text: [Themes: Fantasy]
  
  > look around
  Cat Chamber (on the black chair positioned facing the tapestry)
  The chamber is dominated by a wide tapestry hanging opposite the door. In shades of gold, yellow, green, silver, and black, it depicts a magnificent spotted cat lounging upon a tree branch and gazing skyward toward a night filled with stars. The walls are panelled in dark wood with a subtle silver shimmer. A massive black cabinet stands to one side, and a matching table of smaller size has been positioned among four chairs at the center of the room.
  
  Hachachi is sitting on the black chair positioned to the right of the tapestry.
  On the small black table is a small porcelain cup of desert appleshy.
  
  Hachachi pauses to smell the aroma in his cup.
  
  > Drink cup
  (the small porcelain cup of desert appleshy)
  (first picking up the small porcelain cup of desert appleshy)
  Taken.
  
  You take a sip from the small porcelain cup of desert appleshy. A flavor like honeyed apples and grapes and spring water fills your mouth.
  
  How can a drink be diluted and strengthened at the same time? In flavor, this is rather like watered apple juice sweetened with honey, but the power of the drink still dizzies you briefly. Everything shimmers in your vision a second after you swallow, but then your sight returns to normal.
  
  The subtle scent of apples and honey wafts from the cup in your hand.
  
  > keep going
  (the small porcelain cup of desert appleshy)
  You take a sip from the small porcelain cup of desert appleshy. A flavor like honeyed apples and grapes and spring water fills your mouth.
  
  Hachachi settles back in his chair. "Now, we shall be civilized," he invites. "Please, you must be curious about my city. If you wish to ask questions, I will be happy to answer them -- but first, what did you think?"
  
  > ask Hachachi about Cup
  [Use TALK TO to interact with characters.]
  
  > talk to Hachachi
  [1] "I'm very impressed by the appleshy."
  [2] "The appleshy isn't really to my taste."
  
  > 2
  "Oh? Well, that's a disappointment," Hachachi says. "I'm very fond of it myself, and I hoped you would be."
  
  [1] "Tell me more about Ferran?"
  [2] "Tell me about Caerwyn?"
  [3] "Tell me about yourself?"
  [4] "Tell me about the city?"
  [5] "Tell me about geasa?"
  [6] Say nothing.
  
  > 3
  In response to your question, the chirop priest hesitates. "I'm not sure what there is to tell," he says. "I assist High Caerwyn, but not at services -- I assist her with the day-to-day of scheduling and planning and organizing. Really, I'm rather boring."
  
  You are certain that, under the cover of fiddling with his cup, Hachachi is watching to see how you react.
  
  [1] "Tell me more about Ferran?"
  [2] "Tell me about Caerwyn?"
  [3] "Tell me about your family."
  [4] "Why did you join the priesthood?"
  [5] "Tell me about the city?"
  [6] "Tell me about geasa?"
  [7] Say nothing.
  
  Hachachi gazes into his cup for a moment and swirls the liquid reflectively.
  
  > 2
  "High Caerwyn is devoted, yet caring," Hachachi answers. "I think nothing concerns her so much as the lives that we lose -- for each time one man kills another, it is a failure of the Temple." He studies you for a moment, clearly judging his words carefully. "We must study virtue, and we must teach its path, or we will all be lost in a darkness without stars. No one believes this more than she does. If High Caerwyn were not bound by duty, her deeds would be great -- but she is bound by duty, the highest calling there is, and so her light is seen only in the deeds of those she guides."
  
  [1] "Tell me more about Ferran?"
  [2] "Tell me about your family."
  [3] "Why did you join the priesthood?"
  [4] "Tell me about the city?"
  [5] "Tell me about geasa?"
  [6] Say nothing.
  
  > 5
  "Though I see why you would ask, I cannot speak further with you about geasa," Hachachi says apologetically. "However, High Caerwyn will tell you all that you must know -- just as soon as your father consents."
  
  [1] "Tell me more about Ferran?"
  [2] "Tell me about your family."
  [3] "Why did you join the priesthood?"
  [4] "Tell me about the city?"
  [5] Say nothing.
  
  Hachachi says something, but you can't understand what he says -- the syllables are blurred and strange to your ear.
  The words you were about to speak fly away.
  [1] "What did  you say?"
  [2] "I feel strange...."
  [3] Say nothing.
  
  > 2
  "Is it the incense? It's a bit strong in the hallways...." Hachachi gazes at you in clear concern.
  
  [1] "What did  you say?"
  [2] "Help me -- something's wrong!"
  [3] Say nothing.
  
  The subtle scent of apples and honey wafts from the cup in your hand.
  
  Light sparkles suddenly in the corner of your vision, but when you turn your head, it is gone. A wave of dizziness washes over you.
  
  > kill Hachachi
  [Before you can try attacking Hachachi, you will need to complete this conversation. Please enter a number or type REPEAT to reacquaint yourself with your options.]
  
  Hachachi tilts his cup to his lips for a moment before lowering it again.
  
  > 2
  Hachachi says something in reply, but you can't understand what he says. But he doesn't get up to help you -- even though the edges of the room have started spinning....
  
  [1] "What did  you say?"
  [2] Say nothing.
  
  Hachachi pauses to smell the aroma in his cup.
  
  Your grip suddenly loosens on the small porcelain cup of desert appleshy. Though you reach out with your other hand to catch the cup as it slides from your numb fingers, the air is thick around your hand, slowing your motion. A few flying drops of desert appleshy spatter your hand before the cup strikes the ground. Spilled desert appleshy flows across the floor. Reaching after the cup, you lose your balance, and the entire world slips sideways.
  
  You stumble first to your knees and then catch yourself on your hands. You try to stop your fall, but the best you can do is hit the floor first with your shoulder instead of your face. Fortunately, the jarring pain that follows is also far away.
  
  Hachachi is crouching beside you. You see his mouth moving, but you can't hear what he says. You feel it, though, when he raises your head, slides his knee under you for support, and opens your lips with a clinical finger so that he can pour more desert appleshy down your throat. Your faintly moaned protest chokes off beneath the draught, and you swallow against your will. Everything is spinning faster and faster, and you are pressed down from the force of it. Your tongue tastes of apples.
  
  Although your eyes are still open, your vision starts to fade. There is a roaring in your head that is growing louder, and louder....