text: [Themes: Religious, Historical, monastery, Christianity, Middle Ages, monk]
  
  > Describe the surroundings
  The locutory used to be alive with the bartering of merchants and the tales of visiting brothers, but since the gate was closed, no one has been in here but you. A small bed is pushed up against the wall for those visitors not permitted residency in the monastery, its tired frame supporting a light mattress.
  
  Near the door to the east is a fireplace, its embers cold for days.
  
  The girl sleeps upon the bed, turning fitfully every now and then.
  
  > examine the tinderbox
  A small box containing some flint, steel, and tinder. You always keep it close should your candle be snuffed by the wind.
  
  > Go outside
  There is little to be seen here but the locutory door to the west and your room to the east. North and south both lead to the cold: north to the cloister and south to outside.
  
  The alms box hangs closed beside the door.
  
  > go to the south
  The last hint of shelter against the outside world. But it is only a hint. The wind rushes by like a stream of ice water to the south: only the curve of the arch protects you. The warmth, for as much as it can be called that, of the monastery awaits to the north and the cold of outside to the south.
  
  > examine the arch
  The tapered blocks fit together in a crooked fashion; they seem as though they could slip at a moment's notice. Still, the archways shields you from the wind.
  
  A wolf howls in the distance. A hungry, plaintive sound.
  
  > go south
  The wind gusts at your candle and bites at your feet. To venture out in the darkness would be suicide.
  
  > close the door
  You close the outside door.
  
  > Go east
  The room is small; the same as all the others. But it seems smaller of late. The hall extends to the west.
  
  Your old desk is pushed up against one side. It sags but holds itself up proudly.
  
  Against the side other is your bed.
  
  > enter the bed
  You get onto the bed.
  
  > Sleep
  You're not tired yet. At least, not tired enough for bed.
  
  > Keep going
  With as much effort as it took to move the desk in the first place, you slide it back against the wall. You're getting too old for this. Beads of sweat pooling into your eyebrows, you heave the desk towards the door. A few of your joints crack a bit, but you manage to move the desk.
  With as much effort as it took to move the desk in the first place, you slide it back against the wall. You're getting too old for this. Beads of sweat pooling into your eyebrows, you heave the desk towards the door. A few of your joints crack a bit, but you manage to move the desk.
  With as much effort as it took to move the desk in the first place, you slide it back against the wall. You're getting too old for this. Beads of sweat pooling into your eyebrows, you heave the desk towards the door. A few of your joints crack a bit, but you manage to move the desk.
  With as much effort as it took to move the desk in the first place, you slide it back against the wall. You're getting too old for this.
  
  > go to the west
  (opening the bedroom door)
  You'll have to get off the bed first.
  
  > get up
  You get off the bed.
  
  The room is small; the same as all the others. But it seems smaller of late. The hall extends to the west.
  
  Your old desk is pushed up against one side. It sags but holds itself up proudly.
  
  Against the side other is your bed.
  
  > Go outside
  There is little to be seen here but the locutory door to the west and your room to the east. North and south both lead to the cold: north to the cloister and south to outside.
  
  The alms box hangs closed beside the door.
  
  A wolf howls in the distance. A hungry, plaintive sound.
  
  > tell Ignatius about the girl
  "Listen to her, she will save us all."
  
  A gust of wind slices across your ears. You shiver.
  
  > ask Ignatius about the girl
  "Listen to her, she will save us all."
  
  > ask Ignatius about the salvation
  "Shhh, father." He holds a finger to his lips. "I am trying to pray."
  
  > pray for the girl
  She isn't here: in body, at least.
  
  > pray for Ignatius
  You say a few hollow words. They dry and crumble in your mouth.
  
  > examine Saints
  Finely wrought stained glass windows line the vaulted ceiling of the church, their frames holding within them the images of Saints Francis of Assisi, Medard of Noyon, Drausinus, and Cuthbert.
  
  An itch tickles beneath your skin.
  
  > pray to the mary
  She is warm. Her embrace fills you with joy.
  
  > Sing
  Your days in the choir are long behind you.
  
  > take the candles
  You already have your own.
  
  > look at the pews
  Their cedar frames are worn with the weight of many Masses upon them. You have spent so much time on them of late that you barely feel their roughness any more.
  
  Whispers dance in your ears. Growing. Fading.
  
  > sit
  (on top of the pews)
  You get onto the pews.
  
  > stand
  You get off the pews.
  
  Church (in the pews)
  Cedar pews line the path from the chancel in the north to the cloister to the south, their surfaces cold. The ceiling towers above you, its frescoes dim in the candlelight.
  
  Towering above all else is a massive wooden cross. It is awesome.
  
  The Saints smile cheerfully down upon you from their colorful windows.
  
  The font glows warmly in the candlelight, not a ripple on its water's surface.
  
  Brother Ignatius sits in one of the pews near the front, staring intently at the candles.
  
  > tell Drogo about the girl
  "I do so love visitors!" he squeals.
  
  > cut vines
  Cutting those up would achieve little.
  
  A gust of wind slices across your ears. You shiver.
  
  > search vines
  You find nothing of interest.
  
  Whispers dance in your ears. Growing. Fading.
  
  > Go south
  There is little to be seen here but the locutory door to the west and your room to the east. North and south both lead to the cold: north to the cloister and south to outside.
  
  The alms box hangs closed beside the door.
  
  > Go west
  The locutory used to be alive with the bartering of merchants and the tales of visiting brothers, but since the gate was closed, no one has been in here but you. A small bed is pushed up against the wall for those visitors not permitted residency in the monastery, its tired frame supporting a light mattress.
  
  Near the door to the east is a fireplace, its embers cold for days.
  
  The girl sleeps upon the bed, turning fitfully every now and then.
  
  > Light fire
  After much coaxing, you finally get the wet logs to ignite. The flame is weak, but it will do.
  
  The warmth is finally enough for her to stir.
  
  "Food," she says. "Please."
  
  With that, she passes back into slumber.
  
  > give the food to the girl
  "Here," you say, holding out the food. "I have brought you something to eat."
  
  Finally, the girl stirs awake and quickly grabs the food from your hands. "Thank you," she says as she shoves the food into her mouth. Within moments, the few crumbs you had given her are gone, and she finally seems content.
  
  > talk to girl
  She starts slowly.
  
  "Thank you for your kindness, father." She starts, extending her hand for the pax. "My name is Cec--" Just then, her words are cut off by the sound of a bell ringing in the distance. Her eyes widen and the blood drains from her cheeks.
  
  "There's nothing to be afraid of," you say, taking her hand gently. "It is only the bell of Compline."
  
  "That is why I am afraid." Her chin drops to her chest.
  
  > ask the girl about bell
  "Go now, we will talk soon," she replies through heavy tears.
  
  The bell continues its toll. Four. Five. Six... In place of the seventh ring is a scream. A scream that rips in from the cloister and silences the wind.
  
  The girl places her head in her hands with a slight sob. "I am sorry, Father." Then, turning. "And to you too."
  
  > talk to girl
  "What do you mean?" you ask.
  
  The girl turns her tear-stained eyes to you. "You'll see,"
  
  > Go north
  There will be no garden here come spring. It is hard to imagine the snow will ever melt.
  
  The colonnade is broken to the south by the exit to the hall and to the west by the entrance to the refectory. The brothers' dormitory lies to the east, between the calefactory in the southeast and the belltower in the northeast.
  
  The church squats to the north, Her spires clawing at the sky as She tries to climb away from the Earth.
  
  "Oh, my God!" You hear someone cry from the northeast. "Matteo!"
  
  > Go northeast
  The smooth patch of snow at the base of the tower, formerly cut only by a single line of footsteps, is now a mash of dirt and blood. Steps lead northeast and up to the tower, and to the southwest is the cloister.
  
  Brother Matteo lies upon the ground, blood trickling from the side of his head. Lucca kneels by his side.
  
  The remaining brothers are gathered around the body, shouting.
  
  Drogo jumps up and down, rubbing his hands with glee. "It begins," he squeals to you through a wide grin.
  
  A rather violent cough shakes your body. Mucus cakes your nose.
  
  > Punch drogo
  You are too weak.
  
  Constantin strides forward and smacks Lucca across the face, sending him sprawling into the snow. "Get away from him, murderer!" He shouts, eyes burning.
  
  "Constantin!" Ignatius shouts defiantly, stepping between the two. Although Constantin towers above him, Ignatius looks taller than you have ever seen him. "Leave the boy alone."
  
  Drogo giggles.
  
  > look at Matteo
  He looks so calm. Tiny snowflakes trace the creases in his face, lingering longer and longer as time passes. His mouth fills with snow.
  
  "But he is a murderer!" Constantin replies, stepping back, face flushed.
  
  "I know that as well as you. But that does not excuse you from God's wishes."
  
  > talk to Lucca
  "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," is his only reply.
  
  "We will lock him up in the cellar, then the father can decide what to do with him." Ignatius continues.
  
  Constantin chews his lip, releasing a tiny drop of blood. "No, the cellar will not do. We will lock him in the calefactory."
  
  "Fine, fine. As you wish."
  
  > talk to Constantin
  "Shut up, father," he barks. For a moment he seems about to apologize, but he doesn't.
  
  With that, Constantin hoists Lucca by the shoulders and shoves him towards the calefactory.
  
  Ignatius turns towards you and says. "You should get some sleep, father. We all should. You can get to the bottom of all this in the morning." He turns and walks towards the dormitory.