Mall

(set: $omniFlavor to (a: "Shoppers, a reminder: If you gaze into the clearance bin, the clearance bin gazes also into you.","Attention parents: Please collect your children from the ball pit immediately. The balls are beginning to hatch.","We ask that you do not feed the shadows in the electronics department. They are on a strict diet.","Omni-Mart is not responsible for any time dilation experienced while browsing the Cereal Aisle.","Cleanup on Aisle... [static]... everywhere.","Security to the Void. Security to the Void, please.","Would the associate with the human face please report to Human Resources for verification.","Manager Doug to the loading dock. The shipment of 'Tomorrow' has arrived early.","Attention Shoppers: The Blue Light Special is currently hunting in Sector 4. Run.","Flash Sale! 50% off on Regret. Buy one, get a lifetime supply free.","Now available in Pharmacy: Placebos that actually work, but at a terrible cost.")) (set: $command to "") (set: $floorView to 1) (set: $mapFound to false) (set: $endGame to false) (set: $map1 to "<img src=https://interdimensionalmall.com/map1.png>") (set: $map2 to "<img src=https://interdimensionalmall.com/map2.png>") (set: $map3 to "<img src=https://interdimensionalmall.com/map3.png>") (set: $map4 to "<img src=https://interdimensionalmall.com/map4.png>") (set: $map to (dm:1,$map1,2,$map2,3,$map3,4,$map4)) (go-to: "FLOOR 1")

(t8n: "flicker")[[LOCATION: SLAYER'S SKILLET] The smell of char-broiled meat and heavy iron grease hangs thick in the air. This stall is built from rugged, blackened stone and decorated with the bleached skulls of creatures that definitely aren't on any local menu. A massive Orc in a blood-stained apron flips sizzling steaks with a broadsword. To the side of the grill, a small, frost-covered **COOLER** hums with a mechanical rattle, struggling to keep a few crates of liquid rations chilled. A stack of **ORDER SLIPS** is impaled on a jagged metal spike near the pickup window.] |log>[] --- **TERMINAL ACCESS ACTIVE** Type a command (e.g., 'look', 'read barcode') and press ENTER: (input-box: bind $command, "", 1) |submit>[(link-repeat: "EXECUTE COMMAND")[ (set: $command to (lower-case: (trimmed: $command))) (if: $command's length > 0)[ (set: _found to false) (if: $command contains "cooler" or $command contains "milk" or $command contains "carton")[ (append: ?log)[ > You pull a dusty carton of milk from the cooler and check the expiry date. It expired a long time ago—perhaps in a different reality altogether. The date stamped on the side is just a year: (text-style:"bold","italic","mark","underline")[1984].] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command contains "steak" or $command contains "grill" or $command contains "broadsword")[ (append: ?log)[ > The cook slams the sword onto the grill, searing a 'Chimera Cutlet.' He growls that if you want it well-done, he'll have to take it back to the Plane of Fire for five minutes.] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command contains "slip" or $command contains "order" or $command contains "spike")[ (append: ?log)[ > You glance at the top slip. It's an order for 'One Dragon-Tail Burger, medium-rare, hold the breath-weapon.' The customer name is just 'Team Rough Draft.'] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command is "look")[ (append: ?log)[ > A sign behind the counter reads: 'WE KILL IT, YOU CHILL IT. NO REFUNDS FOR TOUGH HIDE.'] (set: _found to true)] (display: "GlobalCommands") (display: "Floor3Nav") (if: _found is false)[ (alert: "COMMAND NOT RECOGNIZED --- TRY HELP")] (set: $command to "") ] ]]

(t8n: "flicker")[[LOCATION: FLOOR 1 ATRIUM] The floor is a sea of polished, cream-colored marble that reflects the "artificial sky" above. The ceiling isn't a roof, but a massive, shifting projection of a perpetual sunset—hazy oranges and bruised purples that never quite change. In the center of the Atrium is a multi-story fountain, but instead of water, it trickles a thick, translucent blue liquid that doesn't splash; it merely flows with a low, rhythmic thrumming sound that matches the mall's background radiation. Standing near the elevator banks is a monolithic directory encased in a brushed aluminum frame. The glass is cracked in the upper-right corner, where the "Standard Issue" wing is listed. The **MAP** is a complex 2D wireframe of the floor, glowing in a dim amber light. In the exact center of the transit hub, there is a bright, pulsating red star. //YOU ARE HERE//] (set: _atrium to (either:"A distant, muffled sound of a 1980s pop song is playing on a loop, but slowed down by 200%, turning the melody into a haunting drone.","The smell of ozone, expensive perfume, and just a hint of damp concrete wafts through the air.","High above on the second-floor balcony, you see the silhouette of a **DMBC Site Manager** leaning over the railing. When you look up, he quickly steps back into the shadows.")) (t8n: "flicker")+(t8n-delay:2s)[_atrium] |log>[] --- **TERMINAL ACCESS ACTIVE** Type a command (e.g., 'look', 'read barcode') and press ENTER: (input-box: bind $command, "", 1) |submit>[(link-repeat: "EXECUTE COMMAND")[ (set: $command to (lower-case: (trimmed: $command))) (if: $command's length > 0)[ (set: _found to false) (if: $command is "map" and $mapFound is false)[ (set: $mapFound to true) (t8n: "flicker")+(append: ?log)[You take a brochure with a **MAP** of this level.] (set: _found to true) ] (display: "GlobalCommands") (display: "Floor1Nav") (if: _found is false)[ (alert: "COMMAND NOT RECOGNIZED --- TRY HELP") ] (set: $command to "") ] ]]

(t8n: "flicker")[[LOCATION: APEX & ABYSS] You stand in the **HUB** of the ultimate survival store. The architecture here is hostile. To your left, a **GOLDEN LADDER** ascends endlessly into a layer of artificial clouds near the ceiling. The air blowing from above is freezing cold. To your right, a sleek, wet **RAMP** spirals down into a pitch-black pit in the floor. The smell of salt water and sulfur rises from the depths. A **MANNEQUIN** in the center wears a parka on its left half and a wetsuit on its right half.] |log>[] --- **TERMINAL ACCESS ACTIVE** Type a command (e.g., 'look', 'read barcode') and press ENTER: (input-box: bind $command, "", 1) |submit>[(link-repeat: "EXECUTE COMMAND")[ (set: $command to (lower-case: (trimmed: $command))) (if: $command's length > 0)[ (set: _found to false) (if: $command contains "ladder")[ (set: _found to true) (go-to: "THE SUMMIT")] (if: $command contains "ramp")[ (set: _found to true) (go-to: "THE TRENCH")] (if: $command contains "mannequin")[ (append: ?log)[ > It holds a climbing pick in one hand and a harpoon in the other. It looks prepared for an environment that doesn't exist.] (set: _found to true)] (display: "GlobalCommands") (display: "Floor1Nav") (if: _found is false)[ (alert: "COMMAND NOT RECOGNIZED --- TRY HELP") ] (set: $command to "") ] ]]

(t8n: "flicker")[[LOCATION: THREADBARE REALITIES] The lighting here is dim, provided by flickering candles that smell of old parchment and mothballs. The store feels less like a retail space and more like a cluttered attic stretching into infinity. Heavy wooden racks groan under the weight of **CLOAKS** and **ROBES** that seem to shift colors when you aren't looking directly at them. In the center of the room, a massive, ornate **LOOM** stands idle, threaded with shimmering, translucent silver cord. Near the back, a small **WORKBENCH** is covered in discarded fabric scraps and copper needles.] ] |log>[] --- **TERMINAL ACCESS ACTIVE** Type a command (e.g., 'look', 'read barcode') and press ENTER: (input-box: bind $command, "", 1) |submit>[(link-repeat: "EXECUTE COMMAND")[ (set: $command to (lower-case: (trimmed: $command))) (if: $command's length > 0)[ (set: _found to false) (if: $command contains "workbench" or $command contains "scrap" or $command contains "tag")[ (append: ?log)[ > You sift through the scraps on the workbench. You find a stiff clothing tag made of black silk. Embroidered in silver thread is a single word: (text-style:"bold","italic","mark","underline")[ABYSS].] (set: _found to true) ] (if: $command contains "loom" or $command contains "cord")[ (append: ?log)[ > The Loom of Fate-Stitchery. It is used to weave 'Narrative Armor.' The silver cord is actually distilled memory, waiting to be spun into a physical form.] (set: _found to true) ] (if: $command contains "cloak" or $command contains "robe" or $command contains "rack")[ (append: ?log)[ > You pull a cloak from the rack. It feels impossibly light. The label says: 'Cloak of the Unseen Tourist'—guaranteed to make you look like you belong in any dimension, provided you don't speak.] (set: _found to true) ] (if: $command is "look")[ (append: ?log)[ > A spider-like construct with brass legs skitters across the ceiling, carrying a spool of golden thread. It ignores you completely.] (set: _found to true) ] (display: "GlobalCommands") (display: "Floor1Nav") (if: _found is false)[ (alert: "COMMAND NOT RECOGNIZED --- TRY HELP") ] (set: $command to "") ] ]]

(t8n: "flicker")[[LOCATION: OMNI-MART] The automatic doors slide open with a sound like a depressed sigh. You stand in the **LOBBY**. Ahead, the **AISLES** stretch into infinite darkness, shelves towering like skyscrapers. The air smells of ozone, cheap plastic, and static electricity. To your left is a **GREETER BOT**, its vest filled with buttons. At your feet, a digital **WELCOME MAT** flickers violently. A faint alert over the intercom can be heard. (print: $omniFlavor's (random:1,11))] |log>[] --- **TERMINAL ACCESS ACTIVE** Type a command (e.g., 'look', 'read barcode') and press ENTER: (input-box: bind $command, "", 1) |submit>[(link-repeat: "EXECUTE COMMAND")[ (set: $command to (lower-case: (trimmed: $command))) (if: $command's length > 0)[ (set: _found to false) (if: $command contains "aisles")[ (set: _found to true) (go-to: "OMNI AISLES")] (if: $command contains "mat")[ (t8n: "flicker")+(append: ?log)[ > You look down. The unnatural fibers of the rug are glitching. The scrolling 'WELCOME TO OMNI-MART' message has frozen on the first two words of a command frame: ... (text-style:"bold","mark","italic","underline")[GO TO] ... ] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command contains "greeter")[ (append: ?log)[ > It is a hollow plastic shell with a smiley face painted on a CRT monitor. It is vibrating slightly. You see four prominent buttons with a paper sign below "DO NOT TOUCH": [ YELLOW ] - "SATISFACTION" [ RED ] - "REPORT THEFT" [ BLUE ] - "ANTHEM" [ BLACK ] - "MANAGER"] (set: _found to true)] (display: "GlobalCommands") (display: "Floor1Nav") (if: _found is false)[ (alert: "COMMAND NOT RECOGNIZED --- TRY HELP") ] (set: $command to "") ] ]]

(t8n: "flicker")[[LOCATION: STANDARD ISSUE] The transition is jarring. The magical hum of the mall is replaced by the rhythmic thump-thump of a dusty ceiling fan. The air smells of gun oil, sawdust, and industrial-grade floor wax. You stand on scuffed gray linoleum. To your left, the **WEAPONRY AISLES** are filled with mass-produced steel blades. To your right, the **PROTECTION DEPARTMENT** displays rows of identical boiled leather chest-pieces. A large bin labeled 'Lvl 1 Specials' sits near the entrance, overflowing with mismatched **CLOTHING**.] ] |log>[] --- **TERMINAL ACCESS ACTIVE** Type a command (e.g., 'look', 'read barcode') and press ENTER: (input-box: bind $command, "", 1) |submit>[(link-repeat: "EXECUTE COMMAND")[ (set: $command to (lower-case: (trimmed: $command))) (if: $command's length > 0)[ (set: _found to false) (if: $command contains "clothing" or $command contains "shirt" or $command contains "bin")[ (append: ?log)[ > You rummage through the 'Lvl 1 Specials' bin. You find a misprinted graphic tee. There is no band name or logo, just a massive, solitary ampersand (text-style:"bold","italic","mark","underline")[&] printed on the chest.] (set: _found to true) ] (if: $command contains "weapon" or $command contains "aisle" or $command contains "blade")[ (append: ?log)[ > These are 'Iron Short Swords (Model 101)'. They aren't forged from stardust; they are stamped from sheets of decent-quality steel and fitted with rubberized grips. They hit things. That is all.] (set: _found to true) ] (if: $command contains "protection" or $command contains "armor" or $command contains "leather")[ (append: ?log)[ > The mannequins stand stiffly in rows. The leather chest-pieces smell faintly of dinosaur and are guaranteed to stop at least one rusty goblin dagger.] (set: _found to true) ] (if: $command is "look")[ (append: ?log)[ > A bored-looking teenager in a vest with too many pockets leans against the checkout counter. The fluorescent lights overhead flicker with a depressing persistence.] (set: _found to true) ] (display: "GlobalCommands") (display: "Floor1Nav") (if: _found is false)[ (alert: "COMMAND NOT RECOGNIZED --- TRY HELP") ] (set: $command to "") ] ]]

(t8n: "flicker")[[LOCATION: ELEVATOR (random:0,9)(random:0,9)] The hallway is a long, curved gallery of polished chrome and artificial light. Most of the wall is occupied by a row of high-speed 'MALL-FLOW' transport lifts, their digital displays chirping with every arrival. Between the primary lift banks, the decor is punctuated by recessed lighting, emergency fire-extinguisher glass, and a single, **OUT-OF-SERVICE BOWL** of plastic mints. Deep in the shadows of a maintenance alcove, an older freight lift from the Otis Elevator Co. sits behind heavy, unpainted iron doors. A standard **CONTROL PANEL** for the main lifts is mounted near the center of the hall.] |log>[] --- **TERMINAL ACCESS ACTIVE** Type a command (e.g., 'look', 'go to') and press ENTER: (input-box: bind $command, "", 1) |submit>[(link-repeat: "EXECUTE COMMAND")[ (set: $command to (lower-case: (trimmed: $command))) (if: $command's length > 0)[ (set: _found to false) (if: $command contains "panel" or $command contains "control" or $command contains "press")[ (append: ?log)[ > The Mall-Flow panel is sleek and touch-sensitive. It features buttons for Floors 1 through 4. A small speaker plays a muffled, orchestral version of a song you can't quite remember.] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command contains "otis" or $command contains "freight" or $command contains "iron" or $command contains "door")[ (if: $endGame is false)[(append: ?log)[ > This elevator looks ancient compared to the others. The iron doors are scratched and feel cold to the touch. There is no floor display above it, only a small, tarnished brass plate and a hidden selector panel that seems to have no buttons—only a voice-input mesh.]] (if: $endGame is true)[(go-to: "OTIS ELEVATOR")] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command contains "mint" or $command contains "bowl")[ (append: ?log)[ > You take a mint. It tastes like chalk and static electricity. It doesn't seem to have any nutritional or magical value.] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command is "look")[ (append: ?log)[ > You see your own reflection repeated into infinity in the mirrors of the active lifts. In one of the deeper reflections, you think you see Gary standing behind you, but when you turn, the elevator is empty.] (set: _found to true)] (display: "GlobalCommands") (display: "ElevatorNav") (if: _found is false)[ (alert: "COMMAND NOT RECOGNIZED --- TRY HELP")] (set: $command to "") ] ]]

(t8n: "flicker")[[LOCATION: FLOOR 2 ATRIUM ] The air here is thinner and smells of expensive jasmine and cold marble. Unlike the chaotic neon of the first floor, the lighting here is recessed and soft, pulsing with a slow, golden heartbeat. You stand on a mezzanine of polished obsidian. Below, the first floor looks like a distant, toy-sized world. Surrounding you are the high-end monoliths of the Mall's elite vendors: * **HÖM**: A sprawling entrance that looks more like a portal into a cozy, infinite living room. * **THE CHRONOS GALLERY**: A silent, clockwork-facade store where time seems to literally slow down as you approach. * **RESPAWN POINT**: A glowing, clinical-white storefront with a hum that vibrates in your teeth. * **MIMICRY & CO**: A shop that looks suspiciously like a different shop every time you blink. * **CLOAK & DAGGER**: A storefront shrouded in actual, physical shadows that refuse to be displaced by light. * **RENT-A-RAGE**: A soundproofed, red-tinted bunker vibrating with distant, muffled shouting. A **DIRECTORY KIOSK** stands near the glass railing. ] |log>[] --- **TERMINAL ACCESS ACTIVE** Type a command (e.g., 'look', 'read barcode') and press ENTER: (input-box: bind $command, "", 1) |submit>[(link-repeat: "EXECUTE COMMAND")[ (set: $command to (lower-case: (trimmed: $command))) (if: $command's length > 0)[ (set: _found to false) (if: $command contains "kiosk" or $command contains "directory")[ (append: ?log)[ > The kiosk displays a map of the floor. A small 'You Are Here' dot flickers. Next to it, someone has scratched a message into the screen: 'THE MANAGEMENT IS WATCHING THE CLOCKS.'] (set: _found to true)] (display: "GlobalCommands") (display: "Floor2Nav") (if: _found is false)[ (alert: "COMMAND NOT RECOGNIZED --- TRY HELP")] (set: $command to "") ] ]]

{ (if: $command contains "map" and $mapFound is true)[ (set: _map to $floorView of $map) (alert: _map) (set: _found to true) ] (if: $command contains "elevator")[ (set: _found to true) (go-to: "ELEVATOR") ] (if: $command is "help")[ (alert: "GLOBAL COMMANDS: - MAP: View floor plan - GO TO: Go to a location - LOOK: Inspect surroundings") (set: _found to true) ] }

(t8n: "flicker")[[LOCATION: BUILD-A-BLADE] The air smells of hot steel, ozone, and a clinical "new car" scent. A neon sign of a hammer hitting an anvil pulses rhythmically above the **MOLECULAR WEAVING POOLS**. To your left, rows of weighted **POMMELS** and manticore-leather **GRIPS** sit in backlit glass cases. At the back of the store, a gnome "Master Attuner" hunches over an **AWAKENING STATION**, peering through a jeweler's loupe. A discarded **RECEIPT** lies on the floor near the entrance.] |log>[] --- **TERMINAL ACCESS ACTIVE** Type a command (e.g., 'look', 'read barcode') and press ENTER: (input-box: bind $command, "", 1) |submit>[(link-repeat: "EXECUTE COMMAND")[ (set: $command to (lower-case: (trimmed: $command))) (if: $command's length > 0)[ (set: _found to false) (if: $command contains "receipt")[ (append: ?log)[ > The receipt is torn in half. You can only read the first word of the store name at the top: (text-style:"bold","italic","mark","underline")[APEX].] (set: _found to true) ] (if: $command contains "pool" or $command contains "weave")[ (append: ?log)[ > You peer into the shimmering liquid metal. Robotic arms wait to dip a hilt and weave a blade from 'Standard Steel' or 'Void-Iron'.] (set: _found to true) ] (if: $command contains "pommel" or $command contains "grip" or $command contains "hilt")[ (append: ?log)[ > You browse the components. You see a pommel shaped like a skull that weeps silver tears and a grip made of carved dragon-bone.] (set: _found to true) ] (if: $command contains "station" or $command contains "attuner")[ (append: ?log)[ > The gnome is busy setting a 'Ruby of Cinder' into a crossguard. He mutters that the first time a blade draws blood, it will whisper its own name to you.] (set: _found to true) ] (display: "GlobalCommands") (display: "Floor1Nav") (if: _found is false)[ (alert: "COMMAND NOT RECOGNIZED --- TRY HELP") ] (set: $command to "") ] ]]

{ (if: $command contains "blade")[ (set: _found to true) (go-to: "BUILD-A-BLADE") ] (if: $command contains "wand")[ (set: _found to true) (go-to: "WAND-O-MAT") ] (if: $command contains "apex" or $command contains "abyss")[ (set: _found to true) (go-to: "APEX & ABYSS") ] (if: $command contains "omni" or $command contains "mart")[ (set: _found to true) (go-to: "OMNI-MART") ] (if: $command contains "standard" or $command contains "issue")[ (set: _found to true) (go-to: "STANDARD ISSUE") ] (if: $command contains "thread" or $command contains "real")[ (set: _found to true) (go-to: "THREADBARE REALITIES") ] (if: $command contains "back" or $command contains "exit"or $command contains "atrium")[ (set: _found to true) (go-to: "FLOOR 1") ] }

(t8n: "flicker")[[LOCATION: ] ] |log>[] --- **TERMINAL ACCESS ACTIVE** Type a command (e.g., 'look', 'read barcode') and press ENTER: (input-box: bind $command, "", 1) |submit>[(link-repeat: "EXECUTE COMMAND")[ (set: $command to (lower-case: (trimmed: $command))) (if: $command's length > 0)[ (set: _found to false)  (display: "GlobalCommands") (display: "Floor1Nav") (if: _found is false)[ (alert: "COMMAND NOT RECOGNIZED --- TRY HELP") ] (set: $command to "") ] ]]

(t8n: "flicker")[[LOCATION: WAND-O-MAT] This store is narrow and impossibly tall, with shelves reaching upward into a haze of purple wood-smoke. The air crackles with static electricity, making the hair on your arms stand up. Instead of a counter, the center of the room features a massive, brass **VENDING MACHINE** with hundreds of tiny glass windows. To the side, a **TESTING RANGE** consists of a single, heavily scorched stone pillar. A discarded **PACKAGING TRAY** sits atop a nearby trash receptacle.] ] |log>[] --- **TERMINAL ACCESS ACTIVE** Type a command (e.g., 'look', 'read barcode') and press ENTER: (input-box: bind $command, "", 1) |submit>[(link-repeat: "EXECUTE COMMAND")[ (set: $command to (lower-case: (trimmed: $command))) (if: $command's length > 0)[ (set: _found to false) (if: $command contains "machine" or $command contains "vending" or $command contains "glass")[ (append: ?log)[ > The machine hums with arcane power. Labels under the glass read: 'Fireball (Economy Grade)', 'Unseen Servant (Batteries Not Included)', and 'Magic Missile (Now with 20% more Force)'. A coin slot glows with a hungry blue light.] (set: _found to true) ] (if: $command contains "tray" or $command contains "packaging" or $command contains "trash")[ (append: ?log)[ > You pick up the plastic tray. The back contains a 'Warning' label in 50 different languages. One line is highlighted in neon yellow: 'DO NOT USE WITHIN 50 FEET OF AN INTERDIMENSIONAL ELEVATOR EXIT.'] (set: _found to true) ] (if: $command contains "range" or $command contains "pillar" or $command contains "test")[ (append: ?log)[ > The pillar is covered in soot, frost, and what looks like strawberry jam. A sign reads: 'WAND-O-MAT IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ACCIDENTAL POLYMORPHING DURING PRODUCT TRIALS.'] (set: _found to true) ] (if: $command is "look")[ (append: ?log)[ > You notice a small sign near the ceiling: 'NO REFUNDS ON EXPENDED CHARGES. IF THE WAND EXPLODES, YOU BOUGHT IT.'] (set: _found to true) ] (display: "GlobalCommands") (display: "Floor1Nav") (if: _found is false)[ (alert: "COMMAND NOT RECOGNIZED --- TRY HELP") ] (set: $command to "") ] ]]

(t8n: "flicker")[[LOCATION: THE RESPAWN POINT ] The air here is cold and carries the sharp, biting scent of antiseptic and ionized gas. The walls are a seamless, blinding white plastic that seems to hum with a low-frequency vibration you can feel in your molars. In the center of the room, several glass **STASIS PODS** are filled with a glowing green gel. To the right, an automated **KIOSK** displays a scrolling list of 'Service Tiers,' ranging from 'Basic Patch-Up' to 'Total Ego-Reconstruction.' A small, clinical **TRAY** sits on a rolling stand, holding a few discarded data-chips and a syringe of shimmering blue liquid.] |log>[] --- **TERMINAL ACCESS ACTIVE** Type a command (e.g., 'look', 'read barcode') and press ENTER: (input-box: bind $command, "", 1) |submit>[(link-repeat: "EXECUTE COMMAND")[ (set: $command to (lower-case: (trimmed: $command))) (if: $command's length > 0)[ (set: _found to false) (if: $command contains "pod" or $command contains "stasis" or $command contains "gel")[ (append: ?log)[ > You peer into one of the pods. A half-formed humanoid shape floats inside. A digital display on the glass reads: 'CLONE 04-B: 67% COMPLETE. ETA: 4 HOURS. PLEASE DO NOT TAP ON GLASS; SUBJECT IS CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING TERROR.'] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command contains "kiosk" or $command contains "service" or $command contains "tier")[ (append: ?log)[ > The Kiosk blinks. 'Welcome, Valued Asset. Your current survival probability is 14%. Would you like to purchase a "Soul-Sync" backup? Guaranteed to restore 90% of your personality upon physical expiration.'] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command contains "tray" or $command contains "chip" or $command contains "syringe")[ (append: ?log)[ > The syringe is labeled: 'Instant Narrative Cohesion.' The fine print warns that it may cause side effects such as 'Sudden Backstory Development' or 'Third-Person Internal Monologue.'] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command is "look")[ (append: ?log)[ > A holographic nurse flickers in and out of existence behind a counter. Every time she glimmers, her face changes to a different species. She is currently filing her translucent nails.] (set: _found to true)] (display: "GlobalCommands") (display: "Floor2Nav") (if: _found is false)[ (alert: "COMMAND NOT RECOGNIZED --- TRY HELP")] (set: $command to "") ] ]]

(t8n: "flicker")[[LOCATION: HOM] The entrance is a wide, welcoming archway of light-colored birch wood. The air smells of Swedish meatballs and "fresh beginnings." A yellow-vested **AUTOMATON** stands by a stack of oversized wooden carts, greeting shoppers with a pre-recorded, multi-tonal hum. Inside, a **PATHWAY** of glowing blue arrows is etched into the floor, winding deep into a forest of modular furniture. A large sign reads: 'FOLLOW THE ARROW. DEVIATION MAY RESULT IN PERMANENT RESIDENCY.'] |log>[] --- **TERMINAL ACCESS ACTIVE** Type a command (e.g., 'look', 'read barcode') and press ENTER: (input-box: bind $command, "", 1) |submit>[(link-repeat: "EXECUTE COMMAND")[ (set: $command to (lower-case: (trimmed: $command))) (if: $command's length > 0)[ (set: _found to false) (if: $command contains "arrow" or $command contains "path" or $command contains "follow")[ (append: ?log)[ > You step onto the blue-lit path. The walls of the store seem to stretch as you walk, leading you into the main showroom.] (set: _found to true) (after:5s)[(go-to: "HOM SHOWROOM")]] (if: $command contains "automaton" or $command contains "robot" or $command contains "greet")[ (append: ?log)[ > The automaton clicks. "Welcome to HÖM. Please take a pencil and a measuring tape. Your life is currently 74% unoptimized. We can fix that."] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command is "look")[ (append: ?log)[ > You see a bin of 'Display Only' plush meatballs. They feel unnervingly like real velvet. Above you, a map shows the store is divided into: Showroom, Cafe, and The Void-Warehouse.] (set: _found to true)] (display: "GlobalCommands") (display: "Floor2Nav") (if: _found is false)[ (alert: "COMMAND NOT RECOGNIZED --- TRY HELP")] (set: $command to "") ] ]]

(t8n: "flicker")[[LOCATION: MIMICRY & CO] The storefront of Mimicry & Co is unsettlingly organic. The door handle feels slightly warm and soft, like leather-wrapped bone. Inside, the shop is crowded with everyday objects: **CHESTS**, **WARDROBES**, **BARRELS**, and even **LADDERS**, all arranged in a way that feels like they are watching you. The air is thick with the smell of wet fur and old wood. Occasionally, a floorboard creaks where no one is standing. In the center of the room, a large, ornate **IRON-BOUND CHEST** sits atop a pedestal, its lid vibrating with a low, wet growl.] |log>[] --- **TERMINAL ACCESS ACTIVE** Type a command (e.g., 'look', 'read barcode') and press ENTER: (input-box: bind $command, "", 1) |submit>[(link-repeat: "EXECUTE COMMAND")[ (set: $command to (lower-case: (trimmed: $command))) (if: $command's length > 0)[ (set: _found to false) (if: $command contains "chest" or $command contains "mimic" or $command contains "feed")[ (append: ?log)[ > You toss a copper coin toward the chest. A long, purple tongue darts out, snatches the coin mid-air, and retreats with a wet 'thwip.' The chest lets out a loud, shuddering burp and hacks up a scrap of blood-stained parchment.] (append: ?log)[ > The parchment reads: (text-style:"bold","italic","mark","underline")[CODE IS]..] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command contains "wardrobe" or $command contains "barrel" or $command contains "furniture")[ (append: ?log)[ > You approach a sturdy-looking barrel. As you get close, a single yellow eye opens on the side of a wooden stave. It blinks at you, then slowly closes. You decide to leave the furniture alone.] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command contains "ladder")[ (append: ?log)[ > The ladder leaning against the wall is actually a 'Step-Stalker.' It doesn't lead anywhere; it just waits for someone to try and climb it. The rungs look suspiciously like teeth.] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command is "look")[ (append: ?log)[ > A sign on the wall reads: 'ALL SALES ARE FINAL. PLEASE ENSURE YOUR PURCHASE HAS BEEN FED BEFORE TAKING IT HOME.'] (set: _found to true)] (display: "GlobalCommands") (display: "Floor2Nav") (if: _found is false)[ (alert: "COMMAND NOT RECOGNIZED --- TRY HELP")] (set: $command to "") ] ]]

(t8n: "flicker")[[LOCATION: THE CHRONOS GALLERY] The transition is immediate. As you cross the threshold, the noise of the mall dies instantly. The air is cool, dry, and smells of ancient dust and ozone. The floor is made of white marble so polished it reflects a version of you that looks ten years younger. A **RECEPTION DESK** made of solid brass stands before a set of heavy, **VELVET CURTAINS**. There are no lights, yet the room glows with a soft, sourceless amber radiance. A sign on the desk reads: 'APPOINTMENTS ONLY. LATE ARRIVALS WILL BE DELETED.'] |log>[] --- **TERMINAL ACCESS ACTIVE** Type a command (e.g., 'look', 'read barcode') and press ENTER: (input-box: bind $command, "", 1) |submit>[(link-repeat: "EXECUTE COMMAND")[ (set: $command to (lower-case: (trimmed: $command))) (if: $command's length > 0)[ (set: _found to false) (if: $command contains "desk" or $command contains "reception" or $command contains "search")[ (append: ?log)[ > You find a ledger on the desk. The dates listed are for years that haven't happened yet. One entry for today is simply marked: 'THE PROTAGONISTS - ARRIVING (print:(current-date:)+" - "+(current-time:)).'] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command contains "curtain" or $command contains "enter" or $command contains "forward")[ (append: ?log)[ > You part the heavy velvet curtains and step into the main gallery.] (set: _found to true) (after:5s)[(go-to: "CHRONOS SHOWROOM")]] (if: $command is "look")[ (append: ?log)[ > You notice that your own shadow is moving a few seconds behind you. It is a deeply unsettling sensation.] (set: _found to true)] (display: "GlobalCommands") (display: "Floor2Nav") (if: _found is false)[ (alert: "COMMAND NOT RECOGNIZED --- TRY HELP")] (set: $command to "") ] ]]

(t8n: "flicker")[[LOCATION: CLOAK & DAGGER ] The storefront is almost impossible to focus on; it seems to be made of "visual static" and deep purple velvet. As you enter, the temperature drops and the lighting dims to a permanent twilight. Shadows here have a physical weight, clinging to the hems of your clothes. To the left, a rack of **SILENT BOOTS** and **SMOKE BOMBS** sits under a sign that reads: 'WE HEARD YOU COMING.' To the right, a glass case contains daggers that look like they were carved out of solidified midnight. A lone **KEYRING** hangs from a small hook behind the service counter.] |log>[] --- **TERMINAL ACCESS ACTIVE** Type a command (e.g., 'look', 'read barcode') and press ENTER: (input-box: bind $command, "", 1) |submit>[(link-repeat: "EXECUTE COMMAND")[ (set: $command to (lower-case: (trimmed: $command))) (if: $command's length > 0)[ (set: _found to false) (if: $command contains "key" or $command contains "ring" or $command contains "hook")[ (append: ?log)[ > You examine the keyring. It holds a single, filed-down master key. A weathered yellow plastic tag is attached to it, with the destination scrawled in black ink: (text-style:"bold","italic","mark","underline")[CLOSET].] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command contains "dagger" or $command contains "blade" or $command contains "case")[ (append: ?log)[ > The daggers are exquisite. One particularly thin blade is labeled: 'The Last Word.' Its description claims it can cut through a conversation, a silence, or a throat with equal ease.] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command contains "boot" or "smoke" or "bomb" or "rack")[ (append: ?log)[ > The boots are made of owl-feather leather. When you pick them up, they make absolutely no sound against the floor—even when you drop them intentionally.] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command contains "look")[ (append: ?log)[ > You can't see a shopkeeper, but you feel a dozen pairs of eyes watching you from the rafters. A sign on the counter says: 'WE ALREADY KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO STEAL.'] (set: _found to true)] (display: "GlobalCommands") (display: "Floor2Nav") (if: _found is false)[ (alert: "COMMAND NOT RECOGNIZED --- TRY HELP")] (set: $command to "") ] ]]

(t8n: "flicker")[[LOCATION: RENT-A-RAGE] The entrance is a heavy, reinforced steel bulkhead painted a violent shade of crimson. Even through the soundproofing, you can feel a rhythmic, low-frequency thumping—the collective heartbeat of a dozen controlled tantrums. The interior is bathed in red emergency lighting. To your left, a **WEAPONS RACK** holds a variety of blunt, indestructible instruments: iron pipes, oversized mallets, and reinforced porcelain vases. To your right, a row of soundproofed **PUNCHING BOOTH** doors are shut tight, their 'In Use' signs glowing. A small, vibrating **PAGER** sits on the front counter next to a jar of 'Stress-Relief' jawbreakers.] |log>[] --- **TERMINAL ACCESS ACTIVE** Type a command (e.g., 'look', 'read barcode') and press ENTER: (input-box: bind $command, "", 1) |submit>[(link-repeat: "EXECUTE COMMAND")[ (set: $command to (lower-case: (trimmed: $command))) (if: $command's length > 0)[ (set: _found to false) (if: $command contains "rack" or $command contains "weapon" or $command contains "mallet")[ (append: ?log)[ > The weapons are chained to the rack. A sign reads: 'FOR EXTERNALIZED AGGRESSION ONLY. DAMAGE TO STORE FIXTURES WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE DEBT-SLAVERY.'] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command contains "booth" or $command contains "door" or $command contains "punch")[ (append: ?log)[ > You press your ear to a door. You hear a muffled scream that sounds suspiciously like a barbarian trying to solve a Sudoku puzzle. The 'Rage-Meter' on the door is currently in the 'Catastrophic' zone.] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command contains "pager" or $command contains "vibrate" or $command contains "counter")[ (append: ?log)[ > The pager buzzes in your hand. A digital readout on the tiny screen says: 'YOUR ANGER IS VALUABLE TO US. PLEASE HOLD FOR THE NEXT AVAILABLE BREAK-ROOM.'] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command is "look")[ (append: ?log)[ > The clerk is a massive, four-armed Orc wearing noise-canceling headphones and reading a book titled 'The Zen of the Great Cleave.'] (set: _found to true)] (display: "GlobalCommands") (display: "Floor2Nav") (if: _found is false)[ (alert: "COMMAND NOT RECOGNIZED --- TRY HELP")] (set: $command to "") ] ]]

(t8n: "flicker")[[LOCATION: FLOOR 3: THE FOOD COURT] The elevator doors hiss open, and you are immediately hit by a sensory overload of competing aromas: sizzling dragon-steak, hyper-sweet cinnamon, and the briny scent of a thousand-year-old soup. Unlike the other floors, there is no expansive hallway. The central elevator bank is a glass-and-brass pillar surrounded by a **CIRCULAR PROMENADE**. Bright neon signs for various **STALLS** curve around the perimeter, their lights reflecting off the grease-slicked floor. A central **WASTE RECEPTACLE** hums as it disintegrates trash, and a cluster of **FLOATING TABLES** drifts slowly around the ring.] ] |log>[] --- **TERMINAL ACCESS ACTIVE** Type a command (e.g., 'look', 'read barcode') and press ENTER: (input-box: bind $command, "", 1) |submit>[(link-repeat: "EXECUTE COMMAND")[ (set: $command to (lower-case: (trimmed: $command))) (if: $command's length > 0)[ (set: _found to false) (if: $command contains "waste" or $command contains "trash" or $command contains "bin")[ (append: ?log)[ > The bin emits a soft purple glow. Every few seconds, it lets out a satisfied 'burp' of white smoke as it consumes another plastic tray.] (set: _found to true) ] (if: $command is "look")[ (append: ?log)[ > Above you, the ceiling is a holographic projection of a nebula. Below, the promenade is crowded with hungry adventurers and entities from across the planes.] (set: _found to true)] (display: "GlobalCommands") (display: "Floor3Nav") (if: _found is false)[ (alert: "COMMAND NOT RECOGNIZED --- TRY HELP")] (set: $command to "") ] ]]

(t8n: "flicker")[[LOCATION: CINN-A-PORTAL] A circular **GOLDEN PORTAL** is suspended behind the counter, pulsing with a warm, amber light. From the center of the rift, a seemingly infinite, perfectly glazed churro extrudes at a steady pace. A high-speed **VORPAL CLEAVER** stands mounted on a hydraulic arm, ready to slice the pastry into manageable lengths. The scent of cinnamon is so strong it feels like it’s coating your lungs. A fresh **PASTRY** sits on a wax paper sheet on the counter, drizzled in thick, white vanilla icing.] ] |log>[] --- **TERMINAL ACCESS ACTIVE** Type a command (e.g., 'look', 'read barcode') and press ENTER: (input-box: bind $command, "", 1) |submit>[(link-repeat: "EXECUTE COMMAND")[ (set: $command to (lower-case: (trimmed: $command))) (if: $command's length > 0)[ (set: _found to false) (if: $command contains "pastry" or $command contains "icing" or $command contains "churro")[ (append: ?log)[ > You look closely at the glaze. The icing hasn't been drizzled randomly; it has been precisely applied to form a single command word in cursive: (text-style:"bold","italic","mark","underline")[ENTER].] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command contains "portal" or $command contains "rift")[ (append: ?log)[ > The golden light from the portal makes your skin itch. A sign below it reads: 'OUR CINNAMON IS SOURCED FROM THE SEVENTH CIRCLE - SWEET WITH A HINT OF BRIMSTONE.'] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command contains "cleaver" or $command contains "arm" or $command contains "slice")[ (append: ?log)[ > The vorpal cleaver is terrifyingly sharp. A warning sticker says: 'KEEP HANDS CLEAR. VORPAL BLADES DO NOT DISTINGUISH BETWEEN DOUGH AND DISCIPLES.'] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command is "look")[ (append: ?log)[ > The employee behind the counter is wearing a protective face shield and heavy-duty oven mitts. They stare blankly into the portal, waiting for the next order.] (set: _found to true)] (display: "GlobalCommands") (display: "Floor3Nav") (if: _found is false)[ (alert: "COMMAND NOT RECOGNIZED --- TRY HELP")] (set: $command to "") ] ]]

(t8n: "flicker")[[LOCATION: THE FROSTED FAMILIAR] This stall is constructed from shimmering, unmelting blocks of ice that radiate a gentle, minty fog. The air is sweet and freezing, causing your breath to puff out in small, sparkling clouds. Behind the glass display, tubs of magically animated gelato churn themselves. You see 'Sorbet Spiders' scuttling in their containers and 'Vanilla Vipers' coiled into perfect scoops. On the counter, a **FREEZER JAR** contains a few unsold treats that are currently batting their wafer-thin wings against the glass. A colorful **NUTRITION CHART** is taped to the side of the display.] ] |log>[] --- **TERMINAL ACCESS ACTIVE** Type a command (e.g., 'look', 'read barcode') and press ENTER: (input-box: bind $command, "", 1) |submit>[(link-repeat: "EXECUTE COMMAND")[ (set: $command to (lower-case: (trimmed: $command))) (if: $command's length > 0)[ (set: _found to false) (if: $command contains "jar" or $command contains "freezer" or $command contains "treat")[ (append: ?log)[ > Inside the jar, a small scoop of 'Strawberry Slime' looks up at you with chocolate-chip eyes. It lets out a tiny, high-pitched squeak and tries to nuzzle the glass. The label says: 'Adoptable for 5 Gold - Guaranteed to follow you for 1 hour or until melted.'] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command contains "chart" or $command contains "nutrition" or $command contains "poster")[ (append: ?log)[ > The chart lists the magical properties of the toppings. 'Sprinkles of Foresight' may cause brief glimpses of the next 5 seconds. 'Fudge of Fortitude' provides temporary resistance to cold, for obvious reasons.] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command contains "ice" or $command contains "gelato" or $command contains "display")[ (append: ?log)[ > You watch a 'Rocky Road Toad' hop into a waffle cone. It looks delicious, but it's currently croaking a mournful tune. The Beholder from the neighboring stall is staring intently at the 'Many-Eyed Mint' flavor.] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command is "look")[ (append: ?log)[ > The shopkeeper is a tiny Ice Mephit wearing a miniature striped apron. He is currently using a tiny silver shovel to keep the 'Sherbet Phoenix' from flying out of its tub.] (set: _found to true)] (display: "GlobalCommands") (display: "Floor3Nav") (if: _found is false)[ (alert: "COMMAND NOT RECOGNIZED --- TRY HELP")] (set: $command to "") ] ]]

(t8n: "flicker")[[LOCATION: BEHOLD-A-BOWL] This stall is arranged in a perfect semi-circle, with dozens of stone basins filled with various **NOODLES**, **BROTHS**, and **TOPPINGS**. Above the counter, a large, central eye orbited by ten smaller eyestalks watches the room with unblinking intensity. The air smells of ginger, star anise, and a faint hint of ancient magic. Every movement you make is tracked by at least three of the shopkeeper's eyes. A sign on the counter warns: 'CUSTOMERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN RATIO OF SPICE TO REGRET.' A small **LEAFLET** is pinned to the counter by a floating toothpick.] |log>[] --- **TERMINAL ACCESS ACTIVE** Type a command (e.g., 'look', 'read barcode') and press ENTER: (input-box: bind $command, "", 1) |submit>[(link-repeat: "EXECUTE COMMAND")[ (set: $command to (lower-case: (trimmed: $command))) (if: $command's length > 0)[ (set: _found to false) (if: $command contains "leaflet" or $command contains "read" or $command contains "paper")[ (append: ?log)[ > The leaflet explains the loyalty program: 'The Eye-Spy Club.' If you can maintain eye contact with all eleven eyes simultaneously for sixty seconds, your next bowl of 'Disintegration Ramen' is free.] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command contains "noodle" or $command contains "bowl" or $command contains "broth")[ (append: ?log)[ > You browse the options. There are 'Phase-Shift Pho' noodles that disappear if you chew too slowly and a 'Petrification Broth' that is strictly for gargoyles only.] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command contains "beholder" or $command contains "eye" or $command contains "shopkeeper")[ (append: ?log)[ > The Beholder narrows its central eye at you. It is currently using a telekinetic ray to perfectly garnish a bowl with exactly four sesame seeds. It does not appreciate being interrupted.] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command contains "look")[ (append: ?log)[ > You notice that no matter where you stand in the stall, you are never in a blind spot. The service here is, quite literally, all-seeing.] (set: _found to true)] (display: "GlobalCommands") (display: "Floor3Nav") (if: _found is false)[ (alert: "COMMAND NOT RECOGNIZED --- TRY HELP")] (set: $command to "") ] ]]

(t8n: "flicker")[[LOCATION: AETHER-COURT SEATING AREA] You are in the center of the ring, a chaotic hub of drifting furniture and discarded wrappers. The air is a thick fog of grease and magical exhaust. The floating tables here are erratic; some bob gently at waist height, while others have drifted dangerously close to the **NEBULA-PROJECTION** on the ceiling. A group of weary **ADVENTURERS** in battered plate armor are slumped over their trays, staring blankly into the distance. One particular **PLASTIC TABLE** near the waste receptacle has been pushed into a corner, its surface scarred by deep gouges.] |log>[] --- **TERMINAL ACCESS ACTIVE** Type a command (e.g., 'look', 'read barcode') and press ENTER: (input-box: bind $command, "", 1) |submit>[(link-repeat: "EXECUTE COMMAND")[ (set: $command to (lower-case: (trimmed: $command))) (if: $command's length > 0)[ (set: _found to false) (if: $command contains "table" or $command contains "carve" or $command contains "graffiti")[ (append: ?log)[ > You lean over the scarred table. Someone hasn't just scratched the surface; they've carved a destination deep into the hard plastic with a serrated blade. The handwriting looks frantic: (text-style:"bold","italic","mark","underline")[FLOOR 0].] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command contains "adventurer" or $command contains "party" or $command contains "people")[ (append: ?log)[ > One of the fighters looks up. His eyes are bloodshot. "Don't eat the blue soup," he whispers. "I've been here for three lunch cycles and I still haven't found the exit to the parking dimension."] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command contains "nebula" or $command contains "ceiling" or $command contains "sky")[ (append: ?log)[ > The holographic nebula swirls overhead. If you squint, the stars seem to form the shape of a barcode. It is beautiful, artificial, and suffocating.] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command is "look")[ (append: ?log)[ > Trays of half-eaten 'Manticore Wings' and empty 'Health Potion' cups drift past you like debris in low orbit. The hum of the mall is loudest here.] (set: _found to true)] (display: "GlobalCommands") (display: "Floor3Nav") (if: _found is false)[ (alert: "COMMAND NOT RECOGNIZED --- TRY HELP")] (set: $command to "") ] ]]

(t8n: "flicker")[[LOCATION: GROG-TO-GO] This stall looks like a cross between a medieval tavern and a high-speed pit stop. A series of brass pipes and clear tubes snake across the ceiling, carrying liquids of various vibrant colors. The front counter features a **PICKUP WINDOW** where a continuous stream of copper flagons and crystal vials zooms by on a magical conveyor belt. The air is thick with the scent of fermented hops and the metallic tang of liquid mana. A discarded **FLYER** is plastered to the side of a massive, bubbling copper vat.] |log>[] --- **TERMINAL ACCESS ACTIVE** Type a command (e.g., 'look', 'read barcode') and press ENTER: (input-box: bind $command, "", 1) |submit>[(link-repeat: "EXECUTE COMMAND")[ (set: $command to (lower-case: (trimmed: $command))) (if: $command's length > 0)[ (set: _found to false) (if: $command contains "flyer" or $command contains "read" or $command contains "paper")[ (append: ?log)[ > The flyer is an advertisement for 'The DMBC Happy Hour.' It claims that if you survive a full episode of the televised adventure, your next 'Ale of True Seeing' is 50% off.] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command contains "window" or $command contains "conveyor" or $command contains "belt")[ (append: ?log)[ > You watch a 'Health Potion (Travel Size)' zip past. It's followed closely by a 'Flagon of Fire-Resistance' that is literally on fire. A sign says: 'STALL IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR SPILLS DURING INTERDIMENSIONAL TRAVEL.'] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command contains "vat" or $command contains "pipe" or $command contains "tube")[ (append: ?log)[ > The copper vat is labeled 'THE MOTHER LODE.' It supplies the entire food court with a base liquid that can be flavored into anything from root beer to holy water. It vibrates with a deep, rhythmic thrum.] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command is "look")[ (append: ?log)[ > The bartender is a mechanical construct with twelve arms. It is simultaneously pouring, corking, labeling, and tossing drinks to customers who are sprinting past the stall.] (set: _found to true)] (display: "GlobalCommands") (display: "Floor3Nav") (if: _found is false)[ (alert: "COMMAND NOT RECOGNIZED --- TRY HELP")] (set: $command to "") ] ]]

(t8n: "flicker")[[LOCATION: SINGULARITY SMOOTHIE] This stall is a minimalist white cube that seems to warp the light around it. There are no fruits or vegetables on display, only a series of pressurized canisters labeled with abstract concepts: 'Event Horizon Grape,' 'Spaghettification Lime,' and 'Dark Matter Mango.' In the center of the counter sits a massive, industrial-grade **BLENDER**. It doesn't whirl; it emits a rhythmic, deep-space thrum that makes the liquid inside rotate into a perfect, miniature black hole. The **MENU BOARD** overhead isn't written in ink, but in glowing white pixels that drift toward the center of the screen.] |log>[] --- **TERMINAL ACCESS ACTIVE** Type a command (e.g., 'look', 'read barcode') and press ENTER: (input-box: bind $command, "", 1) |submit>[(link-repeat: "EXECUTE COMMAND")[ (set: $command to (lower-case: (trimmed: $command))) (if: $command's length > 0)[ (set: _found to false) (if: $command contains "blender" or $command contains "machine" or $command contains "plate")[ (append: ?log)[ > You try to nudge the blender, but it is impossibly heavy, as if anchored to the core of the building. You lean down to check the manufacturer's plate on the bottom. It wasn't made by a kitchen appliance company; it's branded with the logo of the (text-style:"bold","italic","mark","underline")[OTIS ELEVATOR CO].] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command contains "menu" or $command contains "board" or $command contains "drink")[ (append: ?log)[ > The menu lists a 'Supernova Swirl' for 500 gold pieces. A disclaimer at the bottom reads: 'Consumption may cause temporary loss of 3D perspective. Please drink responsibly within your own timeline.'] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command contains "canister" or $command contains "fruit" or $command contains "matter")[ (append: ?log)[ > The 'Dark Matter Mango' canister is vibrating. You can feel the gravity pulling your fingers toward the nozzle. A post-it note on the side says: 'DO NOT SHAKE.'] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command is "look")[ (append: ?log)[ > The employee is wearing a lead-lined apron and a welding mask. They are currently pouring a glowing violet liquid into a cup that seems to have no bottom.] (set: _found to true)] (display: "GlobalCommands") (display: "Floor3Nav") (if: _found is false)[ (alert: "COMMAND NOT RECOGNIZED --- TRY HELP")] (set: $command to "") ] ]]

(t8n: "flicker")[[LOCATION: COSMIC TELESCOPES] A row of brass eyepieces are fixed toward the outer darkness. These are not ordinary lenses; they are 'Planar Viewfinders' that pierce the veil of the Mall's pocket dimension. Each **TELESCOPE** is focused on a different, impossible reality. A small **LOGBOOK** sits on a pedestal near the largest lens.] |log>[] --- **TERMINAL ACCESS ACTIVE** Type a command (e.g., 'look', 'read barcode') and press ENTER: (input-box: bind $command, "", 1) |submit>[(link-repeat: "EXECUTE COMMAND")[ (set: $command to (lower-case: (trimmed: $command))) (if: $command's length > 0)[ (set: _found to false) (if: $command contains "telescope" or $command contains "lens" or $command contains "view")[ (append: ?log)[ > You peer through the lens. You see a world where the sky is made of clockwork, and another where everyone looks exactly like you. The third telescope shows a gray, 1980s office... and a man staring back at you.] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command contains "logbook" or $command contains "notes")[ (append: ?log)[ > The logbook records sightings of 'The Protagonists.' One entry from five minutes ago reads: 'THEY ARE LOOKING THROUGH THE TELESCOPE NOW.'] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command contains "back" or $command contains "atrium" or $command contains "observatory")[ (set: _found to true) (go-to: "FLOOR 4")] (display: "GlobalCommands") (if: _found is false)[ (alert: "COMMAND NOT RECOGNIZED --- TRY HELP")] (set: $command to "") ] ]]

(t8n: "flicker")[[LOCATION: FLOOR 4: THE OBSERVATORY] The elevator doors open to silence. The floor is a single, massive sheet of dark glass, and the ceiling is a retractable dome of reinforced crystal. There are no stores here, no advertisements, and no smell of cinnamon—only the cold, metallic scent of deep space. In the center of the room, a **PATHWAY CHART** is projected in 3D holographic light. To the left, the **SCRIBE’S STATION** hums with the scratching of a hundred automated quills. To the right, a row of massive, brass **COSMIC TELESCOPES** lean against the glass, aimed at the infinite void.] |log>[] --- **TERMINAL ACCESS ACTIVE** Type a command (e.g., 'look', 'read barcode') and press ENTER: (input-box: bind $command, "", 1) |submit>[(link-repeat: "EXECUTE COMMAND")[ (set: $command to (lower-case: (trimmed: $command))) (if: $command's length > 0)[ (set: _found to false) (if: $command contains "scribe" or $command contains "station")[ (set: _found to true) (go-to: "SCRIBES")] (if: $command contains "telescope" or $command contains "glass")[ (set: _found to true) (go-to: "TELESCOPES")] (if: $command contains "chart" or $command contains "hologram" or $command contains "pathway")[ (append: ?log)[ > The hologram shows the Mall as a tiny needle threading through the fabric of the Multiverse. You notice a 'Dead Zone' on the map labeled 'ORIGIN POINT - DO NOT RETURN.'] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command is "look")[ (append: ?log)[ > The stars outside aren't twinkling; they are rushing past in long, vertical streaks. The Mall is moving much faster than you realized.] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command contains "down" or $command contains "floor 3" or $command contains "elevator")[ (set: _found to true) (go-to: "FLOOR 3")] (display: "GlobalCommands") (if: _found is false)[ (alert: "COMMAND NOT RECOGNIZED --- TRY HELP")] (set: $command to "") ] ]]

(t8n: "flicker")[[LOCATION: SCRIBES STATION] Long tables are covered in **SCROLLS** that spill onto the floor. Automated quills made of phoenix-feather move on their own, charting the erratic "drift" of the Mall through the interdimensional slipstream. The Scribes themselves are translucent, hooded entities that never speak. They are currently obsessed with a series of **COORDINATE SHEETS** pinned to the wall.] |log>[] --- **TERMINAL ACCESS ACTIVE** Type a command (e.g., 'look', 'read barcode') and press ENTER: (input-box: bind $command, "", 1) |submit>[(link-repeat: "EXECUTE COMMAND")[ (set: $command to (lower-case: (trimmed: $command))) (if: $command's length > 0)[ (set: _found to false) (if: $command contains "scroll" or $command contains "chart")[ (append: ?log)[ > You read a scroll: 'Current Trajectory: The Abyss. Narrative Density: Critical. Site Manager intervention required.'] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command contains "coordinate" or $command contains "sheet" or $command contains "wall")[ (append: ?log)[ > One sheet is titled 'EXIT VECTORS.' It contains a list of failed escape attempts. Every single one is crossed out in red ink, except for a handwritten note: 'FLOOR 0 IS THE ONLY WAY OUT.'] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command contains "scribe" or $command contains "entity")[ (append: ?log)[ > You try to touch a Scribe, but your hand passes through cold mist. They continue writing, their quills moving in perfect, terrifying synchronization.] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command contains "back" or $command contains "atrium" or $command contains "observatory")[ (set: _found to true) (go-to: "FLOOR 4")] (display: "GlobalCommands") (if: _found is false)[ (alert: "COMMAND NOT RECOGNIZED --- TRY HELP")] (set: $command to "") ] ]]

1 Clue in each store on floor 1 and 2 2 Clues in food court General Description Mascot Clue and Seating area clue Mascot - A note that was missed when they were repurposed maybe dont take the credit card its a trap and have the credit card appllication in a store 1 clue in elevator a removed button on the panel and a scratched out label where floor 0 would be 1 clue in observatory, telescope clue with unknown watcher but instead of an 80's office its fantasy themed FLOOR 1 1. "GO TO" (Omni-Mart Mat) - Done "The welcome mat is glitching. The scrolling text has frozen on the first two words of a command: 'GO TO...'" 2. "APEX" (Build-A-Blade Receipt) "The receipt is torn in half. You can only read the first word of the store name at the top: 'APEX'." 3. "&" (Standard Issue Shirt) "It's a misprinted graphic tee. There is no band name or logo, just a massive, solitary ampersand '&' printed on the chest." 4. "ABYSS" (Threadbare Realities Tag) "The price tag doesn't show a dollar amount. In the price field, it simply ominously reads: 'ABYSS'." FLOOR 2 5. "FIND THE" (HÖM Manual) "The instructions are gibberish, but someone has circled the header of Chapter 1 in red marker: 'FIND THE'." 6. "HUMMING" (Chronos Gallery Clock) "The clock has no hands, and it doesn't tick. It just vibrates. A sticky note attached to the pendulum reads: 'HUMMING'." 7. "CLOSET" (Cloak & Dagger Key) "It's a filed-down master key. The yellow plastic tag identifies which door it opens: 'CLOSET'." 8. "CODE IS" (Mimicry & Co Parchment) "The mimic burps up a scrap of parchment. It looks like the start of a cheat sheet: 'CODE IS...'" FLOOR 3 9. "1984" (Slayer's Skillet Milk) "You check the expiry date. It expired a long time ago. The date stamped on the carton is just the year: '1984'." 10. "ENTER" (Cinn-A-Portal Icing) "The icing hasn't been drizzled randomly. It forms a single command word on the pastry: 'ENTER'." 11. "ELEVATOR" (Singularity Smoothie Blender) "The blender is impossibly heavy. You look at the manufacturer's plate on the bottom. It wasn't made by a kitchen company; it's branded by 'OTIS ELEVATOR CO.'" 12. "FLOOR 0" (Seating Area Graffiti) "Someone has carved a destination deep into the table plastic. It looks frantic: 'FLOOR 0'."

(t8n: "flicker")[[LOCATION: OMNI-MART AISLES] You are deep in the grid. The ceiling is lost in shadow. The fluorescent lights hum with a headache-inducing frequency. You are surrounded by **SHELVES** containing... everything. There is a **BLUE LIGHT** flashing in the distance. ] |log>[] --- **TERMINAL ACCESS ACTIVE** Type a command (e.g., 'look', 'read barcode') and press ENTER: (input-box: bind $command, "", 1) |submit>[(link-repeat: "EXECUTE COMMAND")[ (set: $command to (lower-case: (trimmed: $command))) (if: $command's length > 0)[ (set: _found to false) (if: $command contains "shelves")[ (set: _searchMethod to (either: "You rummage through a clearance bin full of slime. At the bottom, you find", "You knock over a stack of cans. Rolling out from the pile is", "You climb to the top shelf. Hidden behind a layer of dust is", "You trip over something on the floor. It turns out to be", "You peel back a 'Do Not Open' sticker on a crate. Inside is", "A drone drops a package at your feet. You open it to find", "You check the pockets of a mannequin. You discover", "Something falls from the ceiling and hits you in the head. It's", "You see an item glowing with a faint aura. You pick up", "You reach into a dark gap between two shelves. Your fingers brush against" )) (set: _weirdItems to (either: "a box of 'Oops! All Spiders' cereal", "a can of 'Dehydrated Water' (Just add water!)", "a VHS tape labeled 'Your Childhood Nightmares (Remastered)'", "a jar of 'Elbow Grease' (it is literal grease made of elbows)", "a pair of sunglasses that let you see 5 seconds into the past", "a 'Do It Yourself' Surgery Kit (Ages 6+)", "a bottle of shampoo for 'Bald People'", "a map of a maze that keeps changing while you look at it", "a carton of milk that expired in the year 3024", "a plushie of a Biblically Accurate Angel", "a toaster that only toasts bread on the inside", "a spray bottle labeled 'Monster Repellent' (empty)", "a bag of potato chips that scream when you bite them", "a 'World's Okayest Warlock' coffee mug", "a potted plant that is slowly inching towards the exit", "a tub of 'I Can't Believe It's Not Ectoplasm'", "a flashlight that emits darkness", "a pair of boots labeled 'Boots of Hasting' (Left foot only)", "a scythe made of styrofoam that feels suspiciously heavy", "a diary belonging to 'Gary', but all the pages are black", "a 12-pack of soda labeled 'Liquid Television'", "a coupon for 50% off a new soul (non-transferable)", "a plastic skeleton that claims to be your future self", "a remote control with a button labeled 'PAUSE TIME' (broken)", "a goldfish in a bag, but the fish is smoking a tiny pipe", "a heavily discounted 'Invisibility Cloak' (it is just stained glass)", "a book titled 'How to Speak Human'", "a pack of batteries that are already dead", "a mirror that reflects everyone except you", "a snow globe containing a tiny, burning city", "a calendar for a year that never happened", "a vacuum cleaner that whispers secrets", "a box of 'Schrödinger's Cat Food' (maybe empty?)", "a tie that tightens whenever you lie", "a bottle of 'New Car Smell' (contains a crushed Hot Wheels car)", "a hammer that only works on thumbs", "a wig made of fiber-optic cables", "a sentient sourdough starter", "a greeting card that says 'Sorry for your Timeline loss'", "a tube of toothpaste that tastes like orange juice", "a set of keys to a car that hasn't been invented yet", "a rubber duck wearing a tiny gimp suit", "a compass that points to the nearest pizza", "a banister rail sold by the yard", "a crate of 'Generic Brand' Mana Potions (blue Gatorade)", "a glow stick that never stops glowing", "a pillow filled with tooth fairies", "a paint bucket labeled 'Existential Dread Grey'", "a clock where all the numbers are 0", "a receipt for the item you are currently holding")) (t8n: "flicker")+(append: ?log)[ > _searchMethod _weirdItems.] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command contains "blue" or $command contains "light")[ (append: ?log)[ > You chase the flashing blue light, but every time you get close, it moves one aisle over. It seems to be leading you toward the Lawn & Garden section, but that path is blocked by official looking pink tape.] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command contains "back" or $command contains "lobby")[ (set: _found to true) (go-to: "OMNI-MART")] (display: "GlobalCommands") (if: _found is false)[ (alert: "COMMAND NOT RECOGNIZED --- TRY HELP") ] (set: $command to "") ] ]]

(t8n: "flicker")[[LOCATION: THE SUMMIT (APEX ZONE)] You climb until your ears pop. The air up here is thin and freezing. The ceiling is painted like space, but the stars are moving. You are walking on clear glass catwalks suspended over the store below. Racks of **SKY GEAR** line the walls. There is a **TELESCOPE** pointed at a wall that isn't there. ] |log>[] --- **TERMINAL ACCESS ACTIVE** Type a command (e.g., 'look', 'read barcode') and press ENTER: (input-box: bind $command, "", 1) |submit>[(link-repeat: "EXECUTE COMMAND")[ (set: $command to (lower-case: (trimmed: $command))) (if: $command's length > 0)[ (set: _found to false) (if: $command contains "hub")[ (set: _found to true) (go-to: "APEX & ABYSS")] (if: $command contains "gear" or $command contains "sky")[ (set: _skyItems to (either: "a can of 'Instant Cloud'", "Gravity-Reversing Boots (laces missing)", "a kite made of lead", "a parachute for emotional baggage")) (t8n: "flicker")+(append: ?log)[ > You browse the high-altitude racks. You find _skyItems.] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command contains "telescope")[ (append: ?log)[ > You look through the lens. You don't see the mall wall. You see the surface of a red planet. Something massive is moving under the dust.] (set: _found to true)] (display: "GlobalCommands") (if: _found is false)[ (alert: "COMMAND NOT RECOGNIZED --- TRY HELP") ] (set: $command to "") ] ]]

(t8n: "flicker")[[LOCATION: THE TRENCH (ABYSS ZONE)] You descend until the light from the lobby fades to nothing. The only illumination comes from bioluminescent moss growing on the racks. The air is heavy and damp. It is absolutely silent, except for a slow *drip... drip... drip...* Items for **DEEP DIVING** are scattered on the wet floor. In the back, a heavy **DIVING SUIT** stands guard over a rusted chest. ] |log>[] --- **TERMINAL ACCESS ACTIVE** Type a command (e.g., 'look', 'read barcode') and press ENTER: (input-box: bind $command, "", 1) |submit>[(link-repeat: "EXECUTE COMMAND")[ (set: $command to (lower-case: (trimmed: $command))) (if: $command's length > 0)[ (set: _found to false) (if: $command contains "hub")[ (set: _found to true) (go-to: "APEX & ABYSS")] (if: $command contains "deep")[ (set: _seaItems to (either: "a harpoon for catching dreams", "a lantern that reveals ghosts", "lead weights shaped like human feet", "a book titled '101 Ways to Drown'")) (t8n: "flicker")+(append: ?log)[ > You crawl through the damp gloom. You find _seaItems.] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command contains "suit")[ (t8n: "flicker")+(append: ?log)[ > A strange humming noise can be heard. The diving suit stands as if occupied and the visor is fogged. As you reach out to wipe the visor the suit steps back. Looking closely into the helmet you see only a swirling black void.] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command contains "humming")[ (set: _found to true) (go-to: "THE HUMMING CLOSET")] (display: "GlobalCommands") (if: _found is false)[ (alert: "COMMAND NOT RECOGNIZED --- TRY HELP") ] (set: $command to "") ] ]]

(t8n: "flicker")[[LOCATION: THE HUMMING CLOSET] You squeeze into the narrow space behind the rock wall. The air is hot, dry, and smells of burning ozone. The room is tiny. The walls are lined with pulsing black cables that look uncomfortably like veins. The vibration rattles your teeth. In the center, a CRT **TERMINAL** hangs from the ceiling by a wire. A sticky note on the screen reads: "DO NOT TOUCH - GARY".] |log>[] --- **TERMINAL ACCESS ACTIVE** Type a command (e.g., 'look', 'read barcode') and press ENTER: (input-box: bind $command, "", 1) |submit>[(link-repeat: "EXECUTE COMMAND")[ (set: $command to (lower-case: (trimmed: $command))) (if: $command's length > 0)[ (set: _found to false) (if: $command contains "hub")[ (set: _found to true) (go-to: "APEX & ABYSS")] (if: $command contains "back")[ (set: _found to true) (go-to: "THE TRENCH")] (if: $command contains "1984")[ (set: _found to true) (set: $endGame to true) (append: ?log)[ > ACCESS GRANTED. ...SUCCESS. The terminal powers down. The humming stops. You hear a distant hydraulic groan from the direction of the Main Elevators.]] (if: $command contains "terminal")[ (append: ?log)[ > It's an ancient machine running an OS that shouldn't exist. The keyboard is sticky. It seems to require a 4 character code.] (set: _found to true)] (display: "GlobalCommands") (if: _found is false)[ (alert: "COMMAND NOT RECOGNIZED --- TRY HELP") ] (set: $command to "") ] ]]

{ (if: $command contains "hom")[ (go-to: "HOM") (set: _found to true) ] (if: $command contains "chronos")[ (go-to: "CHRONOS GALLERY") (set: _found to true) ] (if: $command contains "respawn")[ (go-to: "RESPAWN POINT") (set: _found to true) ] (if: $command contains "mimicry")[ (go-to: "MIMICRY & CO") (set: _found to true) ] (if: $command contains "cloak" or $command contains "dagger")[ (go-to: "CLOAK & DAGGER") (set: _found to true) ] (if: $command contains "rage" or $command contains "rent")[ (go-to: "RENT-A-RAGE") (set: _found to true) ] (if: $command contains "down" or $command contains "floor 1" or $command contains "elevator")[ (append: ?log)[ > You head back toward the central lift to return to the lower level.] (go-to: "ELEVATOR") (set: _found to true) ] }

(t8n: "flicker")[[LOCATION: HOM - SHOWROOM FLOOR ] You are in a labyrinth of **DISPLAY ROOMS**. To your left is a 'Cozy Dungeon' setup; to your right, a 'Modern Wizard Tower' studio apartment. Everything is for sale, from the **POCKET-DIMENSION RUGS** to the self-cleaning **CAULDRONS**. The blue path leads further toward the **WAREHOUSE**, but a flickering **DISPLAY TERMINAL** in a mock kitchen catches your eye.] ] |log>[] --- **TERMINAL ACCESS ACTIVE** Type a command (e.g., 'look', 'read barcode') and press ENTER: (input-box: bind $command, "", 1) |submit>[(link-repeat: "EXECUTE COMMAND")[ (set: $command to (lower-case: (trimmed: $command))) (if: $command's length > 0)[ (set: _found to false) (if: $command contains "terminal" or $command contains "screen")[ (append: ?log)[ > The terminal is running a 'Home Optimization' quiz. One question is stuck on loop: 'WHERE WOULD YOU GO IF THE DOORS DISAPPEARED?' Underneath, someone has typed: 'UP. ALWAYS UP.'] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command contains "rug" or $command contains "carpet")[ (append: ?log)[ > You step on a rug. Your foot sinks into it as if it's three feet deep. The tag reads: 'THE ABYSSAL SHAG - FOR THOSE WHO ENJOY DEPTH.'] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command contains "cauldron" or $command contains "kitchen")[ (append: ?log)[ > The cauldrons are induction-heated and dishwasher safe. A sticker on the side says: 'Warning: Do not brew potions of long-term memory while the self-clean cycle is active.'] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command contains "warehouse" or $command contains "forward" or $command contains "follow")[ (set: _found to true) (go-to: "HOM WAREHOUSE")] (if: $command contains "back" or $command contains "threshold")[ (set: _found to true) (go-to: "HOM") ] (display: "GlobalCommands") (if: _found is false)[ (alert: "COMMAND NOT RECOGNIZED --- TRY HELP") ] (set: $command to "") ] ]]

(t8n: "flicker")[[LOCATION: HOM - THE VOID-WAREHOUSE] The cozy birch-wood aesthetic of the showroom vanishes, replaced by cold concrete and steel racking that ascends so high the top shelves are lost in a grey mist. The air is still and carries the scent of cardboard and ozone. Massive **MODULAR CAPSULES**—pre-fabricated rooms ready for planar transport—are stacked in endless rows. A heavy **FORKLIFT** sits abandoned in the center of the aisle, its lights still rotating silently. A discarded **ASSEMBLY MANUAL** for a 'KÖRV' bookshelf lies splayed open on a flat-pack box.] |log>[] --- **TERMINAL ACCESS ACTIVE** Type a command (e.g., 'look', 'read barcode') and press ENTER: (input-box: bind $command, "", 1) |submit>[(link-repeat: "EXECUTE COMMAND")[ (set: $command to (lower-case: (trimmed: $command))) (if: $command's length > 0)[ (set: _found to false) (if: $command contains "manual" or $command contains "book" or $command contains "read")[ (append: ?log)[ > Most of the manual is composed of impossible diagrams and hex-code gibberish. However, someone has aggressively circled the header of Chapter 1 in red permanent marker: (text-style:"bold","italic","mark","underline")[FIND THE].] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command contains "capsule" or $command contains "room" or $command contains "box")[ (append: ?log)[ > You peek into a cracked capsule. Inside is a perfectly preserved 1950s kitchen. The clock on the wall isn't moving, but the faucet is dripping liquid mercury.] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command contains "forklift" or $command contains "vehicle")[ (append: ?log)[ > The keys are in the ignition, but the console displays a 'User Not Authorized' error. A sticker on the steering wheel reads: 'Property of HÖM Logistics - Do not operate during reality-shifts.'] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command is "look")[ (append: ?log)[ > The silence here is heavy. Occasionally, you hear the distant 'clack-clack-clack' of a pallet jack elsewhere in the maze, but you see no one.] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command contains "back" or $command contains "showroom")[ (set: _found to true) (go-to: "HOM SHOWROOM")] (display: "GlobalCommands") (if: _found is false)[ (alert: "COMMAND NOT RECOGNIZED --- TRY HELP")] (set: $command to "") ] ]]

(t8n: "flicker")[[LOCATION: THE CHRONOS GALLERY - SHOWROOM] This long hall is lined with glass pedestals, each holding a different artifact of temporal power. You see 'Time-Rewind Tokens' (looking suspiciously like arcade quarters) and jars of 'Concentrated Yesterday.' In the center of the room stands a massive, seven-foot-tall **GRANDFATHER CLOCK**. It is made of dark, swirling wood that seems to be growing and decaying simultaneously. Beyond the pedestals, a heavy steel **VAULT DOOR** marks the back of the store.] |log>[] --- **TERMINAL ACCESS ACTIVE** Type a command (e.g., 'look', 'read barcode') and press ENTER: (input-box: bind $command, "", 1) |submit>[(link-repeat: "EXECUTE COMMAND")[ (set: $command to (lower-case: (trimmed: $command))) (if: $command's length > 0)[ (set: _found to false) (if: $command contains "clock" or $command contains "grandfather" or $command contains "pendulum")[ (append: ?log)[ > The clock has no hands and doesn't tick; it merely vibrates with a low-frequency energy. A neon-pink sticky note is attached to the stationary pendulum. In hurried handwriting, it reads: (text-style:"bold","italic","mark","underline")[HUMMING].] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command contains "token" or $command contains "quarter" or $command contains "rewind")[ (append: ?log)[ > A small placard reads: 'One-Minute Rewind. Price: 50 Years of your future. No refunds.'] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command contains "vault" or $command contains "door" or $command contains "forward")[ (append: ?log)[ > You approach the Vault of Eras.] (set: _found to true) (go-to: "CHRONOS VAULT")] (if: $command contains "back" or $command contains "vestibule")[ (set: _found to true) (after:5s)[(go-to: "CHRONOS GALLERY")]] (display: "GlobalCommands") (if: _found is false)[ (alert: "COMMAND NOT RECOGNIZED --- TRY HELP")] (set: $command to "") ] ]]

(t8n: "flicker")[[LOCATION: THE CHRONOS GALLERY - THE VAULT OF ERAS] This room is freezing. The walls are not made of stone or metal, but of frozen moments in time—blurred images of historical events suspended in a crystal-like substance. On a central pedestal lies the gallery's most expensive item: a **PLATINUM CARD**. The air around it ripples with pure narrative potential.] |log>[] --- **TERMINAL ACCESS ACTIVE** Type a command (e.g., 'look', 'read barcode') and press ENTER: (input-box: bind $command, "", 1) |submit>[(link-repeat: "EXECUTE COMMAND")[ (set: $command to (lower-case: (trimmed: $command))) (if: $command's length > 0)[ (set: _found to false) (if: $command contains "card" or $command contains "platinum" or $command contains "credit")[ (append: ?log)[ > It's the 'Platinum Planar Card.' The fine print on the back is too small to read without magical assistance, but you catch the words: '...immediate transition to Internal Assets.'] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command is "look")[ (append: ?log)[ > You see a frozen image of a king being crowned, and another of a world ending in fire. They are for sale as 'Conversation Starters.'] (set: _found to true)] (if: $command contains "back" or $command contains "showroom")[ (go-to: "CHRONOS SHOWROOM") (set: _found to true)] (display: "GlobalCommands") (if: _found is false)[ (alert: "COMMAND NOT RECOGNIZED --- TRY HELP")] (set: $command to "") ] ]]

{ (if: $command contains "cinn" or $command contains "portal")[ (set: _found to true) (go-to: "CINN-A-PORTAL")] (if: $command contains "behold" or $command contains "bowl")[ (set: _found to true) (go-to: "BEHOLD-A-BOWL")] (if: $command contains "frosted" or $command contains "familiar")[ (set: _found to true) (go-to: "FROSTED FAMILIAR")] (if: $command contains "grog")[ (set: _found to true) (go-to: "GROG-TO-GO")] (if: $command contains "table" and $command contains "float")[ (set: _found to true) (go-to: "SEATING AREA")] (if: $command contains "slayer" or $command contains "skillet")[ (set: _found to true) (go-to: "SLAYERS SKILLET")] (if: $command contains "singularity" or $command contains "smoothie")[ (set: _found to true) (go-to: "SINGULARITY SMOOTHIE")] (if: $command contains "back" or $command contains "exit")[ (set: _found to true) (go-to: "FLOOR 3")] (if: $command contains "down" or $command contains "floor 2" or $command contains "elevator")[ (append: ?log)[ > You head back toward the central lift to return to the lower level.] (set: _found to true) (after:5s)[(go-to: "ELEVATOR")]] }

{ (if: $command contains "1" or $command contains "one")[ (set: _found to true) (set: $floorView to 1) (go-to: "FLOOR 1") ] (if: $command contains "2" or $command contains "two")[ (set: _found to true) (set: $floorView to 2) (go-to: "FLOOR 2") ] (if: $command contains "3" or $command contains "three")[ (set: _found to true) (set: $floorView to 3) (go-to: "FLOOR 3") ] (if: $command contains "4" or $command contains "four")[ (set: _found to true) (set: $floorView to 4) (go-to: "FLOOR 4") ] (if: $command contains "back" and $floorView is 1)[ (set: _found to true) (go-to: "FLOOR 1") ] (if: $command contains "back" and $floorView is 2)[ (set: _found to true) (go-to: "FLOOR 2") ] (if: $command contains "back" and $floorView is 3)[ (set: _found to true) (go-to: "FLOOR 3") ] (if: $command contains "back" and $floorView is 4)[ (set: _found to true) (go-to: "FLOOR 4") ] }

(t8n: "flicker")[[LOCATION: OTIS UNIT - IN TRANSIT] As you step in the elevator shudders and falls a foot downward. The doors slam shut and a brief odor of burning rubber invades your nostrils as the elevator slowly begins to descend. The elevator doesn't hum like the others; it shrieks. The floor vibrates with a violent, mechanical shudder. The digital floor indicator above the door flickers, then glitters with static. The numbers begin to change, but they aren't counting floors anymore. They are counting years: |year>[2026]] (set: $currentYear to 3127) {(live: 0.5s)[ (set: _years to (random: 1, 100)) (set: $currentYear to it - _years) (if: $currentYear <= 1984)[ (replace: ?year)[1984] (stop:) (live: 2s)[(go-to: "LEVEL 0")] ] (else:)[ (replace: ?year)[(print: $currentYear)] ] ]} The smell of ozone is replaced by the scent of stale tobacco and old coffee.

(t8n: "flicker")[[LOCATION: LEVEL 0 - INTERNAL ASSETS] The heavy iron doors groan open. You aren't in a mall anymore. You stand in a cramped, wood-paneled office. The carpet is a depressing shade of brown, and the only light comes from the flickering fluorescent bars overhead. Through a window behind a large metal desk, you see a gray, smoggy sky and the unmistakable silhouette of the Twin Towers. Sitting at the desk is a disheveled man—the **SITE MANAGER**. He looks exactly like you, right down to the tired lines around his eyes. He is typing furiously into a bulky, beige monitor.] |log>[] --- **TERMINAL ACCESS ACTIVE** Type a command (e.g., 'look at monitor', 'speak to manager') and press ENTER: (input-box: bind $command, "", 1) |submit>[(link-repeat: "EXECUTE COMMAND")[ (set: $command to (lower-case: (trimmed: $command))) (if: $command's length > 0)[ (set: _found to false) (if: $command contains "monitor" or $command contains "screen")[ (append: ?log)[ > You lean over the desk. The screen is filled with green text on a black background. It reads: [LOCATION: LEVEL 0 ELEVATOR] [STATUS: THE PARTY HAS ARRIVED. SYSTEM ERROR: PROTAGONISTS ARE OFF-SCRIPT.]] (set: _found to true) ] (if: $command contains "manager" or $command contains "speak" or $command contains "man")[ (append: ?log)[ > The man doesn't look up. "You're late," he mutters. "I've been trying to write your way out of that mall for six months. Do you have any idea how hard it is to maintain narrative cohesion with you lot running around?"] (set: _found to true) ] (if: $command contains "window" or $command contains "sky" or $command contains "view")[ (append: ?log)[ > It's 1984. New York City. The air looks thick and tastes like soot. It’s remarkably boring compared to the Interdimensional Mall. It’s perfect.] (set: _found to true) ] (if: $command is "look")[ (append: ?log)[ > The office is cluttered with half-empty coffee mugs, overflowing ashtrays, and stacks of paper titled 'DMBC SEASON 1 SCRIPT.' A nameplate on the desk matches your name.] (set: _found to true) ] (display: "GlobalCommands") (if: _found is false)[ (alert: "COMMAND NOT RECOGNIZED") ] (set: $command to "") ] ]]