text: > look around
  This is a horrible, confined, and constricted cellar. Your flashlight bounces around with a small jaundiced light. Only rough walls surround you with no exits save for the rickety ladder from which you descended. Some sort of altar sits in a crude alcove on the other side of this chamber, but you can't make it out unless you examine it further.
  
  On the altar is a silver chalice.
  
  > examine the chalice
  This is certainly a treasure, if only it hadn't once been filled with blood. The chalice is stained around the rim with bloody lip prints.
  
  > take the chalice
  You take the silver chalice from the altar.
  
  > examine the altar
  The furnishing is an altar carved of thick wood. Maybe once it was a shipboard end-table, but now, it's an altar to unspeakable gods. Surrounding this dark thing are hundreds of tiny bones.
  
  > examine the bones
  Upon closer examination, you see they are small human bones. . .children's bones. . .and a shiver runs down your spine.
  
  > go upward
  The sunlight peeps through the slats in this rotting structure. The dust is suspended in the still air. Any stalls that were once here have been removed. Old crates are piled in the corner. The floor is matted with ancient straw. The exit is the old door to the northwest. A trapdoor leads down.
  
  > remove the robe
  You take off the black robe.
  
  > go to the north-west
  This is an abandoned desert farm. The only structure left standing is an old shepherd's barn. It stands decrepit to the southeast. A rocky path leads to the east and the road back to Castronegro is to the north.
  
  You can see a broken padlock here.
  
  > Go east
  This path ascends to the west toward the old farms of the desert and it descends into the small canyon to the northeast.
  
  A chill wind blows; the only sign of winter you've felt here.
  
  > take the padlock
  (putting the scrapbook into the trenchcoat to make room)
  You pick up the broken padlock from the ground.
  
  > Go east
  This path ascends to the west toward the old farms of the desert and it descends into the small canyon to the northeast.
  
  Strange noises echo around you.
  
  > go northeast
  You are walking through a hidden crevice. Passages lead north and southwest.
  
  Vultures circle above you.
  
  > Go north
  This is a place of death. No plant life can be seen and no animal life can be heard. This small canyon seems to have been chopped into the desert by a great hand, yet you've never heard of it existing.
  The sand is more like dust. Paths lead through the canyon west and south. In the center of this area is a large obelisk; roughly ten feet tall and crudely carved all over. It juts like an insulting finger toward the heavens.
  
  Strange noises echo around you.
  
  > look at the obelisk
  It is ominous and the carvings that cover it seem to squirm, but not really. The sand around the obelisk has been disturbed much more than anywhere else in this canyon.
  
  A chill wind blows; the only sign of winter you've felt here.
  
  > go to the west
  This is a road that turns from pavement to dirt as it winds from the northwest toward Castronegro to the east into a small canyon.
  
  You think you hear talking but cannot make it out.
  
  > go to the northwest
  This is a sorry excuse for a 'park'. There are no trees save for some cacti and tumbleweed. A bench sits near a dry fountain. To the east is the entrance to the chapel and to the south is the courtyard to the town's library. One of the roads that lead out of town is to the southeast and the park can be exited back into town to the west. You can also cross the street to the northwest and southwest.
  
  You can see Grover Cotterell here.
  
  A vulture circles lazily far overhead.
  
  Ichabod Johnson arrives from the southwest.
  
  Ichabod squints in the sunlight glaring from Grover's head.
  
  Grover mumbles something about being a banker.
  
  > go to the north
  This is a bizarre little occult shop cluttered with strange artifacts. Statues, utensils, books, and an assortment of other esoteric, occult offerings line many shelves and tables in this cramped space. The door to the outside is to the south. A small table sits next to the door.
  
  On the small table are a Balinese statuette and a small sign.
  
  As if one with the other strange objects, the proprietor, Filipo Diaz, watches the store.
  
  You can also see Lambert Gunning, Orion Skinner and Claire Prebo here.
  
  Filipo rearranges some geodes.
  
  Lambert asks Orion for some change.
  
  Orion looks at you expectingly.
  
  Claire smells her finger.
  
  > show the robe to Filipo
  "That's an interesting black robe."
  
  Filipo eyes you suspiciously.
  
  Orion Skinner goes south.
  
  Lambert Gunning goes south.
  
  Claire wonders aloud if she remembered to buy tampons.
  
  > show the sickle to Filipo
  "Ah yes. . .an enchanted sickle. I've seen them once or twice around these parts.", he gives a mischievous grin as he says this. "They have interesting qualities. They are used to chop paths through grain and wheat; perhaps this one will open a way for you sometime."
  
  Filipo rearranges some geodes.
  
  Claire smells her finger.
  
  > go south
  This is a dusty street corner in Castronegro. A black door leads into a building to the north and the sidewalk heads south and east. A park can be reached to the southeast.
  
  You can see Lambert Gunning and Orion Skinner here.
  
  The sound of a bus engine can be heard in the distance.
  
  Lambert Gunning goes east.
  
  Orion stoops to tie his shoelace.
  
  > go east
  This is a dusty sidewalk in Castronegro that stretches east to west. What passes for a town park can be reached to the south. You can also see the chapel in that direction. One of the roads that lead out of town, into the hills, is to the north. You can cross the street to the southwest.
  
  You can see Lambert Gunning here.
  
  The sun beats down on you despite the season.
  
  Lambert looks around for a cigarette butt or a coin, perhaps.
  
  > go north
  This is a dusty road that leads south to Castronegro and north into the hills. The sun's heat causes you to sweat furiously here.
  
  Vultures circle above you.
  
  > break the door with the sickle
  The sickle easily breaks the vault door open. It's as if it was made for the job.
  
  You think you hear talking but cannot make it out.
  
  > go to the northwest
  (first opening the vault door)
  
  This is a large chamber carved into the hill. Plain sarcophagi hold 19 members of either the Diaz or the Vilheila-Pareira families. One sarcophagus looks empty, however. The exit is to the southeast.
  
  > examine the sarcophagus
  Which do you mean, the empty sarcophagus or the closed sarcophagi?
  
  > Empty sarcophagus
  This sarcophagus has never been used. It is engraved Bernardo de
  Diaz 1580 -  but there's no date of death.
  
  You find it interesting that there are no actual Bernardo de Diaz's buried here and the only mention of the name is on an empty sarcophagus with a birthdate 344 years ago.
  
  > examine the closed sarcophagus
  Each of the 19 closed sarcophagi hold the mummified remains of either a Diaz famly member or a Vilheila-Pareira family member. Their dates of births and deaths accompany their Spanish names.
  
  > open the closed sarcophagus
  You peek into a couple of the sarcophagi and find only mummified remains; nothing surprising, really.
  
  > Go southeast
  The road through the hills meanders north to south here, but a steep hill exists to the northwest wherein a vault door hides a half-buried mausoleum.
  
  The sun beats down on you despite the season.
  
  > go north
  This road winds through the hills. Thankfully, there is some shade among these badlands. The path leads both northeast and south.
  
  You think you hear talking but cannot make it out.
  
  > go to the northeast
  This once was a garden, but now everything is dust and decay. The flowerpots hold only dirt and dead vines cover almost everything.
  Casa De Diaz, the home of Bernardo Diaz VI, is to the north. The front door; an iron grate. The house is a stone horror but seems to once have been influenced greatly by Spanish architecture. However, the place is in bad disrepair; as if it's been abandoned for some years or even decades. The path through the hills and back to Castronegro lies to the southwest.
  
  Strange noises echo around you.
  
  > Go north
  You have a hunch there's more to be investigated before questioning Bernardo Diaz VI.
  
  Vultures circle above you.
  
  > go south
  This is a dusty sidewalk in Castronegro that stretches east to west. What passes for a town park can be reached to the south. You can also see the chapel in that direction. One of the roads that lead out of town, into the hills, is to the north. You can cross the street to the southwest.
  
  Tumbleweed tumbles by.
  
  > go east
  This is a dusty street corner. The sidewalk runs west and sharply southwest where it leads to a sorry excuse for a park. The Vilheila-Pareira Tobacco shop is to the northeast.
  
  The sun beats down on you despite the season.
  
  > Go northeast
  This is a small store run by Philip Vilheila-Pereira, the uncle of Joaquin Vilheila-Pereira, one of the missing persons. Barrels of tobacco are the only furnishings in this place. The door to the street is to the southwest.
  
  Keeping watch over his store is Philip himself. He eyes you cautiously.
  
  You can also see Lambert Gunning, Liana Farnham and Tate Walczak here.
  
  Philip sticks his head into a barrel and breathes deeply the tobacco fumes.
  
  Lambert stares at you.
  
  Tate discusses the merits of owning a vacuum cleaner with Liana.
  
  Liana looks around.
  
  > talk to Philip
  Maybe you should ask or tell about more specific topics.
  
  Philip mumbles something about not being able to find his pipe.
  
  Lambert Gunning goes southwest.
  
  Tate discusses the merits of owning a vacuum cleaner with Liana.
  
  Liana looks around.
  
  > ask Philip about the vault
  "I don't know much about vault."
  
  Philip clears his throat.
  
  Liana Farnham goes southwest.
  
  Tate looks to the south.
  
  > ask Philip about Servitor
  "I don't know much about servitor."
  
  Philip inspects his wares.
  
  Tate looks to the north.
  
  > ask Philip about diaz
  "I don't know much about diaz."
  
  Philip inspects his wares.
  
  Tate sighs heavily.
  
  > go to the southwest
  This is a dusty street corner. The sidewalk runs west and sharply southwest where it leads to a sorry excuse for a park. The Vilheila-Pareira Tobacco shop is to the northeast.
  
  You can see Liana Farnham and Lambert Gunning here.
  
  A vulture circles lazily far overhead.
  
  Orion Skinner arrives from the southwest.
  
  Lambert asks Orion for some change.
  
  Orion combs his hair.
  
  Liana adjusts her wig.
  
  > talk to Liana
  You speak to the woman about the missing men, particularly the one you've been hired to find (David Lane). She doesn't know anything about the missing men, but she tells you that mysterious things have been known to happen in the old farms south of town. "If you're looking for missing people, maybe you should look there."
  
  The sun beats down on you despite the season.
  
  Lambert asks Orion for some change.
  
  Orion fumbles with tucking in his shirt.
  
  Liana checks her make-up in a compact mirror.
  
  > go west
  This is a dusty sidewalk in Castronegro that stretches east to west. What passes for a town park can be reached to the south. You can also see the chapel in that direction. One of the roads that lead out of town, into the hills, is to the north. You can cross the street to the southwest.
  
  The sound of a motor can be heard far in the distance, behind the buildings somewhere.
  
  > Go west
  This is a dusty street corner in Castronegro. A black door leads into a building to the north and the sidewalk heads south and east. A park can be reached to the southeast.
  
  A vulture circles lazily far overhead.
  
  > go north
  This is a bizarre little occult shop cluttered with strange artifacts. Statues, utensils, books, and an assortment of other esoteric, occult offerings line many shelves and tables in this cramped space. The door to the outside is to the south. A small table sits next to the door.
  
  On the small table are a Balinese statuette and a small sign.
  
  As if one with the other strange objects, the proprietor, Filipo Diaz, watches the store.
  
  You can also see Ichabod Johnson and Claire Prebo here.
  
  Filipo eyes you suspiciously.
  
  Ichabod coughs into his fist.
  
  Claire wonders aloud if she remembered to buy tampons.
  
  > talk to Filipo
  Maybe you should ask or tell about more specific topics.
  
  Filipo rearranges some geodes.
  
  Ichabod scratches his mustache.
  
  Claire wonders aloud if she remembered to buy tampons.
  
  > ask Filipo about the valut
  "I don't know much about valut."
  
  Filipo sweeps the floor with an old broom.
  
  Claire Prebo goes south.
  
  Ichabod stares at you blankly.
  
  > ask Filipo about the vault
  "I don't know much about vault."
  
  Filipo mumbles something about needing more mandrake for the boss.
  
  Ichabod coughs into his fist.
  
  > go south
  This is a dusty street corner in Castronegro. A black door leads into a building to the north and the sidewalk heads south and east. A park can be reached to the southeast.
  
  You can see Claire Prebo here.
  
  The sun beats down on you despite the season.
  
  Claire rummages around in her purse.
  
  > Go south
  This is a dusty sidewalk in Castronegro that stretches north to south. What passes as the town's park can be reached to the east. A nondescript building with a nondescript door is to the west. The Herrera Hotel can be seen to the south. The library can be reached to the southeast and you can cross the street to the northeast.
  
  The sound of a bus engine can be heard in the distance.
  
  > go west
  This is the town's speakeasy. The casual atmosphere makes you wonder if any law enforcement has ever cared to swing into Castronegro. A lazy overhead fan does nothing to stir the still air in here which smells of stale beer and body odor. The door back to the street is east. A radio sits in the corner.
  
  Tending bar is the owner, Gilberto Diaz.
  
  James Whitlock sits in the shadows, drunk.
  
  Crackling through static on the radio, you hear, "A tornado in Lorain, Ohio has killed 78 people. . ."
  
  Gilberto wipes down the tables.
  
  > talk to Gilberto
  Maybe you should ask or tell about more specific topics.
  
  Crackling through static on the radio, you hear, "German serial killer Fritz Haarmann has been sentenced to death. . ."
  
  Gilberto wipes down the bar.
  
  > ask Gilberto about the vault
  "I don't know much about vault."
  
  Crackling through static on the radio, you hear, "A Soviet-backed coup attempt has failed in Estonia. . ."
  
  Gilberto eyes you blankly.
  
  > ask Gilberto about the farms
  "I don't know much about farms."
  
  Crackling through static on the radio, you hear, "Nellie Taylor Ross of Wyoming has been elected as the U.S.'s first woman governor. . ."
  
  Gilberto pours another drink for James.
  
  > go to the east
  This is a dusty sidewalk in Castronegro that stretches north to south. What passes as the town's park can be reached to the east. A nondescript building with a nondescript door is to the west. The Herrera Hotel can be seen to the south. The library can be reached to the southeast and you can cross the street to the northeast.
  
  You can see Claire Prebo here.
  
  The sun beats down on you despite the season.
  
  Claire takes an eclaire from her purse, takes a bite, and replaces it.
  
  > Go east
  This is a sorry excuse for a 'park'. There are no trees save for some cacti and tumbleweed. A bench sits near a dry fountain. To the east is the entrance to the chapel and to the south is the courtyard to the town's library. One of the roads that lead out of town is to the southeast and the park can be exited back into town to the west. You can also cross the street to the northwest and southwest.
  
  The sound of a bus engine can be heard in the distance.
  
  > go east
  Inside the chapel, it is eerie and silent. It seems that the locals do not frequent it much. The door to the street outside is to the west.
  
  In the center of this chamber is a rather horrible statue carved from basalt.
  
  Reading in the back of the chapel is Father Alonso Vilheila-Pareira.
  
  You can also see Liana Farnham, Grover Cotterell and Clarinda Fisch here.
  
  Father Alonso lights a cigarette.
  
  Grover jingles change in his pockets.
  
  Liana adjusts her wig.
  
  Clarinda looks to the east.
  
  > talk to Grover
  This man doesn't have much to say save for a warning. "Don't go around asking too many questions in Castronegro. . .fuckface."
  
  Father Alonso chuckles softly to himself, evidently about something he's reading.
  
  Grover straightens his tie.
  
  Liana adjusts her wig.
  
  Clarinda eyes you flirtatiously.
  
  > talk to Clarinda
  "Don't you think it's strange for a small town like this to be able to support a specialty occult shop?"
  
  Father Alonso turns the page of the book he is reading.
  
  Grover Cotterell goes west.
  
  Clarinda Fisch goes west.
  
  Liana checks her make-up in a compact mirror.
  
  > talk to Alonso
  Maybe you should ask or tell about more specific topics.
  
  Father Alonso lights another candle and places it near him.
  
  Liana eyes you flirtatiously.
  
  > show sickle to Alonso
  "That doesn't look like an ordinary sickle. In fact, I've heard of enchanted sickles around these parts that can not only break bones, but even break open doors at times."
  
  Father Alonso puts his face close to the page he's reading as if his sight is very bad.
  
  Liana checks her make-up in a compact mirror.
  
  > show the robe to Alonso
  His face grows grim. "You shouldn't be asking about such things. Nor should you carry that or, Dios forbid, wear it."
  
  Father Alonso puts his face close to the page he's reading as if his sight is very bad.
  
  Liana checks her make-up in a compact mirror.
  
  > Go west
  This is a sorry excuse for a 'park'. There are no trees save for some cacti and tumbleweed. A bench sits near a dry fountain. To the east is the entrance to the chapel and to the south is the courtyard to the town's library. One of the roads that lead out of town is to the southeast and the park can be exited back into town to the west. You can also cross the street to the northwest and southwest.
  
  You can see Grover Cotterell here.
  
  The sun beats down on you despite the season.
  
  Orion Skinner arrives from the north.
  
  Grover smells his hankerchief.
  
  Orion stoops to tie his shoelace.
  
  > go to the north-west
  This is a dusty street corner in Castronegro. A black door leads into a building to the north and the sidewalk heads south and east. A park can be reached to the southeast.
  
  You can see Claire Prebo here.
  
  Tumbleweed tumbles by.
  
  Claire Prebo goes southeast.
  
  > go north
  This is a bizarre little occult shop cluttered with strange artifacts. Statues, utensils, books, and an assortment of other esoteric, occult offerings line many shelves and tables in this cramped space. The door to the outside is to the south. A small table sits next to the door.
  
  On the small table are a Balinese statuette and a small sign.
  
  As if one with the other strange objects, the proprietor, Filipo Diaz, watches the store.
  
  You can also see Ichabod Johnson here.
  
  Filipo straightens some ancient Tarot cards on a shelf.
  
  Ichabod whistles tunelessly.
  
  > show chalice to  Filipo
  "I wouldn't show that to anyone else around here. . .if you value your life."
  
  Filipo sweeps the floor with an old broom.
  
  Ichabod twirls his mustache.
  
  > check your inventory
  You are carrying:
  a broken padlock
  a silver chalice
  a sickle
  a black robe
  a cleaver
  a flashlight (providing light)
  a fedora (being worn)
  a set of clothes (being worn)
  a trenchcoat (being worn and open)
  a scrapbook
  the archive key
  a torn envelope
  a paperback book
  a revolver
  an ashtray
  a Times clipping
  a Herald clipping
  a train ticket
  a holster (being worn)
  
  Filipo straightens some ancient Tarot cards on a shelf.
  
  Ichabod whistles tunelessly.
  
  > search the books
  Clandestinely, you spy a folded paper among the trinkets. When Filipo isn't looking, you are able to snatch it and pocket it.
  
  Filipo mumbles something about needing more mandrake for the boss.
  
  Ichabod whistles tunelessly.
  
  > examine paper
  Filipo~ I will be needing mandrake with my next shipment.
  ~B.
  
  Filipo sweeps the floor with an old broom.
  
  Ichabod Johnson goes south.