect for its competence. This human, for example, has decided to wear a conspicuous badge declaring itself to be a reporter. The first rule of finding out secrets is to not wear a sign saying
  that you're trying to find out secrets.
  
  The reporter asks one of the dignitaries some pointed questions.
  
  > go south
  Diplomats fill this crowded room, sitting impatiently at a gigantic ring-shaped table. In front of each human is a miniature flag and a white placard bearing its name and title. A map of the world, elaborately drawn but completely devoid of any cities or borders or other political features, covers the far wall. The only exit from the room is to the north.
  
  The diplomats are considering a trade deal.
  
  A bottle of champagne sits to one side in a bucket of ice.
  
  The short diplomat takes another sip of champagne.
  
  I can also see the tall diplomat and the medium diplomat here.
  
  > Footnote 10
  (10) ...the human press: Human journalists, that is, not the
  machine we have to???well, use your imagination.
  
  > look at short
  Short, stocky, with excessive amounts of hair.
  
  The medium diplomat sniffs its champagne appreciatively.
  
  > look at the medium
  Non-distinctive, with rounded edges.
  
  The tall diplomat takes another sip of champagne.
  
  > look at tall
  Tall, thin, with awkward angles.
  
  The short diplomat takes another sip of champagne.
  
  > Go north
  Humans flitter across this wide hallway, clumping into and breaking
  out of knots of intense, whispered intrigue. A table next to the
  double doors to the west is laden with delicate champagne flutes,
  which some of the humans stalking around the room are also
  brandishing. Nondescript oil paintings hang at regular intervals
  around the room. A small hallway leads south, and a wider passage
  leads east.
  
  There's a set of open double doors here leading west.
  
  The reporter asks one of the dignitaries some pointed questions.
  
  > go east
  This spacious gallery is empty, though murmurs of conversation from
  the room to the west echo throughout the chamber. High, narrow windows around the circumference of the room cast orange light on the marble floor. An ornately carved archway leads east, next to which is a conspicuous black keypad. Plainer exits lead north and south.
  
  An ornate chandelier hangs from the ceiling.
  
  The burglar looks around with an appraising eye.
  
  > examine the burglar
  I can tell it's a burglar because it's wearing one of those masks.
  
  The burglar looks around with an appraising eye.
  
  > examine the mask
  The mask isn't subtle. In fairness to the burglar, though, it's almost certain that both the group he's working for and the group he's
  working against are aware of its presence here and are watching it closely.
  
  The burglar looks around with an appraising eye.
  
  > Go west
  Humans flitter across this wide hallway, clumping into and breaking
  out of knots of intense, whispered intrigue. A table next to the
  double doors to the west is laden with delicate champagne flutes,
  which some of the humans stalking around the room are also
  brandishing. Nondescript oil paintings hang at regular intervals
  around the room. A small hallway leads south, and a wider passage
  leads east.
  
  There's a set of open double doors here leading west.
  
  The reporter surveils the crowd.
  
  > get all
  drink intent: I extract the drink intent from the reporter.
  
  The reporter asks one of the dignitaries some pointed questions.
  
  > examine the earpiece
  Some sort of miniaturized technology that humans find impressive.
  
  The brute mutters something into its earpiece.
  
  > go to the north
  Judging from the pigeon-hole boxes filling the walls, I'm in the conference's mail room. The cubbyholes are mostly empty; I doubt anything important would be left out in the open anyway. For that, a metal storage locker stands in the corner, gleaming in the harsh fluorescent lights overhead. The only exit from the room is to the south.
  
  The hacker mopes around dejectedly.
  
  > examine the hacker
  person.
  
  The hacker mopes around dejectedly.
  
  > examine the equipment
  The equipment keeps the electricity in, or something. Look, I'm a lawyer and diplomat. My expertise is in the spiritual realm. The
  grubby business of electrons and photons and second quantization is better left to humans.
  
  The brute mutters something into its earpiece.
  
  > put the explore on hacker
  I give the explore intent to the hacker, who now intends to explore in search of another opportunity.
  
  The hacker walks off to the south.
  
  > Go south
  This spacious gallery is empty, though murmurs of conversation from
  the room to the west echo throughout the chamber. High, narrow windows around the circumference of the room cast orange light on the marble floor. An ornately carved archway leads east, next to which is a conspicuous black keypad. Plainer exits lead north and south.
  
  An ornate chandelier hangs from the ceiling.
  
  The hacker wanders morosely back to the north.
  
  The burglar looks around with an appraising eye.
  
  > Wait
  Time passes.
  
  The burglar looks around with an appraising eye.
  
  The hacker walks in from the north.
  
  > take the explore
  I extract the explore intent from the hacker.
  
  The burglar looks around with an appraising eye.
  
  The hacker lounges aimlessly.
  
  > put OPEN on hacker
  I give the open intent to the hacker, who now intends to open
  something it shouldn't.
  
  The burglar looks around with an appraising eye.
  
  The hacker lounges aimlessly.
  
  > put seriously on the hacker
  I give the seriously manner to the hacker, who now intends to
  seriously open something it shouldn't.
  
  The burglar looks around with an appraising eye.
  
  The hacker lounges aimlessly.
  
  > Wait
  Time passes.
  
  The burglar looks around with an appraising eye.
  
  The hacker lounges aimlessly.
  
  > take all
  seriously manner: I extract the seriously manner from the hacker.
  open intent: I extract the open intent from the hacker.
  
  The burglar looks around with an appraising eye.
  
  The hacker lounges aimlessly.
  
  > put the explore on burglar
  I give the explore intent to the burglar, who now intends to explore the area.
  
  The burglar wanders off to the west.
  
  The hacker lounges aimlessly.
  
  > go west
  Humans flitter across this wide hallway, clumping into and breaking
  out of knots of intense, whispered intrigue. A table next to the
  double doors to the west is laden with delicate champagne flutes,
  which some of the humans stalking around the room are also
  brandishing. Nondescript oil paintings hang at regular intervals
  around the room. A small hallway leads south, and a wider passage
  leads east.
  
  There's a set of open double doors here leading west.
  
  The burglar wanders off to the east.
  
  The reporter asks one of the dignitaries some pointed questions.
  
  > Wait
  Time passes.
  
  The reporter surveils the crowd.
  
  The burglar wanders in from the east.
  
  > take all
  explore intent: I extract the explore intent from the burglar.
  
  The reporter surveils the crowd.
  
  > go east
  This spacious gallery is empty, though murmurs of conversation from
  the room to the west echo throughout the chamber. High, narrow windows around the circumference of the room cast orange light on the marble floor. An ornately carved archway leads east, next to which is a conspicuous black keypad. Plainer exits lead north and south.
  
  An ornate chandelier hangs from the ceiling.
  
  The hacker lounges aimlessly.
  
  > go west
  Humans flitter across this wide hallway, clumping into and breaking
  out of knots of intense, whispered intrigue. A table next to the
  double doors to the west is laden with delicate champagne flutes,
  which some of the humans stalking around the room are also
  brandishing. Nondescript oil paintings hang at regular intervals
  around the room. A small hallway leads south, and a wider passage
  leads east.
  
  There's a set of open double doors here leading west.
  
  The burglar stands off to one side of the room, looking around carefully.
  
  The reporter makes some notes.
  
  > put the drink and recklessly on the reporter
  drink intent: I give the drink intent to the reporter, who now vaguely intends to drink.
  recklessly manner: I give the recklessly manner to the reporter, but
  it doesn't have much effect.
  
  > take all
  recklessly manner: I extract the recklessly manner from the reporter. drink intent: I extract the drink intent from the reporter.
  
  The reporter asks one of the dignitaries some pointed questions.
  
  > look at the paintings
  I'm aware of the contradiction in describing them as nondescript, but it's the best I can do. They're unambitious portraits of unambitious humans.
  
  The reporter asks one of the dignitaries some pointed questions.
  
  > Go west
  The detector blinks briefly, indicating that I've moved into a new region of the compound.
  
  This small lawn runs between the hotel toward the southwest and the squat building to the east. It is trim and spartan, with no ornamentation aside from the tall hedges forming its boundary. They also block the breeze coming in off the sea, so the air here is warm and still.
  
  There's a set of open double doors here leading east.
  
  The agent stands next to the doors.
  
  > put recklessly on the agent
  I give the recklessly manner to the agent, taking the seriously manner in exchange.
  
  > examine the agent
  A human in a sharp black suit.
  
  > EXPLORE
  .
  
  > take all
  recklessly manner: I extract the recklessly manner from the agent. explore intent: I extract the explore intent from the agent.
  
  > Inventory
  Intentions:
  the explore intent
  the drink intent
  the open intent
  the take intent
  the clean up intent
  the select intent
  the read intent
  the block intent
  the defend intent
  the serve intent
  the wait intent
  the sell intent
  the buy intent
  the warm intent
  
  Manners:
  the recklessly manner
  the seriously manner
  the greedily manner
  the generously manner
  the aggressively manner
  the slowly manner
  the lazily manner
  
  Codebooks:
  three confidential codebooks
  three secret codebooks
  two top secret codebooks
  
  Other possessions:
  a detector
  an intercepted communiqu??
  a bell
  the almanach
  a candle
  a wiretap
  
  > take all
  recklessly manner: I extract the recklessly manner from the agent. defend intent: I extract the defend intent from the agent.
  
  > put the serve on the agent
  I give the serve intent to the agent, who now vaguely intends to
  serve.
  
  > put the clean up on the agent
  I give the clean up intent to the agent, taking the serve intent in exchange. It now vaguely intends to clean up.
  
  > take clean
  I extract the clean up intent from the agent.
  
  > examine the puddle
  The ice sculpture has melted into a large and mystically ineffective puddle.
  
  The bellhop stands near the entrance, looking nervous.
  
  > take puddle
  As a demon, I can only manipulate spiritual objects, not physical
  ones.
  
  > examine the bellhop
  It's wearing a red uniform with one of those ridiculous hats.
  
  The bellhop stands near the entrance, looking nervous.
  
  > check your inventory
  Intentions:
  the clean up intent
  the serve intent
  the defend intent
  the explore intent
  the drink intent
  the open intent
  the take intent
  the select intent
  the read intent
  the block intent
  the wait intent
  the sell intent
  the buy intent
  the warm intent
  
  Manners:
  the recklessly manner
  the seriously manner
  the greedily manner
  the generously manner
  the aggressively manner
  the slowly manner
  the lazily manner
  
  Codebooks:
  three confidential codebooks
  three secret codebooks
  two top secret codebooks
  
  Other possessions:
  a detector
  an intercepted communiqu??
  a bell
  the almanach
  a candle
  a wiretap
  
  > show candle to Kingfisher
  It's a violation of my organization's charter, as well as several important treaties, to offer any assistance to Kingfisher.
  
  > throw candle at Kingfisher
  There are better ways of attacking Kingfisher. I should know; if there's one thing Hell's good at, it's retributive violence. It's practically in our charter.
  
  > Light Kingfisher
  Aside from the geopolitical risks that brawling with Kingfisher would invite, trying to attack him with my rudimentary fire-starting abilities would be like trying to burn down a mountain with a match.
  If he's on a mission from the Other Side, he's undoubtedly heavily armed.
  
  > Light hatrack
  I toss a couple of smoky flames at the hatrack, to little effect.
  
  > put the wiretap on the hatrack
  The hatrack is the wrong shape for that.
  
  > Burn hatrack
  I toss a couple of spiteful flames at the hatrack, to little effect.
  
  > continue
  I toss a couple of sputtering flames at the hatrack, to little effect.
  
  > Light candle
  I hesitate before lighting the candle. The ritual and ensuing conversation would go completely unnoticed by humans, but I want to keep far away from Kingfisher during them. I'd better find a more private location.
  
  > examine the communique
  Confirmed neutralization of Krait. There is no significant opposition remaining in the target area. The action has been authorized. Assist the delegations and ensure that the conference concludes successfully as quickly as possible. Cardinal is standing by. We will act immediately on the broadcast.
  
  > Spin detector
  The detector is silent. There must not be any unattained codebooks nearby.
  
  > examine bed
  It must be frustrating for mortals to spend a third of their limited life span unconscious.
  
  > examine the desk
  An ordinary hotel desk with a dark veneer.