== Walkthrough of the Last Voyage of the Warsaw Queen by Charles M Ball == *** WARNING - SPOILERS This is a basic walkthrough for all points and achievements *** >look Your Hotel Room -- The Terrabelle Your room on the Terrabelle is on the lower end, economically, of the offerings on the converted riverboat. A porthole looks out toward the river. Small accents, like the exposed wood construction and Art Nouveau desk lamp, harken back to an earlier time. There is no television, and the shared bathroom is down the hall. The door is to the east. You can also see an antique desk (on which are a brochure, a photograph, a medallion, and an old newspaper clipping) and a bed here. >x brochure The brochure highlights the origin of the boat you are on, a stern-wheel paddleboat. It was built to replicate the rough period details of a much earlier paddleboat, the Warsaw Queen, a packet that sailed the Mississippi river until it wrecked, on March 25, 1889, killing everyone on board, near this very location on the river. There is a brief history of the tragic sinking of the 'Queen, and the brochure says that a downstream shipbuilder at the time gathered debris from the wreck, which amounted to a small cache of still useful lumber. Some of that wood was used in the construction of the Terrabelle itself, which sailed the river for leisure before it was converted to a casino and hotel. >x photograph Your mother gave you this photograph of a notorious riverboat gambler, who sailed up and down the Mississippi River in the latter part of the nineteenth century, cheating people out of their money. He is your great-great-grandfather, Milford Young. Stories about him were a staple of your childhood. His success with card games enriched him with significant wealth, and some of that carried down to become the source of fortunes among your relatives both past and present. >x medallion According to your mother, this medallion belonged to your great-great-grandfather. It was recovered from his body when he was pulled out of the river after the wreck of the Warsaw Queen. There is a strange design inlaid into its center. >x design The design is puzzling, inscrutable. Whatever meaning it has, you couldn't begin to guess. >x clipping The clipping is a photocopy (from microfiche) of the society page from the Commercial Herald, Vicksburg, Mississippi, dated March 28, 1889. It is a brief followup to a previous day's article, about the sinking of the Warsaw Queen. This clipping has a short list of local residents who perished in the wreck, and your great-great-grandfather, Milford Young, is mentioned by name. This is just one of many primary source materials you have hunted down that relate to the life of your ancestor as you compile your biographical study about him. >x porthole The porthole in this room looks out across the river, a view that is unvarying, as the riverboat no longer sails. The laws around here changed recently to allow the casino to operate, even though the boat is permanently docked. It is dark out there, with just a few visible lights twinkling far away across the wide expanse of the Mississippi. >e Leaving your room isn't very appealing after you spent the whole day at the hotel, looking around the place and playing some table games and slot machines. It's late now, and you'd rather sleep than go back out to the casino. >x bed Queen-sized. It looks comfortable and inviting. >get in bed You turn off the lamp, climb into bed, and fall fast asleep. Sometime in the early morning hours, you awake with a start. You were having a dream -- a nightmare, really. And except for a vague vision of its last moments -- something moist, slimy, with tentacles -- you don't remember it. You sit up, sheets damp with sweat, and you sense an odd feeling in the air, making the hair on the back of your neck stand up. In the darkness of the room, your eyes are drawn to a small, eerie glow coming from the floor. You reach over and turn on the desk lamp. Your Hotel Room -- The Terrabelle (on the bed) Your room on the Terrabelle is on the lower end, economically, of the offerings on the converted riverboat. A porthole looks out toward the river. Small accents, like the exposed wood construction and Art Nouveau desk lamp, harken back to an earlier time. There is no television, and the shared bathroom is down the hall. On the floor there is a frayed Persian rug, and there is a strange glow near the center of it. Something on the floor underneath, about the size of your hand, is glowing through the rug. The door is to the east. You can also see an antique desk (on which are a brochure, a photograph, a medallion, and an old newspaper clipping) here. [Your score has just gone up by three points.] >x glow There is a strange glow coming from underneath the frayed Persian rug. Your ancestor's medallion, sitting on the desk, also begins to emit a faint shimmer. >x medallion According to your mother, this medallion belonged to your great-great-grandfather. It was recovered from his body when he was pulled out of the river after the wreck of the Warsaw Queen. It is hot to the touch now, and the inscrutable design in the center of the medallion is emitting a faint shimmer. >look under rug (first getting out of bed) You pull the frayed Persian rug aside. Underneath it, one of the floorboards stands out: it is darker and shows a quality of wear that suggests it's been around for a long time. It must be one of the salvaged planks that the hotel brochure mentions. There is a spooky symbol carved into the plank, and it's glowing. [Your score has just gone up by three points.] >get medallion Taken. >i You are carrying: a medallion The symbol on the floorboard is glowing brighter. >put medallion on symbol You bring the glowing medallion close to the glowing symbol on the floor. Immediately, there is a flash of fire between them. The symbol on the floor is lit with flame. The air you breathe suddenly feels heavy, and thick. Stars dance around the edges of your vision and your legs begin to wobble. Dizziness overtakes you, and you slump down onto the floor. Everything around you fades... Your Stateroom When the mist clears and your mind haze subsides, you find that the room you are in has changed. It closely matches your hotel room, but it is more cramped, and the bed is much smaller. On the wall is a decorative hanging, showing an emblem which announces "Warsaw Queen" in needlepoint. You realize you are no longer in possession of the glowing medallion. You can see a simple pine desk, a squat stool, a decorative hanging, a bed, and a porthole here. Exits: east. >x hanging A needlepoint emblem that reads, "Warsaw Queen." >x desk (the simple pine desk) A compact surface just big enough to pen out a letter or a postcard. >x porthole (the porthole) The porthole looks out to the port side of the boat. The full moon is low in the night sky in that direction, and its shimmering reflection is like a scintillating silver path across the surface of the river, extending toward the far shore. A scant few small fires or lamp lights sparkle from the distant riverbank. The porthole is closed. >e Stateroom Corridor The corridor between the Warsaw Queen's staterooms is dimly lit by kerosene lamps, spaced evenly between the stateroom doors. Odd numbered rooms are to the west (the port side), rooms 1 through 11. Even numbered rooms are to the east (starboard), rooms 2 through 12. There is a flickering yellow light coming from under the door of one of the staterooms. There is an eerie red glow coming from under the door of one of the staterooms. You can also see a map of the decks and a slip of paper here. Exits: into a numbered room, or north, southeast, south, or southwest. As you step out of the stateroom, a man dressed in an old time porter's attire hurries past you. Something astonishing happens when you look at him: he flickers, becoming an indistinct apparition for a moment, before returning to the solid appearance of normal, everyday things. And something else happens -- when he flickers, a slip of paper falls from his back pocket and settles on the floor of the hallway. >x paper The slip of paper reads: Passenger Manifest - The Warsaw Queen Staterooms 1 - Truman Holmes 2 - Milford Young 3 - Mr and Mrs Charles Buck 4 - Eph Holland 5 - James Thorwegon 6 - Anderson Waddell 7 - (empty) 8 - Arlie Cannon 9 - William McGawley 10 - Bill Horricks 11 - Marion Knowles 12 - Posey Jeffers Third Class Dormitories ...and the list goes on. >get manifest Taken. >x map A printed illustration hangs on the wall in the corridor. The title, in a handsome typeface at the top, says, "The Warsaw Queen," and the picture shows the general layout of the two main decks of the boat: the stateroom deck (which you are on), and below it, the cargo deck. Note: you will now be shown extra information about the exits from each area on the Warsaw Queen. To disable this behavior, you can type "MAP OFF". To re-enable it, type "MAP ON". >x yellow light There is a flickering yellow light coming from under the door of stateroom number 12, on the starboard side. >knock on door 12 You knock on Room 12. After a moment, someone inside says, "Not now, I am busy." >open door 12 The stateroom door won't open; it is locked. >x red glow There is an eerie red glow coming from under the door of stateroom number 2, on the starboard side. >open door 2 The stateroom door won't open; it is locked. >n Dining Room The dining room is lit by stylish oil lamps spaced along the walls. Dinner tables are dressed with white tablecloths and set with shiny silverware and cloth napkins. It must be the wee hours of the morning here on the Warsaw Queen, as it was on the Terrabelle, before your collapse, before you ended up on this boat. The dining room is quiet and empty now. From here, you can go north to the lounge, south to the stateroom corridor, or east to the galley. >n Lounge The lounge opens up around a wide, descending staircase in the center of the space. Small tables accompanied by padded chairs provide passengers with a comfortable place to pass the time, and large windows offer views out to the port and starboard sides, brightening the space during the daylight hours. Two large pillars encase the smoke stacks that run up from the boilers below through the deck on each side of the staircase. A handsome, well dressed couple sits in the lounge, sipping small snifters of brandy. They flicker momentarily, like the porter in the hallway, when you glance at them. The gentleman says, "Well Mrs Buck, it's getting quite late, my dear. Shall we retire to the stateroom when we are done with our brandies?" The lady responds, "Oh Charles, I'm not very tired just yet; let us step out onto the deck and have a look at the moon. It's quite full tonight." From here, you can go west to the guards on the port side, east to the starboard side, south to the dining room, southwest to the barber shop, or downstairs to the cargo deck. >x gentleman Mr Buck has a receding hairline and a full pyramid mustache that covers his upper lip. His expensive evening jacket is unbuttoned to reveal a modest paunch behind his silk vest. >x lady Mrs Buck's hair is curled and worn up, beneath a velvet capulet hat with lace accents. She wears a high neck bodice dress with leg-of-mutton sleeves. >listen You hear nothing unexpected. >l Lounge The lounge opens up around a wide, descending staircase in the center of the space. Small tables accompanied by padded chairs provide passengers with a comfortable place to pass the time, and large windows offer views out to the port and starboard sides, brightening the space during the daylight hours. Two large pillars encase the smoke stacks that run up from the boilers below through the deck on each side of the staircase. A handsome, well dressed couple sits in the lounge, sipping small snifters of brandy. They flicker momentarily, like the porter in the hallway, when you glance at them. The gentleman says, "Are you finished, dear? The moonlight calls, you know." From here, you can go west to the guards on the port side, east to the starboard side, south to the dining room, southwest to the barber shop, or downstairs to the cargo deck. >e Stateroom Deck -- Starboard This outside deck runs all along the starboard side of the cabin, wide enough for three abreast to stroll its length. It is shielded from the sky by the hurricane deck above, and a wood railing, called the guards, keeps you from falling over the side of the boat and into the Mississippi River. You can see a glowing yellow porthole and a glowing red porthole here. From here, you can go west to the lounge, southwest to the aft section of the deck, or down to the cargo deck. >x yellow porthole You peek into the porthole from which a yellow glow emanates. Inside, you see a man sitting at a desk in his first class stateroom. There are several decks of playing cards on the desk, and he is sorting through them, selecting the face cards. Each of these he places into a small contraption which holds the card and allows him to drag a razor blade along one long edge, shaving but a thread's width of the edge of the card away. He is doing something called cutting (or slicing) the deck, a common strategy employed by unscrupulous gamblers to cheat their opponents in games of poker. [Your score has just gone up by three points.] >x red porthole You peek into the porthole from which a red glow emanates. Inside, you see a shirtless man on his hands and knees on the floor. His hair is mussed and sticks to the sweat on his forehead. His eyes are wild as he consults a piece of paper on the floor next to him, and then, with a pocket knife, he carefully carves something into the floorboard. He lifts his upper body, still on his knees, inspecting his handiwork, and you are startled when you think you recognize the man. According to the photograph your mother gave you, he looks like your great-great-grandfather, Milford Young. [Your score has just gone up by three points.] >x milford young You peek into the porthole from which a red glow emanates. Inside, you see a shirtless man on his hands and knees on the floor. His hair is mussed and sticks to the sweat on his forehead. His eyes are wild as he consults a piece of paper on the floor next to him, and then, with a pocket knife, he carefully carves something into the floorboard. It is the eeriest thing to think you are looking at your great-great-grandfather, the long deceased riverboat gambler, Milford Young. >sw Stateroom Deck -- Aft The aft deck on the stateroom level is mostly closed in. The sky is blocked by the deck above, while bathrooms for passengers without first class facilities take up the rear of the deck. A corridor opens into the stateroom cabin toward fore, and steep stairwells, almost perpendicular, go up to the hurricane deck and down to cargo. Here on stateroom, the outside deck proceeds around the cabin to the port and starboard sides. You can see William McGawley and Bill Horricks here. "Tell me, Bill," says William McGawley, "did you note that carnival man and his cargo?" "Yes," replies Bill Horricks, "I myself was by the gangplank when the men were handling his precious store. His name is Truman Holmes, and he has brought aboard a living alligator in a box cage. After I saw them loading his gator, I had to make inquiries about the animal. If I am being honest, I am not so sure he treats that alligator very well." "I heard one of the deckhands saying just as much," replies William. "So, tell me what you think, then: what do you reckon a man should feed a live alligator, when he has such in his care to provide for?" "Well, pig's feet and chicken hearts, I guess? Or any raw meat," says Bill. "But why do you ask?" "For the reason that I intend to take the animal from him when I get him interested in a game of three card monte." From here, you can go north into the stateroom corridor, northwest to the guards on the port side, northeast to the starboard side, up to the hurricane deck or down to the cargo deck. >listen "All right now, Bill," says William McGawley, "here is the play. I will set up in the barber shop, and let a few of these planters on board set the bait. I need you to get friendly with Truman Holmes, and get him to come watch the game." "I reckon I can do that," says Bill. "Now we need a third member for our team. After I drop a few hundred on the planters, our friend will bend the corner of the king card while I am distracted. You make Truman wise to the mark on the card, and then you bet me $1,000 that you can turn the card with the king on it." >listen "All right," says Bill Horricks, "so I win the $1,000, and then what?" "Then," says William McGawley, "you will try to make the play again, but I will tell you that because I lost $1,000 to you, I will not wager again for less than $5,000. You will say you do not have the money, and that is when you ask Mr. Holmes to put up his alligator as stake, and you will split the winnings with him if he agrees, even stephen." >listen Bill Horricks says, "It is simple enough; all I have to do is convince Truman to put up his alligator, and we will split the $5,000." "That is correct," confirms William McGawley. "The only question is, who do we enlist as our partner, to bend the corner of the king card?" "Leave it to me," says Bill Horricks. "I have a few friends on this boat. You look for someone wearing a green bandana around their neck. That will be our cohort." >listen Bill Horricks says, "Remember, our cohort will be wearing a green bandana. Everyone in the barber shop has to think you do not see them when they bend the corner of the card, right, William?" William McGawley nods. "Yup," he says. >d Engine Room The sound of the engines fills this room, as huge pistons that turn the steamer's paddlewheel crank away. The steamworks which deliver power to the engines takes up the middle of the space. Steep ladderways access the deck above, and a hatch in the floor leads down into the hull. From here, you can go north to the cargo room, up to the stateroom deck, or down through a hatch into the hull. >d Bosun's Store The bosun's store is the rearmost bulkhead of the boat. Some lumber and assorted hardware for repairing the vessel are stored here. You can see a tin can of paint here. From here, you can go back up through the hatch. >x paint A small tin can of white paint. >get paint Taken. [Your score has just gone up by one point.] >u Engine Room The sound of the engines fills this room, as huge pistons that turn the steamer's paddlewheel crank away. The steamworks which deliver power to the engines takes up the middle of the space. Steep ladderways access the deck above, and a hatch in the floor leads down into the hull. From here, you can go north to the cargo room, up to the stateroom deck, or down through a hatch into the hull. >n Cargo Room This space is mostly taken up by a full load of cargo -- sacks, barrels, kegs and crates -- secured by strong ropes and thick canvas straps. The room opens out to the deck on both the port and starboard sides. An oversize hatch provides access to more space for cargo in the hull. A large cage with a wood frame and rusty chicken wire sits on the floor. From here, you can go north to the cargo passage, south to the engine room, west out to the deck on the port side, east to the starboard side, or down through a hatch into the hull. >x cage The cage is about eight feet long, three feet wide and two feet tall. In the cage of wood and rusty wire is an alligator. >x alligator The alligator is a big one. It's just lounging there in its cage (not that it has any choice). Its creepy eyes are watching you. Though its maw is closed, some of its sharp teeth are visible, and there are shreds of raw meat stuck to them. It must have eaten recently, but you get the feeling it could still eat a lot more. It could eat you. >x cargo Sacks of corn, kegs of nails, barrels of potatoes, crates of goods, bags of oats and flour...this is how these things got around before the railroad took over, all stacked up on barges that were towed along the rivers by steamers like the one you are on, and in their cargo rooms like this one. >n Cargo Passage This wide passage connects the boilers to the cargo room, with a few doors to rooms devoted to the crew and the vessel's working necessities. The flooring shows years of scrapes and wear, and countless marks and shallow gashes distress the walls from cargo boxes and barrels being toted along its length. One door on the starboard side is propped open, revealing the ship's store. At the far end of the passage is a hatch leading down into the hull. From here, you can go north to the boilers, south to the cargo room, east to the ship's store, or down through a hatch into the hull. >e Ship's Store This room stores some machine parts, miscellaneous tools, rope and other ropes and other assorted equipment. You can see a flimsy door and some storage racks (on which are a technical manual and a glass jar of paint) here. From here, you can go through a flimsy door to the north, west into the cargo passage, or southeast to the outside deck. >x manual It's a brief guide to the navigation systems of a stern-wheel paddle steamer, like the one you're on. There's a lot of uninteresting detail about the rudder and a lot of hardware jargon you don't understand. The crux of it is that the boat's wheel, up in the pilot house above the hurricane deck, controls the rudder. Turn the wheel toward starboard, the boat bears to starboard. Turn the wheel toward port, the boat bears to port. Pretty simple, really. >get manual Taken. >n (first opening the flimsy door) Crew Mess Here is where the crew takes its meals, at the long mess table that takes up most of the space. In one corner, a ladder ascends to the deck above. On the long mess table is a knockoff match lighter. You can also see a flimsy door here. From here, you can go through a flimsy door to the south, northeast to the outside deck, or up to the stateroom deck. >x lighter Surprisingly convincing as a genuine Perry & Co pellet match lighter. >get lighter Taken. >ne Cargo Deck -- Starboard Bow The starboard deck skirts the boilers and the rest of the cargo level cabin, bounded opposite by the sturdy guards. The weather is unusually warm this time of year, the nighttime temperature above sixty degrees Fahrenheit by your guess. From here, you can go northwest to the fore section of the deck, south along the deck, southwest to the crew mess, or west to the boilers. >nw Cargo Deck -- Fore Here at the front of the boat on the cargo level, the headwind disturbs your hair, and a constant whish of white noise fills the air from the water sweeping around the front of the boat as the steamer navigates the river. This is where passengers embark and disembark along a gangway when the vessel is docked. The gangway is drawn up, extending vertically toward the sky, and a jib crane is here for loading and unloading cargo. A grand staircase invites passengers up to the lounge on the stateroom level. Deckhand Washington is here, sitting on a stool near a hatch that leads down into the hull. Directly from the port side of the boat, the full moon's brightness illuminates the deck, but where the deckhand sits between two bollards, a shadow is cast over him. From here, you can go up to the stateroom deck, south to the boilers, southwest to the guards on the port side, southeast to the starboard side, or down through a hatch into the hull. >x deckhand He has a small piece of wood in one hand, and with his other, he whittles away at it with a pocket knife. >talk to deckhand Deckhand Washington flickers before your eyes, becoming transparent for a flash second. He makes no indication that he heard you. >s Boilers Two large boilers fill this space, and the heat is oppressive. Several steam lines run along the ceiling toward the aft of the boat, and the two massive smoke stacks ascend up through the decks. A couple of stokers manage the fires in the boilers, their overalls black with soot. A green cloth curtain hangs at the opening into the cargo passage toward aft, presumably to keep the heat from filling that hallway. From here, you can go north out to the fore deck, west out to the port side guards, east to the starboard side, or south to the cargo passage beyond the green curtain. You can also go down, through a hatch into the hull. >x curtain The green cloth curtain hangs over the opening into the cargo passage toward aft. >get curtain The curtain is installed sturdily in the opening of the exit passage, and you can't get it down from its anchoring. But you could obtain some of its material if you cut the curtain, perhaps, provided you possessed a pair of scissors. >x stokers The two workers keep an eye on the fires, ensuring a steady flow of steam to the engines that run the paddlewheel at the stern of the boat. >w Cargo Deck -- Port Bow The outside deck runs along the port side of the boilers and the rest of the cargo level cabin. The river sweeps by beyond the guards, as the packet steams along on its course. The full moon shines directly onto the port side of the boat from low in the sky. You hear a crewman whistling Dixie from the fore of the boat. He appears from that way, circling onto the port side deck, and when the light of the full moon falls upon him, he is suddenly gone. No amount of blinking your eyes or searching around gives you any clue as to where he disappeared to. From here, you can go northeast to the fore section of the deck, south along the deck, or east to the boilers. >ne Cargo Deck -- Fore Here at the front of the boat on the cargo level, the headwind disturbs your hair, and a constant whish of white noise fills the air from the water sweeping around the front of the boat as the steamer navigates the river. The gangway is drawn up, extending vertically toward the sky, and a jib crane is here for loading and unloading cargo. A grand staircase invites passengers up to the lounge on the stateroom level. Deckhand Washington is here, sitting on a stool near a hatch that leads down into the hull. Directly from the port side of the boat, the full moon's brightness illuminates the deck, but where the deckhand sits between two bollards, a shadow is cast over him. From here, you can go up to the stateroom deck, south to the boilers, southwest to the guards on the port side, southeast to the starboard side, or down through a hatch into the hull. >d Deckhand Washington looks up from his whittling. "No passengers allowed in the hull," he says. >sw Cargo Deck -- Port Bow The outside deck runs along the port side of the boilers and the rest of the cargo level cabin. The river sweeps by beyond the guards, as the packet steams along on its course. The full moon shines directly onto the port side of the boat from low in the sky. From here, you can go northeast to the fore section of the deck, south along the deck, or east to the boilers. >s Cargo Deck -- Port Beam This part of the outside deck opens into the cargo room on the starboard side. The full moon illuminates the deck, shining from low in the sky directly to the port of the vessel. The sound of the engines chugging away comes through the aftward cabin wall, and you can also hear the paddlewheel churning into the river from the back of the boat. From here, you can go north along the deck, east to the cargo room, or up to the stateroom deck. >u Stateroom Deck -- Port A wood railing, called the guards, bounds this outside deck, that runs the length of the cabin on the port side of the boat; beyond the guards is the great expanse of the Mississippi River. The deck is wide enough for three to walk abreast, and the hurricane deck above provides some shelter from the elements, but the full moon shines brightly onto the deck from low in the clear night sky. After a moment, the door to the lounge opens. Out come Mr and Mrs Charles Buck, the couple you saw sipping brandy in the lounge and discussing the moonlight. And suddenly, when they step into the light of the full moon, they disappear. Just gone. Leaving not a trace behind. From here, you can go east to the lounge, southeast to the aft section of the deck, or down to the cargo deck. [Your score has just gone up by three points.] >e Lounge The lounge opens up around a wide, descending staircase in the center of the space. Small tables accompanied by padded chairs provide passengers with a comfortable place to pass the time, and large windows offer views out to the port and starboard sides, brightening the space during the daylight hours. Two large pillars encase the smoke stacks that run up from the boilers below through the deck on each side of the staircase. From here, you can go west to the guards on the port side, east to the starboard side, south to the dining room, southwest to the barber shop, or downstairs to the cargo deck. >sw Barber Shop The barber shop is sectioned off from the lounge by firm wood paneling. There is a swivel chair where customers can have their manes styled and their mustachios pruned, situated in front of a large mirror. As you know from your research into the life of your great-great-grandfather, the rear of the barber shop on a packet like this one is often dedicated to unsavory gambling activities, such as faro, three card monte, and chuck-a-luck. You can see a pair of scissors here. From here, you can go northeast back to the lounge. You begin to feel very tired. Wandering about this ghostly boat has taken its toll. Perhaps it is all a dream, and if you go to sleep in your stateroom, you will wake up back where you should be, on the Terrabelle, in your own time. >ne Lounge The lounge opens up around a wide, descending staircase in the center of the space. Small tables accompanied by padded chairs provide passengers with a comfortable place to pass the time, and large windows offer views out to the port and starboard sides, brightening the space during the daylight hours. Two large pillars encase the smoke stacks that run up from the boilers below through the deck on each side of the staircase. From here, you can go west to the guards on the port side, east to the starboard side, south to the dining room, southwest to the barber shop, or downstairs to the cargo deck. >s Dining Room The dining room is lit by stylish oil lamps spaced along the walls. Dinner tables are dressed with white tablecloths and set with shiny silverware and cloth napkins. It must be the wee hours of the morning here on the Warsaw Queen, as it was on the Terrabelle, before your collapse, before you ended up on this boat. The dining room is quiet and empty now. From here, you can go north to the lounge, south to the stateroom corridor, or east to the galley. >s Stateroom Corridor The corridor between the Warsaw Queen's staterooms is dimly lit by kerosene lamps, spaced evenly between the stateroom doors. Odd numbered rooms are to the west (the port side), rooms 1 through 11. Even numbered rooms are to the east (starboard), rooms 2 through 12. There is a flickering yellow light coming from under the door of one of the staterooms. There is an eerie red glow coming from under the door of one of the staterooms. You can also see a map of the decks here. From here, you can go north to the dining room, south out to the aft deck, into a numbered room, or into one of the dormitories to the southeast and southwest. >enter 7 Your Stateroom Your borrowed accommodations on the Warsaw Queen is a spare, second class cabin, lightly furnished with the essentials. A simple wash basin and mirror are the extent of toiletry facilities provided. You can see a simple pine desk, a squat stool, a decorative hanging, a bed, and a porthole here. From here, you can go east out to the corridor. >x bed (the bed) It's a bed, and it's pretty small, but it still takes up about a third of the floor space in here. Fatigue is making your footsteps drag as you wander the quiet boat in the night. >sleep Finally, the exhaustion is too much to bear. The strange experience you're having has made you numb, your mind is too depleted to think, and your eyelids are too heavy to stay open. You fall into a deep slumber the moment you lay your body down. This time, you sleep soundly through the rest of the night, your slumber undisturbed by dreams or nightmares. But when you wake in the morning, with sunlight streaming through the porthole into your eyes, you are still in the small stateroom on the Warsaw Queen. [Your score has just gone up by three points.] >l Your Stateroom Your borrowed accommodations on the Warsaw Queen is a spare, second class cabin, lightly furnished with the essentials. A simple wash basin and mirror are the extent of toiletry facilities provided. You can see a simple pine desk, a squat stool, a decorative hanging, a bed, and a porthole here. From here, you can go east out to the corridor. >x porthole (the porthole) The porthole looks out to the port side of the boat. The far riverbank, bushy with low trees and other greenery across the river's expanse, drifts slowly by in the bright light of the clear, sunny day. The porthole is closed. >e Stateroom Corridor The corridor between the Warsaw Queen's staterooms is dimly lit by kerosene lamps, spaced evenly between the stateroom doors. Odd numbered rooms are to the west (the port side), rooms 1 through 11. Even numbered rooms are to the east (starboard), rooms 2 through 12. You can see a map of the decks here. From here, you can go north to the dining room, south out to the aft deck, into a numbered room, or into one of the dormitories to the southeast and southwest. >n Dining Room The dining room is lit by stylish oil lamps spaced along the walls. Dinner tables are dressed with white tablecloths and set with shiny silverware and cloth napkins. A few patrons mill about; you watch them as though you were watching characters in an old movie: you, the mute bystander, witnessing their concerns but not sharing them, while they chatter quietly and speak to one another, but not to you. Sitting at a table eating breakfast is a man in a waistcoat, a vest, a collared shirt and wool pants. It is the shirtless, wild eyed man you saw carving symbols into the floor of his stateroom last night, and if there was any doubt in your mind that the man is indeed your great-great-grandfather, Milford Young, seeing him now convinces you: he looks exactly the same as in the photograph your mother gave you, right down to the part in his hair, the grooming of his mustache, and the wistful look in his eyes. He lifts his cup of coffee to take a sip, and as he puts it back down, he flickers briefly. From here, you can go north to the lounge, south to the stateroom corridor, or east to the galley. >ask milford about symbols Milford Young turns his gaze directly at you -- or seems to, at first. But after a silent moment, you realize his eyes are focused on something that's a good distance behind you. >e Galley The galley is cramped with a wide cooking range including a stove and oven, the walls lined with cabinets and shelves. In one corner, a ladder leads up through a hatch in the ceiling, and in another corner is a ladder going down. Next to a chef's counter is a meat locker. You can also see the cook and Stewardess Lang here. "By the way, what's on for tonight's dinner?" asks Stewardess Lang. "One of the passengers wanted to know." The cook responds, "Well, I will be taking a hunk of that beef out of the locker in a bit, to cut up for steaks." From here, you can go west back to the dining room, up to the hurricane deck, or down to the cargo deck. >listen Stewardess Lang says, "One of the men on board was asking me if we had any pig's feet or chicken hearts in the store. I think he's one of those gamblers." The cook replies, "What did you tell him?" "Oh," says the stewardess, "I said I would have a look for him. But I know all we have is that side of beef in the locker, until we make a stop tomorrow for more supplies." >listen Stewardess Lang asks, "Is it time to pull that meat out of the locker yet?" The cook replies, "Soon, soon." >x locker Bolted to the wall is a tall meat locker with a thick glass front. In the meat locker is a large side of beef. >open locker It seems to be locked. >u Ship's Office The ship's office is a space for the captain, clerk and other officers to take their meals, and to handle the boat's ministerial affairs. A ladder leads down to the deck below, and a large oak desk with a drawer and cabinets is set against one wall. On the large oak desk are some random papers and a flip calendar. From here, you can go east to the outside deck, or down to the stateroom deck. >x calendar The calendar shows the current date is March 25, 1889, the exact date that the Warsaw Queen sank and everyone on board perished. >open drawer You open the top drawer, revealing a ring of spare keys. >get keys Taken. [Your score has just gone up by one point.] >d Galley The galley is cramped with a wide cooking range including a stove and oven, the walls lined with cabinets and shelves. In one corner, a ladder leads up through a hatch in the ceiling, and in another corner is a ladder going down. Next to a chef's counter is a meat locker. You can also see the cook and Stewardess Lang here. From here, you can go west back to the dining room, up to the hurricane deck, or down to the cargo deck. >x cabinets In the galley are various storage cabinets for kitchen supplies. >open cabinets You open the cabinets, revealing some kitchen supplies and some excellent cufflinks. >get cufflinks Taken. >x cufflinks To all but the most discerning observer, these would pass as solid gold. But they're not. >d Crew Mess Here is where the crew takes its meals, at the long mess table that takes up most of the space. In one corner, a ladder ascends to the deck above. You can see a flimsy door here. From here, you can go through a flimsy door to the south, northeast to the outside deck, or up to the stateroom deck. >ne Cargo Deck -- Starboard Bow The starboard deck skirts the boilers and the rest of the cargo level cabin, bounded opposite by the sturdy guards. The weather is very pleasant, mid-seventies Fahrenheit with average humidity if you had to guess. You can see a farmer in overalls and a gentleman in a top hat here. The farmer says, "I am sailing on this packet only due to my wife making a request of me. She asked me to take this trip in order to help out her brother, who is in some trouble, and he is a no good scoundrel besides. Now I have lost all our money, playing monte with that gambler. I thought I had a sure thing going when I saw the bend in the winning card." "Monte, eh?" replies the gentleman. "My good man, I happen to know a thing or two about games of chance. And forgive me for saying so, but monte is a game suitable for only rich men or suckers. Any person picking cards on a riverboat will learn this lesson, friend. The only question is, how much it will cost for the education?" From here, you can go northwest to the fore section of the deck, south along the deck, southwest to the crew mess, or west to the boilers. >listen The farmer says, "You certainly do seem to know something about these gamblers." The gentleman responds, "I will say I have learned a fair bit about how they operate. For instance, it is a very common trick for these swindlers to work together as a team. Now in your game of monte, for instance, the dealer throws the cards, and he will have two partners among the spectators. One of them will sneak a bend in the winning card, while the dealer pretends not to notice. That one proceeds to win a nice sum, but as they are partners, no money is actually changing hands. The dealer will then take no more bets from him, saying the man's eyes are too sharp." The farmer's eyes bug out. "This is sounding awfully familiar to me!" he exclaims. >listen The gentleman continues describing the gamblers' monte scheme. "Now you see, the dealer needs to raise the stakes, since it appears he is in a hole. His other partner steps up to play, and also picks the bent card, and wins a glorious sum. The dealer now should be in the deepest hole ever, except no money yet has actually changed hands." The farmer's jaw is on the floor as he listens, enraptured as he hears the gentleman describe exactly how his involvement with the gamblers played out. The gentleman continues. "Now the dealer demands an outrageous sum, believing that, as he has two cards to the player's one, the wrong card must come up eventually. His partner will not have enough, so he will petition anyone around him to pitch in to meet the ante. Anyone willing to put up money at all at this point will sell their own mother to get in on this action. And lo and behold, when the money is down and the player picks the bent card, it is no longer the winner, but one of the other two losing cards. Later, the gamblers will split the winnings and congratulate each other on a job well done." >listen The farmer says, "Well I surely did learn my lesson." The gentleman agrees. "Indeed. These gamblers are a shifty bunch, and they hate to miss out on a payday. If a pair doesn't have a third for their scheme, why I have heard that one of them will go out to recruit any old soul. He might have them wear some small item of clothing, say, as a signal to the dealer that they are in on the game." >s Cargo Deck -- Starboard Beam The outside deck here at starboard opens into the cargo room to port. The hum of the steamer's engines is a low drone penetrating through the cabin wall toward aft, which mixes with the sound coming from the back of the boat of the paddlewheel agitating the river water as it turns. You can see Bill Horricks and William McGawley here. Bill Horricks says, "Remember, our cohort will be wearing a green bandana. Everyone in the barber shop has to think you do not see them when they bend the corner of the card, right, William?" William McGawley nods. "Yup," he says. From here, you can go north along the deck, west to the cargo room, up to the stateroom deck, or northwest through a door. >listen Bill Horricks says, "Remember, our cohort will be wearing a green bandana. Everyone in the barber shop has to think you do not see them when they bend the corner of the card, right, William?" William McGawley nods. "Yup," he says. >w Cargo Room This space is mostly taken up by a full load of cargo -- sacks, barrels, kegs and crates -- secured by strong ropes and thick canvas straps. The room opens out to the deck on both the port and starboard sides. An oversize hatch provides access to more space for cargo in the hull. A large cage with a wood frame and rusty chicken wire sits on the floor. From here, you can go north to the cargo passage, south to the engine room, west out to the deck on the port side, east to the starboard side, or down through a hatch into the hull. >d Cargo Store For this voyage, there seemed to be no need to put cargo in the hull. This bulkhead is empty except for some leftover dirt and grime. From here, you can go back up through the hatch. >x grime You see nothing -- no, wait -- something is there, on the floor near the wall of the bulkhead. You almost missed it. A polished glass ring. >get glass ring Taken. >x glass ring A meticulously fashioned fake diamond ring. >u Cargo Room This space is mostly taken up by a full load of cargo -- sacks, barrels, kegs and crates -- secured by strong ropes and thick canvas straps. The room opens out to the deck on both the port and starboard sides. An oversize hatch provides access to more space for cargo in the hull. A large cage with a wood frame and rusty chicken wire sits on the floor. From here, you can go north to the cargo passage, south to the engine room, west out to the deck on the port side, east to the starboard side, or down through a hatch into the hull. >w Cargo Deck -- Port Beam This part of the outside deck opens into the cargo room on the starboard side. The sound of the engines chugging away comes through the aftward cabin wall, and you can also hear the paddlewheel churning into the river from the back of the boat. You can see Engineer's Mate Duffer here. From here, you can go north along the deck, east to the cargo room, or up to the stateroom deck. >u Stateroom Deck -- Port A wood railing, called the guards, bounds this outside deck, that runs the length of the cabin on the port side of the boat; beyond the guards is the great expanse of the Mississippi River. The deck is wide enough for three to walk abreast, and the hurricane deck above provides some shelter from the elements, but the weather is unseasonably pleasant and calm for this time of year. From here, you can go east to the lounge, southeast to the aft section of the deck, or down to the cargo deck. >se Stateroom Deck -- Aft The aft deck on the stateroom level is mostly closed in. The sky is blocked by the deck above, while bathrooms for passengers without first class facilities take up the rear of the deck. A corridor opens into the stateroom cabin toward fore, and steep stairwells, almost perpendicular, go up to the hurricane deck and down to cargo. Here on stateroom, the outside deck proceeds around the cabin to the port and starboard sides. From here, you can go north into the stateroom corridor, northwest to the guards on the port side, northeast to the starboard side, up to the hurricane deck or down to the cargo deck. >n Stateroom Corridor The corridor between the Warsaw Queen's staterooms is dimly lit by kerosene lamps, spaced evenly between the stateroom doors. Odd numbered rooms are to the west (the port side), rooms 1 through 11. Even numbered rooms are to the east (starboard), rooms 2 through 12. You can see a map of the decks here. From here, you can go north to the dining room, south out to the aft deck, into a numbered room, or into one of the dormitories to the southeast and southwest. >x manifest The passenger manifest reads: Passenger Manifest - The Warsaw Queen Staterooms 1 - Truman Holmes 2 - Milford Young 3 - Mr and Mrs Charles Buck 4 - Eph Holland 5 - James Thorwegon 6 - Anderson Waddell 7 - (empty) 8 - Arlie Cannon 9 - William McGawley 10 - Bill Horricks 11 - Marion Knowles 12 - Posey Jeffers Third Class Dormitories ...and the list goes on. >unlock door 2 What do you want to unlock Room 2 with? >keys Since you are carrying the spare keys, you can just go into the room. >go into room 2 Milford Young's Stateroom You are in Milford Young's stateroom. With your great-great-grandfather in the dining room having breakfast, it's the perfect opportunity to snoop around. One of the floorboards is marked with odd symbols, the ones you saw him carving into the wood last night. You can also see a porthole and a mahogany table (on which are a letter from Wilcox and a leather bound journal) here. From here, you can go west back to the corridor. >x symbols The symbols are confusing to look at. At first they strike you as crude and primitive, but as you maintain your focus on them, some kind of otherworldly elegance emerges that defies description. You go down on one knee, compelled to look closer. It takes effort to avert your gaze. Very disturbing. But when you finally do wrest your eyes away, you notice that under the mahogany table, there is a brittle leaflet. >get leaflet Taken. >x leaflet It is a page removed from a book; the paper is stiff and delicate, and seems to be very old. The writing could be Greek, which happens to be incomprehensible to you, but the bottom half of the page is taken up by a triptych of illustrations. Their familiarity gives you a chill: they echo the mesmerizing symbols carved into the stateroom floorboard by your ancestor. >x letter The letter reads: "Dear Milford, I have acted as an agent on your behalf to obtain the texts you asked me to, and they are contained herein. But in this matter I must tell you that I will go no further. What you are trying to do is very dangerous. I know that you will do as you will, but I am troubled, because I set you on the path that has led you to this when I gave you the medallion. I do not think I can stop you, but I am compelled to give you this warning. The man I found who took your money and produced these pages from the Book told me that no mortal man can survive the rituals that are contained in them. He told me that some have tried, and all of them died. What you have done with the medallion has been astounding. I do not think anyone else could have done such things with it. And I cannot say I am not grateful to you for the benefits that you have bestowed upon me through your use of it. But I believe that it has changed you. You say strange things that I do not understand and then you tell me that you do not remember saying them. If I believed that you would listen to me, I would tell you to be done with the medallion, and to not pursue this risky new path. But I believe my words would fall on deaf ears. Good luck, Arthur Wilcox" >get letter Taken. >x journal Paging through your great-great-grandfather's private journal, you see that it currently has a first section that you can read. >read first section It is quite a fascinating manuscript, and you consume it rapidly. It tells the tale of a husband, a church-going family man -- your great-great-grandfather -- who nurses a secret gambling habit. He befriends a church associate, who also pursues a clandestine gambling interest, named Arthur Wilcox. The two find much in common, and after a time, Wilcox introduces your ancestor to what is essentially a cult, which he claims can open up a path to a supernatural, otherworldly power. Their beliefs sound fantastical -- ancient alien visitors that are called forth from hiding in the earth through nefarious rituals -- but the details Milford offers fall well short of lucidity. Still, after a time, Milford's devotion in the enterprise earns him a valuable token, an item of prestige among his brothers: an ancient medallion. Your ancestor describes an instinctive ability to harness influential capabilities with the medallion as a conduit. With the artifact in his possession, he gambles and wins, and wins, and wins. At some point, he begins referring to the medallion by a name: "UGR-SKEL, so named in the Necronomicon, the Book of the Dead." He begins taking excursions away from his family, in search of games of poker on the riverboats of the Mississippi, slowly building a significant fortune. From here, the story becomes confusing and disjointed, and many of Milford's entries ramble off into incoherence. But he repeatedly speaks of efforts to search out more keys to the ancient power, and he is giddy in describing his intentions. The first section ends with this: "The symbol. It is a gate. I spent the night perfecting its design until I felt its power affect me. Before dawn I found the perfect place below the cargo deck to transfer the symbol, to paint it large inside the hull of this boat. After I was done, I stared into it, and felt myself slipping, down, down into its abyss of terrible beauty. I had to tear my eyes away, or I would still be down in the hull, mesmerized. Today will be my last day as a simple man on this Earth. I will write more but for now I am hungry..." [Your score has just gone up by five points.] >get journal The journal is quite intriguing, but if you took it, Milford Young couldn't keep writing in it, and he clearly has more to say. Best to leave it here, at least until he's said his piece. >out Stateroom Corridor The corridor between the Warsaw Queen's staterooms is dimly lit by kerosene lamps, spaced evenly between the stateroom doors. Odd numbered rooms are to the west (the port side), rooms 1 through 11. Even numbered rooms are to the east (starboard), rooms 2 through 12. You can see a map of the decks here. As you step out into the corridor, you see Milford Young approaching from the direction of the dining room. He doesn't even acknowledge you as he steps past you, and he flickers in the eerie way you've seen everyone on the boat do. Then he enters his room and closes his door behind him. From here, you can go north to the dining room, south out to the aft deck, into a numbered room, or into one of the dormitories to the southeast and southwest. >enter 2 You start to open the door to the stateroom, but a voice calls out from inside, saying "No thanks, not now," and the door is pushed closed again, leaving you in the corridor. Perhaps there is some way to get your great-great-grandfather out of his room again, so you can get back in there and read more of his journal. >enter 1 Truman Holmes' Stateroom The second class stateroom appears much like your own accommodations on the Warsaw Queen, with the same simple furnishings. The room is unoccupied at the moment. You can see a porthole and a narrow wardrobe (closed) here. From here, you can go east back to the corridor. >open wardrobe You open the narrow wardrobe, revealing a colorful suit jacket. >get jacket Taken. >x jacket A very flashy jacket of fine construction, made of silk, such as you might see a carnival entertainer wear, while captivating an audience with tricks performed by a wild alligator. For instance. >wear jacket It's quite a fashion statement. Under normal circumstances, a real conversation starter, but among the ghostly inhabitants of this boat? Likely no one is going to take notice. You notice something, however: there is something in the inner pocket. [Your score has just gone up by one point.] >x pocket A small inside pocket. In the inner pocket of the colorful suit jacket is a brass key. >get brass key Taken. >out Stateroom Corridor The corridor between the Warsaw Queen's staterooms is dimly lit by kerosene lamps, spaced evenly between the stateroom doors. Odd numbered rooms are to the west (the port side), rooms 1 through 11. Even numbered rooms are to the east (starboard), rooms 2 through 12. You can see a map of the decks here. From here, you can go north to the dining room, south out to the aft deck, into a numbered room, or into one of the dormitories to the southeast and southwest. >n Dining Room The dining room is lit by stylish oil lamps spaced along the walls. Dinner tables are dressed with white tablecloths and set with shiny silverware and cloth napkins. A few patrons mill about; you watch them as though you were watching characters in an old movie: you, the mute bystander, witnessing their concerns but not sharing them, while they chatter quietly and speak to one another, but not to you. You can see Marion Knowles, a planter in a silk shirt, a planter in fine shoes, a planter in a maroon vest, One-Eyed Murphy, and a poker table (on which is a kitty of gold coins) here. With most lunchtime diners dispersed, a lively poker game has commenced at one of the tables. One-Eyed Murphy, with a patch over one eye, is dealing to a few planters (plantation farmers). Murphy has a pile of coins in front of him, and the planters are looking a bit desperate. Marion Knowles, a distinguished looking gentleman, stands nearby, watching the game. He carefully eyes the one eyed dealer, and when you follow his stare, suddenly you see it: One-Eyed Murphy is dealing to himself from the bottom of the deck. The players are in no position to notice. After a moment, Marion Knowles approaches the table in a courtly fashion, and he pulls from his vest a shiny revolver. He puts the gun on the table. "Gentlemen, I regret to say that there is something wrong here," he says. "I will not call any names, but if it doesn't stop, damn me if I don't shoot his other eye out!" Catching the insinuation, One-Eyed Murphy jumps up from his chair. "I will not oblige to take this insult from you, Marion Knowles!" he decries. "If you have proof, come up with it!" The two men glare at each other for a long, tense moment. One-Eyed Murphy curses, gathers up his pile quickly, and storms off in a huff, and Knowles, looking smug, picks up his gun, and leaves by the stateroom corridor. This opens up a seat at the table. Quickly, another man takes the spot, eager to try his own luck with the cards, now that the game is square. From here, you can go north to the lounge, south to the stateroom corridor, or east to the galley. >n Lounge The lounge opens up around a wide, descending staircase in the center of the space. Small tables accompanied by padded chairs provide passengers with a comfortable place to pass the time, and large windows offer views out to the port and starboard sides, brightening the space during the daylight hours. Two large pillars encase the smoke stacks that run up from the boilers below through the deck on each side of the staircase. From here, you can go west to the guards on the port side, east to the starboard side, south to the dining room, southwest to the barber shop, or downstairs to the cargo deck. >sw Barber Shop The barber shop is sectioned off from the lounge by firm wood paneling. There is a swivel chair where customers can have their manes styled and their mustachios pruned, situated in front of a large mirror. As you know from your research into the life of your great-great-grandfather, the rear of the barber shop on a packet like this one is often dedicated to unsavory gambling activities, such as faro, three card monte, and chuck-a-luck. You can see Eph Holland, the barber, and a pair of scissors here. Eph Holland is sitting in the barber's chair, getting his sideburns mended. The barber says, "I guess all it took was for that man Marion Knowles to place his pistol down on the table, to scare the wits out of old One-Eyed Murphy." The barber chuckles. "I never saw that gambler leave a poker table so fast, unless he came to know there was a bigger cheater at the table than him." Eph Holland just smiles. From here, you can go northeast back to the lounge. >x scissors A sharp pair of shears, capable of snipping through fine silky hair and heavy fabrics alike. >get scissors Taken. [Your score has just gone up by one point.] >listen Eph Holland is sitting in the barber's chair, getting his sideburns mended. The barber softly whistles a little tune. >listen Eph Holland is sitting in the barber's chair, getting his sideburns mended. The barber says, "Now I do not know if Marion Knowles would have actually shot out old One-Eyed Murphy's other eye, but just bringing out his pistol and putting it on the table sure gave that sneaky gambler a proper fright." Eph Holland grunts noncommittally. >ne Lounge The lounge opens up around a wide, descending staircase in the center of the space. Small tables accompanied by padded chairs provide passengers with a comfortable place to pass the time, and large windows offer views out to the port and starboard sides, brightening the space during the daylight hours. Two large pillars encase the smoke stacks that run up from the boilers below through the deck on each side of the staircase. From here, you can go west to the guards on the port side, east to the starboard side, south to the dining room, southwest to the barber shop, or downstairs to the cargo deck. >s Dining Room The dining room is lit by stylish oil lamps spaced along the walls. Dinner tables are dressed with white tablecloths and set with shiny silverware and cloth napkins. A few patrons mill about; you watch them as though you were watching characters in an old movie: you, the mute bystander, witnessing their concerns but not sharing them, while they chatter quietly and speak to one another, but not to you. You can see Anderson Waddell, Mortimer Cheatham, 'Dad' Ryan, Posey Jeffers, and a poker table (on which is a kitty of gold coins) here. The poker players have rotated and another game of cards is being played at the table. Seated there now are 'Dad' Ryan, Anderson Waddell, Mortimer Cheatham, and lastly, Posey Jeffers -- he who you recall was up late in his stateroom last night, using his cutting tools to shave cards. As Jeffers deals, he'll be able to tell, with just his skilled fingers, when the high cards come out (or when they don't). So he is cheating these other men. Milford Young strolls into the dining room and approaches the poker table, checking for an open seat. Mortimer Cheatham looks up and greets your great-great-grandfather. "Sorry Milford," he says, "table's full for now." Milford nods and heads back to the staterooms. From here, you can go north to the lounge, south to the stateroom corridor, or east to the galley. >x poker table The poker table is full. 'Dad' Ryan, Mortimer Cheatham, and Anderson Waddell are seated here, and the dealer is Posey Jeffers -- the man you saw in his stateroom last night, cutting decks of cards. The deck he is dealing from looks like one of them, which means he is certainly cheating these men. On the poker table is a kitty of gold coins. >x cards It looks just like the decks that the cheating gambler was cutting in his stateroom last night. >s Stateroom Corridor The corridor between the Warsaw Queen's staterooms is dimly lit by kerosene lamps, spaced evenly between the stateroom doors. Odd numbered rooms are to the west (the port side), rooms 1 through 11. Even numbered rooms are to the east (starboard), rooms 2 through 12. You can see a map of the decks here. From here, you can go north to the dining room, south out to the aft deck, into a numbered room, or into one of the dormitories to the southeast and southwest. >knock on room 11 You knock on Room 11, but there is no reply. >enter marion's room Marion Knowles' Stateroom Luxurious by the standards of the era, the first class accommodations on the Warsaw Queen include a clawfoot tub, a water closet, William Morris wallpaper, ample storage space, and lounge chairs. You can see a porthole and a comfortable bed here. From here, you can go east back to the corridor. >x bed The sizable bed in the first class accommodations has a sturdy iron frame. >x porthole The porthole looks out to the port side of the boat. The far riverbank, bushy with low trees and other greenery across the river's expanse, drifts slowly by in the bright light of the clear, sunny day. The porthole is closed. >look under bed Under the comfortable bed is a travelbag. >get travelbag Taken. >open travelbag You open the travelbag, revealing a shiny revolver. >get revolver Taken. [Your score has just gone up by one point.] >x gun A Model 1878 Colt .45 double action pistol, often referred to as a Frontier revolver, with a checkered walnut grip. >out Stateroom Corridor The corridor between the Warsaw Queen's staterooms is dimly lit by kerosene lamps, spaced evenly between the stateroom doors. Odd numbered rooms are to the west (the port side), rooms 1 through 11. Even numbered rooms are to the east (starboard), rooms 2 through 12. You can see a map of the decks here. From here, you can go north to the dining room, south out to the aft deck, into a numbered room, or into one of the dormitories to the southeast and southwest. >enter 2 You start to open the door to the stateroom, but a voice calls out from inside, saying "No thanks, not now," and the door is pushed closed again, leaving you in the corridor. Perhaps there is some way to get your great-great-grandfather out of his room again, so you can get back in there and read more of his journal. >n Dining Room The dining room is lit by stylish oil lamps spaced along the walls. Dinner tables are dressed with white tablecloths and set with shiny silverware and cloth napkins. A few patrons mill about; you watch them as though you were watching characters in an old movie: you, the mute bystander, witnessing their concerns but not sharing them, while they chatter quietly and speak to one another, but not to you. You can see Anderson Waddell, Mortimer Cheatham, 'Dad' Ryan, Posey Jeffers, and a poker table (on which is a kitty of gold coins) here. As Jeffers deals, he'll be able to tell, with just his skilled fingers, when the high cards come out (or when they don't). So he is cheating these other men. Milford Young appears, checking for an open seat at the table, and seeing that it's full, heads back toward the staterooms. From here, you can go north to the lounge, south to the stateroom corridor, or east to the galley. >put gun on poker table The ghostly figures on the boat haven't responded to you with any conviction so far, but anything is worth a try, so you step up to the poker table with Marlon Knowles' revolver and you set it down between two of the card players. The appearance of the weapon does seem to get their attention -- the game suddenly stops, and all the men at the table look to you questioningly. "This man," you say, gesturing to Posey Jeffers, "is a card cheat. The face cards in his deck have been cut. And you'll find the equipment he did it with inside his stateroom!" There are gasps around the table, and 'Dad' Ryan is holding up a card in front of his face, inspecting it closely. "Damn me," he says, "but this card has been cut! This is your deck, Posey Jeffers! Boys, I do believe our dealer is a no good gambler!" Posey Jeffers jumps up from his chair, but immediately, Cheatham and Waddell are up and have grabbed him by the arms. "Fetch the Captain, we'll get to the bottom of this!" 'Dad' Ryan exits the room and in a few minutes, returns with Captain Foster. He and the card players escort Jeffers toward the staterooms. During the commotion, Marion Knowles appears, and when he sees his revolver on the table, he seems to think little of it as he picks it up and heads in the direction of the staterooms. Meanwhile, Ryan, Waddell and Cheatham return, accompanied by Milford Young. All the men sit down at the table and commence to play poker with a fresh deck of cards. [Your score has just gone up by seven points.] >x poker table The poker table is full. Your great-great-grandfather, Milford Young, is dealing the cards, and he is playing with 'Dad' Ryan, Mortimer Cheatham and Anderson Waddell. On the poker table is a kitty of gold coins. >x milford young He is absolutely the same man as the one in the picture your mother gave you. What kind of diabolical plan does he have? Is there more that he's written in his journal? Can you stop him? Do you want to? >s Stateroom Corridor The corridor between the Warsaw Queen's staterooms is dimly lit by kerosene lamps, spaced evenly between the stateroom doors. Odd numbered rooms are to the west (the port side), rooms 1 through 11. Even numbered rooms are to the east (starboard), rooms 2 through 12. You can see a map of the decks here. From here, you can go north to the dining room, south out to the aft deck, into a numbered room, or into one of the dormitories to the southeast and southwest. >enter 2 Milford Young's Stateroom You are in Milford Young's stateroom. While he is in the dining room playing poker, the circumstances are perfect for reading more of his peculiar journal. One of the floorboards is marked with odd symbols, the ones you saw him carving into the wood last night. You can also see a porthole and a mahogany table (on which is a leather bound journal) here. From here, you can go west back to the corridor. >x table A nice durable surface for writing. On the mahogany table is a leather bound journal. >x journal Paging through your great-great-grandfather's private journal, you see that it currently has a first section, and a subsequent entry that you can read. >read subsequent entry The subsequent entry reads: "It is sad that Wilcox has lost faith in me. If he felt the power of UGR-SKEL as I have, he would not be so quick to dismiss me. If he understood what I can do with it. The power of UGR-SKEL is vast -- influence, persuasion, prognostication, even time travel -- but I have harnessed it. UGR-SKEL shows me how. Let Wilcox worry. He did not show me the Ancient Ones. They found me. UGR-SKEL came to me. They say I am a gambler and a cheat. Well, there are many cheats in my trade and many more suckers and fools. But I have never stripped cards and I have never stocked a deck, and I have never dealt from the bottom or used any of the other tricks as so many dishonest players do. I do not need to: I only need UGR-SKEL, and fortune comes to me. Speaking of it draws me to the cards again, I want to feel the power course through me..." [Your score has just gone up by five points.] >out Stateroom Corridor The corridor between the Warsaw Queen's staterooms is dimly lit by kerosene lamps, spaced evenly between the stateroom doors. Odd numbered rooms are to the west (the port side), rooms 1 through 11. Even numbered rooms are to the east (starboard), rooms 2 through 12. You can see a map of the decks here. You almost collide with Milford Young in the corridor when you exit his stateroom. Yet he barely reacts, and his appearance flickers briefly as he slips by you and back into his stateroom, shutting the door behind him. From here, you can go north to the dining room, south out to the aft deck, into a numbered room, or into one of the dormitories to the southeast and southwest. >s Stateroom Deck -- Aft The aft deck on the stateroom level is mostly closed in. The sky is blocked by the deck above, while bathrooms for passengers without first class facilities take up the rear of the deck. A corridor opens into the stateroom cabin toward fore, and steep stairwells, almost perpendicular, go up to the hurricane deck and down to cargo. Here on stateroom, the outside deck proceeds around the cabin to the port and starboard sides. From here, you can go north into the stateroom corridor, northwest to the guards on the port side, northeast to the starboard side, up to the hurricane deck or down to the cargo deck. >d Engine Room The sound of the engines fills this room, as huge pistons that turn the steamer's paddlewheel crank away. The steamworks which deliver power to the engines takes up the middle of the space. Steep ladderways access the deck above, and a hatch in the floor leads down into the hull. You can see Chief Engineer Krall here. From here, you can go north to the cargo room, up to the stateroom deck, or down through a hatch into the hull. >talk to engineer Chief Engineer Krall doesn't react to you at all. He seems lost in his own thoughts. >n Cargo Room This space is mostly taken up by a full load of cargo -- sacks, barrels, kegs and crates -- secured by strong ropes and thick canvas straps. The room opens out to the deck on both the port and starboard sides. An oversize hatch provides access to more space for cargo in the hull. A large cage with a wood frame and rusty chicken wire sits on the floor. From here, you can go north to the cargo passage, south to the engine room, west out to the deck on the port side, east to the starboard side, or down through a hatch into the hull. >n Cargo Passage This wide passage connects the boilers to the cargo room, with a few doors to rooms devoted to the crew and the vessel's working necessities. The flooring shows years of scrapes and wear, and countless marks and shallow gashes distress the walls from cargo boxes and barrels being toted along its length. One door on the starboard side is propped open, revealing the ship's store. At the far end of the passage is a hatch leading down into the hull. From here, you can go north to the boilers, south to the cargo room, east to the ship's store, or down through a hatch into the hull. >n Boilers Two large boilers fill this space, and the heat is oppressive. Several steam lines run along the ceiling toward the aft of the boat, and the two massive smoke stacks ascend up through the decks. A green cloth curtain hangs at the opening into the cargo passage toward aft, presumably to keep the heat from filling that hallway. You can see Stoker Cole and Fireman Burns here. Stoker Cole says, "I don't know about you, but whenever there is a wild animal on board as cargo, I feel a little bit uneasy. I wish that carnival man, Truman Holmes, had not brought it here." Fireman Burns replies, "Listen, Cole, I don't blame you one bit. There was one time, I was running a packet out of Natchez, and same thing as now, a man came on board with an alligator. Well, the cage was rusty, and not well fit to keep the wild beast, and it broke free while we were on the water. It caused a mighty distraction, I don't mind telling you. Every passenger and sailor crowded out to the guards to witness the thing thrash about. And you know what happened then? Our steamer near ran aground, since there were not eyes enough looking out for the shallows." From here, you can go north out to the fore deck, west out to the port side guards, east to the starboard side, or south to the cargo passage beyond the green curtain. You can also go down, through a hatch into the hull. >listen "Now why did you go and tell me that?" says Stoker Cole. "The only thing I'm more afraid of than spiders and snakes is alligators." Fireman Burns chuckles. "Yes, sir, it was quite the spectacle when that alligator got free, and everyone on the boat wanted to see it. But don't worry, Cole, I think the cage down there in cargo holding Truman Holmes' alligator is sturdy enough." >listen There is a lull in the conversation at the moment. >x curtain The green cloth curtain hangs over the opening into the cargo passage toward aft. >cut curtain You carefully dissect a square of the green cloth from the curtain, fashioning for yourself a makeshift, but wearable, green bandana, which you tie loosely around your neck. [Your score has just gone up by one point.] >i You are carrying: a green bandana (being worn) a travelbag (open but empty) a pair of scissors a brass key a colorful suit jacket (with an inner pocket (empty)) (being worn) a letter from Wilcox a brittle leaflet a polished glass ring some excellent cufflinks a ring of spare keys a knockoff match lighter a technical manual a tin can of paint a passenger manifest >n Cargo Deck -- Fore Here at the front of the boat on the cargo level, the headwind disturbs your hair, and a constant whish of white noise fills the air from the water sweeping around the front of the boat as the steamer navigates the river. The gangway is drawn up, extending vertically toward the sky, and a jib crane is here for loading and unloading cargo. A grand staircase invites passengers up to the lounge on the stateroom level. Deckhand Washington is here, sitting on a stool near a hatch that leads down into the hull. From here, you can go up to the stateroom deck, south to the boilers, southwest to the guards on the port side, southeast to the starboard side, or down through a hatch into the hull. >u Lounge The lounge opens up around a wide, descending staircase in the center of the space. Small tables accompanied by padded chairs provide passengers with a comfortable place to pass the time, and large windows offer views out to the port and starboard sides, brightening the space during the daylight hours. Two large pillars encase the smoke stacks that run up from the boilers below through the deck on each side of the staircase. From here, you can go west to the guards on the port side, east to the starboard side, south to the dining room, southwest to the barber shop, or downstairs to the cargo deck. >sw Barber Shop The barber shop is sectioned off from the lounge by firm wood paneling. There is a swivel chair where customers can have their manes styled and their mustachios pruned, situated in front of a large mirror. You can see some spectators of monte, Truman Holmes, Bill Horricks, William McGawley, and the barber here. In the back of the barber shop, William McGawley is running a game of three card monte. He throws down three cards, then shows which one is the king. He puts it back down, and his hands sweep over the cards in a blur of motion, rearranging them. As the players try their luck, Bill Horricks is talking quietly to Truman Holmes about his alligator. From here, you can go northeast back to the lounge. >l Barber Shop The barber shop is sectioned off from the lounge by firm wood paneling. There is a swivel chair where customers can have their manes styled and their mustachios pruned, situated in front of a large mirror. You can see some spectators of monte, Truman Holmes, Bill Horricks, William McGawley, and the barber here. The monte game has a number of spectators. A red-haired man picks the wrong card, and he starts to complain that William McGawley has cheated him. McGawley flips over the cards, showing the king. "You see, friend," he says, "the winning card is right here, you just happened to pick the wrong one." From here, you can go northeast back to the lounge. >watch monte game The red-haired man is arguing with William McGawley, and some spectators are telling him he lost fair and square, while others are calling McGawley a cheat. He is heatedly defending himself, and meanwhile the king card is face up on the table. >x king card The king card is the winning card in the game of monte. McGawley's attention is drawn away from the card just now by the arguing spectators. >bend card (the king card) You put a bend in the king card. You carefully step back from the table, and you hear Bill Horricks whispering something to Truman Holmes about the bend in the card. Then Horricks approaches the table, and he bets William McGawley $1,000 that he can pick the right card. He does, and wins. Bill wants to go again, and McGawley says, "I have lost a lot of money, but seeing as I have two cards to your one, I will play you again, but not for less than $5,000, so that I can win my money back." Bill says he doesn't have that much, but he pulls in Truman Holmes, who has been watching in earnest. "The alligator in the cargo hold belongs to this man, will you accept his reptile as a stake, in addition to the money that I have?" The men make a deal. McGawley throws the cards, rearranges them, and Truman Holmes picks the card with the bend in the corner. He stares blankly at the card he turned. It's the wrong card. Bill Horricks gasps in disbelief, shakes his head, and walks out of the barber shop, while William McGawley takes up his cards, and the money, and stows them; apparently he is done playing, too. [Your score has just gone up by seven points.] >l Barber Shop The barber shop is sectioned off from the lounge by firm wood paneling. There is a swivel chair where customers can have their manes styled and their mustachios pruned, situated in front of a large mirror. You can see some spectators of monte, Truman Holmes, William McGawley, and the barber here. William McGawley says to Truman Holmes, "The advantage in old monte always belongs to the dealer in the end, you see, as I have two cards to your one." Truman doesn't reply. "At least let me buy you a drink, sir, and perhaps you can inform me as to how best to care for a live alligator." From here, you can go northeast back to the lounge. >ne Lounge The lounge opens up around a wide, descending staircase in the center of the space. Small tables accompanied by padded chairs provide passengers with a comfortable place to pass the time, and large windows offer views out to the port and starboard sides, brightening the space during the daylight hours. Two large pillars encase the smoke stacks that run up from the boilers below through the deck on each side of the staircase. As you exit the barber shop, you almost run into your great-great-grandfather, Milford Young, who is entering shop as you are leaving. You pause and follow him with your eyes, seeing him flicker briefly as he passes you. At the same time, William McGawley and Truman Holmes are exiting. You notice that your ancestor is wearing a green handkerchief around his neck. William McGawley sees it too, and he gives Milford a keen nod, appearing to signal, "Job well done." As though, to McGawley, it was Milford Young in the shop who bent the card, and not you. From here, you can go west to the guards on the port side, east to the starboard side, south to the dining room, southwest to the barber shop, or downstairs to the cargo deck. >sw Barber Shop The barber shop is sectioned off from the lounge by firm wood paneling. There is a swivel chair where customers can have their manes styled and their mustachios pruned, situated in front of a large mirror. Milford Young is here, in the back of the shop, dealing a game of faro. You can also see a faro board, some spectators of faro, some spectators of monte, and the barber here. From here, you can go northeast back to the lounge. >x milford He is behind the table where with a faro board laid out in front of him. He has a green handkerchief tied loosely around his neck. >x faro board A standard board for wagering on faro. There are thirteen spaces to place a wager, each representing a value from a standard deck of playing cards: 2 through 10, jack, queen, king and ace. If you want to play, put something valuable on the board. You'll then choose which card value to wager on, and the dealer will deal a card, to see if you win. >ne Lounge The lounge opens up around a wide, descending staircase in the center of the space. Small tables accompanied by padded chairs provide passengers with a comfortable place to pass the time, and large windows offer views out to the port and starboard sides, brightening the space during the daylight hours. Two large pillars encase the smoke stacks that run up from the boilers below through the deck on each side of the staircase. You can see William McGawley and Truman Holmes here. "Well sir," Truman Holmes says to William McGawley, "it seems that you have won from me my alligator, fair and square." "Absolutely, fair and square," agrees William McGawley. "Now, may I have the key to its cage?" "Er, just you hold on there a moment," replies Holmes. "Though you won the alligator, you did not win the cage; that still belongs to me." From here, you can go west to the guards on the port side, east to the starboard side, south to the dining room, southwest to the barber shop, or downstairs to the cargo deck. >listen Truman Holmes says, "I would be willing to part with part with the alligator cage, if you will accept a price that is fair." William McGawley's face collapses. "And what would be a fair price for the cage, by your reckoning?" he asks. "If I am not wrong, it is the only alligator cage on this boat. With that in mind, I believe I could sell it to you for, let us say, $10,000?" >listen "Well," says William McGawley to Truman Holmes, "I have been considering, and all I can think about is those poor children, going to the carnival, excited for a chance to see a big live alligator, and you without one. It just does not sit right with me. So I believe I will just give you back your alligator." Truman Holmes smiles. "That suits me just fine," he says. >listen William McGawley and Truman Holmes are having a drink and talking amicably with one another about nothing in particular. >l Lounge The lounge opens up around a wide, descending staircase in the center of the space. Small tables accompanied by padded chairs provide passengers with a comfortable place to pass the time, and large windows offer views out to the port and starboard sides, brightening the space during the daylight hours. Two large pillars encase the smoke stacks that run up from the boilers below through the deck on each side of the staircase. You can see William McGawley and Truman Holmes here. From here, you can go west to the guards on the port side, east to the starboard side, south to the dining room, southwest to the barber shop, or downstairs to the cargo deck. >s Dining Room The dining room is lit by stylish oil lamps spaced along the walls. Dinner tables are dressed with white tablecloths and set with shiny silverware and cloth napkins. A few patrons mill about; you watch them as though you were watching characters in an old movie: you, the mute bystander, witnessing their concerns but not sharing them, while they chatter quietly and speak to one another, but not to you. You can see a planter in a silk shirt, Anderson Waddell, Mortimer Cheatham, 'Dad' Ryan, and a poker table (on which is a kitty of gold coins) here. From here, you can go north to the lounge, south to the stateroom corridor, or east to the galley. >x poker table The poker table is full. 'Dad' Ryan is dealing to Anderson Waddell and Mortimer Cheatham, along with a planter who has taken the seat abandoned by your great-great-grandfather. On the poker table is a kitty of gold coins. >s Stateroom Corridor The corridor between the Warsaw Queen's staterooms is dimly lit by kerosene lamps, spaced evenly between the stateroom doors. Odd numbered rooms are to the west (the port side), rooms 1 through 11. Even numbered rooms are to the east (starboard), rooms 2 through 12. You can see a map of the decks here. From here, you can go north to the dining room, south out to the aft deck, into a numbered room, or into one of the dormitories to the southeast and southwest. >enter 3 Mr and Mrs Charles Buck's Stateroom This second class stateroom has a larger bed than the one in your stateroom, and therefore a bit less space to move around in. But otherwise, it is appointed with the same simple furnishings. You can see a small stack of silver coins and a porthole here. >get coins Taken. >out Stateroom Corridor The corridor between the Warsaw Queen's staterooms is dimly lit by kerosene lamps, spaced evenly between the stateroom doors. Odd numbered rooms are to the west (the port side), rooms 1 through 11. Even numbered rooms are to the east (starboard), rooms 2 through 12. You can see a map of the decks here. From here, you can go north to the dining room, south out to the aft deck, into a numbered room, or into one of the dormitories to the southeast and southwest. >enter 4 Eph Holland's Stateroom The second class stateroom appears much like your own accommodations on the Warsaw Queen, with the same simple furnishings. The room is unoccupied at the moment. You can see a bedside table (on which is a nice ashtray (in which is a Perry & Co pellet match lighter)) and a porthole here. >get perry lighter Taken. >i You are carrying: a Perry & Co pellet match lighter a small stack of silver coins a green bandana (being worn) a travelbag (open but empty) a pair of scissors a brass key a colorful suit jacket (with an inner pocket (empty)) (being worn) a letter from Wilcox a brittle leaflet a polished glass ring some excellent cufflinks a ring of spare keys a knockoff match lighter a technical manual a tin can of paint a passenger manifest >put knockoff lighter in ashtray You put the knockoff match lighter into the nice ashtray. It looks just like the real one -- Eph Holland himself wouldn't notice the difference. >out Stateroom Corridor The corridor between the Warsaw Queen's staterooms is dimly lit by kerosene lamps, spaced evenly between the stateroom doors. Odd numbered rooms are to the west (the port side), rooms 1 through 11. Even numbered rooms are to the east (starboard), rooms 2 through 12. You can see a map of the decks here. From here, you can go north to the dining room, south out to the aft deck, into a numbered room, or into one of the dormitories to the southeast and southwest. >enter 5 James Thorwegon's Stateroom The second class stateroom appears much like your own accommodations on the Warsaw Queen, with the same simple furnishings. The room is unoccupied at the moment. You can see a bedside table (on which is a nice ashtray (in which are some solid gold cufflinks)) and a porthole here. >get gold cufflinks Taken. >put excellent cufflinks in ashtray You put the excellent cufflinks into the nice ashtray. It looks just like the real one -- James Thorwegon himself wouldn't notice the difference. >out Stateroom Corridor The corridor between the Warsaw Queen's staterooms is dimly lit by kerosene lamps, spaced evenly between the stateroom doors. Odd numbered rooms are to the west (the port side), rooms 1 through 11. Even numbered rooms are to the east (starboard), rooms 2 through 12. You can see a map of the decks here. From here, you can go north to the dining room, south out to the aft deck, into a numbered room, or into one of the dormitories to the southeast and southwest. >enter 6 Anderson Waddell's Stateroom The second class stateroom appears much like your own accommodations on the Warsaw Queen, with the same simple furnishings. The room is unoccupied at the moment. You can see a bedside table (on which is a nice ashtray (in which is a fine silver watch chain)) and a porthole here. >get chain Taken. >out Stateroom Corridor The corridor between the Warsaw Queen's staterooms is dimly lit by kerosene lamps, spaced evenly between the stateroom doors. Odd numbered rooms are to the west (the port side), rooms 1 through 11. Even numbered rooms are to the east (starboard), rooms 2 through 12. You can see a map of the decks here. From here, you can go north to the dining room, south out to the aft deck, into a numbered room, or into one of the dormitories to the southeast and southwest. >enter 7 Your Stateroom Your borrowed accommodations on the Warsaw Queen is a spare, second class cabin, lightly furnished with the essentials. A simple wash basin and mirror are the extent of toiletry facilities provided. You can see a simple pine desk, a squat stool, a decorative hanging, a bed, and a porthole here. From here, you can go east out to the corridor. >look under bed (the bed) Under the bed is a red glass tie clip. >get tie clip Taken. >out Stateroom Corridor The corridor between the Warsaw Queen's staterooms is dimly lit by kerosene lamps, spaced evenly between the stateroom doors. Odd numbered rooms are to the west (the port side), rooms 1 through 11. Even numbered rooms are to the east (starboard), rooms 2 through 12. You can see a map of the decks here. From here, you can go north to the dining room, south out to the aft deck, into a numbered room, or into one of the dormitories to the southeast and southwest. >enter 8 Arlie Cannon's Stateroom The second class stateroom appears much like your own accommodations on the Warsaw Queen, with the same simple furnishings. The room is unoccupied at the moment. You can see a bedside table (on which is a nice ashtray (in which is a diamond ring)) and a porthole here. >get diamond ring Taken. >put glass ring into ashtray You put the polished glass ring into the nice ashtray. It looks just like the real one -- Arlie Cannon himself wouldn't notice the difference. >out Stateroom Corridor The corridor between the Warsaw Queen's staterooms is dimly lit by kerosene lamps, spaced evenly between the stateroom doors. Odd numbered rooms are to the west (the port side), rooms 1 through 11. Even numbered rooms are to the east (starboard), rooms 2 through 12. You can see a map of the decks here. From here, you can go north to the dining room, south out to the aft deck, into a numbered room, or into one of the dormitories to the southeast and southwest. >enter 9 William McGawley's Stateroom Luxurious by the standards of the era, the first class accommodations on the Warsaw Queen include a clawfoot tub, a water closet, William Morris wallpaper, ample storage space, and lounge chairs. You can see a bedside table (on which is a nice ashtray (in which is a genuine Waltham gold watch)) and a porthole here. >get gold watch Taken. >out Stateroom Corridor The corridor between the Warsaw Queen's staterooms is dimly lit by kerosene lamps, spaced evenly between the stateroom doors. Odd numbered rooms are to the west (the port side), rooms 1 through 11. Even numbered rooms are to the east (starboard), rooms 2 through 12. You can see a map of the decks here. From here, you can go north to the dining room, south out to the aft deck, into a numbered room, or into one of the dormitories to the southeast and southwest. >enter 10 Bill Horricks' Stateroom Luxurious by the standards of the era, the first class accommodations on the Warsaw Queen include a clawfoot tub, a water closet, William Morris wallpaper, ample storage space, and lounge chairs. You can see a bedside table (on which is a nice ashtray (in which is a ruby tie clip)) and a porthole here. >get ruby tie clip Taken. >put glass tie clip in ashtray You put the red glass tie clip into the nice ashtray. It looks just like the real one -- Bill Horricks himself wouldn't notice the difference. >out Stateroom Corridor The corridor between the Warsaw Queen's staterooms is dimly lit by kerosene lamps, spaced evenly between the stateroom doors. Odd numbered rooms are to the west (the port side), rooms 1 through 11. Even numbered rooms are to the east (starboard), rooms 2 through 12. You can see a map of the decks here. From here, you can go north to the dining room, south out to the aft deck, into a numbered room, or into one of the dormitories to the southeast and southwest. >enter 11 You start to enter the stateroom, but a voice calls out from inside: "Come back later, please." The door is gently pushed closed on you. >enter 12 Posey Jeffers' Stateroom Luxurious by the standards of the era, the first class accommodations on the Warsaw Queen include a clawfoot tub, a water closet, William Morris wallpaper, ample storage space, and lounge chairs. You can see Captain James Foster, Posey Jeffers, and a porthole here. Captain Foster is speaking in a hushed, but agitated, voice. "For all of those reasons, Posey Jeffers, and even more besides, I am telling you that it is on you now to make good on your debt!" "Captain Foster," retorts Jeffers, "please be reasonable! I am a gentleman and I always will come up with what I owe. But after what went on in the dining room, now none of these men on board will play cards with me." From here, you can go west back to the corridor. >listen "So inform me please, sir, if you will," Posey Jeffers says, "how is it that I can make up the money to pay you, when I cannot find a single soul who will bet with me?" The Captain's eyes harden and his mustache twitches. "You know my terms as well as any gambler on this river, Posey Jeffers," claims the Captain gruffly. "If it is your will to sit in on poker, or lay out monte, or open up faro on my boat, you pay my fee, same as everyone else." >listen "But Captain," Posey Jeffers pleads, "I cannot do any of those things you say, as no one will play a game with me!" Captain Foster responds, "You took your seat at that table and you dealt out those cards. For that, you owe me my fee. It was your decision to cheat those men, not mine, and I was not the one to tell them you cheated. Now it is time for you to pay up." >listen Posey Jeffers and the Captain continue arguing with each other in hushed tones about the price that Captain Foster demands to allow gambling on his riverboat. >l Posey Jeffers' Stateroom Luxurious by the standards of the era, the first class accommodations on the Warsaw Queen include a clawfoot tub, a water closet, William Morris wallpaper, ample storage space, and lounge chairs. You can see Captain James Foster, Posey Jeffers, and a porthole here. From here, you can go west back to the corridor. >out Stateroom Corridor The corridor between the Warsaw Queen's staterooms is dimly lit by kerosene lamps, spaced evenly between the stateroom doors. Odd numbered rooms are to the west (the port side), rooms 1 through 11. Even numbered rooms are to the east (starboard), rooms 2 through 12. You can see a map of the decks here. From here, you can go north to the dining room, south out to the aft deck, into a numbered room, or into one of the dormitories to the southeast and southwest. >n Dining Room The dining room is lit by stylish oil lamps spaced along the walls. Dinner tables are dressed with white tablecloths and set with shiny silverware and cloth napkins. A few patrons mill about; you watch them as though you were watching characters in an old movie: you, the mute bystander, witnessing their concerns but not sharing them, while they chatter quietly and speak to one another, but not to you. You can see a planter in a silk shirt, Anderson Waddell, Mortimer Cheatham, 'Dad' Ryan, and a poker table (on which is a kitty of gold coins) here. From here, you can go north to the lounge, south to the stateroom corridor, or east to the galley. >e Galley The galley is cramped with a wide cooking range including a stove and oven, the walls lined with cabinets and shelves. In one corner, a ladder leads up through a hatch in the ceiling, and in another corner is a ladder going down. Next to a chef's counter is a meat locker. On the chef's counter is a cut of raw steak. You can also see the cook and Stewardess Lang here. Stewardess Lang is quietly humming some unrecognizable tune. Her body flickers disquietingly as she reaches into a cabinet for something. From here, you can go west back to the dining room, up to the hurricane deck, or down to the cargo deck. >x steak A heavy slab of raw meat, cut from the aged side of beef in the galley's meat locker. >get steak Taken. [Your score has just gone up by one point.] >u Ship's Office The ship's office is a space for the captain, clerk and other officers to take their meals, and to handle the boat's ministerial affairs. A ladder leads down to the deck below, and a large oak desk with a drawer and cabinets is set against one wall. On the large oak desk are some random papers and a flip calendar. From here, you can go east to the outside deck, or down to the stateroom deck. >e Hurricane Deck -- Starboard The top level, outdoor deck is fully exposed to the elements, vulnerable to whatever the weather musters, be it wind or rain. The sky is clear today, however, and the temperature mild. A painted iron staircase leads up to the top deck for access to the pilot house, and the deck rounds the cabin to the aft of the boat. You can see First Lieutenant Plemons and Clerk Weeds here. First Lieutenant Plemons says, "Did you know, Weeds? It was not that long ago that all cigarettes had to be rolled by hand. Then they invented a machine that makes a cigarette faster than you can say, 'Jack Robinson.' It is called a Bonsack machine, after the gentleman who invented it." Clerk Weeds grunts unpleasantly. "Soon enough, I expect, they will be replacing every able bodied working man with some confounded machine or other." From here, you can go up to the pilot house, south to the aft deck, or inside to the west and southwest. >listen First Lieutenant Plemons says, "Why, I have heard some folk say that chew is a gross habit, and that cigarettes are not for cultivated persons. What is your opinion on the matter, Weeds?" Clerk Weeds considers the question for a moment. >listen Clerk Weeds says, "Well, I enjoy a good pipe or a nice cigar, but I am never one to depreciate a man in his integrity on account of how he takes his tobacco." First Lieutenant Plemons nods in agreement. >listen "Does smoking inflame your rheumatism, Weeds?" asks First Lieutenant Plemons. Weeds shrugs dismissively. "Not in the least," he says. >sw Stewardess' Quarters These modest quarters are furnished with a pair of stable cots. You can see a dresser (closed) and a wastebasket here. From here, you can go northeast to the guards outside. >open dresser You open the dresser, revealing a ladies' intimate apparel and a sterling watch chain. >get sterling chain Taken. >search apparel You shift the clothing aside, and underneath you discover a folded note. >get note Taken. [Your score has just gone up by one point.] >x note The note is an ardent love letter, from Stewardess Wood, addressed to Pilot Kruse. It's rather graphic. By this account, the stewardess must be quite a passionate lady. >out Hurricane Deck -- Starboard The top level, outdoor deck is fully exposed to the elements, vulnerable to whatever the weather musters, be it wind or rain. The sky is clear today, however, and the temperature mild. A painted iron staircase leads up to the top deck for access to the pilot house, and the deck rounds the cabin to the aft of the boat. You can see First Lieutenant Plemons and Clerk Weeds here. "Now why would anyone have a live alligator in their possession?" Weeds responds, "Oh, that alligator belongs to Truman Holmes. He puts it in some show at the carnival, is what I have gathered." "Hm," muses the Lieutenant. From here, you can go up to the pilot house, south to the aft deck, or inside to the west and southwest. >u First Lieutenant Plemons suddenly straightens his posture, looking alert. "No passengers allowed up to the pilot house," he says. >s Hurricane Deck -- Aft The aft section of the deck is open to the sky above. The sound of the paddlewheel below is a soft roar of white noise. Two large longboats are housed here, tied down under dirty, fading tarpaulin covers. From here, you can go north to the guards on the starboard side or down to the stateroom deck. >d Stateroom Deck -- Aft The aft deck on the stateroom level is mostly closed in. The sky is blocked by the deck above, while bathrooms for passengers without first class facilities take up the rear of the deck. A corridor opens into the stateroom cabin toward fore, and steep stairwells, almost perpendicular, go up to the hurricane deck and down to cargo. Here on stateroom, the outside deck proceeds around the cabin to the port and starboard sides. From here, you can go north into the stateroom corridor, northwest to the guards on the port side, northeast to the starboard side, up to the hurricane deck or down to the cargo deck. >n Stateroom Corridor The corridor between the Warsaw Queen's staterooms is dimly lit by kerosene lamps, spaced evenly between the stateroom doors. Odd numbered rooms are to the west (the port side), rooms 1 through 11. Even numbered rooms are to the east (starboard), rooms 2 through 12. You can see a map of the decks here. From here, you can go north to the dining room, south out to the aft deck, into a numbered room, or into one of the dormitories to the southeast and southwest. >n Dining Room The dining room is lit by stylish oil lamps spaced along the walls. Dinner tables are dressed with white tablecloths and set with shiny silverware and cloth napkins. A few patrons mill about; you watch them as though you were watching characters in an old movie: you, the mute bystander, witnessing their concerns but not sharing them, while they chatter quietly and speak to one another, but not to you. You can see a planter in a silk shirt, Anderson Waddell, Mortimer Cheatham, 'Dad' Ryan, and a poker table (on which is a kitty of gold coins) here. From here, you can go north to the lounge, south to the stateroom corridor, or east to the galley. >n Lounge The lounge opens up around a wide, descending staircase in the center of the space. Small tables accompanied by padded chairs provide passengers with a comfortable place to pass the time, and large windows offer views out to the port and starboard sides, brightening the space during the daylight hours. Two large pillars encase the smoke stacks that run up from the boilers below through the deck on each side of the staircase. You can see William McGawley and Truman Holmes here. From here, you can go west to the guards on the port side, east to the starboard side, south to the dining room, southwest to the barber shop, or downstairs to the cargo deck. >sw Barber Shop The barber shop is sectioned off from the lounge by firm wood paneling. There is a swivel chair where customers can have their manes styled and their mustachios pruned, situated in front of a large mirror. Milford Young is here, in the back of the shop, dealing a game of faro. You can also see a faro board, some spectators of faro, some spectators of monte, and the barber here. From here, you can go northeast back to the lounge. >i You are carrying: a folded note a sterling watch chain a cut of raw steak a ruby tie clip a genuine Waltham gold watch a diamond ring a fine silver watch chain some solid gold cufflinks a Perry & Co pellet match lighter a small stack of silver coins a green bandana (being worn) a travelbag (open but empty) a pair of scissors a brass key a colorful suit jacket (with an inner pocket (empty)) (being worn) a letter from Wilcox a brittle leaflet a ring of spare keys a technical manual a tin can of paint a passenger manifest >put ruby tie clip on faro board Select a card value on the faro board where you want to wager the ruby tie clip: 1 - (To quit faro) 2 - two 3 - three 4 - four 5 - five 6 - six 7 - seven 8 - eight 9 - nine 10 - ten 11 - jack 12 - queen 13 - king 14 - ace Please select a number between 1 and 14 >12 You place your wager on the spot for the "queen" cards. Milford Young deals a card from the deck. It is the ten of clubs. Your wager on the queen spot doesn't match the dealt card. A loser. Milford Young takes the ruby tie clip, and it is gone. >put diamond ring on faro board Select a card value on the faro board where you want to wager the diamond ring: 1 - (To quit faro) 2 - two 3 - three 4 - four 5 - five 6 - six 7 - seven 8 - eight 9 - nine 10 - ten 11 - jack 12 - queen 13 - king 14 - ace Please select a number between 1 and 14 >12 You place your wager on the spot for the "queen" cards. Milford Young deals a card from the deck. It is the queen of diamonds. What luck! The card value matches, making you a winner! Milford Young puts a small stack of bank notes next to the diamond ring. But things are happening so fast; you are being rudely jostled by the spectators around the faro board as they make new bets. They act as though they hardly know you are there. Before you can reach for your winnings, the dealer is already pulling another card from the deck. "Letting it ride!" says Milford Young, and produces the six of diamonds. A loser. Milford Young quickly collects the diamond ring, and the bank notes. >put silver coins on faro board Select a card value on the faro board where you want to wager the small stack of silver coins: 1 - (To quit faro) 2 - two 3 - three 4 - four 5 - five 6 - six 7 - seven 8 - eight 9 - nine 10 - ten 11 - jack 12 - queen 13 - king 14 - ace Please select a number between 1 and 14 >12 You place your wager on the spot for the "queen" cards. Milford Young deals a card from the deck. It is the ace of hearts. Your wager on the queen spot doesn't match the dealt card. A loser. Milford Young takes the small stack of silver coins, and it is gone. >ne Lounge The lounge opens up around a wide, descending staircase in the center of the space. Small tables accompanied by padded chairs provide passengers with a comfortable place to pass the time, and large windows offer views out to the port and starboard sides, brightening the space during the daylight hours. Two large pillars encase the smoke stacks that run up from the boilers below through the deck on each side of the staircase. You can see William McGawley and Truman Holmes here. From here, you can go west to the guards on the port side, east to the starboard side, south to the dining room, southwest to the barber shop, or downstairs to the cargo deck. >s Dining Room The dining room is lit by stylish oil lamps spaced along the walls. Dinner tables are dressed with white tablecloths and set with shiny silverware and cloth napkins. A few patrons mill about; you watch them as though you were watching characters in an old movie: you, the mute bystander, witnessing their concerns but not sharing them, while they chatter quietly and speak to one another, but not to you. You can see a planter in a silk shirt, Anderson Waddell, Mortimer Cheatham, 'Dad' Ryan, and a poker table (on which is a kitty of gold coins) here. From here, you can go north to the lounge, south to the stateroom corridor, or east to the galley. >s Stateroom Corridor The corridor between the Warsaw Queen's staterooms is dimly lit by kerosene lamps, spaced evenly between the stateroom doors. Odd numbered rooms are to the west (the port side), rooms 1 through 11. Even numbered rooms are to the east (starboard), rooms 2 through 12. You can see a map of the decks here. From here, you can go north to the dining room, south out to the aft deck, into a numbered room, or into one of the dormitories to the southeast and southwest. >enter 2 Milford Young's Stateroom You are in Milford Young's stateroom. Since your ancestor is busy in the barber shop, now is your chance to read more of his journal. One of the floorboards is marked with odd symbols, the ones you saw him carving into the wood last night. You can also see a porthole and a mahogany table (on which is a leather bound journal) here. From here, you can go west back to the corridor. >x journal Paging through your great-great-grandfather's private journal, you see that it currently has a first section, a subsequent entry, and a last page that you can read. >read last page The last page reads: "Everything that is happening is unreal to me. Sometimes I am startled awake, and I am somewhere new, and I do not remember dozing off. And each time I wake, I am delighted, enthused, thrilled that I am closer than ever before to my Ascension. Soon, I will be a myth, a bedtime story for the children. Will they laugh with me? Or will they cower in fear of what I became? All is set. The symbol I have painted in the cable store of the boat is exact, precise as the gate appears in the pages of the Book of the Dead. What power emanates from the formless design! I see it now in front of my eyes, larger than life, and it hypnotizes me still with its ancient force. A design that is so simple, almost elementary, and yet, as vastly complicated as the sky and and all its stars. The gate will open and the power that is meant for me will be granted. I will arise! I have a great gift of souls to offer! And it will come to me! Tonight, after dark, I will go down into the hull, and I will open it. 'The Old Ones were, the Old Ones are, and the Old Ones shall be.' 'Yog-Sothoth knows the gate. Yog-Sothoth is the gate. Yog-Sothoth is the key and guardian of the gate. Yog-Sothoth His name is the key.'" He has written no more. [Your score has just gone up by five points.] >take journal Talk about primary source material! Taken. >out Stateroom Corridor The corridor between the Warsaw Queen's staterooms is dimly lit by kerosene lamps, spaced evenly between the stateroom doors. Odd numbered rooms are to the west (the port side), rooms 1 through 11. Even numbered rooms are to the east (starboard), rooms 2 through 12. You can see a map of the decks here. Milford Young comes down the corridor from the dining room as you exit his stateroom. Without a look or a word, he breezes right past you, his body flickering discomfortingly just before he goes into his room. From here, you can go north to the dining room, south out to the aft deck, into a numbered room, or into one of the dormitories to the southeast and southwest. Night has fallen on the Warsaw Queen. Outside, the full moon has risen and it shines bright in the sky from the port side of the boat. As far as you know, the tragic wreck of this boat, and the deaths of everyone on it, are but a few short hours away. Could the disturbing activities your great-great-grandfather has scribbled about in his journal be the true cause of the wreck? Or perhaps the packet will run aground, as history tells it, destroying the hull, causing a massive fire, and sinking the boat so quickly, all aboard will perish? The cable store is in the hull beneath the fore of the cargo deck. Do the answers await you there? >s Stateroom Deck -- Aft The aft deck on the stateroom level is mostly closed in. The sky is blocked by the deck above, while bathrooms for passengers without first class facilities take up the rear of the deck. A corridor opens into the stateroom cabin toward fore, and steep stairwells, almost perpendicular, go up to the hurricane deck and down to cargo. Here on stateroom, the outside deck proceeds around the cabin to the port and starboard sides. From here, you can go north into the stateroom corridor, northwest to the guards on the port side, northeast to the starboard side, up to the hurricane deck or down to the cargo deck. >d Engine Room The sound of the engines fills this room, as huge pistons that turn the steamer's paddlewheel crank away. The steamworks which deliver power to the engines takes up the middle of the space. Steep ladderways access the deck above, and a hatch in the floor leads down into the hull. From here, you can go north to the cargo room, up to the stateroom deck, or down through a hatch into the hull. >n Cargo Room This space is mostly taken up by a full load of cargo -- sacks, barrels, kegs and crates -- secured by strong ropes and thick canvas straps. The room opens out to the deck on both the port and starboard sides. An oversize hatch provides access to more space for cargo in the hull. A large cage with a wood frame and rusty chicken wire sits on the floor. From here, you can go north to the cargo passage, south to the engine room, west out to the deck on the port side, east to the starboard side, or down through a hatch into the hull. >w Cargo Deck -- Port Beam This part of the outside deck opens into the cargo room on the starboard sideThe full moon illuminates the deck, shining from low in the sky directly to the port of the vessel. The sound of the engines chugging away comes through the aftward cabin wall, and you can also hear the paddlewheel churning into the river from the back of the boat. A crewman emerges from the cargo room. He approaches the guards, and as he comes out from the shadow of the deck above, and the moonlight fully illuminates him, he completely disappears. From here, you can go north along the deck, east to the cargo room, or up to the stateroom deck. >e Cargo Room This space is mostly taken up by a full load of cargo -- sacks, barrels, kegs and crates -- secured by strong ropes and thick canvas straps. The room opens out to the deck on both the port and starboard sides. An oversize hatch provides access to more space for cargo in the hull. A large cage with a wood frame and rusty chicken wire sits on the floor. From here, you can go north to the cargo passage, south to the engine room, west out to the deck on the port side, east to the starboard side, or down through a hatch into the hull. >unlock cage with brass key You unlock the cage of wood and rusty wire. >drop steak Dropped. >open cage You pull open the front of the cage and step back. The alligator is motionless for a moment, until, with a sudden burst of predatory speed, it lurches from its cage. It snaps up the raw meat into its powerful maw. With the heavy cut of steak locked in its teeth, the alligator crawls quickly out the starboard side exit from the cargo room and onto the deck. You watch as the alligator crawls with surprising speed straight for the guards. With great force, it collides with the wood railing, and it smashes an opening into the fencing, big enough for it to wiggle its way through. It does so, as you are moving toward the deck, watching the reptile make its escape. As you come out onto the deck, the alligator disappears off the side of the boat. A moment later, you hear a splash from the river down below. Cargo Deck -- Starboard Beam The outside deck here at starboard opens into the cargo room to port. The hum of the steamer's engines is a low drone penetrating through the cabin wall toward aft, which mixes with the sound coming from the back of the boat of the paddlewheel agitating the river water as it turns. A few of the wood posts are broken and splintered in the guards, forming the hole where the alligator bashed through in its escape into the river. From here, you can go north along the deck, west to the cargo room, up to the stateroom deck, or northwest through a door. >x hole That alligator had plenty of momentum when it bashed into the railing. It must have wanted to get off this boat pretty badly. >u Stateroom Deck -- Starboard This outside deck runs all along the starboard side of the cabin, wide enough for three abreast to stroll its length. It is shielded from the sky by the hurricane deck above, and a wood railing, called the guards, keeps you from falling over the side of the boat and into the Mississippi River. You can see a stateroom porthole here. From here, you can go west to the lounge, southwest to the aft section of the deck, or down to the cargo deck. >x porthole You peer through the porthole, which looks into Milford Young's stateroom. He is inside, pacing the floor, looking thoroughly agitated, if not deranged. He squeezes his fists, and shakes them in the air, whispering to himself. >w Lounge The lounge opens up around a wide, descending staircase in the center of the space. Small tables accompanied by padded chairs provide passengers with a comfortable place to pass the time, and large windows offer views out to the port and starboard sides, brightening the space during the daylight hours. Two large pillars encase the smoke stacks that run up from the boilers below through the deck on each side of the staircase. You can see Stewardess Wood, William McGawley, and Truman Holmes here. From here, you can go west to the guards on the port side, east to the starboard side, south to the dining room, southwest to the barber shop, or downstairs to the cargo deck. >x stewardess She is sitting in a corner booth by the window, gazing ruminantly out toward the riverbank as if her mind were a million miles away. In front of her are a cup of tea, a small note, and a fountain pen. >x note (the folded note) The note is an ardent love letter, from Stewardess Wood, addressed to Pilot Kruse. It's rather graphic. By this account, the stewardess must be quite a passionate lady. >x small note At the top of the note, Stewardess Wood has written, "My dear, capable Pilot," but that's as far as she's gotten. >s Dining Room The dining room is lit by stylish oil lamps spaced along the walls. Dinner tables are dressed with white tablecloths and set with shiny silverware and cloth napkins. A few patrons mill about; you watch them as though you were watching characters in an old movie: you, the mute bystander, witnessing their concerns but not sharing them, while they chatter quietly and speak to one another, but not to you. From here, you can go north to the lounge, south to the stateroom corridor, or east to the galley. >e Galley The galley is cramped with a wide cooking range including a stove and oven, the walls lined with cabinets and shelves. In one corner, a ladder leads up through a hatch in the ceiling, and in another corner is a ladder going down. Next to a chef's counter is a meat locker. You can also see the cook and Stewardess Lang here. The cook says, "What's this I hear about Stewardess Wood and the Pilot?" "Now who told you anything about that?" replies Stewardess Lang. "The dear would be terribly embarrassed if anyone knew about her feelings for that man." From here, you can go west back to the dining room, up to the hurricane deck, or down to the cargo deck. >listen The stewardess idly rolls an apple back and forth as she leans over the chef's counter. "Oh, she loves the Pilot, there's no question about that. She sits in the lounge in her spare time and writes love notes to him, just I don't think she's tried to deliver a single one. Every time she writes one, she either crumples it up and tosses it into the wastebasket, or she folds it up nice and seals it with a kiss. She's got a stash of them somewhere in our quarters upstairs, I'm sure of it." The cook continues cutting potatoes. >listen Stewardess Lang says, "She's got a stash of love notes somewhere in our quarters upstairs, I'm sure of it." The cook continues cutting potatoes. >d Crew Mess Here is where the crew takes its meals, at the long mess table that takes up most of the space. In one corner, a ladder ascends to the deck above. On the long mess table are some cigarettes. You can also see Deckhand Wilson, Engineer's Mate Duffer, and a flimsy door here. From here, you can go through a flimsy door to the south, northeast to the outside deck, or up to the stateroom deck. >x cigarettes It's a pack of Duke of Durham cigarettes, manufactured by W. Duke, Sons & Co., Durham, N.C. >get cigarettes Taken. [Your score has just gone up by one point.] >u Galley The galley is cramped with a wide cooking range including a stove and oven, the walls lined with cabinets and shelves. In one corner, a ladder leads up through a hatch in the ceiling, and in another corner is a ladder going down. Next to a chef's counter is a meat locker. You can also see the cook and Stewardess Lang here. From here, you can go west back to the dining room, up to the hurricane deck, or down to the cargo deck. >u Ship's Office The ship's office is a space for the captain, clerk and other officers to take their meals, and to handle the boat's ministerial affairs. A ladder leads down to the deck below, and a large oak desk with a drawer and cabinets is set against one wall. On the large oak desk are some random papers and a flip calendar. From here, you can go east to the outside deck, or down to the stateroom deck. >out Hurricane Deck -- Starboard The top level, outdoor deck is fully exposed to the elements, vulnerable to whatever the weather musters, be it wind or rain. The unseasonable calm and warm night, however, belies an eerie tension in the air as the calamitous the fate of the boat and its passengers draws near. A painted iron staircase leads up to the top deck for access to the pilot house, and the deck rounds the cabin to the aft of the boat. You can see First Lieutenant Plemons and Clerk Weeds here. First Lieutenant Plemons says, "I do not enjoy cigars much, and I am not partial to chew. But all this talk we have been making about cigarettes has given me a strong hankering to smoke one or two." Weeds comments, "I am sure I saw Engineer's Mate Duffer with a pack of those machine made cigarettes." "I am aware of it," the Lieutenant replies, "however, I am not on that man's good side, for a reason that I will not go into, only the result is, he will not share his cigarettes with me." From here, you can go up to the pilot house, south to the aft deck, or inside to the west and southwest. >give cigarettes to plemons You hold out the pack of Duke of Durham cigarettes toward First Lieutenant Plemons. He looks down at it, and takes it, never once meeting you straight in the eyes. "Well, I don't mind if I do!" he says. "Join me for a smoke, Weeds, why don't you? Let's get out of this wind." Clerk Weeds accepts the offer, and the two crewmen head into the ship's office, both of them flickering momentarily as the door closes behind them. [Your score has just gone up by three points.] >u Pilot House The pilot house is in a small tower at the top of the boat. Windows on all sides of the square space provide a panoramic view of the river all around. You can see a boat's wheel and Pilot Kruse here. From here, you can go down to the hurricane deck. >give folded note to pilot When you produce the folded note, you suddenly have the Pilot's attention, and he takes it from you. He opens it up, and his eyes open wider with each line of the note that he consumes. Once he's done reading, his jaw is slack with disbelief. "Stewardess Wood!" he exclaims softly, as if to himself alone, although you are standing right there. "Why, I never thought..." He shoves the note into his pocket, and quickly climbs his way down out of the pilot house, leaving you there alone. Also, when he steps away from the wheel, you notice that he has left his pocket watch behind. [Your score has just gone up by three points.] >x pocket watch It's a counterfeit Waltham gold watch, and it looks just like the real thing! But it's not. >get pocket watch Taken. >x wheel The boat's wheel can be turned, to control the direction that the boat is going. At least, you have every expectation that it's so. >turn wheel Which direction, port or starboard? >port The boat bears to port. The full moon shines on the fore deck from directly ahead. >d Hurricane Deck -- Starboard The top level, outdoor deck is fully exposed to the elements, vulnerable to whatever the weather musters, be it wind or rain. The unseasonable calm and warm night, however, belies an eerie tension in the air as the calamitous the fate of the boat and its passengers draws near. A painted iron staircase leads up to the top deck for access to the pilot house, and the deck rounds the cabin to the aft of the boat. From here, you can go up to the pilot house, south to the aft deck, or inside to the west and southwest. >sw Stewardess' Quarters Stewardess Wood and Pilot Kruse are both here, and they are, let us say, intimately engaged. What they are doing is best not discussed in polite company, and you decide it's best to leave them to their business. Hurricane Deck -- Starboard The top level, outdoor deck is fully exposed to the elements, vulnerable to whatever the weather musters, be it wind or rain. The unseasonable calm and warm night, however, belies an eerie tension in the air as the calamitous the fate of the boat and its passengers draws near. A painted iron staircase leads up to the top deck for access to the pilot house, and the deck rounds the cabin to the aft of the boat. From here, you can go up to the pilot house, south to the aft deck, or inside to the west and southwest. >s Hurricane Deck -- Aft The aft section of the deck is open to the sky above. The sound of the paddlewheel below is a soft roar of white noise. Two large longboats are housed here, tied down under dirty, fading tarpaulin covers. From here, you can go north to the guards on the starboard side or down to the stateroom deck. >d Stateroom Deck -- Aft The aft deck on the stateroom level is mostly closed in. The sky is blocked by the deck above, while bathrooms for passengers without first class facilities take up the rear of the deck. A corridor opens into the stateroom cabin toward fore, and steep stairwells, almost perpendicular, go up to the hurricane deck and down to cargo. Here on stateroom, the outside deck proceeds around the cabin to the port and starboard sides. From here, you can go north into the stateroom corridor, northwest to the guards on the port side, northeast to the starboard side, up to the hurricane deck or down to the cargo deck. >n Stateroom Corridor The corridor between the Warsaw Queen's staterooms is dimly lit by kerosene lamps, spaced evenly between the stateroom doors. Odd numbered rooms are to the west (the port side), rooms 1 through 11. Even numbered rooms are to the east (starboard), rooms 2 through 12. You can see a map of the decks here. From here, you can go north to the dining room, south out to the aft deck, into a numbered room, or into one of the dormitories to the southeast and southwest. >enter 9 William McGawley's Stateroom Luxurious by the standards of the era, the first class accommodations on the Warsaw Queen include a clawfoot tub, a water closet, William Morris wallpaper, ample storage space, and lounge chairs. You can see a bedside table (on which is a nice ashtray (empty)) and a porthole here. >i You are carrying: a counterfeit pocket watch a leather bound journal a folded note a sterling watch chain a genuine Waltham gold watch a fine silver watch chain some solid gold cufflinks a Perry & Co pellet match lighter a green bandana (being worn) a travelbag (open but empty) a pair of scissors a brass key a colorful suit jacket (with an inner pocket (empty)) (being worn) a letter from Wilcox a brittle leaflet a ring of spare keys a technical manual a tin can of paint a passenger manifest >put pocket watch in ashtray You put the counterfeit pocket watch into the nice ashtray. It looks just like the real one -- William McGawley himself wouldn't notice the difference. >x silver watch chain A valuable chain crafted of the finest silver, belonging to Anderson Waddell. >out Stateroom Corridor The corridor between the Warsaw Queen's staterooms is dimly lit by kerosene lamps, spaced evenly between the stateroom doors. Odd numbered rooms are to the west (the port side), rooms 1 through 11. Even numbered rooms are to the east (starboard), rooms 2 through 12. You can see a map of the decks here. From here, you can go north to the dining room, south out to the aft deck, into a numbered room, or into one of the dormitories to the southeast and southwest. >enter anderson's Anderson Waddell's Stateroom The second class stateroom appears much like your own accommodations on the Warsaw Queen, with the same simple furnishings. The room is unoccupied at the moment. You can see a bedside table (on which is a nice ashtray (empty)) and a porthole here. >put sterling chain in ashtray You put the sterling watch chain into the nice ashtray. It looks just like the real one -- Anderson Waddell himself wouldn't notice the difference. >out Stateroom Corridor The corridor between the Warsaw Queen's staterooms is dimly lit by kerosene lamps, spaced evenly between the stateroom doors. Odd numbered rooms are to the west (the port side), rooms 1 through 11. Even numbered rooms are to the east (starboard), rooms 2 through 12. You can see a map of the decks here. From here, you can go north to the dining room, south out to the aft deck, into a numbered room, or into one of the dormitories to the southeast and southwest. >n Dining Room The dining room is lit by stylish oil lamps spaced along the walls. Dinner tables are dressed with white tablecloths and set with shiny silverware and cloth napkins. A few patrons mill about; you watch them as though you were watching characters in an old movie: you, the mute bystander, witnessing their concerns but not sharing them, while they chatter quietly and speak to one another, but not to you. From here, you can go north to the lounge, south to the stateroom corridor, or east to the galley. >n Lounge The lounge opens up around a wide, descending staircase in the center of the space. Small tables accompanied by padded chairs provide passengers with a comfortable place to pass the time, and large windows offer views out to the port and starboard sides, brightening the space during the daylight hours. Two large pillars encase the smoke stacks that run up from the boilers below through the deck on each side of the staircase. You can see William McGawley and Truman Holmes here. From here, you can go west to the guards on the port side, east to the starboard side, south to the dining room, southwest to the barber shop, or downstairs to the cargo deck. >sw Barber Shop The barber shop is sectioned off from the lounge by firm wood paneling. There is a swivel chair where customers can have their manes styled and their mustachios pruned, situated in front of a large mirror. You can see Mortimer Cheatham, some spectators of faro, a faro board, and the barber here. From here, you can go northeast back to the lounge. >x mortimer Mortimer Cheatham is clean shaven with deep set eyes and a prominent forehead. His dark hair is parted in the middle and he wears a pair of round spectacles. >i You are carrying: a leather bound journal a folded note a genuine Waltham gold watch a fine silver watch chain some solid gold cufflinks a Perry & Co pellet match lighter a green bandana (being worn) a travelbag (open but empty) a pair of scissors a brass key a colorful suit jacket (with an inner pocket (empty)) (being worn) a letter from Wilcox a brittle leaflet a ring of spare keys a technical manual a tin can of paint a passenger manifest >put gold watch on faro board Select a card value on the faro board where you want to wager the genuine Waltham gold watch: 1 - (To quit faro) 2 - two 3 - three 4 - four 5 - five 6 - six 7 - seven 8 - eight 9 - nine 10 - ten 11 - jack 12 - queen 13 - king 14 - ace Please select a number between 1 and 14 >12 You place your wager on the spot for the "queen" cards. Mortimer Cheatham deals a card from the deck. It is the seven of diamonds. Your wager on the queen spot doesn't match the dealt card. A loser. Mortimer Cheatham takes the genuine Waltham gold watch, and it is gone. >put watch chain on faro board Select a card value on the faro board where you want to wager the fine silver watch chain: 1 - (To quit faro) 2 - two 3 - three 4 - four 5 - five 6 - six 7 - seven 8 - eight 9 - nine 10 - ten 11 - jack 12 - queen 13 - king 14 - ace Please select a number between 1 and 14 >12 You place your wager on the spot for the "queen" cards. Mortimer Cheatham deals a card from the deck. It is the four of hearts. Your wager on the queen spot doesn't match the dealt card. A loser. Mortimer Cheatham takes the fine silver watch chain, and it is gone. >put cufflinks on faro board Select a card value on the faro board where you want to wager the solid gold cufflinks: 1 - (To quit faro) 2 - two 3 - three 4 - four 5 - five 6 - six 7 - seven 8 - eight 9 - nine 10 - ten 11 - jack 12 - queen 13 - king 14 - ace Please select a number between 1 and 14 >12 You place your wager on the spot for the "queen" cards. Mortimer Cheatham deals a card from the deck. It is the seven of clubs. Your wager on the queen spot doesn't match the dealt card. A loser. Mortimer Cheatham takes the solid gold cufflinks, and they are gone. >put lighter on faro board Select a card value on the faro board where you want to wager the Perry & Co pellet match lighter: 1 - (To quit faro) 2 - two 3 - three 4 - four 5 - five 6 - six 7 - seven 8 - eight 9 - nine 10 - ten 11 - jack 12 - queen 13 - king 14 - ace Please select a number between 1 and 14 >12 You place your wager on the spot for the "queen" cards. Mortimer Cheatham deals a card from the deck. It is the queen of hearts. What luck! The card value matches, making you a winner! Mortimer Cheatham puts a small stack of bank notes next to the Perry & Co pellet match lighter. But things are happening so fast; you are being rudely jostled by the spectators around the faro board as they make new bets. They act as though they hardly know you are there. Before you can reach for your winnings, the dealer is already pulling another card from the deck. "Letting it ride!" says Mortimer Cheatham, and produces the eight of spades. A loser. Mortimer Cheatham quickly collects the Perry & Co pellet match lighter, and the bank notes. >i You are carrying: a leather bound journal a folded note a green bandana (being worn) a travelbag (open but empty) a pair of scissors a brass key a colorful suit jacket (with an inner pocket (empty)) (being worn) a letter from Wilcox a brittle leaflet a ring of spare keys a technical manual a tin can of paint a passenger manifest >ne Lounge The lounge opens up around a wide, descending staircase in the center of the space. Small tables accompanied by padded chairs provide passengers with a comfortable place to pass the time, and large windows offer views out to the port and starboard sides, brightening the space during the daylight hours. Two large pillars encase the smoke stacks that run up from the boilers below through the deck on each side of the staircase. You can see William McGawley and Truman Holmes here. From here, you can go west to the guards on the port side, east to the starboard side, south to the dining room, southwest to the barber shop, or downstairs to the cargo deck. >d Cargo Deck -- Fore Here at the front of the boat on the cargo level, the headwind disturbs your hair, and a constant whish of white noise fills the air from the water sweeping around the front of the boat as the steamer navigates the river. The gangway is drawn up, extending vertically toward the sky, and a jib crane is here for loading and unloading cargo. A grand staircase invites passengers up to the lounge on the stateroom level. After the change in the direction of the boat, the full moon now shines from directly ahead, casting its illumination between the bollards where the deckhand was sitting. He is no longer there. From here, you can go up to the stateroom deck, south to the boilers, southwest to the guards on the port side, southeast to the starboard side, or down through a hatch into the hull. >d Cable Store The cable store is the foremost bulkhead in the boat's hull. Coils of heavy cables and thick ropes are piled to one side of the space, looking like a nest of massive river pythons. A very disturbing design has been painted onto the surface of the hull. It pulses mystically, calling your attention to it. A paintbrush, soiled with dry white paint, has been discarded on the floor. From here, you can go back up through the hatch. [Your score has just gone up by three points.] >x design The symbol, painted in white strokes onto the surface of the hull, draws you into its diabolical geometry, tunneling your vision until you feel you are surrounded by it, rather than standing in front of it. Its cursed shape and configuration shift before your eyes as if it were alive, and yet its familiarity to you is undeniable, echoing the small carved designs in Milford Young's stateroom floor, and the page he had, purportedly from the book he called the "Necronomicon." Averting your eyes from the maddening symbol requires a breathtaking effort. >x paintbrush There is a residue of dried white paint on the bristles of the brush. >get paintbrush Taken. >l Cable Store The cable store is the foremost bulkhead in the boat's hull. Coils of heavy cables and thick ropes are piled to one side of the space, looking like a nest of massive river pythons. A very disturbing design has been painted onto the surface of the hull. It pulses mystically, calling your attention to it. From here, you can go back up through the hatch. Milford Young climbs down. His hair is wild, his eyes are bloodshot. He seems aware of your presence, but only as much as one would be aware of a fly, or a light gust of wind. He steps in front of the symbol painted on the surface of the hull. He clears his throat and prepares to speak. >paint over design (the disturbing design) Working quickly, you use the paintbrush and start slathering white paint over the design, ruining its diabolical consistency, destroying its supernatural elegance, reducing it to a chaotic, meaningless mess. After you do this, you feel the same dizziness coming over you that you felt in your hotel room on the Terrabelle, just before ending up here, on the Warsaw Queen. As your legs weaken and you begin to slump down to the floor, Milford Young collapses to his knees with a screeching cry. His fingers rip at his messy hair. He begins to sob, and then he cackles maniacally, then sobs again. Your vision begins to dim, and the last thing you hear before you lose consciousness is your great-great-grandfather babbling incoherently to himself. Your Hotel Room -- The Terrabelle When you awake again, you are in the hotel room on the Terrabelle. Everything looks like it did before UGR-SKEL transported you to your ancestor's time on the Warsaw Queen. The frayed Persian rug is in its normal place on the floor. The door is to the east. You can also see an antique desk (on which are a brochure, an old newspaper clipping, a medallion, a photograph, and an Art Nouveau desk lamp) and a bed here. [Your score has just gone up by twenty points.] >x medallion There it is, your ancestor's medallion, UGR-SKEL, which apparently helped him amass a small fortune from gambling, and likely, drove him mad. It looks so harmless, just sitting there. >x brochure The brochure highlights the origin of the boat you are on, a stern-wheel paddleboat. It was built to replicate the rough period details of a much earlier paddleboat, the Warsaw Queen, a packet that sailed the Mississippi river until it went out of service in 1902. >x clipping The clipping is a photocopy (from microfiche) of the society page from the Commercial Herald, Vicksburg, Mississippi, dated April 30, 1889. The clipping has several short blurbs about events related to local residents. One such blurb reads, "Friends and family of Milford Young regret to report that Mr. Young has suffered a severe psychotic episode, and has been committed to the Mississippi State Lunatic Asylum in Jackson." This is just one of many primary source materials you have hunted down that relate to the life of your ancestor as you compile your biographical study about him. >get medallion You pick up the medallion, UGR-SKEL. A sense of power hums from the artifact, through your fingers and into your arms, into your bones. You are bringing the chain up, lifting it over your head. You are going to put it on... >x medallion Such power! It could be yours... UGR-SKEL feels so good in your hands. You want to wear it. You need to wear it... >drop medallion You drop UGR-SKEL onto the floor at your feet. >e Filled with immense relief after surviving your troubling ordeal, you grab your overnight bag, and leave the room, intent on getting away from this riverboat and staying as far away from it as possible...for now. But your research project has suddenly taken on some new and enticing facets -- a cult of obsessive believers, going back how many centuries? Metaphysical powers, arcane artifacts, time travel, and witchcraft. Powerful beings from some ancient alien world...so much to go on, with your ancestor's personal journal in your possession...what fantastical mysteries will you uncover through your investigations now? *** THE END *** In that game you scored 85 out of a possible 85, in 352 turns. You earned the title THE RIGHTEOUS PATH: You foiled Milford Young's plan to summon the Old One. You returned to your own time safe and sound, and you left the evil of UGR-SKEL behind. Well done! You gained the following achievements: FLY ON THE WALL: You heard all of the William McGawley/Bill Horricks/Truman Holmes conversations. ANIMAL WELFARE: You released the alligator after bending the monte card, and the alligator escaped into the river. VOYEUR: You peeked in on Pilot Kruse and Stewardess Wood in the stewardess' quarters. BIBLIOGRAPHER: You had Milford Young's journal with you at the end of the game on the Terrabelle. PARANORMAL ACTIVITY: You witnessed every moonlight disappearance in the game. SURPRISE: You left at least one correct fake valuable in a gambler's ashtray. TAKE THAT YOU CHEATS: You left every fake valuable in the correct gambler's ashtray. QUALIFIED SNOOP: You picked up every key item in the game. GAMBLER: You played faro, and lost at least one valuable. HIGH ROLLER: You played faro, and lost every one of the gamblers' valuables. LUCKY WINNER: You played faro, and won at least one hand (for all the good it did you). (You accomplished every achievement in the game!)