text: [Themes: Slice of life, island, fishing, birds]
  
  > Look around
  This simple wooden pier juts into the sea. Pylons, evenly spaced, provide perches for cawing gulls. On the horizon there is a smudge that might be the island. Or a wave. It's hard to tell. You
  can't imagine how this could be any more boring. Or dreadful. Oh, and it has begun to rain.
  
  The angry pelican swivels its head back and forth, peering at
  you from many angles.
  
  The hooded man stands here in a black rain coat with the hood concealing his face.
  
  Mr. Henrico stands here looking very droll and boring.
  
  You can also see a garish sign and a ferry here.
  
  A constant patter of rain falls about you.
  
  > examine the Island
  That smudge on the horizon might be the island. The tall thing sticking out of it, with the spinning light on the top, might be the lighthouse. It might also not be, but you have to admit that,
  at this point, it probably is.
  
  A constant patter of rain falls about you.
  
  > Go east
  You can't go that way.
  
  A constant patter of rain falls about you.
  
  > Inventory
  You are carrying:
  a tomcod
  a coil of rope
  a fishing pole (with the rusty hook)
  a fish head
  an old beeper
  a letter
  a picture
  a skirt (being worn)
  a shirt (being worn)
  a pocket watch (open)
  a tiny picture
  
  A constant patter of rain falls about you.
  
  > drop the rope
  Dropped.
  
  A constant patter of rain falls about you.
  
  > get on the boat
  You get into the ferry.
  
  The somber woman hides herself under her wide sun hat. Every
  time you look at her, she's just then turning away.
  
  The salty sea man mills about, doing something to his boat.
  You can't tell what, but it seems to involve pushing dirt about with a rag.
  
  As the ferry powers up to pull away from the dock, the angry
  pelican hops from the boardwalk to the ferry. Apparently, the
  bird is too lazy to fly to the island itself.
  
  "First time on the island, isn't it?" the salty sea man asks.
  "Well, I hope you like it. It's not a terribly big island and hardly anyone visits anymore. Yep, because the only way there is a ride in my ferry!"
  
  The salty sea man asks, "So lass, you got any questions
  before we get there? Now's your chance to ask."
  
  You could ask the salty sea man about himself,
  Akkoteaque, the treasure, the ferry, the
  the angry pelican or the hook.
  
  A constant patter of rain falls about you.
  
  > ask the sea man about himself
  "Who, me?" the salty sea man asks. "I'm Captain Spider. I
  drive the ferry back and forth. It's really boring and I hate it. Only do it cause of that treasure."
  
  A constant patter of rain falls about you.
  
  (You could ask Captain Spider about Akkoteaque, the
  treasure, the ferry, the the angry pelican
  or the hook.)
  
  > examine the sea man
  years of use. He wears a long beard on a deeply lined face.
  Your overall impression of Captain Spider is one of
  shabbiness. It is possible that the newest thing he wears is the brass fishing hook he has used as a button to hold his shirt
  closed.
  
  A constant patter of rain falls about you.
  
  > ask Spider about the treasure
  "Yep, treasure. Buried right here on this island too. I know it's here because I found an ancient key. I know it's somewhere above
  that cave on the beach.. ah, I've said too much already!"
  
  A constant patter of rain falls about you.
  
  (You could ask Captain Spider about Akkoteaque, the
  ferry, the the angry pelican or the hook.)
  
  > ask him about the the hook
  [Which do you mean, the 1) rusty hook or the 2)
  hook?]
  
  > 2
  "Hook?" Captain Spider asks. "What hook? This? Why, this
  isn't even mine."
  
  the buttons instead. He gives the hook to you.
  
  A constant patter of rain falls about you.
  
  (You could ask Captain Spider about Akkoteaque, the
  ferry or the the angry pelican.)
  
  > ask the Captain about the pelican
  Captain Spider says, "That damn bird? Laziest thing I ever
  saw. We all call her Shoo. As in... shoo."
  
  A constant patter of rain falls about you.
  
  The wind picks up and suddenly, rather than a moderate chop, waves smash against the ferry from all sides. Lightning flashes from the sky and rain pours from the heaven in torrents between the rolling thunder.
  
  "Going to be a bit of chop," Captain Spider says. Your
  stomach does not like this news at all.
  
  (You could ask Captain Spider about Akkoteaque or
  the ferry.)
  
  > look at the pelican
  You're pretty sure birds can scowl. You're looking at one doing it right now.
  Half a fish hangs from the pelican's beak. Normally, this situation would make a pelican pretty happy. Not this pelican.
  
  Rain and wind lash out of the sky.
  
  > ask him about a the personal floatation device i could wear
  [Characters will only respond if asked about things or people you encounter in the world.
  
  Rain and wind lash out of the sky.
  
  > examine the fish
  [Which do you mean, the 1) tomcod or the 2) fish
  head?]
  
  > examine the ferry
  savers hanging on the sides. The inflatable kind, not the hard
  candy. It's painted in very patriotic colors complete with little stars.
  
  In the ferry are Shoo, a somber woman and
  Captain Spider.
  
  Rain and wind lash out of the sky.
  
  A bolt of lightning stabs out of the sky and strikes the lighthouse. For a moment, while the bolt is etched across your vision, nothing happens, then the sound comes rolling over the boat and makes everything shake. Behind the thunder comes another sound, an electrical popping, and the lighthouse seems to glow at the base. At it's top, the light vanishes.
  
  Your stomach has had it with the waves. You rush to the railing as your lunch rushes up your throat, and then you don't do much of interest besides puke your guts out for the rest of the trip.
  
  Press any key..
  
  > get the pelican
  Press any key...
  Press any key...## On a small pier
  This little wooden dock has definitely seen better days, but still seems to be going strong. It juts into the sea from the base of a cliff. Many seagulls wheel about in the sky above.
  
  Captain Spider stands at the controls of the ferry.
  
  You can also see a ferry and a gas can here.
  
  You can only go east from here.
  
  "You all right lass?" Captain Spider asks. "Had a touch of
  sea sickness, you did. We're here, anyway. Best damn island this side of Delmarva."
  
  > look at the gas can
  You see nothing unexpected about the gas can.
  
  The gas can contains gasoline.
  
  > take it
  Taken.
  
  > examine the seagulls
  Many gulls circle overhead hoping you might drop some scrap for them. One of them keeps returning to a narrow cleft in the face of
  the cliff.
  
  > look at the cleft
  There is a narrow cleft in the cliff just wide enough for a gull to scamper through. It looks like one of them as built a nest in
  there. It's not very high.
  
  > look at the nest
  The nest is too far away to get a good look.
  
  > climb the cliff
  [That can't be climbed in that way. Sometimes a direction like
  "up" or "down" works instead.]
  
  > ask Captain about the seagulls
  the gulls.
  
  (You could ask Captain Spider about Akkoteaque or
  the ferry.)
  
  > ask Captain about Akkoteaque
  "Island has always just been in the way," Captain Spider
  says. "Nothing but a bunch of rocks and cliffs. They go straight up, all the way down, so when a ship hits it they don't hang around, no way. Lighthouse is kind of important."
  
  (You could ask Captain Spider about the ferry.)
  
  > examine the lighthouse
  The lighthouse is painted in alternating bands of red and white. At the top, there is a metal walkway.
  
  > ask Captain about the ferry
  Captain Spider says, "This here is my ship. Ain't much of a
  ship, no, but she my ship."
  
  Spider right now.
  (You've previously asked Captain Spider about
  himself, Akkoteaque, the treasure, the
  ferry, Shoo and the hook.)
  
  > examine the life saver
  [That's not something you can see now, or I misunderstood
  you.]
  
  > examine the ferry
  savers hanging on the sides. The inflatable kind, not the hard
  candy. It's painted in very patriotic colors complete with little stars.
  
  In the ferry is Shoo.
  
  > examine the life savers
  The life savers is too far away to get a good look.
  
  > East
  A narrow stair climbs through a seam in the rocks from the jetty to the top of the island cliffs. The steps are carved from the rock itself. Vines covered in tiny white flowers hide the rough
  rock walls.
  
  east
  west (to On a small pier)
  
  > West
  This little wooden dock has definitely seen better days, but still seems to be going strong. It juts into the sea from the base of a cliff. Many seagulls wheel about in the sky above.
  
  Captain Spider mills about, doing something to his boat. You
  can't tell what, but it seems to involve pushing dirt about with a rag.
  
  You can also see a ferry here.
  
  You can only go east (to Climbing a narrow stair) from here.
  
  > check your inventory
  You are carrying:
  a gas can
  a hook charm
  a tomcod
  a fishing pole (with the rusty hook)
  a fish head
  an old beeper
  a letter
  a picture
  a skirt (being worn)
  a shirt (being worn)
  a pocket watch (open)
  a tiny picture
  
  > examine the hook charm
  A small brass fishing hook.
  
  > take rusty hook
  Taken.
  
  > Inventory
  You are carrying:
  a rusty hook
  a gas can
  a hook charm
  a tomcod
  a fishing pole (with no hook at all)
  a fish head
  an old beeper
  a letter
  a picture
  a skirt (being worn)
  a shirt (being worn)
  a pocket watch (open)
  a tiny picture
  
  > tie hook charm to pole
  You tie the hook charm to the end of your fishing line.
  
  > Cast
  You don't think you'll catch much without some bait, but it's worth a try. You cast your fishing line into the sea.
  
  You are fishing. Wait for something to bite!
  
  > Wait
  Something tugs on your line! Reel it in!
  
  > Reel
  You caught some sea-weed! You, uh, throw it back..
  
  > East
  A narrow stair climbs through a seam in the rocks from the jetty to the top of the island cliffs. The steps are carved from the rock itself. Vines covered in tiny white flowers hide the rough
  rock walls.
  
  east
  west (to On a small pier)
  
  > examine the vines
  Vines are thick upon the rock walls. Thousands of tiny pink and white flowers cover the vines everywhere.
  
  > climb vines
  The vines pull away from the rock walls too easily. You'd never be able to climb up them.
  
  > pull the vines
  You give the vines an experimental tug. They aren't anchored all that strongly.
  
  > eat the fish
  [Which do you mean, the 1) tomcod or the 2) fish
  head?]
  
  > 1
  You had sushi once. It was disgusting. You've since learned that raw fish is technically sashimi, not sushi. It's still disgusting.
  
  > eat the vines
  [You can't consume the vines, or that's not the way
  to do so.]
  
  > Rub vines
  [Rubbing the vines would have no effect in these
  circumstances.]
  
  > search vines
  Vines are thick upon the rock walls. Thousands of tiny pink and white flowers cover the vines everywhere.
  
  > look at take the flowers
  [That's not something you can see now, or I misunderstood
  you.]
  
  > Go east
  This is where the paths crossing the island meet. There's not much here besides some grass and some assorted shrubbery.
  
  The somber woman hides herself under her wide sun hat. Every
  time you look at her, she's just then turning away.
  
  There is a raft of ducks here. They seem preoccupied with
  their own internal politics and haven't any attention to spare for you.
  
  here.
  
  south
  east
  west (to Climbing a narrow stair)
  
  Shoo barrels into you and knocks you flat on your back. You
  drop everything you're holding.
  Shoo stands on your chest and peers at you over its immense
  beak.
  
  > look at Shoo
  This bird is standing on your chest and staring at you. It has tiny, glaring little eyes that you make you want to hit it right in the face.
  
  > say shoo shoo
  [Whom do you want to say that to?]
  
  > say shoo to Shoo
  That's it, you're going to hit that bird!
  
  > hit Shoo
  You give the pelican a very satisfying smack. Shoo squawks
  and flops off of you. Then something else catches Shoo's eye.
  She snatches the pocket watch, swallows it, and vanishes into
  the sky.
  
  Thanks for playing the beginning of Akkoteaque! There's lots more to do on the island. I agonized for a while, but eventually decided I'd rather cut the game short then let players loose on a largely unfinished island. Here's what you can expect from the finished game...
  
  -Explore the lighthouse, the Lighthouse Inn, and the rest of the island.. including a spooky graveyard!
  -Be terrorized by a crazed pelican!
  -Meet lots of interesting characters, like Alabaster, the plaster salesman and amateur paranormal investigator!
  -Dig up a buried treasure!
  -Find out why your grandmother is so horrible!
  -Catch fish!
  -Solve lots of puzzles!
  -Find dozens of ciphered messages and probably never manage to decode them!
  
  I hope you enjoyed Akkoteaque. I'm always looking for more testers.
  
  I'm going to let you back into the world now. Why don't you try fishing? The fish head makes excellent bait.
  
  > Go west
  A narrow stair climbs through a seam in the rocks from the jetty to the top of the island cliffs. The steps are carved from the rock itself. Vines covered in tiny white flowers hide the rough
  rock walls.
  
  east (to At a crossing of paths)
  west (to On a small pier)
  
  > go to the south
  This shack is built right onto the side of the cliff, physics be damned. It's rather damp, likely due to it being suspended over the sea, but otherwise it's quite nice. There are some nautical themed posters on the walls and a little window that looks
  out over the sea.
  
  You can see a ladder, a bed and a rusty
  table (on which are a sinker and an ancient
  key) here.
  
  You can only go north (to Climbing a narrow stair) from here.
  
  > examine the posters
  Several posters decorate the walls. There is one showing some kind of tall ship, another that appears to be a random assortment of lighthouses, and another that is clearly a map of
  this very island.
  
  > examine the map
  This poster appears to be a map of the island. The lighthouse is marked prominently on it. Attached to the lighthouse is the inn. To the west is the jetty where you landed on the island. To the south is a little chapel, and to the east, a little beach. Someone has drawn a little arrow pointing north on the beach.
  
  > look at the window
  The window looks out over the sea. Gentle waves roll by far below.
  
  > climb the ladder
  You clamber up the ladder.