text: [Themes: Science Fiction, changing environment, transformation, church]
  
  > take the equation
  You cup your hand around the equation and compile. It shrinks obligingly into a small icon, which you take.
  
  This is just what you were hoping for -- a simple principle, from which an entire immersive world can grow. Now to drop it in the workspace and see what you get.
  
  > About yourself
  "T. Jant Ganzfeld is a notable contract researcher in virtual workspace design..." But you don't need to re-read your own Distribupedia article. If this project works out, it'll get a lot more impressive. If not -- goodbye to that "notable". And maybe that "is", too.
  
  > check what you're carrying
  You are carrying:
  the pressure icon
  
  > examine icon
  It's a small symbol representing pressure, in all its aspects and implications.
  
  > drop icon
  You haven't got that.
  
  This environment is a mere sketch, but you didn't sketch it. It's grown entirely from your subconscious symbolism. This is what you've been striving for. Now you just need to draw out more archetypes.
  
  > examine the altar
  The altar is a simple block of smoky marble, at one end of the red carpet. Standing upon it is a tall candle, which is lit.
  
  A gust of air brushes over you.
  
  > look at the altar
  The altar is a simple block of smoky marble, at one end of the red carpet. Standing upon it is a tall candle, which is lit.
  
  > get the candle
  Upon closer examination, the candle is an archetype: heat. You reach out and compile; it shrinks obligingly into a small icon, which you take.
  
  > look at the icon
  (the heat icon)
  It's a small symbol representing heat, in all its ramifications and aspects.
  
  Air moves through the cathedral.
  
  > drop icon
  Which do you mean, the heat icon, or the pressure icon?
  
  > Pressure
  You haven't got that.
  
  Sweat begins to drip from you.
  
  > examine the chest
  A heavy wooden trunk, at least a yard wide, stands at the south end of the hall. The trunk is closed.
  
  > Open chest
  You grab the lid and yank, but it doesn't move. You crouch and shift your hold; but the chest is either locked, or jammed, or warped with age. It will not open.
  
  The fire crackles unexpectedly.
  
  > look at the fire
  A trench runs up the hall; bonfires are built along it in a blazing chain. You can feel the yellow heat pressing against your face, and your back is cool only in comparison. The air is nearly stifling.
  
  > check your inventory
  You are carrying nothing.
  
  The icons shift slightly in the workspace.
  
  > invoke the pressure icon
  You invoke the pressure icon, and the environment shifts around you.
  
  White marble rises in smooth, heavy columns to an arching vault. The walls are worked in geometric traceries; a rich red carpet runs up the room's length, to the brass pipes which stand at its north end. Air throbs from the pipes and thunders quietly across the chamber.
  
  To the south stands a graceful marble altar.
  
  Your workspace is a squat cube in the center of the room. Inside it hang your two icons.
  
  Something is different here... You glance around. A small offering-box now sits on top of the altar. You're sure it wasn't there before.
  
  > examine the altar
  The altar is a simple block of smoky marble, at one end of the red carpet. Standing upon it is a small offering box, which is closed.
  
  > look at the offering box
  A small chased-silver box, perhaps an offering-box, rests on the altar. The box is closed.
  
  You glance around the room, comparing locations. Yes, a direct symbolic parallel: this tiny box occupies the same spot as the enormous wooden chest.
  
  A puff of air brushes past you.
  
  > get the box
  Upon further inspection, the box is bolted down. Given that this is your own imagery, you wonder what your subconscious is saying about the rest of you.
  
  > open the box
  You lift the lid. Disappointingly, the box is empty.
  
  > examine the icons
  Within the workspace you see the heat icon and the pressure icon.
  
  Air sighs through the cathedral.
  
  > examine Air
  The air here shifts in unpredictable gusts and currents; the organ pipes blow gentle, unceasing turbulence throughout the room.
  
  The icons shift slightly in the workspace.
  
  > look at the organ
  Brass organ pipes cover the north wall. Air rushes through them -- not loudly, but with a steady undertone of irregular chords.
  
  > examine the knife
  Lying in the chest is a knife, a plain black iron blade with a leather-wrapped hilt. You see immediately that the knife is an archetype of light.
  
  The icons shift slightly in the workspace.
  
  > take it
  You take the knife and compile. It shrinks obligingly into a small icon.
  
  Sweat begins to drip from you.
  
  > look at the icon
  (the light icon)
  It's a small symbol representing light, in all its details and ramifications.
  
  > touch it
  You hold the light icon up and give it a push towards the workspace. It slides neatly into place, and the world transforms around you.
  
  You are underground, by the echoes and the irregular rock underfoot. But the space is lost in darkness. A chill stream trickles past, and the faintest phosphorescence trickles with it. Beyond arm's reach, however, you see only black.
  
  Your workspace stands beside you. Inside it drift three icons.
  
  A worn axe is jammed into a stalactite, just to the south. Unfortunately, it's well above your head.
  
  > jump
  You can't jump quite high enough to reach the axe.
  
  Air flutters, somewhere overhead.
  
  > look at the axe
  It's an axe, perhaps an old spelunker's tool. It's stuck into a stalactite, which projects down out of the darkness above.
  
  > look at the stream
  A shallow stream of water flows nearby. Where it ripples, it sheds a slight phosphorescence -- the only illumination around you.
  
  > Drink water
  You scoop up a few drops and lick them from your fingers. The water tastes very clean, and very old.
  
  You hear a few bats flutter by, off to snack on insects somewhere.
  
  > take the axe
  The axe is stuck too high to reach.
  
  The icons rebound gently off the sides of the workspace.
  
  > invoke the pressure
  You invoke the pressure icon, and the environment transforms around you.
  
  White marble rises in smooth, heavy columns to an arching vault. The walls are worked in geometric traceries; a rich red carpet runs up the room's length, to the brass pipes which stand at its north end. Air throbs from the pipes and thunders quietly across the chamber.
  
  To the south stands a graceful marble altar, which supports a small open offering box.
  
  Your workspace is a squat cube in the center of the room. Inside it drift three icons.
  
  A rough pewter chalice is lying near the altar. Ah -- this must be the parallel of the rusty axe.
  
  > examine the pewter
  The chalice is dull metal -- roughly-hammered, and decorated only by scratches. It is empty.
  
  A breath of air brushes over you.
  
  > take the pewter
  Taken.
  
  > invoke the heat
  You invoke the heat icon, and the environment shifts into a new form.
  
  You stand in a long, low hall of smoke-darkened timbers. The floor is earth, benches line the walls, and you are washed by heat from the blazing fire-pit that runs the hall's entire length.
  
  At the south end the hall rises, and an enormous wooden chest stands on an earthen mound. The chest is open and empty.
  
  The cube that is your workspace rests nearby. Inside it drift three icons.
  
  > invoke the light
  You invoke the light icon, and the environment changes around you.
  
  You are underground, by the echoes and the irregular rock underfoot. But the space is lost in darkness. A chill stream trickles past, and the faintest phosphorescence trickles with it. Beyond arm's reach, however, you see only black.
  
  Your workspace stands beside you. Inside it drift three icons.
  
  The icons rebound gently off the sides of the workspace.
  
  > Inventory
  You are carrying:
  a pewter chalice
  
  > put the water in the chalice
  You kneel and fill the chalice with stream water.
  
  Air flutters, somewhere overhead.
  
  > drop the chalice
  As you release the pewter chalice full of water, it shimmers. You watch, fascinated, as its shape readjusts to its new environment. In moments, the pewter chalice full of water has reverted to being a rusty axe.
  
  > press the heat
  You invoke the heat icon, and the environment transforms into a new form.
  
  You stand in a long, low hall of smoke-darkened timbers. The floor is earth, benches line the walls, and you are washed by heat from the blazing fire-pit that runs the hall's entire length.
  
  At the south end the hall rises, and an enormous wooden chest stands on an earthen mound. The chest is open and empty.
  
  The cube that is your workspace rests nearby. Inside it drift three icons.
  
  > drop the axe
  As the rusty axe leaves your grasp, it shimmers and transforms into a wooden torch.
  
  The icons rebound gently off the sides of the workspace.
  
  > press the light
  Taken.
  
  Sweat begins to drip from you.
  
  You invoke the light icon, and the environment shifts around you.
  
  You are underground, by the echoes and the irregular rock underfoot. But the space is lost in darkness. A chill stream trickles past, and the faintest phosphorescence trickles with it. Beyond arm's reach, however, you see only black.
  
  Your workspace stands beside you. Inside it drift three icons.
  
  > Light torch
  You invoke the heat icon, and the environment changes into a new form.
  
  You stand in a long, low hall of smoke-darkened timbers. The floor is earth, benches line the walls, and you are washed by heat from the blazing fire-pit that runs the hall's entire length.
  
  At the south end the hall rises, and an enormous wooden chest stands on an earthen mound. The chest is open and empty.
  
  The cube that is your workspace rests nearby. Inside it drift three icons.
  
  The flame catches easily. The torch is now burning brightly.
  
  Sweat begins to drip from you.
  
  > press light
  You invoke the light icon, and the environment transforms around you.
  
  You stand in an echoing space; your torch picks glimmers of reflection from distant stone walls. A chill stream trickles past you and away into the darkness.
  
  The torchlight reveals a pale fat mushroom squatting in a corner of the cave, a short distance away.
  
  Your workspace stands beside you. Inside it drift three icons.
  
  > examine the mushroom
  A pale mushroom shines dimly in a nearby corner of the cave. You recognize the mushroom as an archetype of charge.
  
  The icons rebound gently off the sides of the workspace.
  
  > take it
  You take the mushroom and compile. It shrinks obligingly into a small icon.
  
  Air flutters, somewhere overhead.
  
  > examine the small icon
  (the charge icon)
  It's a small symbol representing charge, in all its implications and details.
  
  > press charge
  You hold the charge icon up and push it towards the workspace. It resists for a moment, and then slides into place. The environment transforms.
  
  This square tower is built of granite blocks braced by high iron beams. The roof is a broad sweep of lead-framed glass; it creaks and flexes under the assault of the hammering rain outside.
  
  A complex apparatus dominates the room: a heavy brass tank, surmounted by copper and glass tubing. Wires drape from the roof down to the apparatus, hanging every which way.
  
  Your workspace sits in the center of the lab. Inside it move four icons.
  
  > examine the apparatus
  A fat brass vessel, a riveted cauldron of a thing, squats before you. A narrow copper pipe curves from the tank's top; the pipe spirals up inside of a wider glass flask.
  
  Through a small porthole you can see the contents of the tank: a heap of rusty brown flakes lying in a cloud of sparkling vapor.
  
  Lightning illuminates the storm overhead, followed instantly by a deafening crack of thunder. At the same moment, you notice the vapor in the tank suddenly whirl and dance.
  
  > examine the flakes
  In the brass tank is a small heap of some flaky mineral; the substance is rusty brown with faint flecks of gold. Sparkling vapor rises from the material and swirls within the tank.