Making Peace

{(set: $butterfly to false) (set: $tree to false) (set: $sun to false) (set: $tea to false) (set: $spiderweb to false) (set: $book to false) (set: $flower to false) (set: $shadow to false) (set: $solved to 0) The war ended, they said so on the radio. [[As though it could be that simple.->Intro 2]]}

(if: $tree is false)[[[There was something looming over me.->Tree]]](else:)[There was a grand old knotted oak tree leaning its branches over me.] (if: $book is false)[[[There was something on the surface in front of me.->Book]]](else:)[There was a well-thumbed book of poetry in front of me.] (if: $butterfly is false)[[[There was something a few metres away.->Butterfly]]](else:)[There was a small yellow butterfly dancing around in the air a few metres away.] (if: $solved >= 1)[(if: $sun is false)[[[There was something high above me.->Sun]]](else:)[The sun was shining clear and bright.]] (if: $solved >= 2)[(if: $flower is false)[[[There was something behind me.->Flower]]](else:)[I could hear bees happily meandering around the rose bush behind me.]] (if: $solved >= 3)[(if: $tea is false)[[[There was something else on the surface in front of me.->Tea]]](else:)[There was a warm cup of tea on the table in front of me.]] (if: $solved >= 4)[(if: $spiderweb is false)[[[There was something near my feet.->Spiderweb]]](else:)[The breeze tugged gently at the spiderweb at the base of the table.]] (if: $solved >= 5)[(if: $shadow is false)[[[There was something under me.->Shadow]]](else:)[The sunlight cast a crisp, sharp shadow underneath me.]] (if: $solved is 8)[[[Had the world always been so beautiful?->Ending]]]

[[What colour was it?->Butterfly colour]] [[What size was it?->Butterfly size]] [[What shape was it?->Butterfly shape]] [[What did it feel like?->Butterfly feel]] [[What did it sound like?->Butterfly sound]] [[What did it smell like?->Butterfly smell]] [[I think it was a...->Butterfly guess]] [[Perhaps I'll come back to this one.->Main loop]]

[[It was mustard gas yellow.->Butterfly]]

[[It was about the size of a single bullet, perhaps.->Butterfly]]

[[It seemed as though it was changing shape, but it was moving too fast to really see.->Butterfly]]

[[It was very faint, but it sounded almost like pages in a book being flicked through.->Butterfly]]

[[I couldn't get close enough to smell it. It kept moving away when I came near.->Butterfly]]

(input: bind $guess) (t8n:"instant")+(link:"Help")[Type in lowercase. Don't use any spaces or punctuation. Use the simplest, most general form of the object. Correct: "spoon". Incorrect: "Spoon", "SPOON", "a spoon", "teaspoon", etc.] [[Submit->Butterfly submit]]

{ (if: $guess is "butterfly")[ (set: $butterfly to true) (set: $solved to $solved + 1) [[That's was it, it was a butterfly!->Main loop]] ] (else:)[ (if: $guess is "insect")[ That seemed right, but what sort of insect? ] (else-if: $guess is "bug")[ That seemed right, but what sort of bug? ] (else-if: $guess is "bee")[ That seemed almost right, but it was too big to be a bee, and it didn't have stripes. ] (else-if: $guess is "bumblebee")[ That seemed almost right, but it was too big to be a bee, and it didn't have stripes. ] (else-if: $guess is "wasp")[ That seemed almost right, but it was too big to be a wasp, and it didn't have stripes. ] (else-if: $guess is "bird")[ That didn't seem quite right, it was much too small.. ] (else-if: $guess is "leaf")[ It was shaped somewhat like a leaf, but it was moving around like something alive. ] (else:)[ No, that didn't seem right... ] [[Try again->Butterfly guess]] [[Ask more questions->Butterfly]] [[Look at something else->Main loop]] ] }

[[What colour was it?->Tree colour]] [[What size was it?->Tree size]] [[What shape was it?->Tree shape]] [[What did it feel like?->Tree feel]] [[What did it sound like?->Tree sound]] [[What did it smell like?->Tree smell]] [[I think it was a...->Tree guess]] [[Perhaps I'll come back to this one.->Main loop]]

[[It was flecktarn green, with a rough brown part at the bottom.->Tree]]

[[It was big, the size of a military watchtower.->Tree]]

[[It had an indistinct, shifting outline, as though made up of many small parts. There was a more solid part at the bottom.->Tree]]

[[It made a rustling whispering sound when the wind blew.->Tree]]

[[It smelled slightly earthy and organic.->Tree]]

{ (if: $guess is "tree")[ (set: $tree to true) (set: $solved to $solved + 1) [[That's was it, it was a tree!->Main loop]] ] (else:)[ (if: (a: "bush", "shrub", "hedge", "hedgerow") contains $guess)[ That seemed almost right, but it was too tall. ] (else-if: $guess is "plant")[ That seemed right, but what sort of plant? ] (else:)[ No, that didn't seem right... ] [[Try again->Tree guess]] [[Ask more questions->Tree]] [[Look at something else->Main loop]] ] }

[[What colour was it?->Sun colour]] [[What size was it?->Sun size]] [[What shape was it?->Sun shape]] [[What did it feel like?->Sun feel]] [[What did it sound like?->Sun sound]] [[What did it smell like?->Sun smell]] [[I think it was a...->Sun guess]] [[Perhaps I'll come back to this one.->Main loop]]

[[It was blinding phosphorus white, perhaps more yellow towards the edges.->Sun]]

[[It was around the size of a warplane flying overhead, though it was hard to judge the distance. ->Sun]]

[[It was a circle, but seemed to have strange transient spikes depending on how I looked at it.->Sun]]

[[It didn't make any sound that I could hear. ->Sun]]

[[I don't think it smelled of anything.->Sun]]

{ (if: $guess is "sun")[ (set: $sun to true) (set: $solved to $solved + 1) [[That's was it, it was the sun!->Main loop]] ] (else:)[ (if: $guess is "cloud")[ That didn't seem quite right, it was too bright and the wrong shape to be a cloud. ] (else-if: $guess is "moon")[ That seemed almost right, but it was too bright and yellowish to be the moon. ] (else-if: $guess is "star")[ That seemed almost right, but it was too large and bright to be a star. ] (else:)[ No, that didn't seem right... ] [[Try again->Sun guess]] [[Ask more questions->Sun]] [[Look at something else->Main loop]] ] }

[[What colour was it?->Tea colour]] [[What size was it?->Tea size]] [[What shape was it?->Tea shape]] [[What did it feel like?->Tea feel]] [[What did it sound like?->Tea sound]] [[What did it smell like?->Tea smell]] [[I think it was a...->Tea guess]] [[Perhaps I'll come back to this one.->Main loop]]

[[It was mostly bone white, with a dirt brown part on its upper face.->Tea]]

[[It was about the size of a hand grenade.->Tea]]

[[It was shaped roughly like half a sphere, with a concave dip in the top, and a strange looped part on one side.->Tea]]

[[It didn't seem to make any sound.->Tea]]

[[It had a familiar thin malty sort of smell.->Tea]]

{ (if: $guess is "tea" or $guess is "cup" or $guess is "teacup" or $guess is "mug")[ (set: $tea to true) (set: $solved to $solved + 1) [[That's was it, it was a cup of tea!->Main loop]] ] (else:)[ (if: $guess is "bowl")[ That seemed almost right, but it was too small and had an odd looped part. ] (else-if: $guess is "soup")[ That seemed almost right, but it didn't smell like soup. ] (else-if: $guess is "coffee")[ That seemed almost right, but it smelled lighter and more floral. ] (else:)[ No, that didn't seem right... ] [[Try again->Tea guess]] [[Ask more questions->Tea]] [[Look at something else->Main loop]] ] }

[[What colour was it?->Spiderweb colour]] [[What size was it?->Spiderweb size]] [[What shape was it?->Spiderweb shape]] [[What did it feel like?->Spiderweb feel]] [[What did it sound like?->Spiderweb sound]] [[What did it smell like?->Spiderweb smell]] [[I think it was a...->Spiderweb guess]] [[Perhaps I'll come back to this one.->Main loop]]

[[It was a very pale grey, almost white.->Spiderweb]]

[[It was around the size of a telegram, maybe a little bigger.->Spiderweb]]

[[It was extremely thin, and shaped like a sort of irregular net.->Spiderweb]]

[[It didn't seem to make any sound.->Spiderweb]]

[[It didn't seem to smell of anything.->Spiderweb]]

{ (if: $guess is "web" or $guess is "spiderweb" or $guess is "cobweb")[ (set: $spiderweb to true) (set: $solved to $solved + 1) [[That's was it, it was a spiderweb!->Main loop]] ] (else:)[ (if: $guess is "doily" or $guess is "doilie")[ That didn't seem right, it was too irregular. ] (else-if: $guess is "net" or $guess is "fishnet")[ That didn't seem right, it was too small and irregular. ] (else:)[ No, that didn't seem right... ] [[Try again->Spiderweb guess]] [[Ask more questions->Spiderweb]] [[Look at something else->Main loop]] ] }

The passing days smeared down the walls just the same. Every night the flash of bayonets and the staccato shriek of gunfire woke me up again and again and again. [[Nothing changed.->Intro 3]]

All of a sudden things went quiet. My skin prickled and my spine tensed. [[Everything was unfamiliar, everything was a threat.->Main loop]]

[[It felt either waxy and papery or coarse and lumpy depending on where I touched it.->Tree]]

[[It couldn't get close enough to touch it. It kept moving away when I came near.->Butterfly]]

[[It was far out of my reach.->Sun]]

[[It was insubstantial and fell apart into nothing at my touch.->Spiderweb]]

[[The outside felt hard and smooth, and the inside was liquid. Both were warm to the touch.->Tea]]

[[What colour was it?->Book colour]] [[What size was it?->Book size]] [[What shape was it?->Book shape]] [[What did it feel like?->Book feel]] [[What did it sound like?->Book sound]] [[What did it smell like?->Book smell]] [[I think it was a...->Book guess]] [[Perhaps I'll come back to this one.->Main loop]]

[[Some sides of it were blood red, others were pale brown.->Book]]

[[It was about the size of a helmet.->Book]]

[[It was a flat oblong shape. One side was oddly loose and easily separated into many thin pieces.->Book]]

[[It felt mostly smooth, with a very slight fibrous texture.->Book]]

[[It didn't make any sound.->Book]]

[[It had a nostalgic musty smell.->Book]]

{ (if: $guess is "book")[ (set: $book to true) (set: $solved to $solved + 1) [[That's was it, it was a book!->Main loop]] ] (else:)[ (if: $guess is "box")[ That didn't seem right, it wasn't hollow. ] (else-if: $guess is "matchbox")[ That didn't seem right, it was too big and wasn't hollow. ] (else:)[ No, that didn't seem right... ] [[Try again->Book guess]] [[Ask more questions->Book]] [[Look at something else->Main loop]] ] }

[[What colour was it?->Flower colour]] [[What size was it?->Flower size]] [[What shape was it?->Flower shape]] [[What did it feel like?->Flower feel]] [[What did it sound like?->Flower sound]] [[What did it smell like?->Flower smell]] [[I think it was a...->Flower guess]] [[Perhaps I'll come back to this one.->Main loop]]

[[It was a deep flesh pink colour.->Flower]]

[[It was about the size of two packets of cigarettes.->Flower]]

[[It was a very odd shape, like an explosion of small flat scales.->Flower]]

[[It felt velvety and soft to the touch.->Flower]]

[[It was was surrounded by an intermittent buzzing noise, but perhaps that didn't come from it itself.->Flower]]

[[It had an intense heady perfume smell.->Flower]]

{ (if: $guess is "flower")[ (set: $flower to true) (set: $solved to $solved + 1) [[That's was it, it was a flower!->Main loop]] ] (else:)[ (if: $guess is "bird")[ That didn't seem right, it wasn't flying. ] (else-if: $guess is "fish")[ That didn't seem right, it was soft to the touch. ] (else:)[ No, that didn't seem right... ] [[Try again->Flower guess]] [[Ask more questions->Flower]] [[Look at something else->Main loop]] ] }

[[What colour was it?->Shadow colour]] [[What size was it?->Shadow size]] [[What shape was it?->Shadow shape]] [[What did it feel like?->Shadow feel]] [[What did it sound like?->Shadow sound]] [[What did it smell like?->Shadow smell]] [[I think it was a...->Shadow guess]] [[Perhaps I'll come back to this one.->Main loop]]

[[It was a thin, translucent grey-black colour.->Shadow]]

[[It was about the size of a body, but paper thin.->Shadow]]

[[It was shapeless and formless, and changed before my eyes as I leaned in to examine it closer.->Shadow]]

[[It was slightly cool to the touch, but otherwise all I could feel was the ground beneath it.->Shadow]]

[[It was as silent as the grave.->Shadow]]

[[It smelled slightly earthy.->Shadow]]

{ (if: $guess is "shadow" or $guess is "darkness")[ (set: $shadow to true) (set: $solved to $solved + 1) [[That's was it, it was my own shadow!->Main loop]] ] (else:)[ (if: $guess is "cloud")[ That seemed almost right, but it was too small and too clearly outlined. ] (else-if: (a: "memory", "sadness", "depression", "despair") contains $guess)[ That didn't seem quite right, it was clearly something I could physically see before my eyes. ] (else-if: (a: "stain", "spill") contains $guess)[ That didn't seem quite right, it was visibly moving. ] (else-if: $guess is "ghost")[ That didn't seem quite right, I don't think it was anything supernatural. ] (else:)[ No, that didn't seem right... ] [[Try again->Shadow guess]] [[Ask more questions->Shadow]] [[Look at something else->Main loop]] ] }

Who knew that yellow could be so yellow? Who knew that birds could sing? Who knew that life could be lived?