Start of a transcript of Recorded An Interactive Fiction by Nick Junius Release 1 / Serial number 150607 / Inform 7 build 6L38 (I6/v6.33 lib 6/12N) SD Identification number: //CCD60B6E-3313-48A9-A66C-6BF13B940D0F// Interpreter version 0.5.2 / VM 3.1.2 / Library serial number 080126 Standard Rules version 3/120430 by Graham Nelson >look South Inner Circle Where you stand is entirely nondescript save for carvings on the wall. The grey walls are barely illuminated by a sickly pulsing light though its source doesn't seem to be anywhere near you. To the North is a passageway. You can't see where it leads, though something is telling you to walk down it. South of you is an ancient door. Where this door leads is probably important considering its construction and immense size. >x self Everything seems to be there. You say something to yourself, or at least, you try to. You only hear silence. The words were there with nothing to give them form. >x door A thick layer of dust covers the simple, geometric carvings on the door's surface. At its center sits a circular groove which must be the door's locking mechanism. What could possibly fit this lock? >x message Through the gloom you can make out this: "The door, yes, opening the door will shed some light on my predicament, but how to open it? This place...I feel as if I've traveled here countless times, seen this door, and asked myself the same question over and over." >n Hub The rough stone walls arch over you from every direction creating a massive dome. North, South, East, and West of you are angular archways all leading...somewhere. In the dome's center sits a twisted, misshapen obsidian alter. The light seems to be coming from somewhere above the alter, though it has no obvious source. >x alter The alter almost grows from the floor, spiraling up to about chest height. The top of the alter is unnaturally flat for something so organically shaped. As you study it further, you realize the alter almost appears to be consuming the light emanating from somewhere in the dome. >n North Inner Circle The contrast from the Hub is striking. The entire room is built from pure iron. A blue flame flickers at the room's center, suspended eerily in the air. As you pace, your shadow leaps across the walls, floor, and ceiling, revealing etchings on the floor. You also notice an angular arch leading further North. >x flame A dancing flame with an unusual blue hue. Whatever purpose it serves, it's rather soothing, almost entrancing. >touch flame You move your hand into the flame. To your surprise, not only is the flame completely devoid of heat, it slithers out of your way. Is it alive? >take flame Even before you reach out to grab the flame, you hear something, almost like the howl of the wind in some far off place. There was definitely meaning behind it and you decide it's best not to disturb the flame. Someone, or something, obviously cares for it. >x message By the flickering flame light you read: "If only there was someone else here...wait...someone else is definitely here. Can they help me? Where are they? Do they have anything to do with this...curious...flame? I can't help but wonder if this person brought me here. If so, for what purpose?" >n North Outer Circle Similar to the last room, this one is entirely iron. A pillar hangs from the ceiling, ending in an iron table suspended a few feet above the floor. A quick glance across the surface of the table reveals some markings, presumably more writing by the person responsible for the others. The only apparent way out is back the way you came, though something tells you there's more here than you can see with your own eyes unaided. On the iron table is the Recorder's Eye. >x table The table almost could be mistaken for being upside down, were it hanging farther off the ground. Suffice it to say, it's impressive the ceiling has yet to collapse from the table's weight. Unlike the other messages left for you, these appear almost grown from the surface of the table. Who, or what, made these must have spent quite a while writing this one. The strange orb follows your movements with an almost sickening focus. >x message The shadows the raised markings create read: "Someone is definitely watching me. I can feel their eyes on me, particularly in this room. They must be the reason I came here...Did I come here, or was I brought? I...can't remember. I can't remember so much. There's...something I should be doing...I'm not sure what it was...All I know was it was...important, yes, very important." >x eye A strangely smooth orb. It's glass coating reveals a small iron core embedded with granite fragments. >touch eye You run your finger over its surface feeling the orb's iciness, though no frost has formed on or around it. >take eye North Outer Circle Similar to the last room, this one is entirely iron. A pillar hangs from the ceiling, ending in an iron table suspended a few feet above the floor. A quick glance across the surface of the table reveals some markings, presumably more writing by the person responsible for the others. An archway has appeared to the west. Whoever this...Recorder is, they have certainly left something of great value behind. >touch eye With the orb in your hand, you feel it channeling the warmth from your hand into its core. You can tell it isn't draining the life out of you, but why it needs your warmth is another question entirely. >w Hidden Iron Room Unlike the previous rooms, the iron construction here is covered in rust. Why has this room been left to decay? Is this Recorder trying to hide something from you? From themselves? Whatever the reason, you notice a patch of wall relatively free of rust with something resembling a journal entry gouged into the metal. The only way out is back the way you came. This time, you're sure. >x message The entry reads: "I have found the truth. I held out hope that finding it would bring answers. Unfortunately the answers have only led to despair. Everyone who comes here is cursed. I left a fragment behind to protect something of myself from this curse. Should someone be reading this, they must have that fragment. I beg of you, do not return it to what is left of me, for both our sakes." >e North Outer Circle Similar to the last room, this one is entirely iron. A pillar hangs from the ceiling, ending in an iron table suspended a few feet above the floor. A quick glance across the surface of the table reveals some markings, presumably more writing by the person responsible for the others. An archway has appeared to the west. Whoever this...Recorder is, they have certainly left something of great value behind. >s North Inner Circle The contrast from the Hub is striking. The entire room is built from pure iron. A blue flame flickers at the room's center, suspended eerily in the air. As you pace, your shadow leaps across the walls, floor, and ceiling, revealing etchings on the floor. You also notice an angular arch leading further North. >s Hub The rough stone walls arch over you from every direction creating a massive dome. North, South, East, and West of you are angular archways all leading...somewhere. In the dome's center sits a twisted, misshapen obsidian alter. The light has receded noticeably from the edges of the dome, though the walls are still distinct, if only just. >e East Inner Circle From the stone dome that is the Hub, you wouldn't have expected to find a room made of pure glass. Through the glass you see the void of space stretching to infinity. Is this real space, or a mere illusion? A hollow pillar stands at the center allowing the void surrounding the room to flow into its center. You see an inscription spiraling around the pillar. An archway leads further east. >x void The vast expanse of emptiness stretches before you. Is the whole structure floating in nothingness? >x pillar The void trapped inside is gathering the light reflected from the walls, causing the inscription to glow. The feeling of being watched has dissipated somewhat. Could this pillar be the source of light for the rest of this place? >touch pillar You gingerly place your hand on its surface and immediately pull it away and cry out in pain, though no sound escapes your lips. The pillar has scorched your palm with its heat. Surprisingly, the longer you stare at the seared flesh, the faster it heals. >x message The glowing inscription reads as follows: "This place...it's almost alive...this room almost feels like a heart. Why would a structure need a heart? Am I an intruder? I was brought here...against my will...I think...was it against my will? It has to be." >e East Outer Circle If the previous room had a strangely warm quality to it, this one has the opposite. While no frost covers the glass, you can see your breath and your hands are shaking. Again all around you through the glass is the expanse of space, this time a little more claustrophobic. On a strange outcrop on the wall you see another carved inscription. You notice an archway to the South. Perhaps this will at least lead you to your voice if not some answers. >x outcrop The more you study this anomaly on the otherwise perfectly smooth wall, the more it appears to be some sort of deformity rather than an intentional design choice. The inscription on here is quite difficult to make out and you face is hit with an intense chill as you bend closer to study this curious formation. >x message You can just make out the words: "Why is this where I feel safe...safe from the one watching me? I'm surrounded by emptiness and in a near formless place. The void is almost a comfort. It's almost like home...I had a home...once...it's...gone now...Is it really gone, or just from me? I want to stay here...it's my new...home...No, this place is tricking me. This place isn't my home...I just...don't have one right now..." >s Hidden Glass Room Past the room's ceiling, floor, and walls you see what can only be described as emptiness. As you survey your surroundings, you realize your view of the emptiness is distorted thanks to every surface in the room being covered in a single, repeated phrase. The only way out is back the way you came. This time, you're sure. >x message Every inch of every surface is covered by this phrase repeated countless times: "I am the Recorder" >n East Outer Circle If the previous room had a strangely warm quality to it, this one has the opposite. While no frost covers the glass, you can see your breath and your hands are shaking. Again all around you through the glass is the expanse of space, this time a little more claustrophobic. On a strange outcrop on the wall you see another carved inscription. You notice an archway to the South. Perhaps this will at least lead you to your voice if not some answers. >w East Inner Circle From the stone dome that is the Hub, you wouldn't have expected to find a room made of pure glass. Through the glass you see the void of space stretching to infinity. Is this real space, or a mere illusion? A hollow pillar stands at the center allowing the void surrounding the room to flow into its center. You see an inscription spiraling around the pillar. An archway leads further east. >w Hub The rough stone walls arch over you from every direction creating a massive dome. North, South, East, and West of you are angular archways all leading...somewhere. In the dome's center sits a twisted, misshapen obsidian alter. The light has receded noticeably from the edges of the dome, though the walls are still distinct, if only just. >w West Inner Circle Unlike the Hub, this room is made entirely from black marble. In a small depression in the floor rests a gently rotating diamond reflecting light shafts at odd angles. The beams slowly wash over what might be described as writing on the archway leading west. >x diamond This unusually large diamond rotates perfectly in the room's center casting radiant beams around the room. While it doesn't appear to be the source of the light, it is certainly focusing whatever light enters the room. As the beams pass over you, you feel someone carefully watching you. Once the beam leaves your person, the feeling is immediately lifted. >take diamond Such a beautiful gem would certainly fetch a nice sum back home...home...you know you have a home, but where was it? It was comfortable yes, but that is the only thing you can manage to remember. As you reach your hand out to grab the jewel, you hear a low growl. You have no idea where its source is or what made the noise, but that is enough to stop you from trying to take anything in this room. >x message As beams of light wash over the writing you can make out the words: "This place...everywhere I go, someone is following me, yet I am alone. There only door here is locked by some...unusual mechanism to say the least. If there is someone here, they have to be behind that door." >w West Outer Circle Somehow this room is smaller than the last almost bringing a sense of claustrophobia to the room. The black marble walls gently arch upwards forming a low ceiling. If you were any taller you'd have to uncomfortably stoop to avoid hitting your head. A curious marble block rests in the room's center, directly below another carved message. Every so often, a beam from the diamond in the previous room strikes the carvings. An arch has appeared north of you. What secrets has the Recorder left there... >x block Not only is the block a perfect cube of black marble, polished to a gleaming, nearly glowing, sheen, the block has no seam at its base. How someone carved this block out of the ground is a mystery...maybe one better left to the imagination. >touch block It's smooth, so much so that, for a second, you doubt the block is marble and not polished glass. >x message By the light reflecting from the block you read: "I thought I saw someone in here. I couldn't have. No, definitely not. I'm alone. Completely...No, I'm not. I can't forget such a thing. There is something else...someone else. They can't want to be found. They must be why I can't...remember. The door. Yes, the door will help...How? I can't get it open. I must unlock it. It has to have answers." >n Hidden Stone Room The marble here is cracked and malformed, receiving no attention, perhaps purposefully. When you came here, the constant feeling of being watched left you. Perhaps the Recorder forgot about this place. On the wall opposite the archway you see a delicately chiseled message. Answers? Hopefully. The only way out is back the way you came. This time, you're sure. >x message The message reads: "This place is far more sinister than I could have imagined. It exists simply for its own ends. Why it has brought me here is for its own purpose, nothing more. I can't know its intent for its intent defies human understanding. This place is alive, somehow. It wants...something from me, I'm not sure what. I...I can't save myself anymore. I've lost too much already. I just...just need to save as much as I can..." >s West Outer Circle Somehow this room is smaller than the last almost bringing a sense of claustrophobia to the room. The black marble walls gently arch upwards forming a low ceiling. If you were any taller you'd have to uncomfortably stoop to avoid hitting your head. A curious marble block rests in the room's center, directly below another carved message. Every so often, a beam from the diamond in the previous room strikes the carvings. An arch has appeared north of you. What secrets has the Recorder left there... >e West Inner Circle Unlike the Hub, this room is made entirely from black marble. In a small depression in the floor rests a gently rotating diamond reflecting light shafts at odd angles. The beams slowly wash over what might be described as writing on the archway leading west. >e Hub The rough stone walls arch over you from every direction creating a massive dome. North, South, East, and West of you are angular archways all leading...somewhere. In the dome's center sits a twisted, misshapen obsidian alter. The dome's walls are nearly invisible. With nearly all the light focused on the alter now, you can barely make out the stone archways. On the obsidian alter is a threaded rod. >x rod A rod made of metal bands somehow held together to create an apparently solid object. One end of the rod remains pointing at you as you circle the alter. Every so often, the rod bends in seemingly impossible ways. >take rod Taken. >x rod A rod made of metal bands somehow held together to create an apparently solid object. Before the rod seemed to move with a will of its own. Now it rests peacefully in your hand. Any attempts you make to bend it are fruitless and your efforts wasted. >s South Inner Circle Where you stand is entirely nondescript save for carvings on the wall. The grey walls are barely illuminated by a sickly pulsing light though its source doesn't seem to be anywhere near you. To the North is a passageway. You can't see where it leads, though something is telling you to walk down it. South of you is an ancient door. Where this door leads is probably important considering its construction and immense size. The rod, while still feeling completely solid, seems to have regained some of its former life. >unlock door with rod You hold the rod out towards the door, unsure of what to expect. Nothing happens for a few seconds then the rod once again comes to life, the metal bands stretch apart and snap into a ring, floating into place. You hear a groan as the ring rotates in its socket. >open door You open the ancient door. >s You walk through the door as it struggles to swing open and see a figure sitting in a small, granite chair in the room's center. As you approach, you notice the figure's arms and legs have been chained to the chair. The only discernible feature of the figure's face is its mouth thanks to the rest of its head being covered by a cloth shroud. The closer you get, the less defined the figure's outline becomes, its fingers blending together and separating as they move. In the still hand, you see some kind of box. The figure finally notices you and the shadowy fingers wrap themselves tighter around the cube. The figure finally speaks with a soft, shadowy voice that only better reflects its almost fading state of being: "I see you're...looking for something" The figure's head tilts to look at the hand holding the box. "And of course...I have it." After a long pause, "Of course, how could I have forgotten. You may know me as the Recorder. How I got that name...I lost my old one." The Recorder stares at you intently for a moment. "Just as you have...I'm afraid." It twists the box in its hand. "Along with your voice." It pauses to return its gaze in your direction. "The question remains, what will you do?" The Recorder's voice has become even more shadowy. "If you're here, you've already made up your mind..." The Recorder's head snaps to stare at the orb you've been carrying and its form regains a tinge of definition. You step away keeping your grip firmly on the orb and watch as the Recorder stains against the chains. You take another step back when the Recorder breaks free of the chains and lunges towards you, shadowy fingers seeking the orb. The fingers miss their target but the sudden move knocks you off balance and you topple over. Seizing the opportunity, the Recorder walks over to you and snatches the orb from your dazed grasp. With the orb in its grasp, the Recorder's form becomes a little clearer with each passing moment. As you pick yourself up, you see the Recorder shutting the door. You hear a metallic groan and know you're trapped here. *** *** Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, QUIT or UNDO the last command? >