Freedom Baird's chat with Maur on 4/8/96.
Maur
The Computer Says:
[This is an experimental simulation of a conversation with a dragon,]
[and it is STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION. ]
[ ]
[If you don't already know, communicate with the dragon with plain ]
[English. Adventure game commands like "run away" will NOT work. ]
[Also please note that you CANNOT browse in this conversation, as ]
[you can in other database. ]
[ ]
[A word of warning: ]
[This dragon is mean and nasty. Be creative and inventive and try ]
[to come out of it alive - it IS possible. ]
Press to continue.
Tell me more ...
It seems like you have been wandering through these dark tunnels for years.
They hadn't seemed so bad when you and your companions had entered the deserted
mine, led by a rumour that the Hero's Crown might have come to rest here. But
you have been seperated from your friends by a rockslide, and have ended up
following narrow passages and shafts leading forever downwards. You are out of
food, too, and your stomach is grumbling. You break out of your thoughts,
noticing that the light from your torch is no longer reflecting off of damp,
rough-hewn walls. Instead, the flickering light of the torch is swallowed up by
the darkness of some sort of large cavern. You glance back over your shoulder,
and realize you can no longer tell where you entered the cavern. Putting aside
your misgivings, you begin to stride forwards once more. All at once a
sibilant voice comes out of nowhere, filling your head without a sound being
made.
The voice says:
Well, well, a visitor. It has been a long time since anyone has come down this
way.
You say:
It's been a long time since I spokce to anyone either.
The voice says:
Yes... My last visitor was one of those Northerners. That must have been...
certainly forty of what you call years. He actually tried to attack me...
naturally I incinerated him on the spot.
You say:
You wouldn't happen to have any food around here, would you?
The voice says:
Enough of your ceaseless chatter, human! I begin to long for silence! (You
hear a great inrush of air, and take a few steps backwards. Maur's eyes stay
fixed on you, and then, before you can turn to run, he opens his mouth and
exhales. A great wind buffets you, hot enough that you can feel your hair
begin to crinkle and your skin begins to sting. The air smells hard and
metallic. Then there is a great blast of heat and flame, flame white as
lightning and hotter than any forge, enveloping you. Then an explosion of pain
hits you, and you know no more...)
(You have died.)
[Type RESTART to try again or QUIT to end]
You say:
RESTART
Well, well, a visitor. It has been a long time since anyone has come down this
way.
You say:
Hi, who are you?
Long ago my name would have meant something to you. Whole villages fled at my
coming; at least they tried... my name is Maur.
You say:
Why are you here?
Maur says:
I am healing, and chose this spot because no one comes here... I remain here
because I cannot yet fly again! (The dragon sounds annoyed. You hear an
ominous creaking, rustling noise.) Ah, my wings are almost better... soon,
soon...
You say:
Can I help you?
Maur says:
How do you think you could help me, human? What could you do that might
possibly benefit me?
You say:
I know how to heal wounds.
Maur says:
Enough of your ceaseless chatter, human! I begin to long for silence! (You
hear a great inrush of air, and take a few steps backwards. Maur's eyes stay
fixed on you, and then, before you can turn to run, he opens his mouth and
exhales. A great wind buffets you, hot enough that you can feel your hair
begin to crinkle and your skin begins to sting. The air smells hard and
metallic. Then there is a great blast of heat and flame, flame white as
lightning and hotter than any forge, enveloping you. Then an explosion of pain
hits you, and you know no more...)
(You have died.)
[Type RESTART to try again or QUIT to end]
You say:
REESTART
Enough of your ceaseless chatter, human! I begin to long for silence! (You
hear a great inrush of air, and take a few steps backwards. Maur's eyes stay
fixed on you, and then, before you can turn to run, he opens his mouth and
exhales. A great wind buffets you, hot enough that you can feel your hair
begin to crinkle and your skin begins to sting. The air smells hard and
metallic. Then there is a great blast of heat and flame, flame white as
lightning and hotter than any forge, enveloping you. Then an explosion of pain
hits you, and you know no more...)
(You have died.)
[Type RESTART to try again or QUIT to end]
You say:
RESTART
Well, well, a visitor. It has been a long time since anyone has come down this
way.
You say:
Hi, what's your name?
Long ago my name would have meant something to you. Whole villages fled at my
coming; at least they tried... my name is Maur.
You say:
Whay are you here?
Maur says:
Enough of your ceaseless chatter, human! I begin to long for silence! (You
hear a great inrush of air, and take a few steps backwards. Maur's eyes stay
fixed on you, and then, before you can turn to run, he opens his mouth and
exhales. A great wind buffets you, hot enough that you can feel your hair
begin to crinkle and your skin begins to sting. The air smells hard and
metallic. Then there is a great blast of heat and flame, flame white as
lightning and hotter than any forge, enveloping you. Then an explosion of pain
hits you, and you know no more...)
(You have died.)
[Type RESTART to try again or QUIT to end]
You say:
RESTART
Well, well, a visitor. It has been a long time since anyone has come down this
way.
You say:
Hi, who are you.
Long ago my name would have meant something to you. Whole villages fled at my
coming; at least they tried... my name is Maur.
You say:
Why are you hear?
Maur says:
I chose this cavern because no one comes here any more. The Northerners have
very little capacity for reason - how else can you explain the fact that they
worship the skulls of their ancestors?
You say:
When will you leave here?
Maur says:
Enough of your ceaseless chatter, human! I begin to long for silence! (You
hear a great inrush of air, and take a few steps backwards. Maur's eyes stay
fixed on you, and then, before you can turn to run, he opens his mouth and
exhales. A great wind buffets you, hot enough that you can feel your hair
begin to crinkle and your skin begins to sting. The air smells hard and
metallic. Then there is a great blast of heat and flame, flame white as
lightning and hotter than any forge, enveloping you. Then an explosion of pain
hits you, and you know no more...)
(You have died.)
[Type RESTART to try again or QUIT to end]
You say:
RESTART
Well, well, a visitor. It has been a long time since anyone has come down this
way.
You say:
Hi, who are you?
Long ago my name would have meant something to you. Whole villages fled at my
coming; at least they tried... my name is Maur.
You say:
Ah, yes, Maur. I remember the stories.
Maur says:
Yes, I am the Maur of your legends, and I am still alive, while my sisters and
brothers have died one by one at the hands of warriors like Gorthold, may his
soul rest in torment. Now there is just Karithol and myself left...
You say:
Tell me about Karithol.
Maur says:
Enough of your ceaseless chatter, human! I begin to long for silence! (You
hear a great inrush of air, and take a few steps backwards. Maur's eyes stay
fixed on you, and then, before you can turn to run, he opens his mouth and
exhales. A great wind buffets you, hot enough that you can feel your hair
begin to crinkle and your skin begins to sting. The air smells hard and
metallic. Then there is a great blast of heat and flame, flame white as
lightning and hotter than any forge, enveloping you. Then an explosion of pain
hits you, and you know no more...)
(You have died.)
[Type RESTART to try again or QUIT to end]
You say:
RESTART
Well, well, a visitor. It has been a long time since anyone has come down this
way.
You say:
Hmm. Who are you?
Long ago my name would have meant something to you. Whole villages fled at my
coming; at least they tried... my name is Maur.
You say:
Ah, yes, the great Maur of legend. I remember the stories.
Maur says:
Yes, I am the Maur of your legends, and I am still alive, while my sisters and
brothers have died one by one at the hands of warriors like Gorthold, may his
soul rest in torment. Now there is just Karithol and myself left...
You say:
What will you do know?
Maur says:
Enough of your ceaseless chatter, human! I begin to long for silence! (You
hear a great inrush of air, and take a few steps backwards. Maur's eyes stay
fixed on you, and then, before you can turn to run, he opens his mouth and
exhales. A great wind buffets you, hot enough that you can feel your hair
begin to crinkle and your skin begins to sting. The air smells hard and
metallic. Then there is a great blast of heat and flame, flame white as
lightning and hotter than any forge, enveloping you. Then an explosion of pain
hits you, and you know no more...)
(You have died.)
[Type RESTART to try again or QUIT to end]
You say:
quit
Thank you for trying this out. You will now have an opportunity to leave a few
comments - please do. If you would like answers to your questions, or
comments, please mail me at andrew@debra.dgbt.doc.ca.
Return to FB's chatbot assignment page.
baird@media.mit.edu