text: [Themes: Seasonal, Fantasy, Children's, winter]
  
  > look around
  Inside the cave, you can barely make out the shapes within this chamber. The moonlight trickles in barely illuminating the metal tracks upon which the cart rolls. The tracks appear to originate from somewhere in a tunnel to the north and then divide here in this chamber. One set of tracks leads back out to the east while the other
  
  > examine the track
  continues into a tunnel to the southwest. Near the junction of the tracks, you can barely see a tall metal lever reflecting in the moonlight.
  
  You cannot seem to find that here.
  
  > look at the tracks
  The metal tracks split at a junction in the center of this cave. Leading into the cave from a tunnel to the north, one line of tracks leads into the darkness of the southwestern tunnel, and the other leads out of the cave to the east. The dim silver moonlight reflects off of the long think metal strips with an eerie bluish sheen.
  
  > go east
  This is the base of a giant mountain to the north. The rocky landscape continues to the west. Snow-covered plateaus glisten in the moonlight high above. The path stops just in front of the mouth of a cave in the mountainside to the west. Railroad tracks lead from deep inside the cave to a large pile of round stones a few yards from the cave entrance. Looking to the east and southeast, you see the edge of the snowy hills. The mountainous terrain appears impassable in other directions.
  
  > Go east
  The vast expanse of snowy hills continue in nearly all directions. A tall mountain rises to the west, and you can barely make out the forest edge to the southeast.
  
  > throw the stones at the dryad
  That would hardly help the situation.
  
  > Go east
  A path, outlined upon the snow-covered ground by two rows of stones, begins here and continues to the southeast. Moonbeams streak through the tops of the giant fir trees illuminating your way.
  
  > Go southeast
  You are standing in the middle of a stone lined path that leads through the snow-covered forest from the northwest to the east. To the north, the ground dips down much lower than the path upon which you now stand.
  
  > go east
  The front of a small wooden cottage faces to the west on the far side of this forest clearing. Without the concealing canopy of branches, you see shiny points of light twinkle in the dark sky. The underbrush has grown thick in this area, but it has been cleared away to the east and also looks passable to the southeast. The stone-lined path leads back into the forest to the west.
  
  > examine the cottage
  The cottage is of modest size and made almost entirely of dark, coarse wood. The windows appear to be covered from the inside by thick curtains and appear very dark. Ashen-grey smoke curls up out of the chimney and drifts out of the clearing on the cool winter breeze.
  
  > examine the stars
  The midnight sky is blanketed with thousands of brilliantly shining points of starlight.
  
  > go east
  You cautiously make your way up to the front door.
  
  The wooden floorboards creak and groan as you tread upon them. The front door is closed to the east, and a short flight of steps lead back to the forest clearing.
  
  > examine the door
  The door is made of strong, thick wood and is carved with decorative swirls. The door handle is a shiny round knob, and underneath it you spot a large keyhole from which a soft warm light emanates.
  
  > look through the keyhole
  You peer into the keyhole and see a narrow vision of the room beyond. The cottage appears cozy and well decorated with large comfy furniture and splendid knickknacks. A roaring fire casts pulsating shadows about the room.
  
  > examine the floorboards
  The wooden floorboards creak and groan as you tread upon them. The front door is closed to the east, and a short flight of steps lead back to the forest clearing.
  
  > look at the steps
  The steps lead down to the forest clearing.
  
  > Go north
  The porch is surrounded by a wooden railing except for the steps to the west.
  
  > examine the underbrush
  The underbrush has grown wild in some patches throughout the forest.
  
  > go southeast
  The forest thins slightly near this side of the house, but traversal in this area is hindered by the dense underbrush. From this vantage point, you can see that the wooden cottage to the north sits up above the ground on short stilts.
  
  > go north
  You crouch down and crawl under the cottage. You soon discover a gap in the foundation that is nearly tall enough for you to stand in.
  
  This is a dark crawl space beneath the wooden cottage. When you try to stand upright, you nearly bang your head upon a wooden surface above you. As you look up at the ceiling of this crawl space, you see faint streaks of yellow light seeping through the wooden ceiling in the pattern of a large rectangle.
  
  > look at the couch
  The couch is much more luxurious than anything that would be in your parent's house. In fact, this entire room is cozy and comfortable.
  
  > search knickknacks
  All of these items are probably very important to whomever lives here.
  
  > look at the kettle
  You try to lean over the kettle to see the water inside, but the rising steam is simply too hot.
  
  > look at the dome
  The large glass dome has an ornately carved base made up of three rings. The translucent blue spheres within click against the glass dome as they move about in mesmerizing swirls.
  
  > examine the spheres
  The small orbs are translucent fist-sized spheres that have a silvery bluish cast when light reflects from their smooth, shiny surfaces. The orbs churn about within the dome encasement almost as if looking for an escape.
  
  > Open dome
  You pull upon the glass dome, but it will not budge. It appears to be locked.
  
  > examine the wardrobe
  A tall wooden wardrobe stands against one of the cottage walls. The wardrobe doors are closed.
  
  > open it
  The wardrobe doors creak as you open them.
  
  > look in it
  Peering inside of the dark wardrobe, you see several curious items of clothing hanging inside. A pair of slippers and boots have been stashed in the back corner of the wardrobe. Along the back wall of the wardrobe, you notice several rows of shelves.
  
  > examine the slippers
  The clothing most likely belongs to the owner of the house. None of the clothes or shoes stored in the wardrobe are your size. You poke about through the clothes but find nothing else.
  
  > examine the shelves
  Resting upon one of the shelves at the back of the wardrobe is a fine black top hat which seems of quite a different style then the other wardrobe items.
  
  > examine the top hat
  The black top hat is finely crafted of smooth black silk. A royal blue silk band encircles the brow. As you stare at the hat, it appears special somehow.
  
  > take it
  Taken.
  
  > wear it
  You put on the top hat and imagine yourself looking quite handsome while attending a fancy ball.
  
  > remove it
  You take off the fine black top hat.
  
  > Close wardrobe
  You close the wardrobe.