text: [Themes: Fantasy, divine protagonist]
  
  > describe your surroundings
  Castle Ruins (In the Hall of Mirrors)
  This chamber is over ten paces across and perfectly square. A large oval mirror dominates each wall. Four mirrors. North, west, south and east.
  
  Lornedei came in from the northwest. An old burned out torch sits askew on the south wall.
  
  Raccdaha stomps the floor, shifting its weight. It is getting ready to crush Lornedei.
  
  She can also see a small green plaque here.
  Lornedei moves a strand of hair from her face and puts it behind her ear.
  
  > Search bones
  (the long dead wizard)
  Lornedei is less than interested in digging around in old dead peoples remains.
  
  > Go upwards
  Castle Ruins (In a Stone Corridor)
  A staircase leads down in darkness and south takes her out to the courtyard. The corridor seems to lead only to the dim light to the north.
  Lornedei is muttering to herself.
  
  > go south
  Ahead of her is the southeastern corner of the castle. The corridor between the building and the outer wall leads northeast, but is blocked by a great pile of stone blocks and other debris. To the west, the courtyard ends at the ravine.
  
  Looking up, the facade disappears into a swirling ceiling of mist. Right at the corner of the castle, a narrow doorway leads north into darkness. She can look around, or walk around to learn more. South or southeast takes her away from the ruins. East brings her around to the east side of the east wall.
  
  Deini is here.
  
  > go to the east
  Wasteland (By the East Wall)
  The eastern wall of the ruined castle stands strong here. Fifty or so paces north, it fades into a wall of mist. East, south, southwest and southeast takes her to the rest of the field. West takes her past the east wall to the courtyard of the castle. Anything north of here is dwelled in gray mist.
  There is a shadow stretching out on the ground behind Lornedei. It folds into inky black and then it rises, takes one step away from her, and is gone.
  
  > go to the east
  There is nothing ahead but swirling dust, a hot wind, and the mist beyond. She turns away.
  
  > open the bag
  That's already open.
  
  > pour the water on Tree
  (the small water sack on the petrified tree)
  The Elders water cannot be wasted that way. It is needed elsewhere.
  
  > pour the water on the acorn
  (the small water sack on the golden acorn)
  The Elders water cannot be wasted that way. It is needed elsewhere. Lornedei's shadow jerks to life, reaches for her ankle, and pulls. She stumbles.
  
  > pour the water into the hole
  (the small water sack into the small hole in the hard ground)
  The Elders water cannot be wasted that way. It is needed elsewhere. Lornedei's shadow stretches out behind her. It sits up. It reaches. It touches the exposed skin on her neck before lying back down. Lornedei scratches her neck furiously.
  
  > Close bag
  She closes the small leather pouch.
  
  > dig the hole
  Lornedei digs a hole in the dry ground.
  
  > reach Oak
  (the petrified tree)
  Lornedei steps back from the remains of the golden oak and shakes her head.
  
  > Heal Tree
  There is nothing left here that can be healed. The tree is long since dead.
  
  > Exorcise ld
  Lornedei is possessed. Would you like to perform an exorcism on her?
  
  > Yes
  You give it your best shot, chanting and carrying on.
  "Master?" Lornedei is extremely pale but she seems well.
  The exorcism succeeded.
  
  > reach Oak
  (the petrified tree)
  Lornedei puts her hand on the petrified wood. She shuts her eyes. Suddenly, the air is fresh with a scent of damp soil, grass and the new flowers of spring. Golden leaves tremble on silver limbs. Rooted deep in fertile soil, cared for, held in awe, the golden oak waits.
  
  Soft grass beneath bare feet, feet tredding silently towards the great oak, but stopping to wait at the proper distance. A mumble, a nervous questioning, a whispered reply. A moment of silence. A silver cup carried the last two steps to the roots below the tree.
  
  A trickle of water, a new light bearer's gift, then the acceptance of it, knowing the young one is true and strong. A golden acorn drops to the ground.
  
  Ages has passed, eons of repeated procedures, of dying and re-birth. The golden oak feels no fear, no regret, knowing that after this life, it will come again. The light bearers will plant the acorn and the spiral of life will turn once more. It is soon time. Very soon. Lornedei is waiting for your command.
  
  > check what you're carrying
  Lornedei's magic is currently at 167.
  Lornedei is carrying:
  a wizard's staff
  a large black beetle (Airing out its shell at the moment.)
  a small black plaque
  a cracked skull
  A blue crystal hanging on a silver chain.
  a small leather pouch (which is closed)
  a skinny yellow worm
  a bone
  a small dented silver plate
  a small water sack (which is closed)
  the water from the Elder's spring
  an old tarnished bronze urn
  a shiny red worm
  a fat blue worm
  a small gray plaque
  a leather rucksack (being worn)
  a purple nut with thorns
  a handful of white berries
  a loaf of horrid bread
  a piece of cheese
  Lornedei moves a strand of hair from her face and puts it behind her ear.
  
  > Go upward
  Castle Ruins (In a Stone Corridor)
  A staircase leads down in darkness and south takes her out to the courtyard. The corridor seems to lead only to the dim light to the north.
  "Master?"
  
  > Go south
  Ahead of her is the southeastern corner of the castle. The corridor between the building and the outer wall leads northeast, but is blocked by a great pile of stone blocks and other debris. To the west, the courtyard ends at the ravine.
  
  Looking up, the facade disappears into a swirling ceiling of mist. Right at the corner of the castle, a narrow doorway leads north into darkness. She can look around, or walk around to learn more. South or southeast takes her away from the ruins. East brings her around to the east side of the east wall.
  
  Deini is here.
  The hovering sleepwalker shows up at the edge of the forest. It picks up speed over the dry land, swirls up sand and dust and stays next to Lornedei.
  A black smoke is rising from the forbidden forest. It hovers over the treetops and is barely distinguishable from the constant mist. It moves closer and starts spinning. It drops down to the ground at the edge of the forest and forms a ragged column of black smoke. It swirls up sand and dust at touchdown. It picks up speed across the flat ground and stops close to Lornedei. It is turning slowly while releasing strands of broken smoke that dissolves in the air.
  "The nightmare. The maker of bad dreams. I thought that they were only stories."
  
  > Go east
  Wasteland (By the East Wall)
  The eastern wall of the ruined castle stands strong here. Fifty or so paces north, it fades into a wall of mist. East, south, southwest and southeast takes her to the rest of the field. West takes her past the east wall to the courtyard of the castle. Anything north of here is dwelled in gray mist.
  The sleepwalker stirs up a cloud of dust and dirt as it follows Lornedei.
  
  > Go east
  Wasteland (By the Petrified Tree)
  This is nothing but wasteland. Scattered remains of a once big tree cover the ground. It might have been a great oak at one point. A dry and hot wind tears at her while throwing sand in her eyes and mouth. Beyond rocks, sand and starved soil, there is nothing but a gray mist. In the distant west, beyond more wasteland, she can see a high stone wall. South, the broken land dips down in a bowl beyond which is the forbidden forest. Southwest would take her back to the edge of the forest where she first entered the field.
  The sleepwalker stirs up a cloud of dust and dirt as it follows Lornedei.
  Lornedei shakes her foot to get rid of a painful stone from her sandal.
  
  > Go south
  Wasteland (By the Circle of Stones)
  This is the southeastern corner of the field of despair. The forbidden forest is nearly all around her. West, northwest, and north takes her out. The ground sinks into a large hole, a bowl more than fifty paces across, in the ground, edged by crevices and uneven ridges. A broken land. Once at the bottom, the rest of the field is out of sight.
  
  A big round stone lies in the middle of the pit. The fire is gone.
  
  A stone circle is laid out on the ground.
  
  She can also see A crystal spider with shifty, beady eyes (Polishing its underside at the moment.) here.
  The sleepwalker stirs up a cloud of dust and dirt as it follows Lornedei.
  
  > Rub spider
  The crystal spider would most certainly not appreciate that.
  A dry black leaf falls to the ground next to her. A gust of wind catches it and carries it away.
  
  > ask spider about the sleepwalker
  The spider stares suspiciously at her. It is beneath a creature of light to indulge in conversation with lower beings.
  A high pitched squeal from somewhere among the blackened trees fills the air, and Lornedei shudders.
  
  > Go north
  Wasteland (By the Petrified Tree)
  This is nothing but wasteland. Scattered remains of a once big tree cover the ground. It might have been a great oak at one point. A dry and hot wind tears at her while throwing sand in her eyes and mouth. Beyond rocks, sand and starved soil, there is nothing but a gray mist. In the distant west, beyond more wasteland, she can see a high stone wall. South, the broken land dips down in a bowl beyond which is the forbidden forest. Southwest would take her back to the edge of the forest where she first entered the field.
  The sleepwalker stirs up a cloud of dust and dirt as it follows Lornedei.
  
  > examine Oak
  (the petrified tree)
  These are scattered remains of a tree. Mostly ashes, a few charred branches, a hollowed out trunk lying on its side, all petrified by time and lack of rain. All is covered in years of sand.
  
  > look in Oak
  (the petrified tree)
  Lornedei looks around, in the trunk, kicks away some dirt, but all she finds is more sad remains of the tree. Anything of interest is long since gone.
  Lornedei moves a strand of hair from her face and puts it behind her ear.
  
  > search Oak
  (the petrified tree)
  Lornedei looks around, in the trunk, kicks away some dirt, but all she finds is more sad remains of the tree. Anything of interest is long since gone.
  
  > Heal Oak
  (the petrified tree)
  There is nothing left here that can be healed. The tree is long since dead.
  Lornedei shakes her foot to get rid of a painful stone from her sandal.
  
  > look at the sand
  The soil is dry and starved of both moisture and nutrition. It looks and feels dead.
  
  > put the spider on Oak
  (the petrified tree)
  Placing things on the petrified tree will not do her any good.
  
  > Heal spider
  Healing drains too much power. That would be a waste.
  
  > ask the spider about Raccdaha
  The spider stares suspiciously at her. It is beneath a creature of light to indulge in conversation with lower beings.
  
  > Inventory
  Lornedei's magic is currently at 166.
  Lornedei is carrying:
  A crystal spider with shifty, beady eyes (Polishing its underside at the moment.)
  a wizard's staff
  a large black beetle (Taking a nap at the moment.)
  a small black plaque
  a cracked skull
  A blue crystal hanging on a silver chain.
  a small leather pouch (which is open)
  a golden acorn
  a skinny yellow worm
  a bone
  a small dented silver plate
  a small water sack (which is closed)
  the water from the Elder's spring
  an old tarnished bronze urn
  a shiny red worm
  a fat blue worm
  a small gray plaque
  a leather rucksack (being worn)
  a purple nut with thorns
  a handful of white berries
  a loaf of horrid bread
  a piece of cheese
  Lornedei is waiting for your command.
  
  > Plant acorn
  "Master! Nothing can grow here." She picks up a handful of dirt but drops it again with a grimace.
  "This soil is poisoned, I can feel it."
  
  > go southwest
  Wasteland (Overlooking the Field of Despair)
  Behind her is the forbidden forest. The tree line is sharp as if cut with a knife at creation, separating the blackened forest from the uniform gray ahead.
  
  The horizon ahead is strangely blurred. If from dust, mist or simply the uncertainty of distance is hard to tell from here. In the east, the field slopes down towards something that she cannot see. On the far side of that, the forest continues. In the opposite direction, the dying sun has set the horizon in flames above the gray covering the forbidden forest on that side. On this side of the forest, the land is cut, cracked, dropping down into a ravine. In the northwest, there is an old ruin reflecting the colours of the sun. To the north and northeast, the field continues into the blurred horizon.
  The sleepwalker stirs up a cloud of dust and dirt as it follows Lornedei.
  
  > Dig
  (the sleep walker)
  The ground is too hard to dig in this place.
  
  > Go north
  Wasteland (By the East Wall)
  The eastern wall of the ruined castle stands strong here. Fifty or so paces north, it fades into a wall of mist. East, south, southwest and southeast takes her to the rest of the field. West takes her past the east wall to the courtyard of the castle. Anything north of here is dwelled in gray mist.
  The sleepwalker stirs up a cloud of dust and dirt as it follows Lornedei.
  
  > Go southeast
  Wasteland (By the Circle of Stones)
  This is the southeastern corner of the field of despair. The forbidden forest is nearly all around her. West, northwest, and north takes her out. The ground sinks into a large hole, a bowl more than fifty paces across, in the ground, edged by crevices and uneven ridges. A broken land. Once at the bottom, the rest of the field is out of sight.
  
  A big round stone lies in the middle of the pit. The fire is gone.
  
  A stone circle is laid out on the ground.
  The sleepwalker stirs up a cloud of dust and dirt as it follows Lornedei.
  
  > put the acorn in the hole
  Lornedei puts the golden acorn in the small hole in the ground. After a moment, it starts to move around in there. It circles the inside of the hole and when reaching enough speed, the acorn makes it out of the hole completely. It rolls over to stop next to Lornedei's left foot.
  A high pitched squeal from somewhere among the blackened trees fills the air, and Lornedei shudders.
  
  > open the bag
  That's already open.
  
  > pour the water into the hole
  (the small water sack into the small hole in the hard ground)
  The Elders water cannot be wasted that way. It is needed elsewhere.
  
  > Close sack
  That's already closed.
  Lornedei moves a strand of hair from her face and puts it behind her ear.
  A high pitched squeal from somewhere among the blackened trees fills the air, and Lornedei shudders.
  
  > take the acorn
  She already has that.
  
  > Heal ground
  (the ground)
  "There is nothing I can do for this soil."
  
  > reach the bushes
  Lornedei lets her mind sink into the dry twisted branches of the bushes. After just a moment she steps backwards, clasping her throat with wide, fearful eyes.
  "These trees do not feed on water and sun. Their thirst is for something else and they have not received any for so long. That is why they have died, but the nuts... I do not understand."
  
  > Go northwest
  Wasteland (By the East Wall)
  The eastern wall of the ruined castle stands strong here. Fifty or so paces north, it fades into a wall of mist. East, south, southwest and southeast takes her to the rest of the field. West takes her past the east wall to the courtyard of the castle. Anything north of here is dwelled in gray mist.
  The sleepwalker stirs up a cloud of dust and dirt as it follows Lornedei.
  
  > go west
  Ahead of her is the southeastern corner of the castle. The corridor between the building and the outer wall leads northeast, but is blocked by a great pile of stone blocks and other debris. To the west, the courtyard ends at the ravine.
  
  Looking up, the facade disappears into a swirling ceiling of mist. Right at the corner of the castle, a narrow doorway leads north into darkness. She can look around, or walk around to learn more. South or southeast takes her away from the ruins. East brings her around to the east side of the east wall.
  
  The nightmare is here, spinning slowly. The frayed edges are constantly releasing veils of broken smoke that dissolves in the air.
  
  Deini is here.
  
  > Go north
  Castle Ruins (In a Stone Corridor)
  A staircase leads down in darkness and south takes her out to the courtyard. The corridor seems to lead only to the dim light to the north.
  The sleepwalker stalks the courtyard.
  The column of black smoke rushes towards the opening, jerks through it. It struggles to stay, twitching.