text: [Themes: Fantasy, divine protagonist]
  
  > look at your surroundings
  The clearing is almost perfectly round and thirty or so paces across. It is surrounded by the forbidden forest on all sides.
  A giant black oak stands in solitude in the middle of the clearing. Many of its roots stick out of the ground like snakes arching to suffocate their prey. Steps are cut in the oak to provide an easy way up.
  
  A stone altar stands in the shadow of the big oak. Dry grass and shrubs are still rooted in the dead soil, and more of the deformed bushes grow in a loose circle around the oak and the altar.
  
  An old stone well gurgles softly not far from a crumbling stone house. On the other side of the clearing, three paths lead into the forbidden forest.
  
  The nightmare is here, spinning slowly. The frayed edges are constantly releasing veils of broken smoke that dissolves in the air.
  
  The great roots under the giant oak have slid aside revealing a passage.
  
  The sleepwalker is here, spinning slowly.
  
  She can also see a large black beetle (Spinning around waving its antennae at the moment.) here.
  
  > reach sleepwalker
  Lornedei focuses on the spinning mist but suddenly she seems weary and confused.
  "It is strange Master. If I try to feel what is inside it, I feel like I am going to fall asleep."
  Lornedei's magic drops by one.
  
  > reach altar
  She lifts her hands towards the stained altar. She focuses, frowning, then she is shoved back by something. The connection breaks and Lornedei gasps for air.
  "No Master, I cannot! There is so much wickedness there and it does not want to reveal its secrets. All I could sense was pain. Pain, fear, and blood."
  Lornedei's magic just dropped by five.
  A dry black leaf drops down on Lornedei's shoulder. With a grimace, she flicks it with a finger to get rid of it.
  
  > cut ld
  That makes very little sense. Perhaps you should think that one through.
  The roots under the big oak stir restlessly.
  Lornedei stares at the leaf clusters in the black forest. She looks away, biting her lower lip.
  
  > search grass
  Lornedei is staring at the black oak.
  
  > search grass
  Lornedei is staring at the black oak.
  Something touches Lornedei's foot. She pulls her leg away from the grasping root with a shriek.
  
  > close the eyes
  That's not something she can close.
  Something touches Lornedei's foot. She pulls her leg away from the grasping root with a shriek.
  
  > wake the ld
  You decide to break the rules just slightly. You give her a tiny nudge. A mental slap if you will. Her head snaps up and she is staring at you, shocked.
  
  Her eyes are bright and aware. She smiles.
  "I was not quite here Master. I am sorry. I am awake now."
  The roots under the big oak stir restlessly.
  
  > enter the nightmare
  "Master? Are you sure about this?"
  She looks terrified but she decides to trust your judgment. She walks into the spinning smoke.
  the nightmare stops spinning and Lornedei appears on the other side. She looks at you with gray eyes and an uncanny smile on her lips. Lornedei shivers. She looks behind her. There is nothing there. Lornedei turns her head slowly from side to side, dazed. She blinks.
  
  > search the grass
  The thin strands of grass are sharp enough to cut her hand to pieces, but she shoves her hand in the middle of one of the tufts of grass.
  she pulls it out of the ground and throws it into the gurgling stone well. In doing that, a rusty something is revealed. It looks like an old sword.
  Lornedei's hand is undamaged.
  
  > examine the sword
  It might have been a mighty sword in a brave warriors hand at one point. There is now a fingers length left of the blade and the thing looks more like a clump of rust.
  Lornedei is muttering to herself.
  
  > reach the sword
  There seems to be nothing beyond what the eye can see.
  The beetle stands still, seemingly watching the deformed bushes.
  
  > cut yourself
  That makes very little sense. Perhaps you should think that one through.
  Lornedei reaches down to scratch her ankle.
  Lornedei stares at the leaf clusters in the black forest. She looks away, biting her lower lip.
  
  > search the grass
  "There is nothing more to find there."
  Something touches Lornedei's foot. She pulls her leg away from the grasping root with a shriek.
  
  > Go upwards
  Hall of Severance (In the Black Oak)
  Clusters of black leaves surround Lornedei. They hang from the upper branches, creating a shield that totally obscures the sky above. She can look down, as all the clusters are above and around her, but up is nothing but shimmering black. The branch reaches out over the clearing and the end of it seems to disappear in a big cloud of smoke. She can climb down to the ground or follow the branch.
  
  > follow the branch
  Lornedei steps through the smoke.
  Castle Ruins (In the Hall of Portals)
  This square chamber is dominated by four portals. Each has a small impression to place one of the plaques. Lornedei came in from the northwest. If all portals are open, she can also go south, east, west or north.
  
  On the portal to the void is a small gray plaque.
  
  On the portal to the Hall of Severance is a small black plaque.
  
  The stone pile still takes up too much room and the dead somebody is still very much dead.
  
  > 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.
  
  She can see an old torch here.
  
  > 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 stumbles for no apparent reason. She looks up at you, accusingly.
  
  > 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 girl looks at the wolf as if seeing it for the first time. Deini backs away from her.
  
  > kill Deini
  Lornedei just looks at you. Her blank stare reveals none of her thoughts.
  
  > throw sword at Deini
  Lornedei's aim is awful. The rusty sword grip is so far off the intended target it is not even funny.
  
  > Zap deini
  Lornedei just looks at you. Her blank stare reveals none of her thoughts.
  Lornedei's shadow trembles and disappears. In an instant, it is back. She seems not to notice.
  Deini comes up to Lornedei to be scratched.
  "Deini NO!" Lornedei waves the wolf away.
  
  > Go northeast
  There is a mountain of rubble in the way. There is a couple of passages through the precariously stacked pile, but it is far to risky to send Lornedei in there.
  Deini comes up to Lornedei to be scratched.
  "Deini NO!" Lornedei waves the wolf away.
  
  > 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.
  Lornedei is muttering to herself.
  
  > 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.
  
  She can see a small hole in the hard ground (which is empty) here. 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.
  
  > Wait
  Lornedei waits as the dry wind tears at her torn clothing.
  Lornedei wipes her forehead with her shirtsleeve.
  
  > wait
  Lornedei waits as the dry wind tears at her torn clothing.
  
  > Wait
  Lornedei waits as the dry wind tears at her torn clothing.
  Lornedei feels something against her leg. Like a shadow, silent and cautious, Deini has come to her. The wolf is sniffing the air, is constantly watching Lornedei, but she finally lies down. She puts her head on her front paws but keeps constant watch.
  "You just stay out of my way."
  Deini stares at the small hole in the ground, then at Lornedei. She growls.
  
  > kill Deini
  Lornedei just looks at you. Her blank stare reveals none of her thoughts.
  Deini looks at the hole in the ground and walks over to it. She lies down and rolls around on top of it, effectively filling it with dirt.
  
  Would you like to restore a saved game?
  
  > check your inventory
  Lornedei's magic is currently at 166.
  Lornedei is carrying:
  a wizard's staff
  a large black beetle (Spinning around waving its antennae 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
  
  > put the Crystal in the west indentation
  No, the amulet will not fit in that hole.
  Lornedei shakes her foot to get rid of a painful stone from her sandal.
  
  > look at the plate
  It is a somewhat dented silver dish. One side returns a distorted but clear image of the holder.
  Lornedei shakes her foot to get rid of a painful stone from her sandal.
  
  > examine the plate
  It is a somewhat dented silver dish. One side returns a distorted but clear image of the holder.
  
  > put plate in the north indentation
  No, the small dented silver plate will not fit in that hole.
  "Master?"
  
  > reach the plate
  There seems to be nothing beyond what the eye can see.
  Lornedei moves a strand of hair from her face and puts it behind her ear.
  
  > go to the 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."
  Lornedei moves a strand of hair from her face and puts it behind her ear.
  
  > Heal sleepwalker
  She cannot heal things that are not alive.
  Deini yawns, utterly bored.
  
  > Go northwest
  The front wall of the castle ends there in a jagged edge. The rest of it is at the bottom of the ravine. There is no way of knowing how big the castle might have been before. Lornedei takes a quick look over the edge of the ravine. It is too far down to see anything clearly and she retreats.
  
  > 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.
  
  > Go west
  Lornedei takes one step but stops. She cannot go there. She can go south or down.
  The sleepwalker stalks the courtyard.
  The nightmare twitches, stirring up dust.