text: > Look around
  If the rest of the casino is a place of leisure, this lair is a place of business. Shark-faced humans in formal attire loom over tables playing some incomprehensible card game, accepting both wins and
  losses with aloof detachment. Aside from a desultory appreciative or sympathetic murmur from onlookers following a particularly involved hand, the room has the quiet intensity of an art museum. Whorls of cigarette smoke drift across the glaring lights overhead.
  
  The main area of the of the casino lies to the east.
  
  The card sharp is watching the other gamblers.
  
  I can also see the gambler here.
  
  > look at the case
  A thin, leather-bound case used for transporting private documents. It's more effective when onlookers can only see in three dimensions.
  
  The attach�� case is mystically sealed, presumably to protect its contents from the opposition. The barrier is also keeping me from accessing its contents, a confidential codebook, as long as it's closed.
  
  With evident trepidation, the gambler approaches the poker table and starts a game.
  
  The cards are dealt, and the gambler and the card sharp toss some
  chips onto the table and look at each other warily.
  
  > put the wait on sharp
  I give the wait intent to the card sharp, who now vaguely intends to wait around idly.
  
  The gambler cautiously throws another batch of chips into the pot.
  
  > take the wait
  I extract the wait intent from the card sharp.
  
  The gambler loses its nerve and folds.
  
  The gambler watches its opponent take the pile of chips. Despite the gambler's glum expression, the loss was only a small fraction of its total money, and it shows no indication of slowing down.
  
  The card sharp looks around the room predatorily.
  
  > wait for a while
  Time passes.
  
  With evident trepidation, the gambler approaches the poker table and starts a game.
  
  The cards are dealt, and the gambler and the card sharp toss some
  chips onto the table and look at each other warily.
  
  > wait
  Time passes.
  
  The gambler and the card sharp study their cards intently. I don't
  know the details of the game, but based on its expression and bearing, the gambler thinks it has the better hand.
  
  > take fold
  I extract the fold intent from the card sharp.
  
  The gambler and the card sharp study their cards intently. I don't
  know the details of the game, but based on its expression and bearing, the card sharp thinks it has the better hand.
  
  > put clean up on sharp
  I give the clean up intent to the card sharp, who now intends to clean up at poker.
  
  The gambler cautiously throws another batch of chips into the pot.
  
  > wait awhile
  Time passes.
  
  The gambler loses its nerve and folds.
  
  The gambler watches its opponent take the pile of chips. Despite the gambler's glum expression, the loss was only a small fraction of its total money, and it shows no indication of slowing down.
  
  > Wait
  Time passes.
  
  The gambler raises. The card sharp scrutinizes its opponent's face for a moment, then tosses its cards onto the table.
  
  The gambler happily takes the pile of chips from the table and becomes marginally richer. Despite its loss, the card sharp still has quite a bit of money remaining, and it shows no indication of slowing down.
  
  The card sharp looks around the room predatorily.
  
  > wait
  Time passes.
  
  The gambler raises. The card sharp stares at its opponent's face for a moment, then tosses its cards onto the table.
  
  The gambler happily takes the pile of chips from the table and becomes marginally richer. Despite its loss, the card sharp still has quite a bit of money remaining, and it shows no indication of slowing down.
  
  The card sharp looks at the bunch of unobservant, unwary gamblers in the casino optimistically.
  
  > examine the gamblers
  I don't see the gamblers here. They were on the casino floor.
  
  > Go east
  The center floor is a pandemonium of human activity. Machines flash a garish array of lights to beckon them closer, competing with barkers calling out the inscrutable results of their games. Crowds fed from
  the main entrance to the south swarm over the floor, peeling off to join games or just to socialize in the cacophony. A less crowded area of the floor lies to the west, and a hallway leads east.
  
  At the north end of the room, kept apart from the gaming tables, is an imposing door.
  
  The guard is being distracted by the flashing games.
  
  > look at the gamblers
  Awash in an amorphous mass of greed and bedazzlement.
  
  The guard loafs idly.
  
  > put the explore on the gamblers
  The gamblers are too vague for me to manipulate. Crowds are more trouble than they're worth.
  
  The guard loafs idly.
  
  > go west
  If the rest of the casino is a place of leisure, this lair is a place of business. Shark-faced humans in formal attire loom over tables playing some incomprehensible card game, accepting both wins and
  losses with aloof detachment. Aside from a desultory appreciative or sympathetic murmur from onlookers following a particularly involved hand, the room has the quiet intensity of an art museum. Whorls of cigarette smoke drift across the glaring lights overhead.
  
  The main area of the of the casino lies to the east.
  
  With evident trepidation, the gambler approaches the poker table and starts a game.
  
  The cards are dealt, and the gambler and the card sharp toss some
  chips onto the table and look at each other warily.
  
  > take clean
  I extract the clean up intent from the card sharp.
  
  The gambler and the card sharp study their cards intently. I don't
  know the details of the game, but based on its expression and bearing, the gambler thinks it has the better hand.
  
  > put the fold on gambler
  I give the fold intent to the gambler, taking the play intent in exchange. It now intends to fold in the poker game.
  
  The gambler summarily folds.
  
  The gambler watches its opponent take the pile of chips. Despite the gambler's glum expression, the loss was only a small fraction of its total money, and it shows no indication of slowing down.
  
  > put the play on gambler
  I give the play intent to the gambler, taking the fold intent in exchange. It now intends to play poker.
  
  With evident trepidation, the gambler approaches the poker table and starts a game.
  
  The cards are dealt, and the gambler and the card sharp toss some
  chips onto the table and look at each other warily.
  
  > wait awhile
  Time passes.
  
  The gambler and the card sharp study their cards intently. I don't
  know the details of the game, but based on its expression and bearing, the card sharp thinks it has the better hand.
  
  > put clean up on the gambler
  I give the clean up intent to the gambler, taking the play intent in exchange. It now intends to clean up its act and avoid gambling.
  
  The gambler loses its nerve and folds.
  
  The gambler watches its opponent take the pile of chips. Despite the gambler's glum expression, the loss was only a small fraction of its total money, and it shows no indication of slowing down.
  
  > put the play on the gambler
  I give the play intent to the gambler, taking the clean up intent in exchange. It now intends to play poker.
  
  With evident trepidation, the gambler approaches the poker table and starts a game.
  
  The cards are dealt, and the gambler and the card sharp toss some
  chips onto the table and look at each other warily.
  
  > Wait
  Time passes.
  
  The gambler cautiously throws another batch of chips into the pot.
  
  > wait
  Time passes.
  
  The gambler loses its nerve and folds.
  
  The gambler watches its opponent take the pile of chips. Despite the gambler's glum expression, the loss was only a small fraction of its total money, and it shows no indication of slowing down.
  
  The card sharp looks around the room predatorily.
  
  > check what you're carrying
  Intentions:
  the clean up intent
  the fold intent
  the wait intent
  the block intent
  the take intent
  the explore intent
  
  Codebooks:
  two confidential codebooks
  
  Other possessions:
  a detector
  an intercepted communiqu��
  
  > put explore on the gambler
  I give the explore intent to the gambler, taking the play intent in exchange. It now intends to explore the poker tables without getting sucked in.
  
  The gambler looks longingly at a poker table but remains off to the side.
  
  The card sharp looks at the bunch of unobservant, unwary gamblers in the casino optimistically.
  
  > wait
  Time passes.
  
  The gambler looks longingly at a poker table but remains off to the side.
  
  > take the explore
  I extract the explore intent from the gambler.
  
  The gambler looks longingly at a poker table but remains off to the side.
  
  > put the explore on sharp
  I give the explore intent to the card sharp, who now vaguely intends
  to explore.
  
  The gambler looks longingly at a poker table but remains off to the side.
  
  > take the explore
  I extract the explore intent from the card sharp.
  
  The gambler looks longingly at a poker table but remains off to the side.
  
  > put clean up on the gambler
  I give the clean up intent to the gambler, who now intends to clean up its act and avoid gambling.
  
  The gambler looks longingly at a poker table but remains off to the side.
  
  The card sharp looks at the bunch of unobservant, unwary gamblers in the casino optimistically.
  
  > put the take on sharp
  I give the take intent to the card sharp, who now vaguely intends to take something.
  
  The gambler looks longingly at a poker table but remains off to the side.
  
  > take take
  I extract the take intent from the card sharp.
  
  With evident trepidation, the gambler approaches the poker table and starts a game.
  
  The cards are dealt, and the gambler and the card sharp toss some
  chips onto the table and look at each other warily.
  
  > put the clean up on sharp
  I give the clean up intent to the card sharp, taking the wait intent
  in exchange. It now intends to clean up at poker.
  
  The gambler loses its nerve and folds.
  
  The gambler watches its opponent take the pile of chips. Despite the gambler's glum expression, the loss was only a small fraction of its total money, and it shows no indication of slowing down.
  
  The card sharp sizes up its fellow players.
  
  > take clean
  I extract the clean up intent from the card sharp.
  
  With evident trepidation, the gambler approaches the poker table and starts a game.
  
  The cards are dealt, and the gambler and the card sharp toss some
  chips onto the table and look at each other warily.
  
  > Inventory
  Intentions:
  the clean up intent
  the wait intent
  the take intent
  the explore intent
  the fold intent
  the block intent
  
  Codebooks:
  two confidential codebooks
  
  Other possessions:
  a detector
  an intercepted communiqu��
  
  > put the block on sharp
  I give the block intent to the card sharp, who now vaguely intends to block.
  
  The gambler cautiously throws another batch of chips into the pot.
  
  > take the block
  I extract the block intent from the card sharp.
  
  The gambler loses its nerve and folds.
  
  The gambler watches its opponent take the pile of chips. Despite the gambler's glum expression, the loss was only a small fraction of its total money, and it shows no indication of slowing down.
  
  > put the fold on gambler
  I give the fold intent to the gambler, taking the play intent in exchange. It now intends to fold in the poker game.
  
  The gambler abruptly folds.
  
  The gambler watches its opponent take the pile of chips. Despite the gambler's glum expression, the loss was only a small fraction of its total money, and it shows no indication of slowing down.
  
  > put the play on gambler
  I give the play intent to the gambler, taking the fold intent in exchange. It now intends to play poker.
  
  With evident trepidation, the gambler approaches the poker table and starts a game.
  
  The cards are dealt, and the gambler and the card sharp toss some
  chips onto the table and look at each other warily.
  
  > put the wait on the gambler
  I give the wait intent to the gambler, taking the play intent in exchange. It now vaguely intends to wait around idly.
  
  The gambler loses its nerve and folds.
  
  The gambler watches its opponent take the pile of chips. Despite the gambler's glum expression, the loss was only a small fraction of its total money, and it shows no indication of slowing down.
  
  > take the wait
  I extract the wait intent from the gambler.
  
  The gambler looks longingly at a poker table but remains off to the side.
  
  > Inventory
  Intentions:
  the wait intent
  the play intent
  the fold intent
  the block intent
  the clean up intent
  the take intent
  the explore intent
  
  Codebooks:
  two confidential codebooks
  
  Other possessions:
  a detector
  an intercepted communiqu��
  
  > examine the wait
  The abstract will-composite of the intention to wait.
  
  The gambler looks longingly at a poker table but remains off to the side.
  
  > put the play on the gambler
  I give the play intent to the gambler, who now intends to play poker.
  
  With evident trepidation, the gambler approaches the poker table and starts a game.
  
  The cards are dealt, and the gambler and the card sharp toss some
  chips onto the table and look at each other warily.
  
  > put the fold on sharp
  I give the fold intent to the card sharp, who now intends to fold in the poker game.
  
  The card sharp abruptly folds.
  
  The gambler happily takes the pile of chips from the table and becomes marginally richer. Despite its loss, the card sharp still has quite a bit of money remaining, and it shows no indication of slowing down.
  
  The card sharp sizes up its fellow players.
  
  > take the fold
  I extract the fold intent from the card sharp.
  
  With evident trepidation, the gambler approaches the poker table and starts a game.
  
  The cards are dealt, and the gambler and the card sharp toss some
  chips onto the table and look at each other warily.
  
  > wait
  Time passes.
  
  The gambler and the card sharp study their cards intently. I don't
  know the details of the game, but based on its expression and bearing, the gambler thinks it has the better hand.
  
  > put clean on sharp
  I give the clean up intent to the card sharp, who now intends to clean up at poker.
  
  The gambler raises. The card sharp scrutinizes its opponent's face for a moment, then tosses its cards onto the table.
  
  The gambler happily takes the pile of chips from the table and becomes marginally richer. Despite its loss, the card sharp still has quite a bit of money remaining, and it shows no indication of slowing down.
  
  > take clean
  I extract the clean up intent from the card sharp.
  
  With evident trepidation, the gambler approaches the poker table and starts a game.
  
  The cards are dealt, and the gambler and the card sharp toss some
  chips onto the table and look at each other warily.
  
  > put the fold on sharp
  I give the fold intent to the card sharp, taking the clean up intent
  in exchange. It now intends to fold in the poker game.
  
  The card sharp quickly folds.
  
  The gambler happily takes the pile of chips from the table and becomes marginally richer. Despite its loss, the card sharp still has quite a bit of money remaining, and it shows no indication of slowing down.
  
  > take the fold
  I extract the fold intent from the card sharp.
  
  With evident trepidation, the gambler approaches the poker table and starts a game.
  
  The cards are dealt, and the gambler and the card sharp toss some
  chips onto the table and look at each other warily.
  
  > put the fold on sharp
  I give the fold intent to the card sharp, who now intends to fold in the poker game.
  
  The card sharp abruptly folds.
  
  The gambler happily takes the pile of chips from the table and becomes marginally richer. Despite its loss, the card sharp still has quite a bit of money remaining, and it shows no indication of slowing down.
  
  > put the fold on sharp
  I give the fold intent to the card sharp, who now intends to fold in the poker game.
  
  The card sharp quickly folds.
  
  The gambler happily takes the pile of chips from the table and becomes marginally richer. Despite its loss, the card sharp still has quite a bit of money remaining, and it shows no indication of slowing down.
  
  The card sharp looks around the room predatorily.
  
  > look at sharp
  A wily human wearing a green visor and a charcoal suit. It looks like it's been here for quite a while, and it watches the other gamblers with a predatory manner.
  
  > FOLD
  in the poker game.
  
  With evident trepidation, the gambler approaches the poker table and starts a game.
  
  The cards are dealt, and the gambler and the card sharp toss some
  chips onto the table and look at each other warily.
  
  > look at the money
  I don't see the stacks of banknotes here. I last saw them in the strongbox in the laser grid at Counting House.
  
  > take all
  play intent: I extract the play intent from the gambler.
  fold intent: I extract the fold intent from the card sharp.
  
  The gambler and the card sharp study their cards intently. I don't
  know the details of the game, but based on its expression and bearing, the gambler thinks it has the better hand.
  
  > examine sharp
  A wily human wearing a green visor and a charcoal suit. It looks like it's been here for quite a while, and it watches the other gamblers with a predatory manner.
  
  The gambler raises. The card sharp studies its opponent's face for a moment, then tosses its cards onto the table.
  
  The gambler happily takes the pile of chips from the table and becomes marginally richer. Despite its loss, the card sharp still has quite a bit of money remaining, and it shows no indication of slowing down.
  
  > examine the gambler
  The well-dressed guest hovers around the poker tables with evident curiosity. It also carries an attach�� case that is sparkling with faint spiritual energy.
  
  The gambler looks longingly at a poker table but remains off to the side.
  
  The card sharp looks at the bunch of unobservant, unwary gamblers in the casino optimistically.
  
  > take all
  play intent: I extract the play intent from the gambler.
  
  The gambler and the card sharp study their cards intently. I don't
  know the details of the game, but based on its expression and bearing, the gambler thinks it has the better hand.
  
  > wait for a while
  Time passes.
  
  The gambler raises. The card sharp stares at its opponent's face for a moment, then tosses its cards onto the table.
  
  The gambler happily takes the pile of chips from the table and becomes marginally richer. Despite its loss, the card sharp still has quite a bit of money remaining, and it shows no indication of slowing down.
  
  > put the fold on gambler
  I give the fold intent to the gambler, who now intends to fold in the poker game.
  
  The gambler quickly folds.
  
  The gambler watches its opponent take the pile of chips. Despite the gambler's glum expression, the loss was only a small fraction of its total money, and it shows no indication of slowing down.
  
  The card sharp looks at the bunch of unobservant, unwary gamblers in the casino optimistically.
  
  > take all
  play intent: I extract the play intent from the gambler.
  
  The gambler and the card sharp study their cards intently. I don't
  know the details of the game, but based on its expression and bearing, the card sharp thinks it has the better hand.
  
  > Inventory
  Intentions:
  the play intent
  the fold intent
  the clean up intent
  the wait intent
  the block intent
  the take intent
  the explore intent
  
  Codebooks:
  two confidential codebooks
  
  Other possessions:
  a detector
  an intercepted communiqu��
  
  > put the play on sharp
  I give the play intent to the card sharp, who now intends to play
  poker for high stakes.
  
  The gambler loses its nerve and folds.
  
  The gambler watches its opponent take the pile of chips. Despite the gambler's glum expression, the loss was only a small fraction of its total money, and it shows no indication of slowing down.
  
  > examine the chips
  With a game not currently in play, there aren't any chips being wagered.
  
  The gambler looks longingly at a poker table but remains off to the side.
  
  The card sharp looks at the bunch of unobservant, unwary gamblers in the casino optimistically.
  
  > take all
  play intent: I extract the play intent from the card sharp.
  
  The gambler looks longingly at a poker table but remains off to the side.
  
  The card sharp looks around the room predatorily.
  
  > put the play on the gambler
  I give the play intent to the gambler, who now intends to play poker.
  
  With evident trepidation, the gambler approaches the poker table and starts a game.
  
  The cards are dealt, and the gambler and the card sharp toss some
  chips onto the table and look at each other warily.
  
  > put the play on the gambler
  (first taking the play intent from the gambler)
  I give the play intent to the gambler, who now intends to play poker.
  
  The gambler and the card sharp study their cards intently. I don't
  know the details of the game, but based on its expression and bearing, the card sharp thinks it has the better hand.
  
  > put the play on sharp
  (first taking the play intent from the gambler)
  I give the play intent to the card sharp, who now intends to play
  poker for high stakes.
  
  The gambler loses its nerve and folds.
  
  The gambler watches its opponent take the pile of chips. Despite the gambler's glum expression, the loss was only a small fraction of its total money, and it shows no indication of slowing down.
  
  > put the play on the gambler
  (first taking the play intent from the card sharp)
  I give the play intent to the gambler, who now intends to play poker.
  
  With evident trepidation, the gambler approaches the poker table and starts a game.
  
  The cards are dealt, and the gambler and the card sharp toss some
  chips onto the table and look at each other warily.
  
  > put the play on sharp
  (first taking the play intent from the gambler)
  I give the play intent to the card sharp, who now intends to play
  poker for high stakes.
  
  The gambler and the card sharp study their cards intently. I don't
  know the details of the game, but based on its expression and bearing, the card sharp thinks it has the better hand.
  
  > wait
  Time passes.
  
  The gambler loses its nerve and folds.
  
  The gambler watches its opponent take the pile of chips. Despite the gambler's glum expression, the loss was only a small fraction of its total money, and it shows no indication of slowing down.
  
  The card sharp looks around the room predatorily.
  
  > check your inventory
  Intentions:
  the fold intent
  the clean up intent
  the wait intent
  the block intent
  the take intent
  the explore intent
  
  Codebooks:
  two confidential codebooks
  
  Other possessions:
  a detector
  an intercepted communiqu��
  
  > put the take on gambler
  I give the take intent to the gambler, who now vaguely intends to take something.
  
  The gambler looks longingly at a poker table but remains off to the side.
  
  > put the play on gambler
  (first taking the play intent from the card sharp)
  I give the play intent to the gambler, taking the take intent in exchange. It now intends to play poker.
  
  With evident trepidation, the gambler approaches the poker table and starts a game.
  
  The cards are dealt, and the gambler and the card sharp toss some
  chips onto the table and look at each other warily.
  
  > get the play
  I extract the play intent from the card sharp.
  
  The gambler looks longingly at a poker table but remains off to the side.
  
  The card sharp sizes up its fellow players.
  
  > put take on gambler
  I give the take intent to the gambler, taking the play intent in exchange. It now vaguely intends to take something.
  
  The gambler and the card sharp study their cards intently. I don't
  know the details of the game, but based on its expression and bearing, the gambler thinks it has the better hand.
  
  > put the block on the gambler
  I give the block intent to the gambler, taking the take intent in exchange. It now vaguely intends to block.
  
  The gambler raises. The card sharp studies its opponent's face for a moment, then tosses its cards onto the table.
  
  The gambler happily takes the pile of chips from the table and becomes marginally richer. Despite its loss, the card sharp still has quite a bit of money remaining, and it shows no indication of slowing down.
  
  > put the play on the gambler
  I give the play intent to the gambler, taking the block intent in exchange. It now intends to play poker.
  
  With evident trepidation, the gambler approaches the poker table and starts a game.
  
  The cards are dealt, and the gambler and the card sharp toss some
  chips onto the table and look at each other warily.
  
  > put the play on sharp
  (first taking the play intent from the gambler)
  I give the play intent to the card sharp, who now intends to play
  poker for high stakes.
  
  The gambler, awkwardly trying to suppress a smug grin, raises. The
  card sharp frowns and raises as well. The pile of chips on the table
  is now substantial.
  
  > put the fold on gambler
  I give the fold intent to the gambler, who now intends to fold in the poker game.
  
  The gambler abruptly folds.
  
  The gambler watches its opponent take the pile of chips. Despite the gambler's glum expression, the loss was only a small fraction of its total money, and it shows no indication of slowing down.
  
  > get all
  fold intent: I extract the fold intent from the gambler.
  play intent: I extract the play intent from the card sharp.
  
  The gambler looks longingly at a poker table but remains off to the side.
  
  The card sharp looks at the bunch of unobservant, unwary gamblers in the casino optimistically.
  
  > put the play on sharp
  (first taking the play intent from the gambler)
  I give the play intent to the card sharp, who now intends to play
  poker for high stakes.
  
  The gambler, putting its elbows on the table in a transparent attempt to appear nonchalant, raises. The card sharp hesitantly raises as
  well. The pile of chips on the table is now substantial.
  
  > Wait
  Time passes.
  
  The gambler, twitching nervously, raises. The card sharp grimaces slightly and raises as well. The pile of chips on the table is now large.
  
  > Wait
  Time passes.
  
  The gambler, keeping its eyes resolutely on the table and its face expressionless, raises. It counts its stack of chips, looking
  worriedly at its briefcase, and then shoves both its pile of chips and the case into the center of the table. The look of careless
  malevolence it gives the card sharp is impressive even by the lofty standards of my kind; I'll have to remember it for my next
  departmental review. The card sharp is also impressed and hesitates, but ultimately raises as well.
  
  > put the fold on gambler
  I give the fold intent to the gambler, who now intends to fold in the poker game.
  
  The gambler summarily folds.
  
  The card sharp rakes in the chips from the table. As it attempts to grab the attach�� case, the gambler snaps it up and cradles it possessively. After a few very short words from a very tall security guard, it reluctantly hands over the case to its opponent. As the card sharp opens it up to examine its new prize, a codebook falls out onto the floor.
  
  > get the codebook
  I pick up the confidential codebook and page through it. A few of the code sequences from the communiqu�� are in it, and I decrypt some more of it:
  
  Confirmed 72880 of 46480. There is no significant 73048 74615 in the 47576 45953 has been 62029 31368 02666 and 63211 79260 67549 07135 14066 43999 is 03659. We will 65629 67043 on the 85994
  
  The gambler looks longingly at a poker table but remains off to the side.
  
  > go to the east
  The detector blinks briefly, indicating that I've moved into a new region of the compound.
  
  I'm at the hotel's reception, a small entryway with a gleaming marble floor and lamps made of dark green glass. The reception desk itself is a massive thing of oak, with a plush red carpet in front of it and a few potted chrysanthemums on top of it making it more inviting. A safe has been set into the wall behind it. A ceiling fan slowly spins above a passage farther into the hotel to the east. The exit from the hotel, flanked by ferns in massive clay pots, lies to the west.
  
  The hotel clerk stands behind the desk.
  
  The wealthy dowager is sitting in a plush leather chair.
  
  > Exits
  From here, I can only go east and west.
  
  > Go east
  At the center of the hotel is this wide atrium, a plaza of orange
  brick dotted with flowerboxes and ornamental bushes. The ceiling of
  the lobby is made of glass, and so the sunset outside gives an unnatural hue to the hibiscus vines adorning the open doors to the south. Despite the location, it's mostly quiet here. Even the rattan chairs overlooking the garden to the east are empty.
  
  The hotel reception is to the west, and a corridor to the north leads deeper into the hotel.
  
  A gigantic ice sculpture of a swan sits prominently on a pedestal.
  
  A thermostat is located unobtrusively in a corner.
  
  The bellhop stands near the entrance, attempting to look professional.
  
  The guest shivers exaggeratedly.
  
  > Go north
  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 burps loudly.
  
  > go to the north
  Bookshelves line the walls of this small, wood-paneled room, mixing
  the smell of paper with that of cigarette smoke. There are some high-backed chairs arranged in front of the shelves, clustered around tables topped with small but bright wrought-iron lamps. A passageway, above which sits an oil painting of a tropical seascape, leads south.
  
  > look at the painting
  It's not a masterpiece, but it's a reasonably compelling and well-executed oil painting of a lagoon or beach. The puzzling thing is why the humans here want a modestly competent representation of a tropical seascape when there's a real one right outside. There's probably some sort of metaphor for humanity there; I just think it's a waste of the artist's time.
  
  > look at books
  Various novels written by and for humans. As physical objects in the mortal realm, they're not even useful in summoning Whiptail.
  
  > Go south
  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 takes a swig from its bottle.
  
  > examine the trolley
  Arrayed on the trolley are a variety of bottles and drinking implements.
  
  The drunk takes a swig from its bottle.
  
  > Go west
  Humans crowd this room, sitting nervously on folding chairs and clutching lorgnettes. They face a dais piled with paintings,
  furniture, and small sculptures, continually fed by humans in black uniforms carrying in works of art from a smaller room to the north.
  The rest of the room is starkly utilitarian, with bare walls and
  overly bright lights. A passage to the east leads back into the rest
  of the hotel.
  
  An auctioneer looks intently at potential bidders.
  
  A tourist considers bidding, but it decides against it.
  
  > look at the auctioneer
  Grey-haired but with a voice like a megaphone.
  
  The auctioneer is holding a circlet.
  
  > SELL
  the circlet.
  
  The auctioneer sets the circlet aside, unsold. One of the workers carries it back to the storage room to the north.
  
  > examine the tourist
  The tourist watches the auction keenly, its fingers twitching.
  
  > BUY
  something impressive.
  
  One of the staffers hands the auctioneer a ring.
  
  > examine the ring
  A simple golden ring. Humans are all over these sorts of things.
  
  The auctioneer solicits bids for the ring, naming a very high starting price.
  
  > look at drunk
  The drunk has disheveled, stained clothes and an unpleasant odor. I'm not sure how it's managed to avoid getting kicked out of here by some sort of respectable environment operative.
  
  The drunk is holding a bottle of vodka.
  
  > DRINK
  from a bottle of vodka.
  
  The drunk takes a swig from its bottle.
  
  > Go east
  This gallery is a small, stark alcove adjoining the lounge to the
  west. The walls are bare and white, and the carpet is a deep brown. An exhibit at the far end of the room shows off a few brightly colored pieces of pottery, protected by a velvet rope in front of the display.
  
  A bell with a large crack is displayed on a plinth here.
  
  > examine the bell
  According to the rushed briefing I had before the mission, this particular bell used to be part of a church that was on the property long before this chateau was built. It glows with a faint greenish-yellow light, presumably from accreted spiritual residue. In fact, the bell has enough of a presence in the spiritual realm for me to interact with it.
  
  > ring bell
  Not much use in the bell without the almanach and the candle.
  
  > Exits
  From here, I can only go west.
  
  > go west
  Humans crowd this room, sitting nervously on folding chairs and clutching lorgnettes. They face a dais piled with paintings,
  furniture, and small sculptures, continually fed by humans in black uniforms carrying in works of art from a smaller room to the north.
  The rest of the room is starkly utilitarian, with bare walls and
  overly bright lights. A passage to the east leads back into the rest
  of the hotel.
  
  The auctioneer solicits bids for a circlet, naming a very high
  starting price.
  
  The tourist sits off to one side.
  
  > Go north
  An almost endless mass of crates, chests, and pallets fills this small room. They reach the ceiling, yet an array of humans in black uniforms manages to glide through narrow openings in the debris, shuttling
  items into the larger room to the south. There's no apparent organization to the clutter, or even visible labels on the various boxes, but the humans have no difficulty in finding whatever objects they're looking for.
  
  A large golden chest, glowing with spiritual energy, catches the eye off to one side.
  
  A picker listens to the auction in the next room, waiting for a new item to be needed.
  
  > examine chest
  The chest is actually made of oak; its surface is covered in gold
  foil. It's glowing with spiritual energy.
  
  The golden chest is mystically sealed, presumably to protect its contents from the opposition. The barrier is also keeping me from accessing its contents, a secret codebook, as long as it's closed.
  
  The picker listens to the auction in the next room, waiting for a new item to be needed.
  
  > examine picker
  A tall, wiry human that resembles a rodent.
  
  > SELECT
  something light for the auction.
  
  The picker listens to the auction in the next room, waiting for a new item to be needed.
  
  > Examine boxes
  They're filled with human artifacts that are presumably valuable to them but worthless to me.
  
  The picker listens to the auction in the next room, waiting for a new item to be needed.
  
  > Go south
  Humans crowd this room, sitting nervously on folding chairs and clutching lorgnettes. They face a dais piled with paintings,
  furniture, and small sculptures, continually fed by humans in black uniforms carrying in works of art from a smaller room to the north.
  The rest of the room is starkly utilitarian, with bare walls and
  overly bright lights. A passage to the east leads back into the rest
  of the hotel.
  
  The auctioneer sets the circlet aside, unsold. One of the workers carries it back to the storage room to the north.
  
  The tourist sits off to one side.
  
  > go east
  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 takes a swig from its bottle.
  
  > Go upward
  I make my way to my predecessor's room, ignoring the frivolous rooms
  of the human guests.
  
  My predecessor, Krait, used this hotel room as a temporary base of operations for his role as chief of station. Of course, he had no use for its amenities. Thus the bed and dining table were both employed, judging from the papers scattered across them, as makeshift desks. A smaller but bona fide desk sits in the corner, with an artless landscape in watercolors hanging above it. The liquor cabinet lurks untouched in the corner, and the ashtray on top of it is completely empty. The stark white carpet here is plush and spotless.
  
  The only exit from the room is to the south.
  
  An almanach sits obtrusively on the center of the desk.
  
  > look at almanach
  This almanach is a directory the demon intelligence services compiled on the known operatives working on our side or on the Other Side. Of course, it's heavily redacted even at the ������������������������ classification
  level, and the entities and organizations in it are listed by codeword rather than real name (if they even have real names). Looking up an angel in it might give you his official cover, but don't expect to
  find any state secrets.
  
  > take it
  Taken.
  
  > look at the cabinet
  The cabinet's contents are untouched. The small niceties of human existence are beneath the notice of my kind.