text: [Themes: Fantasy, divine protagonist]
  
  > Go downwards
  Lornedei takes one step towards the edge of the ravine, then another longer step away from it. The ravine is too deep and too wide to cross.
  
  > go to the east
  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.
  A high pitched squeal from somewhere among the blackened trees fills the air, and Lornedei shudders.
  
  > Go northwest
  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.
  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.
  
  > turn spear
  Lornedei grabs the spear on each side of the hand and turns it. A click is heard from inside the statue and the entire guard woman rotates on her right foot, swinging her left side outwards.
  In doing that, a slab of stone comes loose from the corner thus revealing a narrow passage to the southeast.
  
  > go to the south-east
  Castle Ruins (In the Hall of Mirrors)
  Silence, perfect stillness, a sense of waiting.
  As soon as Lornedei steps past the statue, the sensation overwhelms her. For once, she is silent for a long while before making her remark. "What a mess!"
  The chamber seems to have survived the devastation of the castle with only minor damages though. Sand and scattered pieces of marble lie beneath a few cracks in one corner.
  
  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.
  
  A big pile of stone and steel takes up a large part of the space in the middle of the floor.
  "Who would bring that junk down here? Seems very strange to me."
  
  Lornedei stumbles on a big staff on the floor. She barely avoids stepping on a sad looking long dead somebody.
  
  The dead somebody seems to be the owner of the staff.
  "I believe that this might be one of the Elders."
  
  [Your holiness has just gone up by five.]
  
  > look at Elder
  Lornedei bends down to take a look at the grim pile of bones. The figure lies near the west wall with the arms stretched out above the head. The grinning skull is bent backwards and in an odd angle. The spine showing above the robe it is dressed in has been turned until it broke off from the rest of the body. The feet are still protected by a pair of leather sandals.
  Lornedei looks around, puzzled.
  
  > examine the robe
  The figure on the floor is dressed in a robe that once must have been sky blue but now it's faded and covered in dust and cobwebs. The fabric is finely woven and smooth. The hems are decorated with golden vines just like the sandals that still sit securely on the skeletons feet.
  
  > examine the sandals
  (the robe and sandals)
  The figure on the floor is dressed in a robe that once must have been sky blue but now it's faded and covered in dust and cobwebs. The fabric is finely woven and smooth. The hems are decorated with golden vines just like the sandals that still sit securely on the skeletons feet.
  
  > take the robe
  It is probably better if she leaves them where they are.
  
  > Steel
  It is a big pile of stone and steel. It takes up a big portion of the floor. She can see small stones and big boulders covered in moss, dirt and dust.
  
  A few of the bigger rocks seem to be attached to each other with steel rings and rusty chains. A row, uneven and broken up, of triangular pieces of steel sit along an oblong rock near one end of the pile.
  
  > search the steel pile
  She can not find anything that might interest you.
  Lornedei reaches down to scratch her ankle.
  
  > examine the staff
  It's a heavy staff in what appears to be oak. It reaches Lornedei to the shoulder, is thicker in one end and irregular in shape, with the natural shape preserved. It is polished and given a patina with many years use.
  
  > examine north mirror
  A wide and heavy frame surrounds a dark mirror. There is only a dull reflection of the chamber behind Lornedei when she looks in it.
  There's an indentation in the top part of the frame. It is empty.
  
  > look at the north indentation
  There is an indentation in the top part of the frame. A plaque might fit there.
  
  Under a layer of dust covering the frame, the wood is decorated with delicately painted vines and leaves of all sizes and shapes. Tiny animals peek out from behind the leaves, which seem to stand out even though the surface is flat: a red squirrel's curious gaze, a deer and its offspring, ready to flee, a miniature snake on a vine.
  
  Lornedei reaches down to scratch her ankle.
  
  > examine the east mirror
  The glass, underneath a layer of dust, has no reflection whatsoever. Lornedei glances at the frame but she just shakes her head in puzzlement. She looks away from the strange sight.
  There's an indentation in the top part of the frame. It is empty.
  
  > look at the east indentation
  Reluctantly, Lornedei examines the frame. The heavy frame around the east mirror has a deep, almost black surface. Delicate, spidery carvings cover every surface. The intricate pattern of geometrical shapes underlies other shapes. These seem to avoid observation. Sometimes a shapeless blob turns into a perfectly logical entity for a split second. Although the logic eludes the mind to be just a blob again, the feeling of an unreachable, untouchable wisdom remains. Lornedei blinks and looks away.
  
  > check your inventory
  Lornedei's magic is currently at 167.
  Lornedei is carrying:
  a wizard's staff
  a large black beetle (Taking a nap at the moment.)
  an old torch
  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 muttering to herself.
  
  > examine the south mirror
  On the south wall hangs a big oval mirror. The glass is dark and cold. There's a shallow indentation in the top part of the frame. It is empty.
  
  > look at the black plaque
  It's a totally black round plaque. It is small enough to fit in Lornedei's palm. The smooth stone is of a kind that Lornedei has never seen. A strange picture is carved on one side. It looks like a flying insect of some sort, with a giant tree in the background.
  
  > look at the south indentation
  The wide frame around the south mirror has a shallow indentation where a plaque might fit.
  
  The frame itself is totally featureless. It has a deep gray polish that almost, but not quite, looks like the glass itself.
  
  > put the black plaque in the east indentation
  Lornedei puts the small black plaque in the round hole on the frame. It goes into place with a click.
  
  > take black plaque
  "Ouch, I broke a nail! the plaque is stuck. At least I do not know how to get it out again. Maybe it is the way it is supposed to be." Lornedei wipes her forehead with her shirtsleeve.
  
  > check your inventory
  Lornedei's magic is currently at 167.
  Lornedei is carrying:
  a wizard's staff
  a large black beetle (Fluffing up its wings at the moment.)
  an old torch
  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
  
  > examine the west mirror
  The glass is cracked and dark. The frame surrounding the broken mirror seems to be in bad shape. There appears to be a shallow indentation in the top part of the frame. She may need to look closer at the frame.
  
  > examine the west indentation
  The wide frame seems at first to be a mosaic of different types of frayed fabric. Upon closer inspection, it is clear that the frame is made up of different types of wood, stone, and even metal. It has however been demolished by something, cut and beaten into a mess of splinters. There seems to be an indentation in the top part of the frame but it may not be able to hold anything in place.
  
  > look at the torch
  (the unlit torch)
  The torch looks old and burnt out.
  Lornedei reaches down to scratch her ankle.
  
  > turn it
  The torch is not of any use now. Let's just leave it as it is.
  
  > check what you're carrying
  Lornedei's magic is currently at 167.
  Lornedei is carrying:
  a wizard's staff
  a large black beetle (Taking a nap at the moment.)
  an old torch
  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
  
  > go northwest
  Castle Ruins (In the Guard Chamber)
  The spiral staircase ends in the middle of a square chamber. The west wall has fallen out into the ravine, letting in the glowing sunset. The walls that are still standing and the marble floor have cracked in several places. Rocks, a thick layer of dust, and all sorts of debris cover the floor. The only thing still intact is a stone statue standing in the southeast corner.
  
  The spiral staircase leads up and the west wall is open to the ravine.
  
  > drop the torch
  Your wish is her command.
  
  > go to the southeast
  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.
  
  The stone pile still takes up too much room and the dead somebody is still very much dead.
  
  Lornedei is muttering to herself.
  
  > reach bones
  (the pile of bones)
  Lornedei reaches into the figure on the cold stone floor but something is resisting her. Something suddenly gives. The air starts to shimmer above the pale bones and a figure rises from the pile. The transparent shape standing before her is a man. An old man dressed in a sky blue robe, his thin face with a thin white beard looks gaunt and tired beyond his apparent age. He is holding a long staff in one hand that partially supports his old frail and bent body.
  He is looking around the chamber. He lets his gaze touch the mirrors on the wall, rest a moment on the stone pile until he is looking straight at Lornedei.
  Assessing her, judging her.
  Suddenly his eyes turn to steel. He seems to recoil from her and swings his staff through the air.
  It goes through her body and for a moment, she feels numb, tingling. He sinks back down in his remains and is gone.
  
  > reach the steel
  suddenly Lornedei smiles.
  "If you say so."
  She Lifts one arm, turns the hand over and makes a blue spark appear in her palm. Lornedei glances up at you, still smiling, as the blue spark turns to red.
  Slowly she turns her head and blows the spark towards the pile.
  The red light drops down and disappears between two rocks. Nothing happens for a short while. And then there is movement. Slowly, the rocks rearrange themselves, moving into place with a grinding noise that causes the entire chamber to vibrate.
  Triangular metal pieces covered in rust and dust, although they seem sharp enough, align themselves in two rows.
  Some of the smaller rocks, scattered around the periphery of the pile, skip and hop along the dusty floor until they are also in place. There is a loud bang as the two largest pieces come together. The noise gets louder as hundreds of rocks of all sizes and rusty pieces of metal move into place, all at the same time.
  For a heartbeat, everything is still. Then it rises - grunting, grinding, and groaning, it rises.
  Lornedei is awestruck, but whispers to the being.
  "Raccdaha!"
  
  > examine steel
  It is a big pile of stone and steel. It takes up a big portion of the floor. She can see small stones and big boulders covered in moss, dirt and dust.
  
  A few of the bigger rocks seem to be attached to each other with steel rings and rusty chains. A row, uneven and broken up, of triangular pieces of steel sit along an oblong rock near one end of the pile. Lornedei wipes her forehead with her shirtsleeve.
  
  > talk to Raccdaha
  Lornedei's eyes change again. She smiles.
  "Did you come for me?" She holds up both hands, offering herself to him. Everything is silent. A strand of darkness wraps itself around her fingers, her hands and her arms.
  "Yes! Take me with you."
  She shuts her eyes. Her body shakes as the spirit caresses her, touches her face, her hair. The touch leaves her skin scorched and bleeding. She comes to him willingly and all the promises of power, of eternal bliss, are coming true.
  The spirit that was once human embraces her. He wraps his arms around her body, seeking warmth. He holds her with arms of stone. She melts into the darkness.
  
  Smiling, she lets herself be crushed between stones, cut to pieces by sharp metal. He reaches for her hand, which turns to a bloody mess. He holds her head, which cracks like a ripe melon. Only then does the smile fade from her lips.
  
  > Attack raccdaha
  Lornedei says calmly: "No!"
  Lornedei wipes her forehead with her shirtsleeve.
  A crimson light dances on the white walls of the chamber, metal jaws snap and stone limbs creak.
  
  > 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.
  
  > touch the north mirror
  "the frame feels warm."
  
  > reach elder
  Lornedei reaches into the figure on the cold stone floor but something is resisting her. Something suddenly gives. The air starts to shimmer above the pale bones and a figure rises from the pile. The transparent shape standing before her is a man. An old man dressed in a sky blue robe, his thin face with a thin white beard looks gaunt and tired beyond his apparent age. He is holding a long staff in one hand that partially supports his old frail and bent body.
  He is looking around the chamber. He lets his gaze touch the mirrors on the wall, rest a moment on the stone pile until he is looking straight at Lornedei.
  Assessing her, judging her.
  He is watching Lornedei appraisingly for a long while.
  Finally, he nods and looks pleased. He opens his mouth to speak but his remains are pulling him back.
  There is not much time. He lifts a hand towards the stone pile. He shakes his head violently. Then he moves his hand to indicate the west wall while producing a weak smile. He slowly sinks down towards his bones with a deep sigh of relief that is felt but never heard.
  Lornedei shivers as the spirit returns to its uneasy rest.
  
  Lornedei's magic drops by one.
  "Master?"