Transcripting turned on.

> c
Early morning, on a cobblestone street, in a waterfront area...

"Hurry!" Father Morrow yells. "Those guardsmen will be finished
searching the orphanage by now, and this is the first place they'll
look next."

You follow him as he runs over to stand in front of an office at the
head of a wharf. He lays a hand on your shoulder and leans forward to
talk. 

"You're really too young to leave the orphanage and be on your own,
but I wasn't about to let them arrest you for something I don't
consider to be a crime. You've got a good chance to get away clean,
but you have to do exactly what I say. The Imperial Registrar in this
office is hiring the crew for a ship that's going to Onaar. Just go
inside and sign on while I stay out here and misdirect the guardsmen
when they arrive. You're going to have to learn a trade when you get
to Onaar. It'll be easy because you have plenty of Alchemy skill. Just
find an alchemist that will take you on as an apprentice.

"You can talk to me now if you have questions, but we don't have much
time."

The front door to the Registrar's office is north.

> n
 "Goodbye, Father."

Father Morrow brushes a tear from his eye with the back of his hand.
"May God go with you." 

Registration Office
A large wooden desk sits in the center of a room that is devoid of
other furnishings. An official in the uniform of an Imperial Registrar
sits behind the desk. A guard armed with sword and shield stands next
to the desk.

There is a closed door to the south, and an open doorway to the north
 

The Registrar raises an eyebrow and leans back in his chair as he
looks at your robe.

"Humm, it looks like we have an orphan looking to leave the
orphanage. Well, you look a little puny for a deck hand, but we have a
need for a Messenger of the Watch, if you're willing and able."

You nod your head vigorously, and he picks up a pen in preparation to
write on the paper in front of him.

"State your name for the ship's record." he tells you.
    (Use the NAME command followed by your name in quotes. For
example: > name "Roger Rabbit" )


> name "rob"
 "rob, eh?" the registrar tells you as he writes it on the paper.
"Glad I don't have to live with it." 

He gives your unisex orphan robe a hard look.

"You must formally state your gender for the ship's record."
    (Reply with either of the following commands, where m is male,
and f is female:
        > gender m
        > gender f )

> gender m
The Registrar looks at your robe again. "I'll make sure that they
give you proper boy's clothing when you check in with the ship's
purser. You should throw that shapeless thing overboard once you're
out at sea." 

The registrar hands you the paper he has been writing on.

"Here is your employment contract, rob ." 

"Listen, rob, I don't know why you want to go to Onaar, but I was an
orphan myself, so I'm not asking any questions. In fact, I'm going to
give you a little help. Take this arcane device. It's called a Travel
Guide. You can't use it here because the King has banned all magic,
but you can use it in Onaar. It will save you a lot of walking, and
get you in and out of isolated locations."

"You'd better get going now. Just go through the north doorway to the
wharf, and board the Goldspar. She sails with the tide." 
    (Score + 3. You have scored 3 points out of 166.)

> n
Imperial Wharf
This substantial wharf extends out from the Registration Office into
the harbor for about 150 feet. Its deck is made from heavy planks,
some of which seem to be newer than the others. A sailing ship is
moored here.

You can go west to use a gangplank that leads onto the ship. The open
doorway to the Registration Office is behind you, to the south.

> w
You use the gangplank to board the Goldspar. Several hours later,
the ship sets out to sea, and you begin your shipboard duties. Your
work is not physically demanding, but you are at the beck and call of
the watch for carrying messages, waking up the relief, and tending to
the many needs of the men who cannot leave their posts, so you never
get enough sleep. Within days, you are worn out both physically and
mentally. Cabin fever sets in, and you spend all your free time on
deck, scanning the horizon for sight of land. 

On the Goldspar's main deck, just off the coast of Onaar...

The ship is sailing just off the rocky coastline of Onaar. The sound
of rushing water draws your attention away from the shore. You watch
helplessly as a huge wave rises from the calm sea and crashes into the
side of the ship. You grab the railing and hang on for dear life as
water washes over the deck and knocks your feet from under you. You
regain your footing as the ship rights itself under the firm hand of
the helmsman.

"We're under attack!" the helmsman shouts from the quarterdeck as he 
oints to the north.

You look where he's pointing and see a man standing on a large rock
at the tip of a low headland.

The man is wearing black robes with a hood that keeps his face in
deep shadow. He wields a staff with one hand while he calmly eats a
small green fruit from the other. He points his staff at the ship, and
lightning strikes the helmsman from the cloudless sky. The helmsman
screams and falls to the deck. A wisp of smoke rises from his body.

The man on the rock eats another fruit, then waves his staff at the
sea. Another huge wave rises up and strikes the side of the ship. This
time you are washed overboard.

You find yourself underwater...

Disoriented, you hang weightless for a moment trying to get your
bearings. Your chest tightens as you hold your breath. The wavering
light seems to be brighter in one particular direction. 

> up
Your head breaks the surface of the water. You gasp for breath, and
begin treading water.

Small Cove
The open sea stretches away in all directions except to the north 
here the shore is a strip of sand along the edge of a dense forest.

The Goldspar has washed up on the rocks of a short, rocky spit that
juts out from the west end of the sandy area. A group of men dressed
in black are busily pulling boxes of cargo off the wreck and taking
them to wagons waiting on the sand. When surviving members of the
Goldspar's crew attempt to climb out of the wreck and onto the rocks,
the men put them in shackles and herd them onto the wagons, no doubt
to be sold as slaves. 

You tread water and hope that no one notices you. You are doing fine
until your hand strikes a jellyfish. Its tentacles sting you, and you
cry out in pain. Fortunately, no one hears you, and the men continue
with their grim work. The jellyfish sinks down out of sight.

It takes them about an hour to handle the crew and load the cargo
onto waiting wagons. As soon as they are finished, one of them strolls
up to the man in black robes and hands him what looks like a heavy
leather purse. He returns to the rest of the men, and joins them as
they climb into the wagons and follow the trail into the forest. The
man in black robes follows the wagons on foot, waving his staff in a
sweeping motion over the trail as he walks.

> n
Sandy Beach
This strip of sand is only about a hundred yards long. A forest
defines its northern boundary, and a sheer cliff rises up to terminate
the beach at its east end. To the west, a rocky ridge emerges from the
forest and stretches south out into the water where it becomes a
headland that ends with a large rock at its southern tip. The Goldspar
lies on the rocks in the middle of the headland. The
jellyfish-infested waters of the cove lie to the south, and southeast.

    (Score + 3. You have scored 6 points out of 166.) 

As you stand on the sand dripping wet, you remember Father Marrow's
advice to become an apprentice alchemist. "Well Father," you say under
your breath. "It looks like I'm not off to a good start, but I can at
least make it a little side quest to report those marauders to the
authorities when I get to someplace civilized." 

It is possible to climb onto the headland using a steep, gravel trail
that is to the southwest. A wide sandy trail to the north leads into
the forest. 

In plain sight, you see: a dead body and some debris.

> sw
You manage to scramble up the steep trail.

Rocky Headland
This headland begins at the west end of the beach and runs south out
into the water. It consists of a series of irregularly shaped boulders
of various sizes. Sand and debris have filled in the gaps to make a
trail. The shipwreck of the Goldspar lies on the rocks of the headland
next to where you are standing. You catch sight of something on top of
a large rock at the south end of the headland, but it ducks down out
of sight before you can get a good look at it. 

The trail leads to the south where it makes a steep climb to the top
of the large rock. There is large hole in the hull of the shipwreck to
the east that grants entry into its hold. A steep, gravel-strewn path
to the northeast leads back to the beach.

> e
Shipwreck
The cargo area of the ship is brightly lit by sunlight that floods
into it through a gaping hole in the deck above the spot you are
standing. It appears as if the men in black have stripped the cargo
area of the large bails and crates that it once contained. The murky
seawater that flooded the cargo area to a depth of about six inches
must have made their work harder. It is easy to imagine them stumbling
about, running into each other, cursing the water, and dropping some
of their loot into it as they hastily looted the ship's cargo.

There is an opening in the hull to the west that leads out to the
headland. 

In plain sight, you see: a grow bin.

> w
Rocky Headland
This headland begins at the west end of the beach and runs south out
into the water. It consists of a series of irregularly shaped boulders
of various sizes. Sand and debris have filled in the gaps to make a
trail. The shipwreck of the Goldspar lies on the rocks of the headland
next to where you are standing. 

The trail leads to the south where it makes a steep climb to the top
of the large rock. There is large hole in the hull of the shipwreck to
the east that grants entry into its hold. A steep, gravel-strewn path
to the northeast leads back to the beach.

> s
You manage to climb the steep trail up to where it ends at the top
of the big rock.

Gray Rock
A large black bird with a bright blue crest and a hooked, orange beak
rises up from a nest and flies away as you reach the top of the rock.

This big rock stands up higher than the rest of the rocky headland.
The wind and waves have sculpted it into the shape of a giant fist.
The underwater areas below the rock are full of sharp rocks. A heavy
iron ring is mounted on the top of the rock. One end of a rusty chain
is attached to the ring. The the other end of the chain is underwater.


The sea surrounds the rock in all directions except to the north
where the rock joins the headland. 

In plain sight, you see: a birdnest.

> n
Rocky Headland
This headland begins at the west end of the beach and runs south out
into the water. It consists of a series of irregularly shaped boulders
of various sizes. Sand and debris have filled in the gaps to make a
trail. The shipwreck of the Goldspar lies on the rocks of the headland
next to where you are standing. 

The trail leads to the south where it makes a steep climb to the top
of the large rock. There is large hole in the hull of the shipwreck to
the east that grants entry into its hold. A steep, gravel-strewn path
to the northeast leads back to the beach.

> ne
You slip and slide down the steep gravel path.

Sandy Beach
This strip of sand is only about a hundred yards long. A forest
defines its northern boundary, and a sheer cliff rises up to terminate
the beach at its east end. To the west, a rocky ridge emerges from the
forest and stretches south out into the water where it becomes a
headland that ends with a large rock at its southern tip. The Goldspar
lies on the rocks in the middle of the headland. The
jellyfish-infested waters of the cove lie to the south, and southeast.


It is possible to climb onto the headland using a steep, gravel trail
that is to the southwest. A wide sandy trail to the north leads into
the forest. 

In plain sight, you see: a dead body and some debris.

> n
Lower Sandy Trail
The trees on the east and west sides of the trail are close together,
and the rampant undergrowth between them is thick enough to prevent
travel off the trail. It is quiet except for the sound of sea ripples
lapping against a sandy beach. 

A small rodent drops out of the red bush and scampers away. It's
clutching some red flowers in its tiny hands. 

The trail goes south towards the sea, and north where it goes deeper
into the forest. 

In plain sight, you see: a red bush.

> n
Mid Sandy Trail
As seems typical of the wild areas of Onaar, the trees and rampant
undergrowth are thick enough to prevent travel off the trail.

The trail goes south towards the sea, and north where it goes deeper
into the forest. 

A milk spider scurries across the trail. 

In plain sight, you see: a yallow bush.

> n
Upper Sandy Trail
The trail becomes a corridor through the forest and trees here. One
particularly large tree that is native to Onaar is growing right next
to the trail and stands out from the others. Bird droppings have made
a muck pile on the trail beneath the tree. 

A thieving little rodent scampers away from the muck pile with a few
large feathers clutched in its small hands. 

The trail goes south towards the sea, and north where it appears to
intersect another road. 

In plain sight, you see: a muck pile.

> n
Crossroads
This is a junction where four trails lead off in four different
directions.

To the west a dirt trail wanders through what looks like a dense
forest. To the east there is a straight gravel road that leads towards
what seems to be a small town. To the north, a muddy trail leads into
a dark swampy area. To the south, a sandy trail leads towards the sea.


A man wearing an alchemist robe is examining the dirt in a small
clearing next to the trail. He is carrying a basket that has a few
turnips in it. He looks at you in surprise when you enter the
location.

"Why, hello there, young man. Didn't expect to see a new face out
here. Don't mind me. I'm wandering around gathering some wild
vegetables for my shop in town. Good thing that food just keeps
growing back again in the same place where you first find it. Seems
like you have to eat or sell the food for that to happen, and you have
to give it enough time to grow back, but you aren't likely to starve
once you know a few places where food grows. More or less the same
principle holds true for alchemical ingredients. 

"Say, you don't look so good. I'll bet you have at least one malady.
You really ought to be checking your stats more often. Those maladies
will kill you if you don't treat them in time. Luckily for you, I'm
carrying an enhanced cherry with me in case I get bitten by a milk
spider. Here, I'll give it to you for free. Just remember to stop by
Happy Valley Supplements the next time you're in town buying enhanced 
oods."

After handing you the cherry, he strides off to the east on the
gravel road without giving you a chance to thank him. 

In plain sight, you see: a small clearing.

> eat cherry
You eat the cherry. (Satiety +16  Health +8) 

Applying the effect. 

Wait...

You feel a surge of purging energy flow through your body. 

Jellyfish poison removed.

> e
Rolling Hills
The dense forest to the west has been replaced by a sparsely forested
area of rolling hills.

The gravel road goes west to the crossroads and east towards what
looks like a small town.

> e
The Outskirts
The gravel road becomes pavement here. There is a small house to the
north, and a large building to the south. The surrounding open areas
are rolling hills with widely-scattered, big boulders sticking up
through tall dry grass.

The entrance to the large building is south, and the door to the
small house is north. The paved road continues east towards what looks
like the main part of town. The gravel road leads west into rolling
hills.

> e
Soquim Entrance
This square paved area is enclosed on the north and east sides by the
side walls of buildings. There is an arched opening at the northeast
corner where the walls do not meet. Rolling hills lie in the other
directions.

An arched opening at the northeast corner of the paved area leads to
what looks like a town center. A gravel road leads west to the
outskirts of Soquim. 

In plain sight, you see: some posters and a large sign.

> ne
Soquim
There is a fountain head in the center of a pond that is in the
middle of this paved square. The jet of water from the fountain head
rises for about ten feet before falling down in a spray that has a
rainbow in it. There is a bronze plaque on the pond's containment
wall. 

You notice a flash of gold in the water of the pond. 

It is possible to travel in all eight directions of the compass from
here: 
    The Alchemist cottage is northwest. 
    The Arcane Outfitter is north. 
    The Sunny Farm is northeast. 
    Happy Valley Supplements is east. 
    The Golden Satchel is west. 
    An old hut is southeast. 
    The Southside Grocery is south. 
    The entrance to the square is southwest. 

A man in a commander's uniform is standing next to the fountain. A
pair of guards is standing near him talking to each other. Two other
guards pick up a dead body dressed all in black and carry it out of
the square. The Commander turns to face you.

"Pardon me, young man. I am Commander Waaren of the Soquim Municipal
Guard. Some marauders raided the town a few days ago. We captured one
and put him into the municipal jail. His pals came back today and
tried to free him. We killed one of them and the rest ran off.

"I wish we could have pursued them to their lair, but I have only
four men, and the City Council won't let me leave the town undefended.
It would help if I knew more about what we're up against. Since you've
been outside the town traveling around, I thought maybe you've seen
something that would help."

"My name is rob," you tell him. "And I might have seen the
marauders."

Commander Waaren gives you a beaming smile. "Great! I hereby
conscript you into the Soquim Municipal Guard as a free-roaming scout.
Talk to me when you're ready to make your report on those marauders." 

> s
Southside Grocery
This pavilion is open to the front that faces the square. It is made
from green and purple canvas that appears to be almost new. The
pavilion shelters a display table. An attendant is standing behind it.


A small sign has been tacked onto the front edge of the display
table. 

On the display table, you see: a bell pepper, a brown squash, a pink
squash, a white squash, a yukon potato, a china apple, a yellow apple,
a bosc pear, a long pepper and an orange pepper. 

The fountain square is north from here. 

The attendant gives you a big grin. "Greetings friend! Welcome to
Southside Grocery. We offer nothing but organic foods, so you won't
find any GMOs here. My name is Maax, and I am your humble servant." 

> n
Soquim
There is a fountain head in the center of a pond that is in the
middle of this paved square. The jet of water from the fountain head
rises for about ten feet before falling down in a spray that has a
rainbow in it. There is a bronze plaque on the pond's containment
wall. 

You notice a flash of gold in the water of the pond. 

It is possible to travel in all eight directions of the compass from
here: 
    The Alchemist cottage is northwest. 
    The Arcane Outfitter is north. 
    The Sunny Farm is northeast. 
    Happy Valley Supplements is east. 
    The Golden Satchel is west. 
    An old hut is southeast. 
    The Southside Grocery is south. 
    The entrance to the square is southwest. 

Commander Waaren is standing next to the fountain. A pair of guards
is standing near him talking to each other.

> s
Southside Grocery
This pavilion is open to the front that faces the square. It is made
from green and purple canvas that appears to be almost new. The
pavilion shelters a display table. An attendant is standing behind it.


A small sign has been tacked onto the front edge of the display
table. 

On the display table, you see: a bell pepper, a brown squash, a pink
squash, a white squash, a yukon potato, a china apple, a yellow apple,
a bosc pear, a long pepper and an orange pepper. 

The fountain square is north from here. 

Maax gives you a friendly nod. "How may I help you?" 

> e
It appears that it's not possible to travel in that direction.

> n
Soquim
There is a fountain head in the center of a pond that is in the
middle of this paved square. The jet of water from the fountain head
rises for about ten feet before falling down in a spray that has a
rainbow in it. There is a bronze plaque on the pond's containment
wall. 

You notice a flash of gold in the water of the pond. 

It is possible to travel in all eight directions of the compass from
here: 
    The Alchemist cottage is northwest. 
    The Arcane Outfitter is north. 
    The Sunny Farm is northeast. 
    Happy Valley Supplements is east. 
    The Golden Satchel is west. 
    An old hut is southeast. 
    The Southside Grocery is south. 
    The entrance to the square is southwest. 

Commander Waaren is standing next to the fountain. A pair of guards
is standing near him talking to each other.

> e
Happy Valley Supplements
A display counter runs the width of this small shop. An alchemist is
standing behind the counter wearing a tan alchemist robe that has
lavender trim. He is busy polishing the already immaculate countertop
with a soft cloth. He looks up when he hears your footsteps. 

"Greetings my good man! It's good to meet up with you again. Now,
since I never asked at the Crossroads, please tell me to whom I have
the pleasure of talking."

"I go by the name rob," you reply.

 "Fine name, very fine indeed. My name is Garlond, an equally fine 
ame, if I do say so myself. Now, as you can see, I sell food items,
all of which I myself have enhanced with Alchemical effects. And, I
buy just about any enhanced or regular food items that you're
selling," he says with a smile. 

On the countertop, you see: a red apple, a juice carrot, a small
carrot, a yellow pepper, a taro root, a guanabana, a guava, a mango, a
crab apple, a green apple, a banana and a cherry. 

You can go west or out to return to the fountain square.

> w
Soquim
There is a fountain head in the center of a pond that is in the
middle of this paved square. The jet of water from the fountain head
rises for about ten feet before falling down in a spray that has a
rainbow in it. There is a bronze plaque on the pond's containment
wall. 

You notice a flash of gold in the water of the pond. 

It is possible to travel in all eight directions of the compass from
here: 
    The Alchemist cottage is northwest. 
    The Arcane Outfitter is north. 
    The Sunny Farm is northeast. 
    Happy Valley Supplements is east. 
    The Golden Satchel is west. 
    An old hut is southeast. 
    The Southside Grocery is south. 
    The entrance to the square is southwest. 

Commander Waaren is standing next to the fountain. A pair of guards
is standing near him talking to each other.

> w
Golden Satchel
The interior of this shop is quite impressive with its wood paneling
and tile floor. A skylight provides natural illumination that gives
the place a cheerful look. There is a large table in the center of the
room that displays the shop's wares. A middle-aged woman in an
attractive dress seems to be the only clerk. She is wearing a name tag
with 'Corbettle' written on it in neat, precise lettering.

The door leading out to the fountain square is to the east. 

The woman looks up as you enter and steps forward. "How may I help
you? As you can see, we buy and sell valuable objects and clothing." 

"Nice to meet you. I go by the name rob."

 "Good to meet a new face, rob. My name is Corbettle."

On the large table, you see: an Indigo Robe, a coral star, a silver
dagger, a Rose Robe and a Brown Robe.

> e
Soquim
There is a fountain head in the center of a pond that is in the
middle of this paved square. The jet of water from the fountain head
rises for about ten feet before falling down in a spray that has a
rainbow in it. There is a bronze plaque on the pond's containment
wall. 

You notice a flash of gold in the water of the pond. 

It is possible to travel in all eight directions of the compass from
here: 
    The Alchemist cottage is northwest. 
    The Arcane Outfitter is north. 
    The Sunny Farm is northeast. 
    Happy Valley Supplements is east. 
    The Golden Satchel is west. 
    An old hut is southeast. 
    The Southside Grocery is south. 
    The entrance to the square is southwest. 

Commander Waaren is standing next to the fountain. A pair of guards
is standing near him talking to each other.

> s
Southside Grocery
This pavilion is open to the front that faces the square. It is made
from green and purple canvas that appears to be almost new. The
pavilion shelters a display table. An attendant is standing behind it.


A small sign has been tacked onto the front edge of the display
table. 

On the display table, you see: a bell pepper, a brown squash, a pink
squash, a white squash, a yukon potato, a china apple, a yellow apple,
a bosc pear, a long pepper and an orange pepper. 

The fountain square is north from here. 

Maax gives you a friendly nod. "How may I help you?" 

> quit

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