The stairway and the liftboy by Lisa O.

The stairway and the liftboy

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"The stairway and the liftboy" by "Naeemah"


Chapter 1.1 introduction

Use no scoring.

When play begins: 
 say "[bold type]Welcome to this little game.[roman type] Your objective is to persuade a stubborn liftboy to leave his lift. That's it!


 -->Type [bold type]'help'[roman type] if you feel lost!";




Chapter 2 - the game


[Description]
The Stairway is a room. "You stand on a beautiful open stairway. (Don't lean over too much.) You can continue walking down to the south. There are a lot of stairs." 

A thing called a hat is here. The hat is wearable. "And a lost hat on one of the steps."
The description of the hat is "What a nice hat!"

A container called a lift is here. The lift is fixed in place and enterable.  "And a lift, floating in mid-air beside the stairway."
The description of the lift is "Odd. Who built this lift here in the first place?"

A person called a liftboy is here. "Don't ask the liftboy about anything. Not about the lift. And especially not about himself."
The description of the liftboy is "A perfectly usual liftboy with the usual clothing: a red vest with golden buttons and a red headgear with golden stripes. Nothing suspicious about him."



[Hidden objects]
A thing called a sign is in the hall.
A person called a diva is in the hall. 

Understand "woman" as diva.


[HELP]
Pondering is an action applying to nothing.
Understand "help" as pondering. 

Instead of pondering for the first time:
	say "[italic type]This is a one room puzzle. Everything you need is in this room (type 'help' for another hint)[roman type]."
	
Instead of pondering for the second time:
	say "[italic type]Are you wondering why you even have to get the liftboy out of the lift? Well, there is no specific reason other than that it is your objective (type help for more hints)[roman type]."
	
Instead of pondering for the third time:
	say "[italic type]The liftboy on the other hand may have valid reasons for not wanting to leave the lift (type help for more hints)[roman type]."
	
Instead of pondering for the fourth time:
	say "[italic type]The liftboy is very short-spoken. So be persistent and see what happens. Ask him about the same topic as many times as necessary. The same applies for the woman[roman type]!"
	
Instead of pondering for at least five times:
	say "[italic type]*loud cheering from the background* You can do it[roman type]!"




[UNDERSTAND tell]
telling is an action applying to one thing.
Understand "tell [someone]" as telling. 

2telling is an action applying to two things.
Understand "tell [someone] about [something]" as 2telling. 

3telling is an action applying to nothing.
Understand "tell" as 3telling. 

4talking is an action applying to one thing.
Understand "talk to [someone]" as 4talking. 

5talking is an action applying to two things.
Understand "talk to [someone] about [something]" as 5talking. 

6talking is an action applying to nothing.
Understand "tell woman about hall" as 6talking. 

7talking is an action applying to nothing.
Understand "tell woman about deal" as 7talking. 


Instead of telling or 2telling or 3telling or 4talking or 5talking:
	say "[italic type]Hint: Try asking instead[roman type].".
	
[telling woman works with hall and deal]

Instead of 6talking:
say "'DOWNSTAIRS? I will get him!!', she yells and off she goes. The liftboy steps out of the lift. 'Like I promised!' He then steps slowly back into the lift hiding from what may return. 'Well, that was easy!', you think and go on with your day.";
end the story finally saying "You have succeeded."; 


Instead of 7talking:
say "'I KNEW IT!' She turns to her husband and pushes him out of the lift, then dragging him downstairs. Well. he IS out of the lift now. You won and can go your way again." ;
end the story finally saying "You have succeeded."; 





[Cannot reach the hat from inside the lift]
Instead of taking the hat when the player is in the lift and the hat is not in the lift, say "You can't reach that from here."

[Giving the hat to the liftboy]
Instead of giving the hat to the liftboy when the player has the hat:
	say "'Oh no no no, thank you very much, but I have my OWN uniform, you see?' He points at his red and golden hat. He laughs a very high and fake laugh."
	

[the sign]
Instead of examining the lift for the second time:
	say "You examine the lift a second time. Wait .... what is that hanging on a rope down there. You pull it up: an out-of-order sign??";
move a sign to the player;
now the description of the sign is "A sign that clearly says that something isn't in order here!"

Instead of showing the sign to the liftboy for the first time:
	say "'Where did you... I mean: thank you very much for finding my sign. But I can't just place this here now and leave if that is what you had hoped. That wouldn't be dutiful at all! I hope we agree about that!'";
Instead of giving the sign to the liftboy for the first time:
	say "'Where did you... I mean: thank you very much for finding my sign. But I can't just place this here now and leave if that is what you had hoped. That wouldn't be dutiful at all! I hope we agree about that!'";

[asking liftboy for something]
Asking the liftboy for something is uselesstoo. Instead of uselesstoo:
	say "The liftboy isn't in a giving mood. Try asking him ABOUT things instead. Like the lift. Or himself. Yesss about himself sounds good." 


[LIFTBOY DIALOGUE with topics and tables]
After asking the liftboy about a topic listed in the Table of Replies1:
		 say "[reply entry].";
	blank out the whole row. 
	  

Table of Replies1
Topic	REPLY
"lift"	"'Out of order, sorry'.."
"lift"	"'Has been all day'.."
"lift"	"'Don't worry, someone will come and repair it'.."
"lift"	"'Eventually'.."
"lift"	"'Of course I am still needed here'.."
"lift"	"'A lift without a liftboy. Ridiculous thought'.."
"lift"	"'The buttons? Why would I want to press them?'.."
"lift"	"'They are for the different floors you can go to. If the lift would work that is. Which it doesn't'.."
"lift"	"'You want to try for yourself?'.."
"lift"	"'I'm terribly sorry but the lift is only to be conducted by a liftboy. Like me'.."
"lift"	"'Maybe come back later? Or... you know... take the stairs?'"


After asking the liftboy about a topic listed in the Table of Replies2:
		 say "[reply entry].";
	blank out the whole row. 
	  

Table of Replies2
Topic	REPLY
"himself/liftboy"	"'I'm a liftboy and in charge of this lift. I've been here since forever basically. There is nothing more to it'.."
"himself/liftboy"	"'Really!'.."
"himself/liftboy"	"'You don't believe me?'.."
"himself/liftboy"	"'Well it should be obvious that I am indeed a liftboy'.."
"himself/liftboy"	"'I wear a liftboy's uniform'.."
"himself/liftboy"	"'And the hat'.."
"himself/liftboy"	"'The one with the golden stripes on'.."
"himself/liftboy"	"'And I am inside a lift'.."
"himself/liftboy"	"'Lifts are conducted by liftboys'.."
"himself/liftboy"	"'Which I am one'.."
"himself/liftboy"	"'Which means:'.."
"himself/liftboy"	"'I'm the liftboy.' He smiles and seams to be very content with himself"

[COUNTER for the woman to appear]
Every turn: If liftboy is visible for 3 turns, 	 say "[bold type]A stout woman comes running down the stairs[roman type] and stops out of breath when she sees the lift.";
move diva to the stairway;

Every turn: Unless the diva has the hat,
	now the description of the diva is "A stout diva with a fur coat. Not a pleasant person to talk to, you will see."

Every turn: If liftboy is visible for 7 turns, say "[bold type]The woman can breath now again.[roman type] 'Liftboy, DOWNSTAIRS!'

'OUT OF ORDER??'' She splits out the words furiously. She then turns to you: 'Can you believe that?? But that won't stop me!!' She starts breathing heavily again. 'Just ... another minute of rest. THEN I'LL GET HIM!' 

She turns to you again. 'Can you imagine what my HUSBAND did? Don't ask me about it, no don't you ask me about it!' 

You can see a single drop of sweat run down the liftboy's forehead."; 


[asking diva about lift]
After asking the diva about a topic listed in the Table of Repliesdiva:
		 say "[reply entry].";
	  

Table of Repliesdiva
Topic	REPLY
"lift/liftboy"	"You receive a furious tirade about the lift"


[asking diva FOR things]
Asking the diva for something is uselesstoo2. Instead of uselesstoo2:
	say "The diva is rich but not generous. Try asking her about the lift. THAT DOESNT WORK (She likes shouting)!!" 

[diva and hat]
Instead of showing the hat to the diva for the first time:
	say "'That's my HUSBAND'S hat.' She clutches the hat. 'Where did you find it!!? He must have come through here, I'll get him now for sure!!!'";
	move hat to diva;	
	now the description of the diva is "Maybe ask her about this husband that seems to have gone 'lost'. Like the hat on the stairs."
	
Instead of giving the hat to the diva for the first time:
	say "'He must have come down this way, I'm sure of it now. I WILL FIND YOU', she screams. 'What husband would do this to his wife!!?'";
	move hat to diva;
	now the description of the diva is "Maybe ask her about this husband that seems to have gone 'lost'. Like the hat on the stairs."


[talking to diva again, this time about topic husband]
After asking the diva about a topic listed in the Table of Replieshusband:
		 say "[reply entry].";
	blank out the whole row;
	Now the description of the liftboy is "A perfectly usual liftboy with the usual clothing: red vest with golden buttons and a red headgear with golden stripes. He eyes the diva nervously. You really should ask him about her.".
	  

Table of Replieshusband
Topic	REPLY
"husband"	"'I constantly have to chase after him'.."
"husband"	"'He always hides in the strangest places'.."
"husband"	"'Always tries to trick me'.."
"husband"	"She stops screaming for a moment pondering. 'Say... have you EVER seen this liftboy here BEFORE?? He looks familiar somehow don't you think?' She eyes him closely for a moment but then resumes shouting about her husband. 

You can see the liftboy breath a sigh. 

(Suspicious. If I were you I would bug him about this WOMAN. Just saying.)"


[counter for noticing the hat]
Every turn: If liftboy is visible for at least 20 turns and player has hat, say "[bold type]The woman suddenly notices your hat.[roman type] 'That is my HUSBAND'S hat! Where did you find it? Give it to me at once!'";  



[talking to liftboy about diva]
After asking the liftboy about a topic listed in the Table of Repliesvictory:
		 say "[reply entry].";
	blank out the whole row. 
	  

Table of Repliesvictory
Topic	REPLY
"diva/woman"	"'What a ... nice woman I guess?'.."
"diva/woman"	"'Why don't you two go I don't know... downstairs? Wouldn't that be nice?'.."
"diva/woman"	"'She seems to be looking for her husband'.."
"diva/woman"	"'Which is totally not me'.."
"diva/woman"	"'What? If I know the woman?! No of course not'.."
"diva/woman"	"'Never seen her in my life. NEVER!'.."
"diva/woman"	"'You are going to do WHAT??'.."
"diva/woman"	"'Rat me out??'.."
"diva/woman"	"'Unless I leave the lift??'.."
"diva/woman"	"'But why would you want me to do that?'.."
"diva/woman"	"'Ok ok, you know what: I promise to leave the lift if you lure her away. Just tell her you saw me in the HALL downstairs. And nothing of our DEAL.' He looks at you pleadingly"


[final topics and end of game]
After asking the diva about a topic listed in the Table of Repliesvictory2:
		 say "[reply entry].";
		 end the story finally saying "You have succeeded."; 
	  

Table of Repliesvictory2
Topic	REPLY
"deal"	"'I KNEW IT!' She turns to her husband and pushes him out of the lift, then dragging him downstairs. Well. he IS out of the lift now. You won and can go your way again."
"hall"	"'DOWNSTAIRS? I will get him!!', she yells and off she goes. The liftboy steps out of the lift. 'Like I promised!' He then steps slowly back into the lift hiding from what may return. 'Well, that was easy!', you think and go on with your day."



[in case someone goes south]
A hall is south of the Stairway.
Instead of going south, say "You start descending the stairs... but no: you WILL get this liftboy to leave this lift eventually and if it is the last thing you do!! You head back up eagerly.";