text: [Themes: Superhero]
  
  > Look around
  The lounge is the most impressive room in your house. A giant large-screen TV takes pride of place against one wall, and an equally imposing soft and comfy sofa sits facing it. To the west is your front door (closed), and smaller doors lead northeast to the kitchen and east to the hall.
  
  You see a parcel and a ballpoint pen here. The parcel seems to contain a packing slip.
  
  The sofa is surrounded by a crackling red glow. You feel a strong static force pulling you towards it.
  
  "Hey there, this is Drac Thornwood telling YOU to watch NYTV, The Nytemare Channel. Don't even THINK of touching that dial, 'cos have we got one HELL of a great lineup for you tonight! But first, a word from our sponsor!"
  
  > get the pen
  Taken.
  
  The screen goes to an ad break.
  
  "When you see crime, pollution, toxic waste, social breakdown, and nuclear Armageddon, who do you think of? The Nytemare Corporation, that's who. We're the world leader in all these fields and more. So remember, next time you need a disaster of Biblical proportions in your neighbourhood, call us. The Nytemare Corporation. Because we know where you live."
  
  > Go east
  This hallway connects the various rooms which make up your perfectly ordinary house. Your bedroom is south, the bathroom is east, the kitchen is north, and the lounge is west.
  
  You hear the TV playing in the lounge.
  
  > go to the east
  The bathroom seems normal enough. There's a sink, toilet, and shower, and two doors leading west to the hall and north to the laundry.
  
  There is a very strange creature in the room. It is a huge bloated balloon of a thing, covered in translucent black skin, with a puffy face and watery, bloodshot eyes which try to focus on you with some difficulty. The creature yawns and waddles drunkenly. It appears to be filling the entire laundry and most of the bathroom, as only its head and upper body is visible here. A bright red glow surrounds it.
  
  The watch beeps and displays: "HYDROPHOBIA".
  
  The Sword of Virtue tingles in your hands.
  
  The Hydrophobia slurps noisily and bangs on a nearby waterpipe.
  
  > examine the HYDROPHOBIA
  It is a huge bloated balloon of a thing, covered in translucent black skin, with a puffy face and watery, bloodshot eyes which try to focus on you with some difficulty. The creature yawns and waddles drunkenly. It appears to be filling the entire laundry and most of the bathroom, as only its head and upper body is visible here. A bright red glow surrounds it.
  
  The Hydrophobia dribbles in your general direction.
  
  > attack it with Sword
  You swing the shining yellow sword at the Hydrophobia. The sword's blade strikes the creature in a shower of yellow sparks.
  
  The Hydrophobia does a double take.
  
  "'Ullo, wot's this ere? An 'Ero with a bloomin' Sword of Virtue?
  Well, I was just leaving anyway. I'll be seein' you around, matey. Next time, MY place."
  
  The creature oozes at you for a moment then shrinks into the laundry and gurgles down a pipe. There is a burp from somewhere underground, followed by silence. The laundry door slowly swings open.
  
  You hear the TV playing in the lounge.
  
  > go north
  The laundry is one of the least-visited rooms in your house, and it's not hard to see why. The single washing machine (glowing yellow) is nearly buried under a huge pile of unwashed clothes. Doors lead out to the west and south.
  
  You hear the TV playing in the lounge.
  
  > examine the machine
  It shines with a soft yellow glow. The washing machine is closed.
  
  You hear the TV playing in the lounge.
  
  > open the machine
  Opening the washing machine reveals a glowing spray bottle.
  
  You hear the TV playing in the lounge.
  
  > examine bottle
  It's a spray bottle. The label reads:
  
  New Improved WHITO!
  Anti-Static Spray and Heavy-Duty Stain Remover
  Product of Hero, Inc.
  
  The bottle shines with a soft yellow glow.
  
  Strange. You don't remember seeing this bottle before.
  
  You hear the TV playing in the lounge.
  
  > get the bottle
  Taken.
  
  You hear the TV playing in the lounge.
  
  > go to the south
  The bathroom seems normal enough. There's a sink, toilet, and shower, and two doors leading west to the hall and north to the laundry.
  
  You hear the TV playing in the lounge.
  
  > go west
  This hallway connects the various rooms which make up your perfectly ordinary house. Your bedroom is south, the bathroom is east, the kitchen is north, and the lounge is west.
  
  You hear the TV playing in the lounge.
  
  > Go south
  This is your bedroom. It would be hard to find a more ordinary room, or a more ordinary house, than this. It contains a perfectly normal bed, a completely everyday desk, and a decidedly un-heroic cupboard. A door to the north leads out to the quite average hallway beyond.
  
  You hear the TV playing in the lounge.
  
  > go north
  This is the kitchen. A bench, microwave and refrigerator all appear to be their usual selves. Doors lead south to the hall, southwest to the lounge, and east to the laundry.
  
  You hear the TV playing in the lounge.
  
  > go southwest
  The lounge is the most impressive room in your house. A giant large-screen TV takes pride of place against one wall, and an equally imposing soft and comfy sofa sits facing it. To the west is your front door (closed), and smaller doors lead northeast to the kitchen and east to the hall.
  
  You see a parcel here. The parcel seems to contain a packing slip.
  
  The sofa is surrounded by a crackling red glow. You feel a strong static force pulling you towards it.
  
  "Drac Thornwood back again. Just take a look at this season's new offerings, and I do mean OFFERINGS! We've got the Wall to Wall Horror Movie Festival, the crazy Slash 'n Chop Song Show, and of course our old favourite, the Genocide Game! All that and more, beamed right to your homes on The Nytemare Channel! But now, a bulletin from the NYTV newsroom."
  
  > go to the west
  You try to reach the door, but can't. The static force from the sofa is too strong. The presenter laughs.
  
  "Isn't it great to stay indoors and watch your favourite channel, NYTV! We'll be here to keep you company right through till midnight."
  
  "Yes, Drac, the rumours from Fairhaven have been confirmed. Apparently a major Hero Convention is being held in that town as we speak. Our sources are still vague but we believe this may pose the first real threat to Nytemare Corp's operations in several years. Over to you, Drac."
  
  > spray the sofa with the bottle
  You spray some Whito onto the sofa and it begins to smoke! Years of built-up static electricity absorbed from the TV set are released in an explosion of sparks and flames! Finally it cools down, a little singed but looking much cleaner.
  
  "Well, scary stuff there indeed. We'll certainly be bringing you the latest on this story as it continues to develop. But I'm sure the Corporation will be quite able to handle this new challenge. Stay glued to your seats, viewers, while we take a short break."
  
  > Go west
  As you reach the door, a gust of freezing wind and rain comes blasting in! The television image flickers.
  
  "Hey, you folks down in Fairhaven better not go too far away from your nice comfortable houses, 'cos when that storm hits it's gonna blow - "
  
  A thunderclap drowns his words, as a bolt of lightning strikes the TV aerial on top of your house. You hear the sound of shattering glass, then an impossibly loud explosion. Diving to the ground, you narrowly avoid being hit by shards of brick and burning wood. When you get up and look back, you see that your house has been completely demolished.
  
  You are outside your formerly ordinary house, which is now a smouldering pile of rubble to the east. Clouds gather ominously in the sky overhead. Maple Drive leads north and south from here, and Post Office Park is to the west.
  
  > Go west
  You are walking in Post Office Park, a quaint old grassy field extending to the road in all directions. In the distance you can see the ruins of your house, a garage, some stores, the library and school, and of course the very new and modern Post Office Tower to the north. Before you, in the centre of the park, is a dingy old dribbling fountain.
  
  > look at the fountain
  It's disgustingly old and dingy, and hardly even dribbling. Just looking at the stagnant water flow sends strange shivers of fear down your spine. In the fountain you see a glowing green Magic Marker.
  
  > Green
  It's green. A message is engraved on the side:
  
  If lost, return to:
  Sally Knight
  Room 13
  Fairhaven Public School
  
  The Magic Marker shines with a pale green glow.
  
  > get it
  The fountain is really icky and horrible. As you touch the dirty water you feel a sudden overwhelming sense of terror which makes you draw back your hand in disgust. You can hardly bring yourself to look at it again, let alone reach into it.
  
  Dark clouds roll across the sky.
  
  > hit the water with Sword
  You swing the shining yellow sword at the fountain. The sword's blade passes through the fountain with no visible effect.
  
  > go west
  You are outside the Fairhaven Library, a worn-down old brick building with a faded billboard outside. A door leads in to the west. Beech Avenue continues north and south of here, and you can see Post Office Park to the east.
  
  > Go west
  You are inside the Fairhaven library, which seems to be a refuge from another time. An electric chandelier hangs from Victorian rafters, lighting a wooden counter on which sits a computer terminal and card scanner. A stack of bookshelves is lost in deep shadow, while the main doorway opens east out to the street. The librarian sits behind his counter, reading.
  
  The librarian jumps to his feet as you enter, and points to something you're carrying. "Get that accursed thing out of here!", he roars, pushing you towards the door. "Can't you see it's a hazard to literacy?"
  
  You are outside the Fairhaven Library, a worn-down old brick building with a faded billboard outside. A door leads in to the west. Beech Avenue continues north and south of here, and you can see Post Office Park to the east.
  
  A cold wind blows briefly.
  
  > examine Video
  It's a remake of "Nightmare on Elm Street Part XIII", rented from the Video Plaza, and it's overdue. You feel strangely compelled to return it as soon as possible. The tape is surrounded by a dull red glow.
  
  > go to the south
  You are on the pavement outside the Fairhaven General Store, one of the oldest shops still trading in the town. The store is open to the southwest. Beech Avenue runs off to the north, and Oak Street to the east.
  
  > go to the south-west
  You are in the town's old General Store. The shelves hold only a small selection of items, but the charming old-world atmosphere more than makes up for the lack of variety. The shopkeeper stands behind her counter ready to serve you.
  
  You see an electric torch and a newspaper here.
  
  The shopkeeper counts the change in her cash register.
  
  > look at the shopkeeper
  The shopkeeper checks her shelves.
  
  > ask the shopkeeper about Video
  The shopkeeper seems unable to see you.
  
  > get the torch
  That would be shoplifting. You must buy the electric torch first.
  
  > go south
  You are in the town's old General Store. The shelves hold only a small selection of items, but the charming old-world atmosphere more than makes up for the lack of variety. The shopkeeper stands behind her counter ready to serve you.
  
  You see an electric torch and a newspaper here.
  
  The shopkeeper dusts the counter.
  
  > Go east
  You are outside a small garage which sells petrol and services motor vehicles. The workshop opens to the south, and Oak Street continues east and west. To the north, Post Office Park is visible.
  
  People scurry indoors for shelter.
  
  > go to the east
  You are on a quiet street corner in the little town of Fairhaven.
  Maple Drive runs north from here to your house, while Oak Street runs west. A rusty old manhole (closed) is set squarely in the middle of the road.
  
  > open the manhole
  Good idea, but it's too rusty to move at the moment.
  
  > go east
  You can go north to Maple Drive, west to Oak Street, or northwest to the park.
  
  A stranger bumps into you, and mutters something rude.
  
  > Go north
  You are outside your formerly ordinary house, which is now a smouldering pile of rubble to the east. Clouds gather ominously in the sky overhead. Maple Drive leads north and south from here, and Post Office Park is to the west.
  
  > Go north
  You are on the pavement outside Fairhaven's public school, which runs to the northeast. Elm Street runs west of here, and Maple Drive starts to the south.
  
  > go west
  You are standing outside the very new and extremely modern Post Office Tower, a shining monument to Fairhaven's progress, standing a full fifteen stories tall. You can enter the lobby to the north, or walk into the equally famous (though much older) Post Office Park to the south. Elm Street continues east and west.
  
  > go west
  You are on the pavement outside the Nytemare Video Plaza, one of a chain of stores which has moved into Fairhaven recently. The window is full of movie posters, and a door leads in to the northwest. Beech Avenue runs off to the south, and Elm Street to the east of here.
  
  > go to the northwest
  You are inside the new Nytemare Video Plaza. The walls are lined with recent hit movies, mostly dark fantasy and thriller titles. The clerk is nowhere to be seen, but a small drop box, nearly hidden behind a life-size cardboard cutout of an action superhero, bears the words RETURN VIDEOS HERE. The door to the street opens to the southeast.
  
  Before your eyes, the cardboard cutout comes alive, transforming into a strange creature! It seems to be part man, part machine, and all monster, wearing a black gangster suit and metallic sunglasses. A gleam of red comes from one eye, and instead of hands it has metallic claws, in which it holds an arsenal of lethal weapons and a strangely sparking video camera. A bright red glow surrounds it.
  
  The watch beeps and displays: "VIDEO NASTY".
  
  The Whito bottle gives a pulse of yellow light.
  
  The Sword of Virtue tingles in your hands.
  
  The Video Nasty brandishes its weapons fearsomely.
  
  > examine nasty
  It seems to be part man, part machine, and all monster, wearing a black gangster suit and metallic sunglasses. A gleam of red comes from one eye, and instead of hands it has metallic claws, in which it holds an arsenal of lethal weapons and a strangely sparking video camera. A bright red glow surrounds it.
  
  "Go ahead," suggests the Video Nasty. "Make my day."
  
  > attack nasty with Sword
  You swing the shining yellow sword at the Video Nasty. The blade bounces wildly, as if deflected by a static force field. The creature ducks, and your blow goes wide.
  
  The Video Nasty yawns and tosses a grenade at you. "Wanna play catch?"
  
  > spray nasty with bottle
  You spray some Whito onto the Video Nasty and it begins to spark! An invisible static force field generated by the video camera collapses, exploding in flashes of red lightning. Finally the effect dies down, leaving the Video Nasty still standing. With a VERY annoyed look in its eyes.
  
  > attack nasty with Sword
  You swing the shining yellow sword at the Video Nasty. The sword's blade strikes the creature in a shower of yellow sparks.
  
  The Video Nasty gasps at you. "I'm hit! You hit me! Arrgghh! You'll never take me alive! I'll be back! See you in the re-runs, sucker!" Overacting wildly, it flips open an arm panel and pushes a secret button.
  
  The Video Nasty fades away in a blaze of yellow light!
  
  The watch beeps and displays: "NICE GOING".
  
  > put Video in the slot
  The video cassette slides into the slot, and you suddenly feel as if a great weight has been lifted from your shoulders. You hear a muffled clunk from the bottom of the box.
  
  > go to the south-east
  You are on the pavement outside the Nytemare Video Plaza, one of a chain of stores which has moved into Fairhaven recently. The window is full of movie posters, and a door leads in to the northwest. Beech Avenue runs off to the south, and Elm Street to the east of here.
  
  > go to the west
  You are inside the new Nytemare Video Plaza. The walls are lined with recent hit movies, mostly dark fantasy and thriller titles. The clerk is nowhere to be seen, but a small drop box, nearly hidden behind a life-size cardboard cutout of an action superhero, bears the words RETURN VIDEOS HERE. The door to the street opens to the southeast.
  
  > Go west
  You are inside the Fairhaven library, which seems to be a refuge from another time. An electric chandelier hangs from Victorian rafters, lighting a wooden counter on which sits a computer terminal and card scanner. A stack of bookshelves is lost in deep shadow, while the main doorway opens east out to the street. The librarian sits behind his counter, reading.
  
  The librarian looks up as you enter. "Welcome to the Hero Convention," he says. "I see you've had a harder time getting here than I thought. But perhaps it is just as well. This contest is not for the faint-hearted. Now, I'll need some proof of your exploits, to see if you are qualified to begin." He holds out his hand expectantly.
  
  > Spray fountain
  (with the glowing spray bottle)
  You spray some Whito onto the fountain but nothing much happens.
  
  A few drops of rain splatter on the ground.
  
  > Go south
  Post Office Tower, Floor 8
  The Fairhaven Savings & Investment Bank has a much more sober and reserved atmosphere than the rest of the Post Office Tower. Expensively-dressed Assistant Branch Managers stride around making important decisions, and ignoring you. A cash-card machine on one wall offers instant withdrawals, and the sleek, ultra-modern lift opens to the north.
  
  There is a very strange creature in the room. It seems to be nothing more than a hat, tie and business suit floating in midair; the thing has no face or hands, yet somehow manages to move and act like a person. A briefcase, stuffed full of papers, floats at one side. Despite its apparent lack of substance, the creature manages to make you feel insignificant. A bright red glow surrounds it.
  
  The watch beeps and displays: "SERIOUS FRAUD".
  
  The Sword of Virtue tingles in your hands.
  
  The Serious Fraud solemnly stuffs a quantity of banknotes into its briefcase.
  
  > Attack Fraud with Sword
  You swing the shining yellow sword at the Serious Fraud. The creature blocks the sword's motion with a wave of its wrist.
  
  The Serious Fraud restrains a ghostly chuckle, and suggests that you return when you have enough experience to be more than a minor nuisance.
  
  The Serious Fraud tries to arrest you for impersonating a human being.
  
  > go to the south
  Post Office Tower, Observation Deck
  You are standing on the roof of the fifteen-storey Post Office Tower, with a breathtaking view of the entire town of Fairhaven. A guardrail on the edge is all that stands between you and the Post Office Park far below. High-altitude winds buffet you as you peer over. The lift doors (open) to the north are the only way down.
  
  > examine Park
  It's a long way down to the Post Office Park.
  
  > examine the rail
  It looks like an ordinary guardrail to me.
  
  > Go northeast
  You are in a drab and rundown schoolyard, with pavement to the southwest. Featureless concrete walls block the way north, but a classroom opens to the east. A sign on the door reads "Room 13: S. Knight".
  
  Lightning flashes on the horizon.
  
  > Go east
  Fairhaven Public School, Room 13
  You are in a school classroom. There is a large whiteboard on the east wall, and the door opens to the west. The teacher, Miss Knight, stands beside the whiteboard, struggling vainly to teach an unruly class.
  
  The class appears to be in a manic frenzy.
  
  There is a very strange creature in the room. It seems to have several heads, although the exact number is hard to determine since they are all moving and talking at once. The creature also has a large and disturbing quantity of tentacles, which are busily engaged in ripping shreds off every object in the room, and each other. A bright red glow surrounds it.
  
  The watch beeps and displays: "BEDLAM".
  
  The Sword of Virtue tingles in your hands.
  
  The Bedlam punches itself in three eyes.
  
  > examine Bedlam
  It seems to have several heads, although the exact number is hard to determine since they are all moving and talking at once. The creature also has a large and disturbing quantity of tentacles, which are busily engaged in ripping shreds off every object in the room, and each other. A bright red glow surrounds it.
  
  The Bedlam performs a brief hula dance.
  
  > attack Bedlam with Sword
  You swing the shining yellow sword at the Bedlam. The sword's blade strikes the creature in a shower of yellow sparks.
  
  The Bedlam staggers away from you, and freezes.