The Christmas Gauntlet by Peter Parker

The Christmas Gauntlet

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"The Christmas Gauntlet"

The maximum score is 4. 

The Entrance is a room. 

"[if The Entrance is unvisited]'Ho, ho, ho! Welcome to the Christmas Gauntlet!' booms a jolly sounding voice from seemingly everywhere.

You quickly examine your surroundings. You're standing in a hedge maze. The hedges are tall and dense -- too tall to see over, too dense to peak thru. Snow lingers on portions of the hedge walls from what looks like a recent snowfall, but none of it remains on the ground. The sky is clear and the sound of a chill wind can be heard blowing harshly over the top of the hedge. At least the hedge walls provide some protection from the wind.

'Ho, ho, ho!' the voice repeats, booming even louder. 'Let me tell you a little known secret, little girl. There aren't just two lists -- naughty and nice. There are THREE lists -- naughty, nice, and in-between. While the naughty children get coal, and the nice children get presents, the in-between children are kidnapped from their beds and forced to earn their Christmas joy...or lose it forever!'

This thought sends a deep chill down your spine. You wouldn't describe yourself as naughty, per se...but nice? That doesn't quite seem to fit, either. You recognize that life is complex and that your decisions go beyond naughty and nice, straight into the realm of will-this-decision-mean-I-have-less-time-to-watch-Eddie-Izzard-and-catch-up-on-Star-Trek? 

So, if it's a fight the fat man wants, by Rudolph's red nose he'll get one!

'If you can think your way out of the Gauntlet, solving my dastardly riddles, you will have earned all of your Christmas joy,' the voice continues. 'But if not...you will awake in your bed, with no memory of this place, weeping at the sudden knowledge that you don't even have a crumb of coal with which to warm your frozen spirit!'

With those final words the voice echoes into the distance and the overwhelming presence of Santa Claus fades away.

A sign stands in front of you. Maybe try typing 'examine sign'?

A fountain is to the north. 

[otherwise]You're back at the Entrance. Nothing new to see. But the memory of Santa's challenge stirs a fierce defiance within you. You will win!"

The Sign is scenery. The Sign is in the Entrance.

The description of the Sign is "A simple placard. It reads, 'Welcome to the Christmas Gauntlet!

When you want to move to a new area, type 'go (direction)'. 'Go north,' for example.

When you want to say something, type, 'say (word)'.

Easy-peasy.'"

Fountain is north of the Entrance.

Fountain is a room. "[If score is 0]A burbling fountain stands at the center of this portion of the Gauntlet. It's perfectly white and shooting a spray of...eggnog?

There doesn't appear to be anywhere else to go. You begin to fear that this might be the end of your only just begun quest, when a small figure pounces from behind the fountain.

It's an elf. A Christmas elf -- pointy ears, pointy shoes with jingle bells, the whole ensemble.

He says, in a surprisingly deep, masculine voice, 'My name's Pongo. I suppose you will be wanting your riddle, then?'

[otherwise]Pongo is loudly drinking eggnog from the fountain. The hedge stands open to the east. The Entrance is south."

Pongo is a man. Pongo is in Fountain. The description of Pongo is "An elf. About three feet tall, wiry and smelling of eggnog. He must spend a lot of time by this fountain...He keeps muttering something about a clue being around here somewhere and kicking at the fountain."

After answering the Pongo that â€œyesâ€:
say â€œPongo says, 'Alright, then. What has a head and a tail, but no body?'â€

After answering the Pongo that "a coin":
say "Pongo smiles widely. 'You've got it! You're a smart one, you are! I'll open the next portion of the Gauntlet for you.'

Pongo wiggles his little nose and the hedge opens to the east.

Open Present # 1!";
award 1 point

After answering the Pongo that "coin":
say "Pongo smiles widely. 'You've got it! You're a smart one, you are! I'll open the next portion of the Gauntlet for you.'

Pongo wiggles his little nose and the hedge opens to the east.

Open Present # 1!";
award 1 point

Statue is east of Fountain. 

The Reindeer Statue is a person. The Reindeer Statue is in Statue.

Statue is a room. "[if score is 1]A giant statue of an imposing, muscular reindeer stands above you. The reindeer is slightly crouched, with one hoof raised, as if it were about to pounce into the sky and fly with all its might.

To your surprise, the statue begins to speak to you.

'Made it this far, have you? Well, let's see if you can pass this test...He has married many women but never been married. Who is he?'

[otherwise]The giant statue of reindeer, one foot raised, looms above you. The hedge is open to the north. The fountain is to the west."

After answering the The Reindeer Statue that "priest":
say "The reindeer's nose, ever so slowly, begins to glow red. It glows and glows until its almost too bright to look at. You've done it! The hedge opens up to the north.'

Open Present # 2!";
award 1 point

After answering the The Reindeer Statue that "a priest":
say "The reindeer's nose, ever so slowly, begins to glow red. It glows and glows until its almost too bright to look at. You've done it! The hedge opens up to the north.'

Open Present # 2!";
award 1 point

Snowy Field is north of Statue. 

Snowman is a person. Snowman is in Snowy Field.

Snowy Field is a room. "[if score is 2]A simple snowman stands in the middle of a snowy field. Corncob pipe. Button nose. Two eyes made out of coal. He's even wearing a hat. Even though he has pieces of coal arranged in the shape of a smile, he appears to be rather morose. Can snowmen get Seasonal Depressive Disorder?...

Unsurprisingly, the snowman speaks, 'Quick, before I melt away -- Some try to hide. Some try to cheat. But time will show we'll always meet. What am I?'

[otherwise] A smiling, but somehow morose, snowman stands in the snowy field."

After answering the Snowman that "death":
say "The snowman loudly laments, 'You're preaching to the choir, sister. I know what happens during the spring of my discontent. There's nothing sadder than a carrot surrounded by a puddle...'

Open Present # 3!

The hedge opens to the north. The Reindeer statue is to the south.";
award 1 point

Santa's Workshop is north of Snowy Field. 

Santa Claus is a person. Santa Claus is in Santa's Workshop.

Santa's Workshop is a room. "[if score is 3]This is it. You've made it...the big show. Santa Claus himself stands before you, hands on hips, a cigar sized candy cane sticking out of the side of his mouth.

'Ho, ho, ho!' he chortles. 'I didn't expect you to make it this far, Rebecca. You're more clever than I thought. Time to see if you have what it takes, or if I get to deck your halls!

In marble walls as white as milk

Lined with skin as smooth as silk

Within a fountain crystal clear

A golden apple doth appear.

No doors there are to this stronghold

yet thieves break in to steal the gold.

What am I?'
[otherwise]Just standing outside of Santa's Workshop. No big deal."

After answering the Santa Claus that "an egg":
say "The self-aggrandizing smile on Santa's face quickly turns to surprise. 'I can't believe it! I thought for sure I would defeat you with an Easter riddle! How despicably clever you are, Rebecca! But then...maybe I'll see you again next year...Ho, ho, ho!'

And with that, Santa Claus disappears into a cloud of glitter and snowflakes.";
award 1 point

After answering the Santa Claus that "egg":
say "The self-aggrandizing smile on Santa's face quickly turns to surprise. 'I can't believe it! I thought for sure I would defeat you with an Easter riddle! How despicably clever you are, Rebecca! But then...maybe I'll see you again next year...Ho, ho, ho!'

And with that, Santa Claus disappears into a cloud of glitter and snowflakes.";
award 1 point

Every turn while in the Santa's Workshop:
if score is 4
begin; say "Congratulations!

You have survived the Christmas Gauntlet! Christmas Joy is yours!

Open Present # 4 and have a merry Christmas!"; end the game in victory;
end if.