text: [Themes: Fantasy, fairy tale, dragon]
  
  > Look around
  By the Firepit (on the boulder)
  The trail widens here, passing through a small level clearing. A thick forest of trees surrounds the clearing. From here, you can follow the trail down to the west, or up to the northeast.
  
  To one side of the trail, there is an old firepit (containing a bonfire), and a short boulder sits beside it.
  
  > go west
  You'll have to get off the boulder first.
  
  > stand
  You get off the boulder.
  
  The trail widens here, passing through a small level clearing. A thick forest of trees surrounds the clearing. From here, you can follow the trail down to the west, or up to the northeast.
  
  To one side of the trail, there is an old firepit (containing a bonfire), and a short boulder sits beside it.
  
  > Go west
  The mountain trail crosses east to west over uneven and broken ground; a wagon could have real trouble passing through here. Rockslides from the north pose an additional ongoing hazard.
  
  > go north
  There is a name for people who climb treacherous rockslides. "Dead." Do not go that way.
  
  > Go west
  The ground dips down here into a small valley on the mountainside, and a much greater variety of trees compete for the space here. Fortunately, even though the road is covered with leaves, it is still wide enough to see that it goes both southwest and east.
  
  > Go southwest
  The road bends sharply here around a large boulder, heading up to the northeast and down to the southeast. A lesser travelled footpath goes south.
  
  > Go south
  The path is overgrown, forcing you to duck and push branches out of the way. Suddenly, there are no more trees, and you look up and see what they hid.
  
  You stand at the top of a cliff overlooking a lake far below. The expanse is breathtaking. Look there at that lake so clear and blue: it contains a small wooded island, and on that island is a curious white dome. Or look at that cliff. Tall it is here, and tall it remains as it traverses a great C-shaped arch around the lake. Halfway into that arch is a majestic waterfall, pouring its liquid bounty into the waters below. Then look you further. Also on the cliff, opposite and across the lake, is a village and castle. Be it a true kingdom or the strange keep of barbarians, you do not know, but it must be an abode of men. Civilization, at last.
  
  The scene as a whole sings with vitality and life. Scarcely have you seen a place so pregnant with power, so rich in air, earth, and water. Alas, no path from here proceeds. You must needs regain your road to the north.
  
  You hear the hoots of several birds having a noisy argument below the cliff.
  
  > listen
  You hear the chirping of many birds having a noisy argument below the cliff.
  
  A finch zooms in from below and travels in a lazy circle above the lake. Cawing, it then flies out of sight.
  
  > look under the cliff
  That is too far away.
  
  > jump
  [Perhaps in the full game, you may be allowed to jump to your death. But not now. Not today.]
  
  A goose appears from below and flaps its wings furiously. Another bird gives you the eagle eye before flying down below.
  
  > eat the birds
  Those are too far away.
  
  > About you
  Since you are a bard, you are cursed with natural good looks. Clear, unblemished skin. Thick wavy black hair. Eyes so deep a brown, one could gaze into them forever. Except for that birthmark on your never-you-mind-where, you would be just about perfect.
  
  A goose appears from below and screams something in pidgin Pigeonese. Cawing, it then flies out of sight.
  
  > Go north
  You push through the trees, back to the road.
  
  The road bends sharply here around a large boulder, heading up to the northeast and down to the southeast. A lesser travelled footpath goes south.
  
  > go to the south-east
  You sigh. You cannot ignore the stale loaf of braad. You are starving.
  
  > Y.
  "My hike was long, ov?r this peak.
  More than a day, less than a week.
  Come hear the tale I have to speak,
  Hey diddle diddle aye-oh.
  
  "A brand new town I soon shall see.
  New people, I shall sing for thee.
  A happy bard then I shall be,
  Hey diddle diddle aye-oh.
  
  "But first I must find food to eat.
  I ate my cheese! I ate my meat!
  An apple core would be a treat,
  Hey diddle diddle aye-oh.
  
  "No rabbits found I for my pot.
  I looked for roots. I found them not.
  These hunger pains! They must be fought!
  Hey diddle diddle aye-oh.
  
  "Why do no birds fly overhead?
  Would not roast fowl taste good with bread?
  When was the last time that I fed?
  Hey diddle diddle aye-oh."
  
  The Fox, The Dragon, and The Stale Loaf of Bread
  
  You are on a lonely mountain trail. Trees grow sparsely this high up on the mountain, and even less so back up the trail to the northeast. To the west, the trail heads down past the treeline into a forest.
  
  And not a moment too soon. You are positively famished.
  
  > Go northeast
  You spent most of the last week traversing that mountain pass. You are not going back that way now.
  
  > Go west
  You make your way down the mountain. As you pass the treeline, you hear a loud SNAP! followed by a sharp cry of pain.
  
  The mountain trail continues under a canopy of tall shady pine trees. The trail continues down to the southwest, and up to the east.
  
  To one side, you see a fox, its hind leg caught fast in a steel trap.
  
  > eat fox
  Before you can eat the fox, you will have to kill it. You take out your knife. But the sight of the knife terrifies the captured animal! "DON'T EAT ME!" it says weakly. Its voice is female.
  
  The words, faint as they are, freeze you where you stand. It's not merely that you're never heard a fox speak before. You haven't. But somehow, she has invoked magic here. Like a ritual. Or a promise. Or an oath.
  
  "DON'T EAT ME," the fox says again, stronger now. Or perhaps the world has gone silent instead, to hear her all the better. "If you spare me and free me, I will help you later. You will not regret it.
  
  > Yes
  A sudden breeze blows by; leaves fly by in its wake. "Then free me, man," says the fox.
  
  > pry the trap with the stick
  It's awkward, but using the walking stick as a lever, you successfully pry the steel trap open without causing further damage.
  
  Freed of the trap, the fox gets gingerly to her feet. "I thank you, man. I will remember my promise to you, and return when your need for me is greatest. Until then, fare well." You watch as she hobbles away into the forest and is lost from view.
  
  You then take a moment more to SNAP the trap closed and pick it up. Waste not, want not.
  
  > go southwest
  The trail widens here, passing through a small level clearing. A thick forest of trees surrounds the clearing. From here, you can follow the trail down to the west, or up to the northeast.
  
  To one side of the trail, there is an old firepit, and a short boulder sits beside it.
  
  > Go west
  The mountain trail crosses east to west over uneven and broken ground; a wagon could have real trouble passing through here. Rockslides from the north pose an additional ongoing hazard.
  
  Lying on one of the rock piles, a baby dragon is crying pitiously.
  
  > examine the dragon
  The baby dragon has green scales with a blue underbelly and is about the size of an adult wolf. It is lying on its back and whimpering, probably because of the rusty iron nail stuck in its left foot.
  
  Dragon steak is supposed to be a delicacy. This must be your lucky day.
  
  > eat the dragon
  Before you can eat the baby dragon, you will have to kill it. You take out your knife. As with the fox, the sight of your knife conveys your terrible intent only too well. "DON'T EAT ME!" says the dragon, between sobs.
  
  Startled, you stop in place. Did this creature of myth and legend, young as it is, truly speak? No, no, that cannot be. Not eat it? Of course you want to eat it. You're hungry!
  
  "DON'T EAT ME," the baby dragon says again, more forcefully, and there is no mistaking it this time. Your ears seem to roar as the words echo within your head. You hear nothing else. "If you spare me and pull this nail out of my paw, I will help you later. You will not regret it.
  
  > Yes
  Without warning, a dove flies west, singing joyfully, the first bird you have heard in days. "Then please. Pull out this nail," says the baby dragon.
  
  > pull the nail
  Sensing your intent, the dragon holds still as you approach. You grasp the nail with your bare hand and pull, but it is no use. You just cannot get a strong enough grip on it. You will need a tool of some kind.
  
  > Inventory
  You are carrying:
  a knife
  a steel trap (which is closed)
  a walking stick
  your moneypurse (worn on your left hip and closed)
  a rucksack (which is closed)
  
  > examine the nail
  The nail is embedded pretty deep in the baby dragon's foot. It looks like one of those long nails used to hold a wagon wheel on its axle. Ouch. That must be incredibly painful.
  
  > put the trap on the nail
  Good idea. The steel trap should get a better grip on the nail than your fingers. Unfortunately, the trap is closed.
  
  > Open trap
  Put the trap on the ground first.
  
  > drop trap
  Dropped.
  
  > Open trap
  You open the trap.
  
  > get the trap
  Picking up an open steel trap would be extremely hazardous to your fingers.
  
  > check what you're carrying
  You are carrying:
  a knife
  a walking stick
  your moneypurse (worn on your left hip and closed)
  a rucksack (which is closed)
  
  > look at the trap
  The steel trap is like a jaw: two rows of zigzag metal "teeth" hinged on one side. The trap is currently open, its heavy spring at high tension. Anything put inside that deadly circle is likely to trigger it.
  
  > put the stick in the trap
  You insert the walking stick into the trap, which dutifully SNAPs shut on it, leaving a gap.
  
  > take the trap
  Taken.
  
  > put the trap on nail
  Aha. With the walking stick holding the trap slightly open, you are able to put the trap on the nail. That is, the nail is now in the gap between the trap's jaws.
  
  The dragon watches you curiously as you perform this operation.
  
  > take the stick
  You pull the walking stick out from the trap's jaws, and the trap SNAPs around the head of the rusty iron nail.
  
  > pull the trap
  With the steel trap firmly gripping the nail between its teeth, you are able to grab onto the trap in turn, and pull the troublesome nail out of the baby dragon's paw. Before your disbelieving eyes, the wound heals in seconds without the iron nail to prevent it.
  
  The child of dragons, no longer sobbing, gets to its feet. Its large reptilian eyes stare at you, and you back up a step. You suddenly realize you are face-to-face with a deadly monster. It is still only the size of a wolf, true, but that is plenty big enough, and somehow you forgot that wolves can be dangerous too.
  
  "Be at peace," says the dragon. "I have no love of mankind, nor that hated iron. But you alone need not fear me. You have helped me as I asked and our bargain stands. I will remember my promise to you, and return when your need for me is greatest. Until then, fare well." You stop breathing when the dragon jumps, but it is only to catch the air in its leathery wings, and then it flies off into the distance.
  
  The tension in your body relaxes, and you start breathing normally again. You also remember that you are still hungry.