text: [Themes: Fantasy, swords, Languages, travel, archaeology]
  
  > Look around
  This cabin is barely bigger than a broom closet. A patchwork hammock fills most of the space, strung between two of the walls. An old pillow sits on the floor in a corner, obviously now a bed for the ship's cats. Nearby, a food bowl and a water dish are provided, again, for the cats. The only exit is port (or west, currently).
  
  On the patchwork hammock is Amalek.
  
  Amalek looks at you over his book to see what you're doing.
  
  > examine  the hammock
  The cabin boy must've gotten creative trying to solve the lack of a decent bed on this boat. The hammock is made of dozens of different rags, cloths, blankets, and what-not, all stitched together to make a cozy-looking place to sleep.
  
  On the patchwork hammock is Amalek.
  
  > examine the pillow
  This is an old, beat-up pillow that the ship's cats use for a bed.
  
  > Go south
  (first opening the stern door)
  It seems to be locked.
  
  > Go north
  You are in the centerline passage running from the bow to the stern belowdecks. At this section, there are doors both port and starboard. Otherwise, you can head up or down the passage, from stem to stern. The air down here is thick with moisture and much of the wood around you is damp with condensation.
  
  > Go west
  A disagreeable smell permeates this room. Hammocks and low-hanging ropes are haphazardly arranged for the crew's sleeping needs. Random bits of clothes and personal items are also strewn about. The only exit is a door to the east (starboard).
  
  Daxas is here, slowly sorting clothes and items, in a vain attempt at organization.
  
  Daxas finds something and puts it in his pocket. You weren't able to make out what it was.
  
  Daxas goes east.
  
  > go to the east
  You are in the centerline passage running from the bow to the stern belowdecks. At this section, there are doors both port and starboard. Otherwise, you can head up or down the passage, from stem to stern. The air down here is thick with moisture and much of the wood around you is damp with condensation.
  
  You can see Daxas, one of the crewmates, here.
  
  > talk to Daxas
  You say hello to Daxas.
  
  Daxas mumbles something to himself.
  
  (You could ask Daxas about Daxas or the mysterious note.)
  
  > go north
  This is the fore end of the centerline passageway that runs down the center of the barge, belowdecks. The craft is heading north and this end of the passage has doors all around but to the south, where the passage continues toward the stern. A short ramp slopes upwards to the northeast, taking one topside.
  
  A heavy, ironwood table is situated here with a chair of matching wood and age. Belowdecks, the air here has a hanging moisture.
  
  You can see Daxas, one of the crewmates, here.
  
  On the ironwood table is an old glowcube (providing light).
  
  Venkath Mock is leaning against the ironwood table, absent-mindedly staring down the centerline passage
  
  > Go upwards
  You're standing on the deck of The Rhinoceros. From here, you can see the extent of this barge-like craft. This deck is low to the water level as most of the ship is underwater. There is no railing as it's easier to move large cargo onboard that way. The only structure on the deck is toward the very bow (north). It's the wheelhouse, where the captain pilots the craft. The door into it is open. Around the other parts of the deck, south, west, and southwest, you can see various crates of cargo stacked. At the very back of the ship, you can see the wide stern wheel ceaselessly paddling the ship northwards, rhythmically chugging through the desolate, waterlogged swamp. A wide, short ramp leads down to belowdecks. It is stained from boot traffic and swamp water.
  
  Daxas comes up from below.
  
  > examine Daxas
  Daxas is maybe only five years your senior. He's a newer member of the crew of The Rhinoceros. He has a friendly enough face and he's large in both height and weight.
  
  > go south
  This part of the deck is the starboard cargo deck. From here, you can see the extent of this barge-like craft. This deck is low to the water level as most of the ship is underwater. There is no railing as it's easier to move large cargo onboard that way. The only structure on the deck is toward the very bow (north). It's the wheelhouse, where the captain pilots the craft. The door into it is open. Around the other parts of the deck, north, west, and northwest, you can see various crates of cargo stacked. At the very back of the ship, you can see the wide stern wheel ceaselessly paddling the ship northwards, rhythmically chugging through the desolate, waterlogged swamp. On the edge of the deck here, a stovepipe juts upward from the galley below.
  
  > Clean pipe
  You rub the stovepipe.
  
  > examine pipe
  This is a wide stovepipe jutting up from the edge of the deck. It leads to the stove in the galley belowdecks.
  
  > Inventory
  You are carrying:
  a chunk of cheese
  an important note
  some weird dirt
  a small jar (open but empty)
  an antecessor skean
  a glowstone lantern (providing light)
  a leather haversack (being worn and open)
  a mysterious note
  Elements of Ixteesh
  Phandaal's letter
  some traveling clothes (being worn)
  a small black scabbard (being worn)
  
  > take the glowstone
  (the glowstone lantern)
  You already have that.
  
  > read the ixteesh
  comprehension guide. You are fluent in the language, but this has been your trusty reference book for those rare times you need to double-check something. You've even made countless marginal notes in the tome, updating and expanding where necessary.
  
  A flock of swamp birds fly low in the sky.
  
  > put the lantern in the pipe
  You need to take better care of your light source than that.
  
  The bilgescow passes close to the black willow trees on the sides of the waterway.
  
  > move the pipe
  It is fixed in place.
  
  > Wave cheese
  You wave the chunk of cheese.
  
  Loud buzzing insects create a clamor around you.
  
  > kick the pipe
  You give the stovepipe a solid kick.
  
  > go north
  You're standing on the deck of The Rhinoceros. From here, you can see the extent of this barge-like craft. This deck is low to the water level as most of the ship is underwater. There is no railing as it's easier to move large cargo onboard that way. The only structure on the deck is toward the very bow (north). It's the wheelhouse, where the captain pilots the craft. The door into it is open. Around the other parts of the deck, south, west, and southwest, you can see various crates of cargo stacked. At the very back of the ship, you can see the wide stern wheel ceaselessly paddling the ship northwards, rhythmically chugging through the desolate, waterlogged swamp. A wide, short ramp leads down to belowdecks. It is stained from boot traffic and swamp water.
  
  A flock of swamp birds fly low in the sky.