Crack It!/Crack It!.iso/CONTENT/TIMEQ/TQWDD.TXT

Text File | 1998-03-19 | 29KB | 807 lines

>nw
The Vatican
   You are outside the gates of Rome in the large field in front
of St. Peter's Basilica, the most famous church in Christendom.
 The entrance lies to the west, while a road leads back into
the city to the southeast.

>w
Saint Peter's
   This is the great cathedral church dedicated to St. Peter, the
first bishop of Rome. The shadows here are laden with incense
and muted prayer. From a distant chapel, chanted devotions
float on the air, echoing and swirling until they are lost in
the vastness of the remote ceiling.
   You are standing before the high altar, built upon the tomb of
the apostle himself.
   Exits lie to the north and east.
   Charlemagne is kneeling before the altar, waiting for his noon
coronation ceremony to begin.
   Charlemagne is wearing a bracelet.

>n
Chapel
   You are in a small, nondescript chapel off the north aisle.
The only exit is to the south.
   There is an altar here, and in front of the altar an
unconscious priest lies on the floor.

>put crown on altar
You put the crown on the altar.

>s
Saint Peter's
   This is the great cathedral church dedicated to St. Peter, the
first bishop of Rome. The shadows here are laden with incense
and muted prayer. From a distant chapel, chanted devotions
float on the air, echoing and swirling until they are lost in
the vastness of the remote ceiling.
   You are standing before the high altar, built upon the tomb of
the apostle himself.
   Exits lie to the north and east.
   Charlemagne is kneeling before the altar, waiting for his noon
coronation ceremony to begin.
   Charlemagne is wearing a bracelet.

>wait 60
[I assume you mean 60 minutes.]
Time passes...
   The hanky is no longer damp.
Do you want to continue waiting? >y
   The coronation ceremony begins. Charlemagne holds the crown up
and says, "Behold the writing that has miraculously appeared
upon the crown. Truly it is a sign from God that I am meant to
be emperor." He gives the crown to the pope. After the pope
puts the crown on Charlemagne's head, he removes the bracelet.
When the ceremony ends, everyone leaves and you are left alone
in the church.
   [Your score has just gone up by 30.]
Do you want to continue waiting? >y
   Suddenly, the bracelet begins to glow. Then it disappears.
Do you want to continue waiting? >n

>e
The Vatican
   You are outside the gates of Rome in the large field in front
of St. Peter's Basilica, the most famous church in Christendom.
 The entrance lies to the west, while a road leads back into
the city to the southeast.

>se
Street
   This quiet street runs southeast towards the Circus Maximus,
and northwest towards the Vatican. There is a passageway
between the buildings that leads south. Below your feet is an
opening.

>s
Academy
   You are in a small park nestled in the heart of the city. It
is unusually peaceful here, a rare island of tranquility that
is sheltered from the noise and bustle of the busy metropolis.
Set to one side is a comfortable-looking bench. An old man is
sitting quietly on the bench.
   As soon as he sees you, the old man smiles and says,
"Welcome." He gestures to a spot next to him on the bench, and
says, "Won't you sit with me and discuss the philosophical
issues of the day?"

>sit
You sit down on the bench. The old man looks delighted that you
have joined him. He says, "Here at the academy we search for
the truth. Those around us have read Boethius and believe that
universal ideas like truth and beauty are merely remembered
experiences of the perfect world men came from before they were
born. We are not so sure and perhaps - in time - we shall learn
more."

>Ask about academy
"As long as there is at least one student each generation, the
academy will remain open. For remember, it is only by passing
on what he has learned that a man transcends his own death."

>Ask about aristotle
"He undoubtedly was brilliant, but it's hard to tell because
his writing is so incredibly boring."

>Ask about attila
"He shall remain condemned throughout history for his wanton
slaughter of innocent people and for his callous destruction of
centers of wisdom and learning."

>Ask about augustine
"His 'confessions' is an inspired work that will stir the soul
of anyone who reads it."

>Ask about boethius
"He believed that virtue, despite appearances, never goes
unrewarded and that whatever happens is for the 'highest good.'
Comforting notions - but, I fear, false."

>Ask about caesar
"He was brilliant in his time. But that was long ago."

>Ask about charlemagne
"He offers safety and security to Rome - something we
desperately need."

>Ask about cleopatra
"History tells us she was beautiful, but it must have been much
more than beauty that enslaved the hearts of two successive
rulers of Rome."

>Ask about cloak
"It is a symbol of academic learning. Those of us who wear it
are dedicated to acquiring knowledge and passing it down to new
generations."

>Ask about epicurus
"He believed that serenity was based on pleasure - which he
defined as the absence of pain. Those who practice debauchery
and gluttony in his name are perverting his gentle philosophy."

>Ask about god
"Some believe God exists. Some don't. It appears to be a matter
of faith, rather than of reason."

>Ask about harun al-rashid
"We hear only rumors of him. But what rumors!"

>Ask about himself
"I am just an old philosopher."

>Ask about honoria
"She lived long ago. Let her rest in peace."

>Ask about issues
"I'm glad you could spare the time to sit and chat. People seem
to be in such a hurry these days."

>Ask about key
"Whatever knowledge the key unlocks, endeavor to use it
wisely."

>Ask about log
He gives you an odd look. "There hasn't been a log here for a
thousand years."

>Ask about me
"Obviously, you are a man of action who has had many
adventures. Even you, however, may one day find it within you
to lead a more contemplative life."

>Ask about plato
"Plato is the man who once wrote, 'The unexamined life is not
worth living.' He is the undisputed master. All of philosophy
is little more than a footnote to his works."

>Ask about pope innocent
Pope Innocent III is too far away to talk to.

>Ask about religion
"I think religion is a question of what one believes, rather
than what one can prove. And I think that each man believes
what he must, that he believes what he fears the least, that he
believes that which will allow him to sleep at night.
   I also think religion has been the cause of so much bloodshed
through history that one can only hope it has provided
sufficient consolation to the faithful to atone for its own
sins."

>Ask about socrates
"He once taught, 'There is only one good, knowledge, and one
evil, ignorance.' For this he was judged too dangerous to live
by the citizens of Athens."

>Ask about time
"Time will ultimately defeat each of us, for each of us must
die. But together, mankind can defeat time. Each of us can
study and learn, and each of us can pass on that learning. If
we do so, perhaps mankind will eventually learn to control time
itself. Otherwise, we are nothing."

>Ask about time travel
"Obviously such a thing is not possible."

>stand
You stand up.

>n
Street
   This quiet street runs southeast towards the Circus Maximus,
and northwest towards the Vatican. There is a passageway
between the buildings that leads south. Below your feet is an
opening.

>in
Cloaca Maxima
   You climb down into a murky underground cavern. When your eyes
adjust to the gloom you realize you are in the ancient Cloaca
Maxima, the great underground sewer of Rome. Uninviting tunnels
lead off in many directions, but a welcome ray of light filters
down from an opening overhead. The air near one wall is
shimmering.

>in
You press the button on the wristlet and the shimmering melts
away to reveal a black rectangle that hovers in midair. You
step through the hole in space and find yourself inside the
interkron.

Interkron
   The interkron is a cramped space full of dials and switches.
Directly in front of you is a slot with a key card in it and a
green light next to it. The display screen is taken up by a
world map, and there are ten years highlighted next to it.
Under the keyboard, a technician has scrawled on a piece of t
ape, "To go to a new timeplace, type 'timeset,' followed by the
name of the city and the year that you want to go to. Eg.
Timeset Rome 44."

>ts rome 1215
You hear a low humming that slowly crescendos into a
full-fledged roar. The interkron begins to shake and you become
disoriented. You fall to the floor and pass out...
   When you awaken and struggle to your feet, you realize that
you have travelled to Rome, in the year 1215.

>out
Cloaca Maxima
   You step out into a murky underground cavern. When your eyes
adjust to the gloom you realize you are in the ancient Cloaca
Maxima, the great underground sewer of Rome. Uninviting tunnels
lead off in many directions, but a welcome ray of light filters
down from an opening overhead. The air near one wall is
shimmering.

>out
Street
   Rome has emerged from the Dark Ages to become a city of
craftsmen and skilled artisans. The medieval republic is ruled
by a few wealthy families from whose ranks a succession of
Popes has been selected.
   This quiet street runs southeast towards the Circus Maximus,
and northwest towards the Vatican. There is a passageway
between the buildings that leads south. Below your feet is an
opening.

>nw
The Vatican
   You are outside the gates of Rome in the large field in front
of St. Peter's Basilica, the most famous church in Christendom.
 The entrance lies to the west, while a road leads back into
the city to the southeast. Pope Innocent III is standing on the
steps of St. Peter's. He seems to be repeating the same message
over and over again in different languages.

>listen
The pope is announcing the commencement of a new crusade to the
holy land, reading the same message in several languages that
he obviously doesn't understand. Suddenly he says the words in
modern English. "If this fifth crusade succeeds, I'll eat my
hat."
   [Your score has just gone up by 1.]

>se
Street
   This quiet street runs southeast towards the Circus Maximus,
and northwest towards the Vatican. There is a passageway
between the buildings that leads south. Below your feet is an
opening.

>s
Academy
   You are in a small park nestled in the heart of the city. It
is unusually peaceful here, a rare island of tranquility that
is sheltered from the noise and bustle of the busy metropolis.
Set to one side is a comfortable-looking bench. An old man is
sitting quietly on the bench.
   As soon as he sees you, the old man smiles and says,
"Welcome." He gestures to a spot next to him on the bench, and
says, "Won't you sit with me and discuss the philosophical
issues of the day?"

>sit
You sit down on the bench. The old man looks delighted that you
have joined him. He says, "Here at the academy we search for
the truth. Those around us have read the Arab scholars Avicenna
and Averroes, who believe the way to truth lies not in revealed
religion, but through the scientific method of experimentation.
We are not so sure and perhaps - in time - we shall learn
more."

>Ask about academy
"As long as there is at least one student each generation, the
academy will remain open. For remember, it is only by passing
on what he has learned that a man transcends his own death."

>Ask about aristotle
"He undoubtedly was brilliant, but it's hard to tell because
his writing is so incredibly boring."

>Ask about attila
"He shall remain condemned throughout history for his wanton
slaughter of innocent people and for his callous destruction of
centers of wisdom and learning."

>Ask about augustine
"His 'confessions' is an inspired work that will stir the soul
of anyone who reads it."

>Ask about averroes
"All of Europe must be grateful to him and his fellow Arabs for
keeping alive the knowledge of the Greeks during the centuries
when Europe had fallen into darkness."

>Ask about avicenna
"All of Europe must be grateful to him and his fellow Arabs for
keeping alive the knowledge of the Greeks during the centuries
when Europe had fallen into darkness."

>Ask about bench
"It is a good place to sit, to think, to teach, to listen, and
to learn."

>Ask about boethius
"He believed that virtue, despite appearances, never goes
unrewarded and that whatever happens is for the 'highest good.'
Comforting notions - but, I fear, false."

>Ask about caesar
"He was brilliant in his time. But that was long ago."

>Ask about charlemagne
"His reign was the only bright spot in that era we now call the
'Dark Ages.' He must have been an extraordinary man to have
kept the lamp of learning lit."

>Ask about cleopatra
"History tells us she was beautiful, but it must have been much
more than beauty that enslaved the hearts of two successive
rulers of Rome."

>Ask about cloak
"It is a symbol of academic learning. Those of us who wear it
are dedicated to acquiring knowledge and passing it down to new
generations."

>Ask about epicurus
"He believed that serenity was based on pleasure - which he
defined as the absence of pain. Those who practice debauchery
and gluttony in his name are perverting his gentle philosophy."

>Ask about god
"Some believe God exists. Some don't. It appears to be a matter
of faith, rather than of reason."

>Ask about harun al-rashid
"It is he upon whom the tales of Scheherazade are based. But
who could ever believe such a man existed?"

>Ask about himself
"I am just an old philosopher."

>Ask about honoria
"She lived long ago. Let her rest in peace."

>Ask about issues
"I'm glad you could spare the time to sit and chat. People seem
to be in such a hurry these days."

>Ask about king john
"He is an evil man who thinks only of himself and not of his
subjects."

>Ask about key
"Whatever knowledge the key unlocks, endeavor to use it
wisely."

>Ask about log
He gives you an odd look. "There hasn't been a log here for a
thousand years."

>Ask about me
"Obviously, you are a man of action who has had many
adventures. Even you, however, may one day find it within you
to lead a more contemplative life."

>Ask about plato
"Plato is the man who once wrote, 'The unexamined life is not
worth living.' He is the undisputed master. All of philosophy
is little more than a footnote to his works."

>Ask about pope innocent
Pope Innocent III is too far away to talk to.

>Ask about pope leo
Pope Innocent III is too far away to talk to.

>Ask about religion
"I think religion is a question of what one believes, rather
than what one can prove. And I think that each man believes
what he must, that he believes what he fears the least, that he
believes that which will allow him to sleep at night.
   I also think religion has been the cause of so much bloodshed
through history that one can only hope it has provided
sufficient consolation to the faithful to atone for its own
sins."

>Ask about socrates
"He once taught, 'There is only one good, knowledge, and one
evil, ignorance.' For this he was judged too dangerous to live
by the citizens of Athens."

>Ask about time
"Time will ultimately defeat each of us, for each of us must
die. But together, mankind can defeat time. Each of us can
study and learn, and each of us can pass on that learning. If
we do so, perhaps mankind will eventually learn to control time
itself. Otherwise, we are nothing."

>Ask about time travel
"Obviously such a thing is not possible."

>stand
You stand up.

>n
Street
   This quiet street runs southeast towards the Circus Maximus,
and northwest towards the Vatican. There is a passageway
between the buildings that leads south. Below your feet is an
opening.

>in
Cloaca Maxima
   You climb down into a murky underground cavern. When your eyes
adjust to the gloom you realize you are in the ancient Cloaca
Maxima, the great underground sewer of Rome. Uninviting tunnels
lead off in many directions, but a welcome ray of light filters
down from an opening overhead. The air near one wall is
shimmering.

>in
You press the button on the wristlet and the shimmering melts
away to reveal a black rectangle that hovers in midair. You
step through the hole in space and find yourself inside the
interkron.

Interkron
   The interkron is a cramped space full of dials and switches.
Directly in front of you is a slot with a key card in it and a
green light next to it. The display screen is taken up by a
world map, and there are ten years highlighted next to it.
Under the keyboard, a technician has scrawled on a piece of t
ape, "To go to a new timeplace, type 'timeset,' followed by the
name of the city and the year that you want to go to. Eg.
Timeset Rome 44."

>ts rome 1519
You hear a low humming that slowly crescendos into a
full-fledged roar. The interkron begins to shake and you become
disoriented. You fall to the floor and pass out...
   When you awaken and struggle to your feet, you realize that
you have travelled to Rome, in the year 1519.

>out
Cloaca Maxima
   You step out into a murky underground cavern. When your eyes
adjust to the gloom you realize you are in the ancient Cloaca
Maxima, the great underground sewer of Rome. Uninviting tunnels
lead off in many directions, but a welcome ray of light filters
down from an opening overhead. The air near one wall is
shimmering.

>out
Street
   The early days of the Renaissance find Rome packed with
artists who are turning out religious artifacts at an alarming
rate to counteract the damaging effects of Martin Luther's
Reformation.
   This quiet street runs southeast towards the Circus Maximus,
and northwest towards the Vatican. There is a passageway
between the buildings that leads south. Below your feet is an
opening.

>nw
The Vatican
   You are outside the gates of Rome in the large field in front
of St. Peter's Basilica, the most famous church in Christendom.
 The entrance lies to the west, while a road leads back into
the city to the southeast. Off to one side, a vendor has set up
a stand that seems to specialize in religious items and
souvenirs. Hanging over the vendor's head is a curiously-carved
plaque.

>w
Saint Peter's
   This is the great cathedral church dedicated to St. Peter, the
first bishop of Rome. The shadows here are laden with incense
and muted prayer. From a distant chapel, chanted devotions
float on the air, echoing and swirling until they are lost in
the vastness of the remote ceiling.
   You are standing before the high altar, built upon the tomb of
the apostle himself.
   The only exit lies to the east.

   You see two men standing next to an uncompleted statue. One is
dressed in ecclesiastical robes, the other in the garb of a
common laborer. Upon closer inspection you realize that they
are Pope Leo X and Michaelangelo.

>wait
Time passes...
   Pope Leo makes a particularly violent gesture and a small book
falls out of his pocket and drops unnoticed to the floor.

>take book
You take the book.
   [Your score has just gone up by 5.]

>read book
You open the book to a well-worn page that praises Leo for his
zeal in upholding his vows of poverty, chastity, and above all,
humility.

>give book to pope
"No thanks, I already have one." He pats his pocket, frowns,
and then says, "Oh! I must have dropped it. Bless you my son."
He takes the book and stuffs it back into his pocket. Then he
rummages around in another pocket and brings out a fistful of
scraps of paper. He selects one and hands it to you.
   [Your score has just gone up by 5.]

>e
The Vatican
   You are outside the gates of Rome in the large field in front
of St. Peter's Basilica, the most famous church in Christendom.
 The entrance lies to the west, while a road leads back into
the city to the southeast. Off to one side, a vendor has set up
a stand that seems to specialize in religious items and
souvenirs. Hanging over the vendor's head is a curiously-carved
plaque.

>buy plaque
The vendor says, "Excellent choice. That will be twenty florins
- unless you've got one of those indulgences that the Pope
keeps handing out."

>Give indulgence to vendor
You give the indulgence to the vendor. He examines it closely
and sighs in resignation. Then he removes the plaque from its
place of honor and gives it to you.
   [Your score has just gone up by 5.]

>se
Street
   This quiet street runs southeast towards the Circus Maximus,
and northwest towards the Vatican. There is a passageway
between the buildings that leads south. Below your feet is an
opening.

>s
Academy
   You are in a small park nestled in the heart of the city. It
is unusually peaceful here, a rare island of tranquility that
is sheltered from the noise and bustle of the busy metropolis.
Set to one side is a comfortable-looking bench. An old man is
sitting quietly on the bench.
   As soon as he sees you, the old man smiles and says,
"Welcome." He gestures to a spot next to him on the bench, and
says, "Won't you sit with me and discuss the philosophical
issues of the day?"

>sit
You sit down on the bench. The old man looks delighted that you
have joined him. He says, "Here at the academy we search for
the truth. Those around us believe with Machiavelli that man
must examine his place in relation not just to God, but also to
the state. They say that what is right is what is in the int
erest of the strong. We are not so sure and perhaps - in time -
we shall learn more."

>Ask about academy
"As long as there is at least one student each generation, the
academy will remain open. For remember, it is only by passing
on what he has learned that a man transcends his own death."

>Ask about aristotle
"He undoubtedly was brilliant, but it's hard to tell because
his writing is so incredibly boring."

>Ask about attila
"He shall remain condemned throughout history for his wanton
slaughter of innocent people and for his callous destruction of
centers of wisdom and learning."

>Ask about augustine
"His 'confessions' is an inspired work that will stir the soul
of anyone who reads it."

>Ask about averroes
"All of Europe must be grateful to him and his fellow Arabs for
keeping alive the knowledge of the Greeks during the centuries
when Europe had fallen into darkness."

>Ask about avicenna
"All of Europe must be grateful to him and his fellow Arabs for
keeping alive the knowledge of the Greeks during the centuries
when Europe had fallen into darkness."

>Ask about bench
"It is a good place to sit, to think, to teach, to listen, and
to learn."

>Ask about boethius
"He believed that virtue, despite appearances, never goes
unrewarded and that whatever happens is for the 'highest good.'
Comforting notions - but, I fear, false."

>Ask about caesar
"He was brilliant in his time. But that was long ago."

>Ask about charlemagne
"His reign was the only bright spot in that era we now call the
'Dark Ages.' He must have been an extraordinary man to have
kept the lamp of learning lit."

>Ask about cleopatra
"History tells us she was beautiful, but it must have been much
more than beauty that enslaved the hearts of two successive
rulers of Rome."

>Ask about cloak
"It is a symbol of academic learning. Those of us who wear it
are dedicated to acquiring knowledge and passing it down to new
generations."

>Ask about epicurus
"He believed that serenity was based on pleasure - which he
defined as the absence of pain. Those who practice debauchery
and gluttony in his name are perverting his gentle philosophy."

>Ask about god
"Some believe God exists. Some don't. It appears to be a matter
of faith, rather than of reason."

>Ask about harun al-rashid
"It is he upon whom the tales of Scheherazade are based. But
who could ever believe such a man existed?"

>Ask about himself
"I am just an old philosopher."

>Ask about honoria
"She lived long ago. Let her rest in peace."

>Ask about issues
"I'm glad you could spare the time to sit and chat. People seem
to be in such a hurry these days."

>Ask about king john
"He simply couldn't see that man's desire for personal freedom
is an inexorable historical force which may be sidetracked or
suppressed for a time, but which ultimately cannot be stopped."

>Ask about key
"Whatever knowledge the key unlocks, endeavor to use it
wisely."

>Ask about log
He gives you an odd look. "There hasn't been a log here for a
thousand years."

>Ask about machiavelli
"They call him a teacher of treachery, but all I see in his
works is extreme cynicism."

>Ask about me
"Obviously, you are a man of action who has had many
adventures. Even you, however, may one day find it within you
to lead a more contemplative life."

>Ask about michaelangelo
"He is the greatest sculptor that ever breathed."

>Ask about montezuma
"If everything one hears is true, the man is a monster."

>Ask about plato
"Plato is the man who once wrote, 'The unexamined life is not
worth living.' He is the undisputed master. All of philosophy
is little more than a footnote to his works."

>Ask about pope innocent
Pope Innocent III is too far away to talk to.

>Ask about pope leo
"Giovanni de Medici certainly is dedicated to the arts. But it
is this funding of his projects through the sale of indulgences
that has so alienated the monk Martin Luther."

>Ask about religion
"I think religion is a question of what one believes, rather
than what one can prove. And I think that each man believes
what he must, that he believes what he fears the least, that he
believes that which will allow him to sleep at night.
   I also think religion has been the cause of so much bloodshed
through history that one can only hope it has provided
sufficient consolation to the faithful to atone for its own
sins."

>Ask about socrates
"He once taught, 'There is only one good, knowledge, and one
evil, ignorance.' For this he was judged too dangerous to live
by the citizens of Athens."

>Ask about time
"Time will ultimately defeat each of us, for each of us must
die. But together, mankind can defeat time. Each of us can
study and learn, and each of us can pass on that learning. If
we do so, perhaps mankind will eventually learn to control time
itself. Otherwise, we are nothing."

>Ask about time travel
"Obviously such a thing is not possible."

>stand
You stand up.

>n
Street
   This quiet street runs southeast towards the Circus Maximus,
and northwest towards the Vatican. There is a passageway
between the buildings that leads south. Below your feet is an
opening.

>in
Cloaca Maxima
   You climb down into a murky underground cavern. When your eyes
adjust to the gloom you realize you are in the ancient Cloaca
Maxima, the great underground sewer of Rome. Uninviting tunnels
lead off in many directions, but a welcome ray of light filters
down from an opening overhead. The air near one wall is
shimmering.

>in
You press the button on the wristlet and the shimmering melts
away to reveal a black rectangle that hovers in midair. You
step through the hole in space and find yourself inside the
interkron.

Interkron
   The interkron is a cramped space full of dials and switches.
Directly in front of you is a slot with a key card in it and a
green light next to it. The display screen is taken up by a
world map, and there are ten years highlighted next to it.
Under the keyboard, a technician has scrawled on a piece of t
ape, "To go to a new timeplace, type 'timeset,' followed by the
name of the city and the year that you want to go to. Eg.
Timeset Rome 44."

>ts dover 1519
You hear a low humming that slowly crescendos into a
full-fledged roar. The interkron begins to shake and you become
disoriented. You fall to the floor and pass out...
   When you awaken and struggle to your feet, you realize that
you have travelled to Dover, in the year 1519.

>out
Shed
   You are in a small woodshed next to a tavern in Dover,
England. There is a telltale shimmering in the air here, and an
exit to the southeast.

>se
Lawn
   The Renaissance has brought wealth to England once again.
British wool merchants supply cloth to all of Europe, and King
Henry VIII has already begun the bold denunciation of Martin
Luther's heresy that will earn him the title 'Defender of the
Faith' from Pope Leo in Rome.
   You are standing on a lawn just to the south of a small inn
that commands a stunning view of the English Channel. A rickety
shed leans against the building's west wall. The great chalk
cliff comes right up to the south edge of the lawn.