text: [Themes: Mystery, blood, coming of age, horror, female protagonist, mystery]
  
  > Go downward
  Riggertown, Lower Level
  This peculiarly goblin neighborhood bristles with mechanical-chymical detritus. There are twisty catwalks made for childlike feet, and sheet-metal shacks you must stoop to enter. Here and there in the shadow of the upper landing, neon lamps glow and windchimes tinkle like laughter.
  
  You can climb a ladder up to the next level, wander among the shacks to the west, or cross the canal east by way of Cadaver Walk.
  
  > go to the west
  One shack among the others catches your attention. You enter cautiously...
  
  This tiny hovel is visibly shabbier than the rest. The roof is uncomfortably low, and the space just a little too cramped to stand in. A pile of bedding dominates the only room, draped in dirty clothing and empty wine bottles.
  
  The only exit is to the east.
  
  You notice some paper tickets scattered among the wine bottles.
  
  > examine the bottles
  The labels denote shoddy liquor, third-pressed or fourth-pressed. It's charitable to call it wine at all.
  
  > examine the tickets
  Upon closer examination, they appear to be coupons from an establishment called the "Crow's Nest," located in the rooftops of the Shanty Quarter. Five coupons entitle the holder to a free drink and a spin of the "Daemon's Wheel."
  
  > take tickets
  Taken.
  
  > look at the bedding
  It's messy and unmade.
  
  > look at the clothing
  The clothing is crumpled and dirty, but otherwise unmarked. They smell like their owner has been wading around in canal-water.
  
  > J.
  Fifth of Aquaria, Auritum IV
  
  I've made my choice. I have a job to do -- and I'm going to finish it.
  
  Current objectives:
  
  - Investigate the victims of the disease and identify the transmission vector
  
  - Go to the Shanty Quarter and investigate the Crow's Nest pub
  
  - Investigate the note in the 'Piper' file about the Shanty Quarter
  
  - Find a way to convince the bouncer to let you into the Crow's Nest
  
  Marid's notes:
  
  - I learned that the disease is unlikely to be airborne.
  - I learned that the disease can be transmitted by ingestion.
  - I learned that the disease is bloodborne and attacks the animus, or the soul.
  
  - I learned that Reden was once a Channelworks worker, and it reminded me that his clothes were unusually wet when he stumbled into Doctor Cavala's clinic.
  - I learned that Reden frequented a rooftop pub in the Shanty Quarter called the Crow's Nest.
  - I remember that Reden died on the night of the Third, two days ago.
  
  - I learned that Doctor Arturus was in debt, and the Trading Company was involved.
  - I found a coffee table set for three in Doctor Arturus's home. According to Justinian, one of the wineglasses had been broken by a guest.
  - I found that Doctor Arturus rushed through his patient record files for some reason, leaving them unfinished.
  - I found that the gloves on Doctor Arturus's body were brand new. He couldn't have been infected through his hands if he had been wearing them.
  - I learned that Doctor Arturus died sometime between last night, on the Fourth, and this morning, on the Fifth.
  
  - I learned that Creditor Nacarat was killed by something he ingested. - I learned that Creditor Nacarat was connected to the Trading Company.
  - I learned that Creditor Nacarat could have hired Sal and Piper recently.
  - I learned that Creditor Nacarat was taking tea with Doctor Arturus when his symptoms emerged, and he broke a piece of tableware as a result.
  - I learned that Creditor Nacarat was admitted to the clinic on the afternoon of the Third, two days ago.
  - I learned that Creditor Nacarat died on the night of that day.
  
  - I learned that Sal and Piper were connected to the Trading Company. - I found a list of names that suggested Piper had been collecting debts. The reverse side of the paper had been intentionally blanked out.
  - I found a battered keyring on Sal's belt.
  - I found a note in Piper's patient record that read "cellar in f.h. shanty quarter."
  - I learned that Piper was killed by something she ingested.
  - I learned that Sal and Piper were admitted to the clinic on the morning of the Third, two days ago.
  - I learned that both Sal and Piper died on the night of that day.
  
  - I learned that the raven is the symbol of the Greater Corindia Trading Company, a criminal syndicate.
  - I'm in the mood for a drink...
  - I hope Doctor Cavala and Horatio will be all right at the clinic...
  
  This tiny hovel is visibly shabbier than the rest. The roof is uncomfortably low, and the space just a little too cramped to stand in. A pile of bedding dominates the only room, draped in dirty clothing and empty wine bottles.
  
  The only exit is to the east.
  
  > look at the roof
  You don't think whoever lived here got many human visitors. Or many visitors, for that matter.
  
  > Go east
  You emerge from the shack...
  
  Riggertown, Lower Level
  This peculiarly goblin neighborhood bristles with mechanical-chymical detritus. There are twisty catwalks made for childlike feet, and sheet-metal shacks you must stoop to enter. Here and there in the shadow of the upper landing, neon lamps glow and windchimes tinkle like laughter.
  
  You can climb a ladder up to the next level, visit Reden's shack to the west, or cross the canal east by way of Cadaver Walk.
  
  > Go east
  You are on a bridge, if it can be called that: a haphazard assortment of ropes, planks, chains, warning signs, layers upon layers bound up in incomprehensible knots. Below the lines trail where they have snapped and never been repaired, and the Bilious Canal gobbles them up as they descend.
  
  Riggertown is to the west, while the Shanty Quarter is to the east.
  
  > Go east
  You take a deep breath.
  You take a deep breath.## Shanty Quarter
  A labyrinthine morass of concrete and claustrophobia. You know this place better now that you've seen the worst of it -- you know which paths to take, which alleys to avoid -- but there is a horror here that sinks its teeth into you, and does not let go.
  
  Tangled rope ladders lead up and down. A crumbling flophouse lies to the east. Somewhere to the north is the Via Mercurii, and to the west, Cadaver Walk.
  
  > go east
  This place was once a beautiful townhouse; now it is a ruin. The walls have been stripped of their furnishings, leaving bone-white plaster and rotting wood. Vagrants sleep on the stairs or in the corridors, curled up in makeshift bedding and soused with laudanum or alcohol.
  
  To the west is the exit. To the south, a passageway leads to the rooms.
  
  In the reception office, a nightmarish many-armed creature crouches, and pores obsessively over an assortment of keys.
  
  > examine creature
  There's something deeply unnatural about the way it moves. You have to look away before you get a headache.
  
  > talk to the creature
  "E-Excuse me?" you say.
  
  The creature freezes. It rears up, bringing undulating folds of flesh to bear, and it fixes you with seven unblinking eyes.
  to bear, and it fixes you with seven unblinking eyes."I am,"
  it says. "Landlord."
  it says. "Landlord."A clatter. It has dropped its keys -- it
  rushes forth like an engulfing wave. Its eyes surround you, press inward.
  inward."You are," it breathes. "You are?"
  
  1) <Panic.>
  2) "Please get away from me."
  3) "My name is Marid. Servator Marid Orpheia."
  
  > 3
  "M-My name is Marid," you stutter. "Serva... Servator Marid Orpheia."
  
  "Hmmmmmm."
  
  The creature lowers itself close. It inspects your neck. A wriggling presence touches your hair, your ear.
  presence touches your hair, your ear.Then it withdraws, and collects its keys from the floor.
  
  "You are not resident," it says, in a tone that sounds almost disappointed. "You are not key-bearer."
  
  1) "No. I'm not."
  2) "Who are the residents?"
  3) "What's a key-bearer?"
  4) "You operate this establishment?"
  5) "Actually, I have some keys right here." <Present the battered keyring.>
  6) "Okay... I'll be going now."
  
  > 3
  "What's a key-bearer?"
  
  The landlord licks its beak. "Key. Key important. Bearer of key? Key-bearer. Owner of room."
  
  1) "Who are the residents?"
  2) "You operate this establishment?"
  3) "Are you sure I'm not a key-bearer?" <Present the battered keyring.>
  4) "I'll come back later."
  
  > 3
  "Are you sure I'm not a key-bearer?"
  
  You hold up the keyring. The landlord rushes up to you, quivering, scrutinizing the keys from all directions.
  scrutinizing the keys from all directions.There is an uncomfortably long pause.
  long pause."Strange," it says at last. "Right key. Wrong
  person."
  
  1) "The owner of the keyring is dead. I'm investigating his
  death."
  2) "The keyring was given to me by the previous owner."
  3) "I have the keyring now. Does it matter who it used to belong
  to?"
  
  > 1
  "The owner of the keyring is dead. I'm investigating his death."
  
  The landlord's tentacles coil around your arm, cradling the keyring, and you suppress the urge to shudder.
  
  "Maybe," it says. "Maybe you lie. Maybe you thief."
  "Maybe," it says. "Maybe you lie. Maybe you
  thief."It exhales wetly, and recedes. Saliva runs from its beak
  and strikes the floor with a hiss.
  
  "Conundrum. Compromise. You have key? Tell which room. Correct,
  you enter. Wrong, you leave. Yes?"
  you enter. Wrong, you leave. Yes?""Um..."
  
  1) "The key unlocks the first room."
  2) "The key unlocks the second room."
  3) "The key unlocks the third room."
  4) "The key unlocks the fourth room -- the cellar."
  5) "That seems like an overly arbitrary way to decide."
  6) "I don't know which room this unlocks."
  
  > 4
  "The key unlocks the fourth room -- the cellar."
  
  The landlord regards you wordlessly, and your lips feel suddenly dry. You're no longer quite so sure about your guess --
  
  You're no longer quite so sure about your guess --"You see."
  
  You're no longer quite so sure about your guess --"You see."A
  crescent opens up in the landlord's body, a ring of grinning white teeth. "You see. You know."
  
  teeth. "You see. You know."Then it says a word that doesn't
  -- doesn't quite register in your mind. Your head feels fuzzy
  for a second, and you -- you blink --
  
  for a second, and you -- you blink ---- Where did that
  trapdoor come from?
  
  trapdoor come from?There's a trapdoor to the south where there was carpet just moments ago. It's cut into the floor, with a half-eaten ladder descending into darkness.
  
  ladder descending into darkness.And the landlord...
  
  ladder descending into darkness.And the landlord...The landlord is gone. There's no one there. The office is empty.