text: > describe your surroundings
  Aarkland (End of Village Road)
  This old road, coming from the village, runs north to the edge of the forest. Alongside it to the west is the rushing water of the river Aarkland. The river flows through the forest and divides it in two: To the east is the old forest, and to the west is the forbidden forest.
  
  Few people use the road these days, and it is all but overtaken by grass and brush. A seemingly endless field stretches out to the east. Between the swaying grass and the road, a few deformed bushes prepare to invade what remains of the road. A short distance to the southeast is a pile of stones. The stones are barely visible above the grass.
  
  The Aarkland river flows past as always.
  
  The deformed bushes seem to reach for Lornedei as she walks by.
  
  > Go east
  Aarkland (Billowing Field)
  
  Deini is here.
  Lornedei glances up at you, uncertain.
  
  > go east
  No, there is nothing but the field as far as the eye can see and then the ocean beyond. Today is not the day to make that trip. The river is west and the unholy stones are to the south.
  Deini plunks her behind down and starts attacking an itchy spot on her leg with her front teeth.
  
  > examine Tree
  There is nothing she can do from where she is. She will have to get closer.
  
  > Inventory
  Lornedei's magic is currently at 75.
  Lornedei is carrying:
  a leather rucksack (being worn)
  a loaf of horrid bread
  a piece of cheese
  a handful of white berries
  
  > go inside
  No, she can go east to the field, southeast to the unholy stones, or enter the river to the west.
  
  > go west
  In the River (By the Road)
  Lornedei tightens her sandals and checks her rucksack, making sure it is closed tight before entering the river. She steps carefully down the slippery slope and through the parting rushes and reeds. Something squawks at her but it is gone before she can see it. When her feet lose contact with the bottom, she floats and lets the remaining hesitation float away with the invisible currents below.
  The river runs from north to south. Ahead of her, the glittering water becomes shaded by the two forests. The forbidden forest on the left and the still green old forest on the right. The river disappears out of sight perhaps a hundred paces into the tunnel of trees, water, and shadows. The dusty road is east, where she can get out of the water. She can also dive down to the bottom of the river.
  
  > Dive
  She dives down.
  
  River Bottom (Here be Sand)
  A magical world reveals itself. The river continues north. The bottom is mostly composed of sand, rocks, some mud, and quickly fleeing fish. All kinds of things have been thrown in the river from the road and are now resting under a layer of sand until the end of time. The river continues north.
  
  > catch the fish
  Lornedei looks puzzled. She seems not to understand your command.
  
  > go to the north
  Lornedei digs through some of the mud but there doesn't seem to be anything of interest down there.
  
  River Bottom (At the Cave Entrance)
  The bottom is littered with rocks. There are piles of them of varying sizes, washed clean by the constant flow of water. Around the sides of the opening into the cave, a few colonies of a slimy and sickly green plant have managed to make a home. They sway back and forth in the current while clinging desperately to the rocks. The opening leads northwest into a cave and south takes her back around the river bend. Her lungs are starting to ache. She will have to go to the surface soon!
  
  > Go east
  She can't get out of the river that way. She can go back south along the river or down to the bottom.
  
  > Green
  The leaves are fine just the way they are. I'm sure Lornedei would agree.
  A dry black leaf drops from the forbidden forest into the water right in front of Lornedei. It bobs up and down a couple of times before it floats away downstream.
  
  > get the black leaf
  Lornedei grabs one of the black leaves in the nearest cluster of leaves and twists it loose. The leaf, being as long as her middle finger, falls to its side in her palm. The curved inside of the leaf suddenly fills with a hideous mush that swells and boils as she watches. Flesh grows and shapes itself in the shell into an insect's body. The mush is white with brown and dark red streaks. The nasty mess is swirling around inside the leaf, forming the flesh bit by bit. The shiny wetness dries quickly once the beetle's body takes form inside its shell. A thin purple layer finally covers the belly. Six black legs pop out through the newly formed glittering layer of skin. It takes only a moment for them to start moving around. Another pop forces a wriggling head out and the insect is near completion. The bug grows at a furious pace and finally it extrudes a pair of black antennae that unfold until they're as long, if not longer, than the entire beetle.
  
  Lornedei turns the beetle over. It stays nearly motionless in her hand. The long antennae, shivering slightly, carefully touch the outline of the hand holding it, the sensitive inside of Lornedei's wrist, the sleeve of her shirt. The beetle seems satisfied with its new master.
  
  > put it in the backpack
  That makes very little sense. Try something else.
  
  > go east
  Lornedei drags herself up on the east bank, steps carefully over the slippery rocks and into the old forest.
  
  Leaving the river behind her, she stops a moment to rest. In the cool shade she is surrounded by the comforting whispers of life. Leaning against a big tree, she silently watches the river. She does not notice the small brown shape rushing down the tree until it uses her shoulder as a springboard. It propels itself outward from there, sprints across the trail, and vanishes among the trees before Lornedei's gasp of surprise changes into a scream. With her shoulders relaxing again she looks for the squirrel among the trees, but it has already moved on to somewhere else. She clears her throat and glances up at you.
  "Just a stupid squirrel."
  A narrow path leads east into the forest. All is still. The old forest surrounds her.
  
  The glittering water of the Aarkland can be seen through the trees to the west.
  
  > go east
  After the walk through the dark forest, she is surprised to suddenly step into a big clearing. She stops just beyond the tree line to look around.
  The clearing is perfectly round and it's surrounded by the old forest in all directions. A giant oak tree stands in solitude a short distance into the hall of trees, separated from the wall of birch, ash, silver pine and the myriad of other plants growing there. The barely visible path through the forest is to the west.
  
  An old urn sits in the grass next to the big oak.
  
  > examine Oak
  (the giant oak)
  The giant oak stands proud and enormous, shading a big part of the clearing with its outstretched limbs with their dense foliage. The first big branch reaches out far above Lornedei's head. Craning her neck, she still cannot see the highest branches.
  All she can see is something glittering green far above. To see what's behind the big tree she'll have to go around to the northwest or the northeast.
  
  > examine urn
  It's an old bronze urn as long as your lower arm and as wide as your neck. The outside is covered with symbols whose meaning has long since been forgotten.
  
  > look in the urn
  The old tarnished bronze urn is empty.
  
  > reach Oak
  (the giant oak)
  The tree fades away before Lornedei's inner sight. For a moment there is nothing but a shimmering mist all around, but then three shapes appear in the distance. They are trees. This she is sure of. Giant trees. They are somehow out of focus and no matter how she strains, they remain that way. The only thing clear about the shapes is the color of the mist surrounding them. They are surrounded by green, black, and gold. Suddenly the golden tree fades, leaving the mist behind. The black tree grows, and the green one appears to cower under it. Lornedei's vision fades.
  
  Lornedei's magic drops by one.
  
  > take urn
  As you wish.
  
  > go to the northeast
  Hall of Elevation (Behind the Oak)
  Lornedei walks around the enormous tree. The giant oak's shadow has all but starved everything growing on the ground behind it.
  She is standing between the big oak and the dense forest. Southeast or southwest will take her back to the open clearing. Steps are cut in the big oak.
  
  An old water sack lies against the trunk. Someone must have left it here recently.
  
  A dead rabbit lies next to the tree.
  
  She can also see a small dented silver plate (which is empty) here.
  
  > examine the sack
  It's a small water sack with a wooden cork and a leather strap to tie to a belt. It seems to be in good shape.
  
  > look at the rabbit
  Someone has recently hunted and killed this rabbit, probably using a snare of some sort. The little furry thing is still fresh and edible.
  
  > examine the plate
  It is a somewhat dented silver dish. One side returns a distorted but clear image of the holder.
  
  > take all
  small water sack: As you wish.
  dead rabbit: As you wish.
  small dented silver plate: As you wish.
  Lornedei is waiting for your command.
  
  > go upwards
  Hall of Elevation (In the Giant Oak)
  A soft warm breeze catches Lornedei's hair when she finally reaches a branch. It is, in fact, the first branch she gets to and the only one she can reach. It's as thick as a well-fed pig and she swings one leg over it. She ends up sitting with her face towards the trunk. Above her is an enormous and glittering green ceiling that is the crown of the oak.
  
  She looks up. The endless movements of the countless leaves trick her into swaying with them. That is, until she nearly loses her balance. She grabs the branch and focuses instead on the unmoving trunk. A pale shadow of a smile touches her lips when she quickly glances up at you. The shadow of the big oak trembles on the ground below. The far end of the branch Lornedei is sitting on seems to disappear in a gray mist. The other two branches on this level are just as unreachable for her as the limbs higher up.
  
  In the trunk in front of her, three holes are lined up in a tidy row. They are apparently inhabited by some kind of worm. She can climb down or go north along the branch.
  A fat blue worm quickly crawls over to the third hole.
  
  The beetle scrambles out of its confinement. It sits motionless but trembling on Lornedei's shoulder, making a strange hissing noise.
  
  After a moment of that, it scrambles down to the branch, utters that strange hissing again, louder this time. One of the worms sticks its head out and hisses back at the beetle. It makes a very hasty retreat back in the hole though.
  
  > examine the first hole
  Three holes, neatly in a row, can be seen in the trunk. Apparently worms live there.
  The beetle hisses at the worms. The yellow worm shows its head and hisses back.
  Suddenly, all the worms crawl out of their holes. In an instant they're all relocated. The yellow worm drags its chunk of wood into its new home.
  
  > look at the yellow worm
  "I Cannot see as long as it is hiding in the hole Master."
  The beetle hisses at the worms. The yellow worm shows its head and hisses back.
  
  > look in the third hole
  "I can see something blue in there, Oh, dear! It has teeth.
  The beetle hisses at the worms. The yellow worm shows its head and hisses back.
  
  > look in the second hole
  "There is something yellow and squirmy in there."
  The beetle hisses at the worms. The yellow worm shows its head and hisses back.
  Suddenly, all the worms crawl out of their holes. In an instant they're all relocated. The yellow worm drags its chunk of wood into its new home.
  
  > reach the yellow worm
  "Ahum! Interesting idea, but I think it would make me sick."
  
  The beetle hisses at the worms. The yellow worm shows its head and hisses back.
  
  > put Beetle in the first hole
  She needs to be holding the big black beetle before she can put it into something else.
  The beetle hisses at the worms. The yellow worm shows its head and hisses back.
  A shiny red worm squirms its way over to the first hole.
  A skinny yellow worm quickly pops out of its hole and disappears into the third hole. In its path, it drops tiny pieces of wood that scatter in the breeze.
  
  > take Beetle
  The beetle crawls up in her hand.
  A fat blue worm quickly pops out of its hole and disappears into the second hole.
  Suddenly, all the worms come out of their holes. They crawl over each other in a haste to switch habitats. In an instant they're all back in their chosen holes.
  The beetle hisses at the worms. The yellow worm shows its head and hisses back.
  
  > put Beetle in the first hole
  The beetle rushes into the first hole. After a while, it comes out again with the fat blue worm in its jaw.
  A shiny red worm squirms its way over to the first hole.
  The beetle hisses at the worms. The yellow worm shows its head and hisses back.
  
  > take the blue worm
  As you wish.
  A skinny yellow worm quickly pops out of its hole and disappears into the third hole. In its path, it drops tiny pieces of wood that scatter in the breeze.
  The beetle hisses at the worms. The yellow worm shows its head and hisses back.
  
  > take Beetle
  The beetle is already with her.
  A skinny yellow worm carefully checks Lornedei out. It drops into the second hole, dragging a chunk of wood in with it.
  The beetle hisses at the worms. The yellow worm shows its head and hisses back.
  
  > put Beetle in the first hole
  The beetle rushes into the first hole. After a while, it comes out again with the shiny red worm in its jaw.
  The beetle hisses at the worms. The yellow worm shows its head and hisses back.
  
  > take the red worm
  As you wish.
  The beetle hisses at the worms. The yellow worm shows its head and hisses back.
  
  > take Beetle
  The beetle is already with her.
  A skinny yellow worm quickly pops out of its hole and disappears into the third hole. In its path, it drops tiny pieces of wood that scatter in the breeze.
  The beetle hisses at the worms. The yellow worm shows its head and hisses back.
  
  > put Beetle in the third hole
  The beetle rushes into the third hole. After a while, it comes out again with the skinny yellow worm in its jaw.
  
  > look at the yellow worm
  The worm is as long as a mans foot from toes to heel, as thick as the middle toe on that same foot and canary yellow. At each end of the somewhat slimy body sits a head. It has no eyes, only two mouths. Each mouth opens and closes in turns, when one is open the other is closed, revealing several rows of very small but razor sharp teeth.
  When one mouth closes and almost disappears in the stubby face, the other end opens its mouth and starts attacking the other end, biting it furiously until it seems to be satisfied and it turns away from its other self for a while.
  After some time the procedure repeats itself with the tables turned.
  
  > put Beetle in the third hole
  The trusty little bug rushes into the hole but comes out right away. It quickly examines the other two holes but when there's nothing more to find, it crawls back into Lornedei's hand.
  
  > Inventory
  Lornedei's magic is currently at 74.
  Lornedei is carrying:
  a skinny yellow worm
  a shiny red worm
  a fat blue worm
  a large black beetle (Fluffing up its wings at the moment.)
  a small dented silver plate
  a dead rabbit
  a small water sack (which is open but empty)
  an old tarnished bronze urn
  a small gray plaque
  a leather rucksack (being worn)
  a loaf of horrid bread
  a piece of cheese
  a handful of white berries
  
  > reach the yellow worm
  "Ahum! Interesting idea, but I think it would make me sick."
  
  > examine the red worm
  The worm is as long as a mans foot from toes to heel, as thick as the big toe on that same foot and deep red. On each end of the squirming shiny body sits a head. It has no eyes. Each mouth opens and closes in turns, when one is open the other is closed, revealing several rows of very small but razor sharp teeth.
  When one mouth closes and almost disappears in the stubby face, the other end opens its mouth and starts attacking the other end, biting it furiously until it seems to be satisfied and it turns away from its other self for a while.
  After some time the procedure repeats itself with the tables turned.
  
  > Go north
  Lornedei makes her way along the wide branch. The fog rises to meet her as she steps into it. For a dizzying moment, she can see nothing at all. Then she is passed the moment of blindness and steps into another one, different but possibly more disturbing. She is surrounded by a wall of mist. The clearing is gone, the light dim and nondescript, and the sounds muffled and distant.
  
  There is nothing but a slightly greenish mist all around her. Even the ground is nothing but greenish vapor. Lornedei turns around like in a dream.
  "I am tired Master. So tired. Everything seems to be spinning.
  There is something here. Something that drains my powers. I cannot stay in here for too long."
  Lornedei's magic drops by one.
  
  > reach the mist
  "My mind feels weak Master. Something is draining me and there is nothing I can do. It feels like everything is spinning."
  Lornedei's magic drops by one.
  
  > Sleep
  Lornedei lies down.
  "I should not Master. But everything is spinning."
  "The mist is"
  
  > Keep going
  "spinning."
  
  > Keep going
  You watch the girl as she struggles to wake up. You wait.
  "Father?", she mumbles in a dream where you cannot reach her.
  
  > Continue
  "Raccdaha, NO! Stop!"
  She moves in her sleep. Occasionally a hand touches one of the stones and she pulls it back as if it burns. Her face is full of agony.
  
  > keep going
  She wakes up with a scream. She looks sick. She scrambles off the pile of stones on her hands and knees.
  Moving away from the unholy. She sits in the grass staring at her surroundings.
  "Umpffp" she says. You have no reply to that. She looks up at you and opens her mouth to say something but she keeps silent and looks away. Eventually, she stands up. She gives the stone pile a strange look and then suddenly she is calm, but distant. She stares into space while chewing on her hair.
  
  Aarkland (On the Unholy Stones)
  
  "Buzz! Dear oh dear." Lornedei looks down all of a sudden and points to the ground. "Oh, silly girl, rude you are. Put that finger away!" Lornedei quickly puts her finger in her mouth and starts chewing on it instead as her gaze wanders. The firefly crawls up from under one of the rocks. "Oh, dear, bad you are little girl. I see you have met a minion of Raccdaha girl. Oh dear." the fly lifts off and starts buzzing around Lornedei's head. Lornedei tries to follow the flight, turning and turning, but she gets dizzy and shuts her eyes, giggling uncontrollably. "Wake up Girl; this is not good, not at all." the fly charges and hits Lornedei between the eyes. *WHACK* Lornedei blinks but nothing happens. "Oh, dear. Well worry you should not Girl. The sleepwalker is no real harm unless it holds you too long in its dream. I must be off now. Perhaps your god can wake you up." the fly disappears with a pop and a flash.
  
  > look at her
  I'm not sure who you mean by her. Deini? You may need to use her name instead of just "her".
  
  > examine Lornedei
  Your young follower looks confused. She seems not to notice her surroundings. The dreamy look in her blue eyes is worrying. She is constantly looking over her shoulder or staring into a distant nothing. The look on her face however, tells you that she really does not know why she does it. Her mind wanders as if still in a dream.
  everything she is wearing is now soaking wet. Her hair hangs in wet stripes over her shoulders and her sandals make funny shlurp-sounds for every step.
  
  > Inventory
  Lornedei's magic is currently at 72.
  Lornedei is carrying:
  a skinny yellow worm
  a shiny red worm
  a fat blue worm
  a large black beetle (Fluffing up its wings at the moment.)
  a small dented silver plate
  a dead rabbit
  a small water sack (which is open but empty)
  an old tarnished bronze urn
  a small gray plaque
  a leather rucksack (being worn)
  a loaf of horrid bread
  a piece of cheese
  a handful of white berries
  
  > wake the ld
  Lornedei shakes her head. For one short moment, she is looking at you. Seeing you, but then her eyes start to wander again.
  
  > wake her
  (Lornedei)
  Lornedei makes an effort to clear her mind. She rubs her eyes and drags her fingers through her hair. She even gives herself a slap in the face.
  "Ouch!" She looks at you. Then she gets distracted by a spot of dirt on her arm and she is gone again.
  
  > examine the plate
  It is a somewhat dented silver dish. One side returns a distorted but clear image of the holder.
  
  > look in the plate
  Lornedei takes a good look at her own reflection in the plate. She seems disturbed by what she sees.
  "Who is that Master?"
  
  > About yourself
  You are The almighty, the last of the Gods. Your wish is Lornedei's command and she will do as you ask if it is possible.
  
  When she was born you managed to give her, as your chosen one, the power to heal and to reach into things with her mind. She is young though and you must show her the way. You might be a god but you are not much more than a vague presence in this world.
  
  > give the rabbit to Deini
  The hungry wolf snatches the rabbit from Lornedei's hand and sinks her teeth into the body. It is not a pretty sight and Lornedei looks away as the wolf eats. The wolf seems quite satisfied after that meal and Lornedei has gained a friend.
  
  Suddenly the wolf turns around and runs off in the grass. She seems to be searching for something specific and Lornedei waits. After a while, she comes back. Between her teeth is a bone, gnawed clean of meat. She drops the bone at Lornedei's feet, looking proud of her find.
  
  Lornedei pats Deini on the head.
  "Smart doggy."
  
  [Your holiness has just gone up by five.]
  
  > reach the bone
  There seems to be nothing beyond what the eye can see.
  Deini gets in front of Lornedei but the girl just gives her a distracted pat on the head.
  
  > look at the bone
  As far as Lornedei can gather, it's a bone from a dear's leg. It has plenty of bite marks on it so this might have been one of Deini's unfortunate preys.
  
  > throw the bone
  Your wish is her command.
  
  > follow you
  Lornedei pats the wolf on the head.
  "Nice doggy."
  
  > Go east
  No, there is nothing but the field as far as the eye can see and then the ocean beyond. Today is not the day to make that trip. The river is west and the unholy stones are to the south.
  The wolf tires of Lornedei and pretends to sleep for a bit.
  
  > go west
  Aarkland (End of Village Road)
  
  The Aarkland river flows past as always.
  
  The deformed bushes seem to reach for Lornedei as she walks by.
  
  > fill the sack with the water
  Don't bother asking her to fill anything right now. She can do that from any location that is close to the river.
  
  > fill the sack with the water
  She fills the small water sack with river water.
  
  > Close sack
  She closes the small water sack.
  
  > Inventory
  Lornedei's magic is currently at 72.
  Lornedei is carrying:
  a bone
  a skinny yellow worm
  a shiny red worm
  a fat blue worm
  a large black beetle (Taking a nap at the moment.)
  a small dented silver plate
  a small water sack (which is closed)
  plenty of river water
  an old tarnished bronze urn
  a small gray plaque
  a leather rucksack (being worn)
  a loaf of horrid bread
  a piece of cheese
  a handful of white berries
  
  > put the yellow worm in the urn
  She drops the skinny yellow worm into the old tarnished bronze urn.
  
  > put the red worm in the urn
  She drops the shiny red worm into the old tarnished bronze urn.
  
  > put the blue worm in the urn
  She drops the fat blue worm into the old tarnished bronze urn.
  
  > check your inventory
  Lornedei's magic is currently at 72.
  Lornedei is carrying:
  a bone
  a large black beetle (Airing out its shell at the moment.)
  a small dented silver plate
  a small water sack (which is closed)
  plenty of river water
  an old tarnished bronze urn
  a fat blue worm
  a shiny red worm
  a skinny yellow worm
  a small gray plaque
  a leather rucksack (being worn)
  a loaf of horrid bread
  a piece of cheese
  a handful of white berries
  
  > Go west
  No, there is no way into the forbidden forest along the river. She will have to find another way to get there. She can go north, south, or east into the old forest.
  A dry black leaf drops from the forbidden forest into the water right in front of Lornedei. It bobs up and down a couple of times before it floats away downstream.