Monkey18 > The Emissary of Tep > Sample Turn
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You wake up to the morning light. Phantasms of half remembered nightmares dance at the edges of consciousness; your sleep was not particularly restful.

Temple of Tepititan

The temple sits atop a fierce hand of rock that has burst from the molten innards of the volcano. Massive stone fingers curl up from the outer edge to create an awe-inspiring pulpit dangling high above the village. Below the pulpit a glassy sculpture of a determined-looking, square jawed male face which smiles over a circular fire pit. Radiating from the pulpit are dozens of short, wooden benches that could possibly seat six or more people. A path divides the benches perfectly down the center and leads to a carved staircase to the lip of the volcano. Pillars of stone lift a wood and grass roof above the benches.

To the north, the gaping mouth of the volcano blocks your path.
To the east, the mountains perilous slope blocks your path.
To the south, a path meanders down the volcano towards the sprawling village below.
To the west, the mountains perilous slope blocks your path.

9:00AM> look face

The large, square jawed face, though grinning warmly, appears resolute, even implacable. The glassy surface of the obsidian has been painstakingly smoothed into a perfect mirror-like surface. Its perch above the fire gives the black face a flickering light from within.

9:05AM> look hand

The tip of each stone finger holds a large unlit torch. Between the fingers you can see much of the island below. The intermittent storms prevent you from seeing as far as the sea. Around the fingers themselves are shallow carvings depicting the various scenes.

9:10AM> look carvings

The carvings on the fingers seem to be depicting a mythological story. In the first segment, a ghostly, indistinct humanoid is holding two smaller men in each of its hands. The man on the left has a somewhat hunched appearance, slit eyes, and a thin, disapproving mouth. The man on the right stands straight and proud, and is of a powerful build; his square jawed, resolute facial features exude determination. The next scene depicts the two men working with clay. The sinister man on the left is creating shark like sea monsters, whereas the muscular man on the right is building small human figures. The third scene shows the small people building huts and bridges with the muscular man watching over them in a fatherly manner. Near the bottom of this scene, the sinister man seems to be whispering to a small group of these miniscule humans. The final segment portrays the two large men wrestling with one another, with a large group of little people throwing spears at the sinister, evil man, and a smaller group of little people throwing spears at the larger group.

9:15AM> go south

Volcano Path

The path at the base of the volcano is a thick ashen mud. Streams of water have carved twisting trenches all along the mountains height. As the path zig-zags up the mountain it becomes quite steep and steadily rockier. Dozens of ancient, stone statues line either side of the path. The island's persistent rainstorms have erased much of the carved detail. On your right, a molten lava flow snakes down the volcano. The heat from the flow can be felt from your position, and a large glowing rock in the middle of the flow catches your eye.

To the north, the Temple of Tepititan rests lightly in the palm of a rock that has splintered violently from the volcano's side.
To the east, the mountains perilous slope blocks your path.
To the south, the village spreads across the ground below.
To the west, the mountains perilous slope blocks your path.

9:20AM> go south

Village 1

In this end of the village, two abandoned longhouses provide a stark contrast to the lively atmosphere of what seems to be a children's playhouse and an occupied longhouse. Nearest the forest is a ruined shell of a wooden longhouse. South of this is a colorfully painted longhouse. On the west side is another old longhouse which is marked by two broken sculptures on either side of its doorway. The grass walls are lightly covered with a sickly, black mold. In the center of these buildings is the least dilapidated of the abandoned houses(C). It appears to have an occupant.

To the north lies a jagged path up the volcano.
To the east, a path disappears into the forest.
To the south, an open field lies beyond the children's playhouse.
To the west, the village continues around the volcano.

9:25AM> go east

Village 2

At the center of this portion of the village is a large open-air dining hut. Surrounding the dining hut are a workshop, a cooking hut, a long house and a hut seemingly thatched of leaves. The long house is in a state of disrepair, apparently due to neglect.

To the north is jungle too dense to walk through.
To the west you can make out several huts and a large statue.
To the east are several longhouses, another part of the village.
To the south is a short path to what might loosely be called a garden.

9:30AM> go cooking hut

Cooking Hut (Out: Village 2)
(Villagers who frequent this area: Wingi)
The Cooking Hut is a rectangular open air structure big enough to accommodate the cooking needs of the entire village. One of the narrow sides has a wall to provide a wind break for the cooking pit which is located near it. Large metal pots and various cooking utensils hang from hooks on the support beams that crisscross the structure just above head height. Several large tables used for preparation bear the stains of exotic fruits and the scars of being used as a chopping block. The smoke from the cooking pit has blackened the thatched roof above it. Aromas from past meals that have permeated into the materials of the cooking hut still hang in the air causing your stomach to growl.

The only exit leads back to the village.

Wingi is the room.

9:35AM> look wingi

Wingi Master of Sustenance

Wingi is an imposing, middle aged man. Though his generous pot belly partially obscures his white loincloth, Wingi's tall, meaty body is still powerfully built. His angular jaw is rough with dark stubble, and a hawkish nose juts from his rangy features. Wingi's dark eyes sparkle, and he always seems to be on the edge of grinning. A large golden hoop earring causes his left ear to droop lower than his unadorned right, giving his countenance an asymmetrical appearance.

9:40AM> talk wingi

Wingi says, "Greetings, outsider! Have you come for an early breakfast?"

CONVERSING WITH WINGI 9:45AM> compliment wingi

Wingi says, "So, the outsider thinks my cooking smells that good? I would be flattered, if I didn't know it was true!"
Wingi laughs uproariously.
Wingi says, "Come to think of it, outsider, I have not seen young Coman this morning. He usually comes by to filch my strama cakes. I wonder where he has gotten himself to?"

CONVERSING WITH WINGI 9:50AM> ask about Coman

Wingi says, "Coman is one hungry youngster! He can be a little bull-headed, and he's a real glutton, but when it comes down to it he's a nice boy."

CONVERSING WITH WINGI 9:55AM> goodbye

Wingi waves and cheerfully continues his cooking.

10:00AM> leave

Village 2

At the center of this portion of the village is a large open-air dining hut. Surrounding the dining hut are a workshop, a cooking hut, a long house and a hut seemingly thatched of leaves. The long house is in a state of disrepair, apparently due to neglect.

To the north is jungle too dense to walk through.
To the west you can make out several huts and a large statue.
To the east are several longhouses, another part of the village.
To the south is a short path to what might loosely be called a garden.

10:05AM> go east

Village 1

In this end of the village, two abandoned longhouses provide a stark contrast to the lively atmosphere of what seems to be a children's playhouse and an occupied longhouse. Nearest the forest is a ruined shell of a wooden longhouse. South of this is a colorfully painted longhouse. On the west side is another old longhouse which is marked by two broken sculptures on either side of its doorway. The grass walls are lightly covered with a sickly, black mold. In the center of these buildings is the least dilapidated of the abandoned houses(C). It appears to have an occupant.

To the north lies a jagged path up the volcano.
To the east, a path disappears into the forest.
To the south, an open field lies beyond the children's playhouse.
To the west, the village continues around the volcano.

10:10AM> go east

Forest Path 1

Massive fruit trees border either side of the path; all of them laden with large fruits. The path is covered with the fruit that has fallen from the trees; in the center of the path the fruits have been flattened by something heavy. A large beehive buzzes angrily several feet above your head. Discarded cutting tools lay beside rotting fruit.
In the center of your path, a gaping pit has been opened! It used to be covered in foliage, but the pit's quarry has broken through its previously obfuscating branches. At the bottom, the corpse of Coman, Seeker of Gourds has been impaled upon many sharp, wooden spikes.

Both to the north and to the south, the path is walled by fruit trees and other foliage that a native would find difficult to traverse.
To the east the path grows continues into the forest.
To the west the path disappears and buildings can be seen in the distance.

10:15AM> look at Coman

Coman has met his untimely demise in a pit trap full of spikes. Iguana scales are near the lip of the pit.

10:20AM> get iguana scales

You pick up the iguana scales.

10:25AM> go west

Village 1

In this end of the village, two abandoned longhouses provide a stark contrast to the lively atmosphere of what seems to be a children's playhouse and an occupied longhouse. Nearest the forest is a ruined shell of a wooden longhouse. South of this is a colorfully painted longhouse. On the west side is another old longhouse which is marked by two broken sculptures on either side of its doorway. The grass walls are lightly covered with a sickly, black mold. In the center of these buildings is the least dilapidated of the abandoned houses. It appears to have an occupant.

To the north lies a jagged path up the volcano.
To the east, a path disappears into the forest.
To the south, an open field lies beyond the children's playhouse.
To the west, the village continues around the volcano.

10:30AM> inventory

AT TEMPLE OF TEPITITAN INVENTORY
Nothing Iguana scales

10:35AM> go west

Village 2

At the center of this portion of the village is a large open-air dining hut. Surrounding the dining hut are a workshop, a cooking hut, a long house and a hut seemingly thatched of leaves. The long house is in a state of disrepair, apparently due to neglect.

To the north is jungle too dense to walk through.
To the west you can make out several huts and a large statue.
To the east are several longhouses, another part of the village.
To the south is a short path to what might loosely be called a garden.

10:40AM> go hut

Which hut would you like to enter?
1) Cooking Hut
2) Work shop
3) Long House
4) Leave-thatched hut
10:40AM> 4

Hut 7 (Out: Village 2)

There are well-defined boundaries of this hut despite its lack of interior walls. One area is strewn with gourds. Another has several small sacks filled with seeds. A large piece of cloth has been hung to separate the last area from the others. It appears to be meticulously cleaned on a regular basis even the dried clay floor of the hut seems cleaner in this area. Several shells are lined up on a nearby windowsill. A few large ones have holes in them and appear to be used as musical instruments. All areas have hammocks and other personal effects.

The only exit leads back to the village.

Kaveri is in the room.

10:45AM> look kaveri

Kaveri Planter of Seeds

Kaveri stands as straight as a stringy vine grasping for the sun. Her dark hair is soft and shimmering, like an animal's smooth coat. Her petit muscles are well defined, and her skin is smooth with youth. A string of small delicate beads hangs low around her neck. One small hand tightly holds a small sack of beans, the other rests idly on her hip. Her movements have a liquid grace, and soft dark eyes maintain a constant account of her surroundings.

10:50AM> talk kaveri

Kaveri says, "Don't step on my plants, please."

CONVERSING WITH KAVERI 10:55AM> say hello

Kaveri says, shyly, "Hello, outsider."

Kaveri says, "Outsider, I saw Totok acting suspiciously last night. I hope nothing bad happened..."

CONVERSING WITH KAVERI 11:00AM> say goodbye

Kaveri quickly avoids your gaze.

11:05AM> leave

Village 2

At the center of this portion of the village is a large open-air dining hut. Surrounding the dining hut are a workshop, a cooking hut, a long house and a hut seemingly thatched of leaves. The long house is in a state of disrepair, apparently due to neglect.

To the north is jungle too dense to walk through.
To the west you can make out several huts and a large statue.
To the east are several longhouses, another part of the village.
To the south is a short path to what might loosely be called a garden.

11:10AM> go south


Bean Patch (Out: Village 2)
Stumps of trees that were cleared out years ago still remain as a testament to the hardiness of the local flora. One large stump has been carved into a crude throne. Between the stumps are tripods of sticks. Clinging to the sticks are vines that you recognize as bean plants. While many of the bean plants are thriving due simply to excellent local growing conditions, others are wilted and several others have been simply stomped into the ground, apparently due to the actions of a clumsy gardener with big feet and a black thumb of death. Ashes still litter the ground from the time this piece of land was cleared for planting. The bean patch is muddy, and requires large, exaggerated strides to move through it. The forest surrounding part of the bean patch is impassable; the other portion of the bean patch is by the river making the only exit back through the village.

The only exit leads back to the village.

Totok and Snake are in the area.

11:15AM> look totok

Totok Grower of Beans

Totok is short and bulky. His giant muscles give him a rounded, lumpy appearance. Matted hair, a wild uni-brow, and a goofy, toothy grin frame Totok's bulging, confused eyes. His enormous arms end in wide, stumpy fingers, and his tree-trunk legs are supported by large, flat feet. On his broad back is a beautiful tattoo of a sea turtle. The fins end above his shoulders and down his legs, and the head wraps around his neck and down his chest like an elaborate necklace. Totok has a bad case of chronic dirtiness, so parts of the tattoo are often obscured. It looks as though Totok has worn the same dirty loin cloth for several years; it is too small for him, and is riding low in a lewd fashion.

Fruit juices stain his feet.

11:20AM> put juices into evidence against Totok

The juice has been filed in evidence against Totok.

11:25AM> look snake

Snake the Pet Iguana

Snake is Totok's pet iguana. It has lost all four of its legs, and they have been sewn up in a grotesque fashion. Snake is a lively animal, and is constantly squirming, looking rapidly about, and munching on beans.

11:30AM> put iguana scales into evidence against Totok

The iguana scales have been filed in evidence against Totok.

11:35AM> evidence


EVIDENCE AGAINST: Totok

      • Fruit juice
      • Iguana scales

11:40AM> insult Totok

Totok says, "Why do you make fun of Tohhhhtok?"
Snake worms his head into Totok's bean pouch, and starts making energetic munching motions.

11:45AM> go north

Village 2

At the center of this portion of the village is a large open-air dining hut. Surrounding the dining hut are a workshop, a cooking hut, a long house and a hut seemingly thatched of leaves. The long house is in a state of disrepair, apparently due to neglect.

To the north is jungle too dense to walk through.
To the west you can make out several huts and a large statue.
To the east are several longhouses, another part of the village.
To the south is a short path to what might loosely be called a garden.

11:50AM> go workshop

Work Shop

The musky smell of human sweat hangs in the air of the workshop as a warning to those with soft hands. Tools that see frequent use lay about while more specialized equipment is hung neatly on the walls and roof beams. Several wood carvings lay scattered on the work bench along with more functional items that are under construction. Saw dust covers the packed clay floor. Raw materials are stacked neatly at the back of the workshop.

The only exit leads back to the village.

Hinun is in the room.

11:55AM> look hinun


Hinun Builder of Huts

Hinun is art in motion. His muscles sing in perfect unison. Although of average height, he is heavy, with a great deal of well toned muscle mass. His sharp, shrewd eyes seem to perceive the minutest details, and he moves with spectacular spatial acuity. The encompassing tattoo on Hinun's upper arm is of an abstract form of a hammer. It is extremely detailed with weaving and curling arcs that create a beautiful pattern. Upon closer inspection of the body art, one sees that it is in fact chiseled into his flesh.

12:00PM> talk hinun

"Could you hand me that tool over there? No, not like that, just forget it, okay..."

CONVERSING WITH HINUN 12:00AM> show evidence against Totok

You tell Hinun about the fruit juice.
You show Hinun the iguana scales.

Hinun says, "Hmmm, that Totok was always too disgruntled with his work. I wouldn't mind seeing him sent to Tepititan early..."


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