text: [Themes: Fantasy, constrained protagonist, witchcraft, clown]
  
  > Go downwards
  You cannot go that way. The only available exit is south.
  
  > go south
  Tuck follows you to a cobblestoned courtyard enclosed by rose bushes with a fountain in the centre. To the south is the foyer. Stairs descend below the wall to the west.
  
  > Go south
  Tuck follows you to what remains of the foyer of the inner keep. To the west is a darkened hallway, to the east is a well-lit hallway and to the south are the closed double doors to the bailey. Without a functioning staircase, only a lift remains to provide access to the balconies above.
  
  > Smell lift
  You sniff the lift, and after Tuck opens the door, you lead him inside. Next to the door on the southern wall is a horizontal row of buttons, labelled '3', '2', '1' and 'G' from left to right. The button labelled 'G' is already depressed.
  
  > Smell 1
  You stand on your hind legs and sniff as high as you can reach, just below the button labelled '1'. Tuck presses it.
  
  The lift stutters to life and slowly ascends before coming to a stop. You emerge onto the first storey balcony. On this level, you can go east to a hallway.
  
  > Go east
  Tuck follows you down the first storey hallway. There is a library to the north and a stairwell to the east.
  
  > Go east
  Tuck follows you to the first storey landing. From here, you can take the servants' stairs to the storey above or the ground floor below.
  
  > take the peg
  You pull out the peg on the first try, having become significantly better at this. The gate swings open.
  
  > go north
  You continue to the stableyard. To the north is the barn, and to the west is an open doorway leading to the kitchen.
  
  > Go west
  You return to the kitchen and find Tuck alone, frantically stirring the contents of the cauldron. He looks relieved to see you enter.
  
  "Oh, little sniffer, what a mess I now find myself in! What can I do? Maybe I can find something to scare away the clown." He steps away from the cauldron and peers down the service corridor. Seeing no sign of the clown, he then hurries over to the table and sorts through ingredients.
  
  "I know not what to look for. What do you suppose clowns are afraid of? I daresay, the wizard seems to have a number of frightening things—" His elbow catches a jar, tipping it and several others over amidst the sound of breaking glass. Tuck yanks his arm away, knocking a book and a pepper shaker onto the floor.
  
  He stands frozen in fearful anticipation of having drawn unwanted attention. When no one arrives, he returns straight to the cauldron and promptly resumes stirring the brew. "I will never make a good hero. Not even a passable hero. I will stir as asked and allow Ser Leonhart to save the day," says Tuck reassuringly to himself. "Yes, that is for the best."
  
  > Examine book
  It's a book of potions. The open page reads:
  
  ~   To reverse the effects of any magick potion   ~
  
  * three pints of milk
  * one hundred grams of all-purpose flour, sifted
  * ten nail clippings from a bear
  * six tears from a virgin
  * four lizard's legs
  * two owlet wings
  * five strands of hair from heroes (to clarify: hair from five separate heroes, and not five strands from the same one)
  
  Boil the ingredients in a cauldron of rose water, adding them one by one while stirring continuously. The potion is finished once it turns a bright pink in colour. Note that the ingredients may be difficult to come by.
  
  Bottle immediately and store for up to three years in a cool, dark place.
  
  > Go north
  You cannot go that way. Available exits are south and east.
  
  > Go east
  You make your way to the stableyard. To the north is the barn, and to the west is an open doorway leading to the kitchen.
  
  > go to the north
  You proceed into the large but empty barn. Near the back, an old ladder leads to a loft. You can hear creaky footsteps above you.
  
  > shake the pepper
  You shake the pepper shaker. A cloud of pepper expands and hovers briefly, tickling the nostrils of anyone in its vicinity.
  
  You sneeze (but hold onto the shaker).
  
  > wait for a while
  Time passes.
  
  > go south
  You make your way to the stableyard. To the south is the pen. To the west is an open doorway leading to the kitchen.
  
  > go west
  You continue into the large and dusty kitchen. A narrow service corridor lies to the south. A single cauldron bubbles over an open flame, filling the room with a vile odour. Jars of assorted ingredients are gathered atop a nearby table. On the floor is an open book. Tuck is frantically stirring the contents of the cauldron.
  
  > Go south
  You enter a narrow service corridor continuing south. A set of servants' stairs twists around a wall and disappears above you.
  
  From the south comes the voice of the clown, in a state of utter panic. "Oh no, oh no, oh no. Forget the piggies, the foyer is a mess! Rhoda is gone! The heroes escaped!" He pauses and gasps. "What if His Lordship blames poor Robbit?" You hear the honk honk honk of
  the clown pacing about the room.
  
  > go upwards
  You head up the stairs to the first storey landing. From here, you can continue up to the storey above or go west to the hallway.
  
  > Go west
  You proceed down the first storey hallway. There is a library to the north and a balcony to the west.
  
  > go to the north
  You make your way into an expansive library lit by a large window. On the southern wall beside the sole entrance hangs a great tapestry. The remaining walls are lined with shelves upon shelves of books. A bare reading table occupies the centre of the room.
  
  > shake the pepper
  You shake the pepper shaker. A cloud of pepper expands and hovers briefly, tickling the nostrils of anyone in its vicinity.
  
  You sneeze (but hold onto the shaker).
  
  > Go south
  You return to the first storey hallway, which runs from the balcony to the west to the stairwell to the east.
  
  > go east
  You proceed to the first storey landing. From here, you can take the servants' stairs to the storey above or the ground floor below.
  
  > Go upwards
  You climb the stairs to the second storey landing. You can continue up to the storey above or head west to the hallway.
  
  > go upward
  You climb the stairs to the third storey landing. You can head west to the hallway.
  
  > Go west
  You make your way down the third storey hallway. There is a stone gargoyle carved into the wall to the north and a balcony to the west.
  
  > shake the pepper
  You shake the pepper shaker. A cloud of pepper expands and hovers briefly, tickling the nostrils of anyone in its vicinity.
  
  You sneeze (but hold onto the shaker). The gargoyle sneezes, and he spits out a bottle of potion. It sails into the opposite wall and smashes to bits.
  
  > examine the gargoyle
  Its countenance was carved into the most hideous of glowers. You are reminded of the woman who tended to you when you were young. In one of its hands hangs a tasselled cord.
  
  > go to the east
  You continue to the third storey landing. You can take the servants' stairs to the storey below.