The Gorreven Papers — 12 of 23

Section 10 - In Which a Broom Provides Unexpected Leverage

The broom can be standing or shifted. The broom is standing. The Octagonal Chamber is a room. The Octagonal Chamber can be revealed or hidden. It is hidden.

Instead of examining the broom for the first time:

if the Octagonal Chamber is hidden:

say "You're not sure what it is that catches your eye about it. Something about the way that it is standing conspicuously upright while the other implements lean at various angles into the corners of the closet.";

otherwise:

say "The broom stands conspicuously upright. Now that you know it's a disguised lever, it's clear that it's not leaning against anything for support."

Instead of examining the broom:

if the broom is shifted:

say "The broom is canted over at a twenty-degree angle with no visible means of support.";

otherwise:

say "The broom stands upright."

Instead of taking the broom:

try pulling the broom.

Instead of pushing the broom:

if the broom is shifted:

say "The broom is already pushed over.";

otherwise:

if the Octagonal Chamber is hidden:

say "You expect it to fall over into a corner like the other tools. Instead, it resists at first, then begins to move smoothly on its own, canting toward the west wall. You can hear a loud clicking noise. Shortly afterward, the closet's rear wall drops into the floor, revealing a new exit to the south.";

now the Octagonal Chamber is revealed;

otherwise:

say "You give the broom a brisk push. It leans smoothly toward the west, as the south wall drops away.";

now the broom is shifted.

Instead of pulling the broom when the Octagonal Chamber is hidden:

say "You pull the broom toward yourself, but it resists, sticking upright out of the floor, apparently fastened by its bristles."

Instead of doing it for the second time:

say "You pull at the broom, but it remains stiffly upright, a short distance from the far wall."

Instead of doing it for the third time:

say "You pull at the broom but nothing happens. Annoyed, you give the broom a push. [run paragraph on]";

try pushing the broom.

Instead of pulling the broom:

if the broom is shifted:

say "The rear wall of the closet rises out of the floor, and once again you are standing in a cramped, ill-lit room.";

now the broom is standing;

otherwise:

say "It's already upright, and does not move any closer to you."

Instead of going to the Octagonal Chamber when the broom is standing:

if the Octagonal chamber is hidden:

say "You can't go that way.";

otherwise:

say "The way south to the chamber is no longer visible."

Instead of examining the closet door:

say "The door sports a heavy-duty lock."

Carry out shooting the lock:

if the lock is pristine:

say "You shoot the lock of the door point-blank. It makes a terrible noise[if the lock is locked], but the door stays locked[end if]. It's unclear whether even the right keys would open it now.[paragraph break]";

now the heavy-duty lock is ruined;

if Velchny is alive:

say "From the other side of the office door behind you comes a muffled curse. You hear someone stirring[unicode ellipsis]the noise has attracted attention.";

now Velchny is in pursuit;

otherwise:

say "You waste another bullet on the lock but to no apparent effect."

Instead of examining the lock:

if the lock is ruined:

say "The mechanism of the lock is dented and misshapen beyond repair.";

otherwise:

say "It appears to be a solidly built tumbler lock with a reinforced keyhole."

Instead of unlocking the closet door with the set of keys when the heavy-duty lock is ruined:

say "You're unable to fit any of the keys into the bullet-twisted lock mechanism. The door remains firmly locked."