"He found the knowledge at the heart of the universe; Returned, and cut his story into stone..." -- The Epic Of Gilgamesh Whom The Telling Changed By Aaron A. Reed Would you like instructions?>Please answer yes or no.>no The people have always gathered on moonless nights to hear the telling, since the time of your ancestors' ancestors. The heat of the fire and the glow in the storyteller's eyes make the past present, and the path to the future clear. Tonight the stars are bright, but the minds of your people are troubled. May the words of the telling guide your way. ----------- The walls of your tent glow yellow in the lamplight, your simple possessions casting flickering shadows on the wall. A straw bed; some skins of water, oil, and wine; a small, guttering lamp--it is simple, but it is enough. The symbol of your occupation hangs from the central support of the tent. >symbol A small leather medicine pouch hangs from a long strap, bulging with curative herbs. >take pouch The leather strap feels cool and familiar in your hands as you take your medicine bag down from its place. >open bag There is no one here who needs your help. >look around The walls of your tent glow yellow in the lamplight, your simple possessions casting flickering shadows on the wall. A straw bed; some skins of water, oil, and wine; a small, guttering lamp--it is simple, but it is enough. Your lover's copper dagger hangs from the central support of the tent. >tAKE dagger You carefully take your lover's weapon down from the wall and study it thoughtfully for a moment. >lover [Things to try: LOOK | LOOK AT | GO | TALK TO | GREET | ATTACK | TAKE | TOUCH | HEAL | LISTEN | PRAISE | MOCK | STORY | UNDO | or an EMPHASIZED word. For more detailed instructions, type INFO] >drink wine Water for your hands, oil for your lamp, wine for your thirst. You need none of them now, but knowing they are there brings comfort. Lowered voices speak softly from somewhere outside your tent. >go outside You step outside into the warm night air. It has been night for many hours, but the air is still warm, and the stars are a million brilliant fires above you. Nearby are the vague outlines of your neighbors' tents, but on this moonless night only the distant glow of the fire pit seems truly alive. In the darkness a few feet away, Sihan and Saiph talk quietly in strained tones. As you approach, your enemy grows silent. Your love turns to you with a look of relief and reaches out a hand. >sihan Sihan is beautiful; you have always thought so, as have many others. Her long black hair seems to swallow up her face in the dark of night. >kiss sihan You clasp Sihan's soft hand and turn to Saiph with a frown. "What business have you here?" you ask him coldly. Saiph stares down at you with distaste. "I came to see if Sihan is truly a woman of action and not only of words," he says levelly. "But I see that, like you, she is counted among the cowards and the weaklings. I have no more to say." He turns and strides fiercely into the darkness. >sihan "Saiph has been asking all the warriors to support his plan to attack the newcomers," your love says. "He is convinced they are planning to murder us all in our beds at any moment. He is so sure of himself; how nice it must be to have such conviction in one's own superiority." Sihan sighs. "His heart clamors for war with these newcomers," your lover says, "and was upset to find I do not share his views. We shall see if your enemy has better luck at the telling." She looks up to the stars, and adds, "It is a good night for it." >newcomers\ "Have you heard the news?" she asks. "Young Ada found traces of a camp less than an hour's walk from here, and more than half a day from their fires in the valley. Saiph and his friends are already sharpening their spears and preparing for war," she says darkly. >fires "The moon has waxed and grown small again since they arrived," Sihan murmurs, holding you tightly. "Why don't they come to us? Why do they hide when we send our emissaries? They must know the unrest they're causing in us." >tell Whom do you want to tell? >night [That action is unimportant to this story.] >look around It has been night for many hours, but the air is still warm, and the stars are a million brilliant fires above you. Nearby are the vague outlines of your neighbors' tents, but on this moonless night only the distant glow of the fire pit seems truly alive. Your beloved gazes up at the stars. >beloved Sihan has been your beloved for a full season now, and the magic of discovery in each other has not yet faded. You are still entranced by the strength in her hands; the familiar sounds of her voice in your ear. It has been a year, now, since you have been together, though it seems like only a day. >north You linger for a moment in the starlight, tempted to enjoy more quiet words with your love. >talk (Sihan) "I care for you more than you know," you say, kissing Sihan on the cheek. Sihan glances towards the fire pit and takes her dagger from you, sliding it into its familiar place at her waist. "Let us join the gathering and hear the story," your love says lightly, and turns to the fire at the center of the village. >fire You walk to the firepit with Sihan, and friends and neighbors greet you with a nod or quiet word. Always the fire pit is the center of the village, and always the people gather there. Faint smells of tonight's great feast still linger, but the fire now smolders low, only a shadow of its roaring fierceness at sunset. Nabu and Isi stand near the fire, along with a growing crowd. Sihan stands near your side. >talk Whom do you want to talk? >talk isi "My brightest light," says Isi as she always does, a smile lighting her face as she pulls you down to kiss your cheek. >talk nabu Your uncle Nabu regards you seriously. "Is your Sihan ready to fight for this village, should it be necessary?" he asks. "Perhaps it will not come to fighting," you say. "Who can tell?" he says, "But those who bear arms must be prepared, nonetheless." >sihan The time is not right to speak about that. Sihan places a hand on your shoulder. "Go on, my love," she says softly. "Give the circlet of office to the storyteller. It is time." >storyteller "The storyteller awaits," Sihan says. "The telling cannot begin until the teller's circlet has been gifted." >sihan The time is not right to speak about that. >look at sihan Sihan has been your beloved for a full season now, and the magic of discovery in each other has not yet faded. You are still entranced by the strength in her hands; the familiar sounds of her voice in your ear. It has been a year, now, since you have been together, though it seems like only a day. >help [Things to try: LOOK | LOOK AT | GO | TALK TO | GREET | ATTACK | TAKE | TOUCH | HEAL | LISTEN | PRAISE | MOCK | STORY | UNDO | or an EMPHASIZED word. For more detailed instructions, type INFO] >info [I am your eyes and hands within the story. Direct me with commands such as EXAMINE THE BAG, GO OUTSIDE, LISTEN, or FIGHT HIM. Single word shorthand like FIGHT or BAG will often suffice. Some single words will be highlighted to bring them to your attention: type them to shape the story. The header bar suggests things you may try, but there are always more options available than it shows. Time only advances when you give a command or type LISTEN, which it is sometimes wise to do. Other useful commands include REPEAT, to remember what was recently said; STORY to see the choices you have made; INVENTORY to see what you are holding; WAIT to let the time pass; UNDO to take back your last turn; and GREET, MOCK, PRAISE, TALK TO or ASK ABOUT to interact with characters. More information about this story is available by typing ABOUT.] >greet You'll have to specify whom you wish to greet. >greet isi "And how is Sihan?" asks Isi, a mischievous smile lifting the corners of her mouth. "Is all still well in your bed?" You blush and smile nervously as Isi's friends cackle uproariously. >nabu Your father's brother Nabu has never been good with a spear, but there is a warrior somewhere inside him that the wise respect more than the strongest man in the village. He is short and stern; quiet, but clever and collected. He is old, now, but his spirit is as strong as ever. >about Whom The Telling Changed By Aaron A. Reed Type HELP or ABOUT for game info. First time players type INFO. Release 3 / Serial number 060115 / Inform v6.30 Library 6/11 This interactive story is by Aaron A. Reed and was first released in March 2005. Release 2 was in November 2005. The work is written in Inform 6.3. It may be distributed or archived as long as no fee is charged and the game is not modified; contact the author for all other usages at aaronareed.net. Very special thanks to my beta testers James Cunningham, Michael Fransioli, and Henrik 'Drix' Jensen, to Jonathon Duerig for technical assistance, and to numerous other friends who gave me suggestions and ideas during development. >story This is a story about a healer in the village who was in love with a strong warrior woman, Sihan, and how the night of the telling would change them both. >info [I am your eyes and hands within the story. Direct me with commands such as EXAMINE THE BAG, GO OUTSIDE, LISTEN, or FIGHT HIM. Single word shorthand like FIGHT or BAG will often suffice. Some single words will be highlighted to bring them to your attention: type them to shape the story. The header bar suggests things you may try, but there are always more options available than it shows. Time only advances when you give a command or type LISTEN, which it is sometimes wise to do. Other useful commands include REPEAT, to remember what was recently said; STORY to see the choices you have made; INVENTORY to see what you are holding; WAIT to let the time pass; UNDO to take back your last turn; and GREET, MOCK, PRAISE, TALK TO or ASK ABOUT to interact with characters. More information about this story is available by typing ABOUT.] >listen Somewhere in the darkness, a night bird calls. >inventory You are carrying your medicine bag and the storyteller's feathered circlet. >