The Gorreven Papers — 22 of 23

Derek T. Jones

Release 2

Section 22 - The Courtyard

The Courtyard is north of the Barracks. "[if the Courtyard is unvisited]You're outside, standing under a starry night sky graced with a thin crescent moon. It takes a moment for your eyes to adjust to the thin light, but you can see by it. [end if]The entrance to the barracks is to the south. [if the searchlight is broken]With [the searchlight] in the guard tower broken, the night is likely to remain as dark as it is. A good cover. [otherwise]Periodically [the searchlight] in the guard tower blinks on and sweeps in the direction of some night noise. [end if]Far away you can see chain-link fences glinting in the moonlight."

[These less-crisp mappings feel more appropriate here, in the context of an open area. If the player is in the east part of the courtyard and they want to go north, their path will take them to an area that is basically the north part of the courtyard, in an inverted-U-shaped pattern.]

The East Courtyard is east of the Courtyard. It is east of the North Courtyard.

The West Courtyard is west of the Courtyard. It is west of the North Courtyard.

The North Courtyard is north of the Courtyard. It is north of the East Courtyard. It is north of the West Courtyard.

The Wasteland is a room. The east fence is a fence in the East Courtyard. The other side of the east fence is the Wasteland.

Rule for writing a paragraph about the east fence:

say "A twelve-foot chain-link fence rises from the ground. On the other side you can see a wide, flat plain with nowhere to hide."

The west fence is a fence in the West Courtyard. The other side of the west fence is the Wasteland.

Rule for writing a paragraph about the west fence:

say "A twelve-foot chain-link fence rises from the ground. Beyond it you can see a muddy, shallow river, and beyond that, nothing but open ground."

The North Woods is a room. The north fence is a fence in the North Courtyard. The other side of the north fence is the North Woods.

Rule for writing a paragraph about the north fence:

say "A twelve-foot chain-link fence rises from the ground. Close to the other side is a dense, dark woods, whose nearer trees have been felled in order to keep back overhanging branches. It looks like a good hiding place."