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- >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.
-
-