The Beast of Torrack Moor
An interactive fiction by Linda Wright (2007) - the Inform 7 source text
Contents
Previous
Next
Complete text
The Green is a room in Puddlecombe. "A small grassy patch surrounded by tarmac, the Green of Puddlecombe-by-the-Moor is at the hub of this tiny village nestling in the deep combe from which it gets its name. A three-pronged signpost stands here, as does a notice-board, the notices on which flap in the strong wind, whilst Ye Olde Tea Shoppe lies to the south."
Outside-Pub is a room in Puddlecombe, north of the Green. The printed name of Outside-Pub is "Outside the Pub". "The sign of 'The Puddle Arms' creaks alarmingly as it sways in the wind, whilst litter swirls about your feet before being deposited next to the wall of this ancient building, which lies to the north. A notice next to the thick wooden door catches your eye, and a plaque reads 'BEST BEER SOLD HERE'."
The Pub is a room in Puddlecombe. The printed name is "Inside the Pub". "Gleaming horse brasses decorate the wooden beams and rafters of this pub, whilst a glowing gas fire fills the large stone fireplace, although a draught from the open door rather negates the effect. From behind the bar, meanwhile, the publican watches you hopefully, whilst several stools are perched precariously in an imaginative line along the length of said bar."
Library-room is a room in Puddlecombe. The printed name is "The Library". "Within the hushed surroundings of the Mobile Library, you're watched studiously by the librarian, Miss U. B. Kriett, as she noisily chews some crisps whilst sorting out the pile of books and tickets on her desk."
Ye Olde Tea Shoppe is a room in Puddlecombe. "The smell of scones, coffee and tea pervades your nostrils as you glance around this small cafe, noticing as you do so the many comfortable chairs and the well-built waitress hovering discreetly by one of the cloth-covered tables."
[ THE GREEN ]
The Ranger is a villager man in the Green. Understand "Ernest" as the Ranger. "Ernest, the Ranger for Torrack Moor, is here." The description is "A miserable little man with beady eyes."
The default answer of the ranger is "I'm afraid he's too deep in thought to answer!"
[ The Ranger greets you in a surly fashion when you first arrive ]
After looking in the Green for the first time:
say "Ernest stares at you, then a look of recognition comes over his face before he says: 'Ah! I know you! You're that reporter from the Lowsea Gazette who pestered me about conservation and all that twaddle a few months back when doing that story on endangered wildlife! S'pose you've heard that ridiculous tale about the Beast! Well, I tell you, it's a waste of time! No such thing! You might as well go home!' and with that, he wanders north.";
move the Ranger to Outside-Pub.
The grassy patch and the tarmac are scenery in The Green.
The three-pronged sign post is scenery in the Green. Understand "signpost" as the sign post. The description is "The sign's prongs point west, northeast and southeast, and are marked 'High Street', 'Church' and 'Moor'."
The notice-board is scenery in the Green. The notice-board can be amended or unamended. The notice-board is unamended. Understand "notice", "board" as the notice-board. The description is "Mostly uninteresting notices about Parish Council Meetings, although one refers to the Mobile Library being on the Green from 11am to 1pm today, and another states 'For further information on Torrack Moor, contact the Ranger, The Cottage, Moor Lane.'[if the notice-board is amended][paragraph break]Has a small notice pinned on it which reads [bold type]WINNING RAFFLE TICKET: NUMBER 211. OWNER PLEASE SEE MISS MYRTLE[roman type].[end if]"
The shoppe-object is scenery in the Green. The printed name is "Olde Tea Shoppe". Understand "ye","olde","tea","shoppe","shop" as the shoppe-object. The description is "Looks inviting. A note on the door reads [italic type]OPEN 11.30 TO 6[roman type]."
The tea-shop-door is a shop door and scenery. The tea-shop-door is south of the Green and north of Ye Olde Tea Shoppe. The tea-shop-door is closed and locked. The printed name is "door". Understand "door" as the tea-shop-door.
[ The mobile library arrives and leaves, so we need to check if it's there ]
The mobile library is a thing. "[if the location is the green]You also observe a mobile library parked on the eastern edge of the Green.[otherwise]A mobile library is driving by.[end if]". The mobile library is enterable. The mobile library is not portable. The mobile library can be open or closed. The mobile library is open.
Instead of entering the mobile library:
if the mobile library is open,
now the player is in the library-room;
otherwise
say "The door of the library is now closed.".
Instead of going east in the Green when the mobile library is in the Green:
try entering the mobile library.
[ Miss Myrtle needs to get in too! ]
Instead of Miss Myrtle going east in the Green:
move Miss Myrtle to the library-room.
[ OUTSIDE THE PUB ]
The pub-plaque is scenery in Outside-Pub. The printed name is "plaque". Understand "plaque" as the pub-plaque.
The sign, the litter and the wind are scenery in Outside-Pub.
The thick wooden door is a door. The thick wooden door is scenery. Understand "pub door" as the thick wooden door. The thick wooden door is closed and locked.
The thick wooden door is north of Outside-Pub and inside of Outside-Pub and south of Pub and outside of Pub.
The pub notice is scenery in Outside-Pub. The description is "Reads [italic type]THE PUDDLE ARMS: PUBLICAN MR. GEORGE BEAR - VOTED BEST INN 1865. Opening Hours: 11am to 2.30pm; 6pm to 11pm.[roman type][paragraph break]The words [italic type]NOW OPEN 11am to 11pm[roman type] are scrawled next to it."
[ INSIDE THE PUB ]
The horse brasses are scenery in the pub.
The wooden beams are scenery in the pub. Understand "rafters" as the wooden beams.
The bar is scenery in the pub.
The gas fire is scenery in the pub. The gas fire is lit. The description is "Hot!".
[ Examining the bar stool reveals the matches ]
Some matches are a hidden object. The matches are not found. They are pocketable. The description is "Contained in a small packet, with a picture of some hotel or other on the front of it."
The stools are scenery in the pub. Understand "stool" as the stools. The stools are a hider. The hidden of the stools is some matches. The exclamation of the stools is "Wow!". The scorename of the stools is "finding some useful matches".
The Publican is a villager man in the pub. The Publican is scenery. Understand "barman" as the publican. The description is "Plump.". The default answer of the publican is "He grunts, but says nothing.".
[ To get the kagoule, the player needs to show the publican the pass (make him trusting) and ask him about the moor. Before showing him the pass, he just grunts when asked anything. ]
The publican can be suspicious or trusting. The publican is suspicious.
The publican can be ignorant or aware of your interest in the moor. The publican is ignorant.
Before showing the pass to the publican when the publican is suspicious:
now the publican is trusting.
Instead of showing the pass to a villager person:
say "After a quick glance at the pass, you get the reply 'Oh, the Lowsea Gazette - rarely buy it myself - suppose you're doing a story on that beast... just ask if you need to know anything, although I can't guarantee that I'll be able to help.'".
Instead of interrogating the publican about something when the publican is suspicious:
say the default response of the publican.
Before interrogating the publican about Torrack Moor when the publican is trusting:
now the publican is aware of your interest in the moor.
The kagoule is a hidden object. The kagoule is wearable. The description is "Not the most fashionable of garments, but waterproof and ideal for when it rains."
Before going south in the pub when the publican is trusting and the publican is aware of your interest in the moor and the kagoule is not found:
say "As you go towards the door, the barman calls you back and hands something to you, saying 'This was left here by a tourist weeks ago... I kept it, but it's too small for me. You might need it, though, if you're going onto the Moor - they forecast rain, you know!' Thanking him, you don the kagoule, and then leave.";
now the kagoule is found;
move the kagoule to the player;
now the player is wearing the kagoule;
record "obtaining a waterproof garment" as achieved.
Instead of exiting in the pub:
try going south.
Instead of miscbuying "beer" in the pub:
buy a beverage for £0.50.
[ MOBILE LIBRARY ]
Instead of going west in the library-room:
send the player to the green.
Instead of Miss Myrtle going west in the library-room:
move Miss Myrtle to the green.
Instead of exiting in the library-room:
send the player to the green.
Some books are scenery in the library-room. The description is "Extremely boring volumes with equally boring covers, all of which are very tatty and only suitable for a Jumble Sale."
Some tickets are scenery in the library-room.
Some crisps are a thing. The crisps are carried by the librarian.
The librarian is a woman in the library-room. The librarian is scenery. Understand "miss", "kriett", "u b kriett" as the librarian. The description is "Prim and officious!"
The default answer of the librarian is "She looks at you strangely, but says nothing."
[ The local map is the only thing worth borrowing ]
The local map is a thing in the library-room. The local map can be on loan or returned. The local map is returned.
Instead of examining the local map:
say "The map shows Puddlecombe in the west, and the moors to the east.";
display the Figure of the map.
Instead of doing anything with the map in the library-room when the map is returned:
say "Miss Kriett, seeing you with the map, exclaims 'You can't have that unless you have a ticket!' and snaps it back."
[ To get out the map, you need a library ticket ]
The pink ticket is a hidden object. The pink ticket is not found. The pink ticket is pocketable. The description is "A library ticket with your name and address on it."
The pink ticket is known.
Before borrowing the map:
if the map is returned,
try taking the map instead;
otherwise
say "You've already borrowed the map." instead.
Before of taking the map in the library-room when the pink ticket is found and the map is returned:
say "As you pick up the map, Miss Kriett snatches it from you, takes your ticket, stamps the map and hands it back to you, reminding you to return it before the expiry date.";
now the map is on loan;
record "obtaining a local map" as achieved;
continue the action.
Instead of requesting the librarian for the pink ticket when the pink ticket is not found:
say "Bristling officiously, Miss Kriett explains that she can't give you a ticket without some means of identification.";
Instead of interrogating the librarian about the pink ticket:
try requesting the librarian for the pink ticket.
Instead of showing the pass to the librarian when the pink ticket is not found:
say "Miss Kriett looks at the pass then declares, 'Sorry, but that won't do! It hasn't got your address on...' and hands it back to you.";
Instead of giving the pass to the librarian:
try showing the pass to the librarian.
Instead of showing the bill to the librarian when the pink ticket is not found:
say "Looking studiously at the bill, Miss Kriett mumbles 'Oh well, I suppose that will do,' before proceeding to write you out a pink ticket.";
now the pink ticket is found;
move the pink ticket to the location;
try taking the pink ticket.
Instead of giving the bill to the librarian:
try showing the bill to the librarian.
[ YE OLDE TEA SHOPPE ]
The comfortable chairs are scenery in the tea shoppe.
The tables are scenery in the tea shoppe. Understand "table" as tables.
The waitress is a villager woman in the tea shoppe. The waitress is scenery. The description is "Plump."
The default answer of the waitress is "She blushes, but says nothing."
Instead of smelling in the tea shoppe, say "Tea, coffee and scones."
The plastic teaspoon is a hidden object. Understand "spoon" as the plastic teaspoon. The description is "Perfectly normal, with no outstanding features whatsoever."
Miscbuying "tea" in the tea shoppe is partaking of a hot beverage.
Miscbuying "coffee" in the tea shoppe is partaking of a hot beverage.
[ The first time the player buys a tea or coffee, they get a free plastic spoon. See the money section above for the "buy a beverage" routine ]
Instead of partaking of a hot beverage:
buy a beverage for £0.50;
if the teaspoon is not found begin;
say "The waitress then takes away the cup, but leaves a spoon behind.";
move the teaspoon to the location;
now the teaspoon is found;
try taking the teaspoon;
end if.
Instead of exiting in the tea shoppe:
try going north.