Slouching Towards Bedlam — 73 of 76

Section 4(b) - Attic Flat

The description of Attic Flat is "A tiny flat with barely enough room for a small sink and tub to one side, a living area in the center, and a bed to one side."

The sink is scenery in the Attic Flat. The description of the sink is "Steam tubes snake through the living area to the tub and basin and from there into the wall. The ceramic is cracked and worn to a dull gray color." Understand "tubes", "tub", "basin", "ceramic", "living", "area" as the sink. Instead of doing anything other than examining the sink, say "Everything is old and broken - the tubes, the tub, the basin. Best to leave it alone."

The bed is scenery in the Attic Flat. The description of the bed is "An old, sour-smelling thing with twisted sheets. Beneath it, the planks seem misplaced." Instead of searching the bed, say "Beneath the bed a misplaced plank can be seen, revealing a space beneath." Understand "sheets", "twisted" as the bed. Instead of looking under the bed, say "Beneath the bed a misplaced plank can be seen, revealing a space beneath."

The plank is scenery in the Attic Flat. Instead of doing anything with the plank, say "Beneath the planks is a puzzle box, about the size of a book." Understand "space" as the plank.

The puzzle box is in the plank. The description of the puzzle box is "It is approximately the size of a large bound book. It is a puzzle box of some kind for while it seems to have a seam along its side, there is no way to open or unlock it. Its top is inscribed with a beautiful engraving of a tree." The puzzle box is a locked openable container. Instead of opening the box when the box is locked, say "The box is apparently locked, though there's no obvious way to undo this."

The analysis of the puzzle box is "CAT:NONLIVING.TO[line break]OL.UTIL:STORAGE.[line break]PART:COMPLEX.MEC[line break]ANISM.DETECTED.E[line break]NGRAVING+WRITING[line break]=KABBALAH?TREEOF[line break]LIFE/YGGDRASIL?B[line break]UTTONS=SEPHIROTH".

Instead of taking the puzzle box the first time:

now the box is in the player;

say "The box slides easily out of the hole."

A puzzle button is a kind of thing. The description of a puzzle button is usually "A plain, simple wooden button with the word '[noun]' printed on it." Understand "button" as a puzzle button.

The engraving of a tree is part of the box. The description of the engraving of a tree is "The tree is huge, covering the whole of the box. Its roots trail downwards, into a dull red glow while its upper branches are bathed in a white light.[paragraph break]A series of raised buttons overlays the tree, each with a word inscribed on it. Generally, from top to bottom they read:[paragraph break]Kether, Binah, Chokmah, Gevurah, Chesed, Hod, Tipareth, Netzach, Yesod, Malkuth". Some puzzle buttons that are part of the engraving of a tree are defined by the Table of Available Puzzle Buttons. The puzzle box has a list of puzzle buttons called the solution. The puzzle box has a list of puzzle buttons called the current combination.

Table of Available Puzzle Buttons

[Order apparently matters in this case -- buttons must be defined before added to the solution...]

The solution of the puzzle box is {Malkuth, Kether, Kether, Malkuth}.

After pushing a puzzle button:

say "The button depresses with a slight 'click.' Nothing more happens";

truncate the current combination of the puzzle box to the last 3 entries;

add the noun to the current combination of the puzzle box;

if the current combination of the puzzle box is the solution of the puzzle box:

if the puzzle box is locked:

say " for a moment, then the seam of the box opens slightly. The box appears to be unlocked and openable now.";

now the box is unlocked;

otherwise:

say ", since the box is already unlocked.";

otherwise:

say "."

A letter is in the puzzle box.

Instead of examining the letter, say "Folded but unsealed, it was apparently never sent. It reads:[paragraph break]Brothers:[paragraph break]Yes, I call you Brothers, though due to my age and alleged lack of knowledge you have denied me entrance into your Order. But as Seneca said, [italic type]Nullum saeculum magnis ingeniis clausum est[roman type]. I am proud to offer you indisputable proof that my generation is no exception.[paragraph break]As you must well know by now, I discovered the existence and nature of your enclave during my time at University. Excited by tenets so similar to my own: the celebration of intellect, the recognition of information as an entity rather than an idea, the embrasure and development of new technologies to unlock the mysteries of the Universe itself, I left my feeble schooling, gathered my few worldly possessions and came to study at your collected feet.[paragraph break]But trapped in your antiquated and outmoded ways, clinging more to superstition and myth than logic and reason - you refused me. Oh, you commended my 'ability to solve puzzles' and patted me on the head like a dog that returned a thrown ball. You allowed me to work for one of your lesser number, mindlessly churning out one insignificant apparatus after another - a mere journeyman in your archaic system.[paragraph break]Undeterred, I remained near by, studying where I could, observing in secret and working towards one goal: proving my worth and value to you. Tonight I have the rare and singular privilege to tell you that not only have I proved, beyond doubt or measure, my value. I have exceeded you. I have succeeded where you have failed, and I have gone further than you ever dared dream.[paragraph break]I have leapt the Sephinroth in one bound, from Malkuth to Kether. [italic type]Kai theos en ho logos[roman type]. I have heard that Word, Brothers - echoing across eternity. I have touched the mind of God - of Information pure and unsullied by the mere mind of Man.[paragraph break]My contact was brief, but glorious. The brevity of it was, I'm sure, due to the crude and simple nature of your mechanisms. The resulting damage was, of course, regrettable, but once I relate to you the breadth and wonder of my experience, I think you will agree: [italic type]exitus acta probat[roman type].[paragraph break]I eagerly await your response, Brothers: of when we shall meet to discuss my entry to the Order, and our ascendance upon the wings of this discovery towards a transcendent future.[paragraph break][italic type]Veritas Lux Mea[paragraph break]Cleve G. Anderson[paragraph break]Scientist, Cypherist[roman type][line break]".

A diary is in the puzzle box.

Instead of examining the diary:

say "Once leather bound and elegant stitched, the journal looks as though it has seen better days. Some pages have been scribbled over to the point of illegibility, while others have manic messages scrawled over the neat, deliberate hand originally recorded there. Many pages have been removed entirely...";

wait for any key;

change the current menu to the Table of Cleve's Diary;

change the current menu title to "Diary";

change the introduction boolean to 1;

change the current menu introduction to "The diary is undated, though distinct entries can be made out:";

carry out the displaying activity;

clear the screen;

change the introduction boolean to 0;

try looking;

Table of Cleve's Diary

A primitive copy of a key is in the puzzle box. The description of the copy is "Heavy and unwieldy, its rough surface gives evidence that this key is, in fact, a copy."