# Hercules! — 13 of 16

## Leo Weinreb

Release 1

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Chapter 12 - The Apples of the Hesperides

The Western Shore is west of Lerna. "The western shore of Greece. Nothing but coarse sand and the salty ocean can be seen here. The dangerous Garden of the Hesperides is all that lies west of here, otherwise you can go back to Lerna to the east."

Instead of going west in Western Shore:

If twelve-labors is false:

say "No way! They say the garden is guarded by a terrifying dragon named Ladon. You're not going that way unless you absolutely have to, especially with your anxiety and muscular deficiencies.";

else:

say "You're shaking in your boots as you approach...";

continue the action.

The Garden of the Hesperides is west of the Western Shore. "This is a beautiful, heavenly garden, with an [enormous tree] filled with apples in the center. The air is completely warm, pristine, and pleasant, almost the opposite air as is present in the City Palace of Tiryns. [paragraph break]You can go back to the western shore to the east and there is a cave-like structure to the northeast which is emitting a low-pitched ethereal hum. In the distance, you can also see a [strange staircase] leading downwards, perhaps to some God-like otherworldly plane of existence.[if Ladon is not in the Garden of the Hesperides][paragraph break]The enormous apple tree, now fully in view thanks to Ladon's absence, looks very enticing, with its branches full of divine red apples.[end if]"

The strange staircase is scenery in the Garden of the Hesperides. Understand "stair" and "steps" as the strange staircase.

Understand "stairs" and "strange stairs" and "stairway" and "strange stairway" as the strange staircase. The description of the strange staircase is "The steps seem to appear and disappear from the otherworldly staircase and you get the strange sense that they go down as far as is possible to go down."

Instead of taking the strange staircase:

try going down instead.

Instead of climbing the strange staircase:

try taking the strange staircase instead.

The cave is a backdrop. The cave is in the Garden of the Hesperides and the Shrine of the Oracle at Delphi. The description of the cave is "[if the player is in the Garden of the Hesperides]As you turn your attention to the cave, you notice wisps and curls of smoke seeping from its mouth, and the low-pitched ethereal hum seems to grow a bit louder.[else]Very dark and forboding.[end if]"

Understand "hum" and "smoke" as the cave.

Instead of going northeast from the Garden of the Hesperides:

if Ladon is in the Garden of the Hesperides:

say "The dragon blocks your way and roars. You manage to dodge its fiery attack as it turns the grass where you were standing to ash. Boy, you really should have brought your inhaler with you on these errands.";

else:

continue the action.

The Shrine of the Oracle at Delphi is northeast of the Garden of the Hesperides. "You have entered a dark and forboding cave. The only exit is back the way you came, to the southwest. [paragraph break]There is a [golden shrine] here."

The golden shrine is a portable supporter in the Shrine of the Oracle at Delphi. The description of the golden shrine is "It's a small golden statue of a meditating girl cupping her hands, as though presenting an offering. Her hands are fairly large, creating a low shelf. A small sticker on the edge of the statue reads 'DO NOT TOUCH.'"

Instead of entering the golden shrine:

say "Are you planning on offering yourself up to the Oracle at Delphi? No, I thought not."

Understand "shelf" and "hands" and "girl" and "statue" and "sticker" as the golden shrine.

Instead of taking the golden shrine:

say "'Do not touch, please,' a bored voice drawls from nowhere. 'Place your payment on the shrine. Something monstrous, something divine.'"

Instead of touching the golden shrine:

say "'Do not touch, please,' a bored voice drawls from nowhere. 'Place your payment on the shrine. Something monstrous, something divine.'"

Instead of pushing the golden shrine:

try touching the golden shrine.

Prophecy is a scene. Prophecy begins when the red apple is on the golden shrine and the receipt is on the golden shrine and less than 3 things are on the golden shrine.

The ticket stub is a thing. The ticket stub is nowhere. The description of the ticket stub is "'ADMIT ONE: HADESTOWN (NOW A TONY AWARD-WINNING BROADWAY MUSICAL!)'"

Prophecy-told is a truth state that varies. Prophecy-told is false.

When Prophecy begins:

say "'Payment accepted,' drawls the voice, and the objects on the shrine disappear. 'Let the prophecy begin.' And suddenly, your mind is filled with a startling image of you in the City Palace of Tiryns. Right next to the throne you notice that a piece of the floor tiling has been mis-aligned. You try to shift it and the tile becomes a trapdoor, opening into a dark staircase downwards. You travel down and down and down and down until you reach...[paragraph break]The vision clears and you find yourself once again in front of the shrine, although it looks slightly different than before. The bored voice from nowhere intones 'Thank you for visiting the Shrine of the Oracle at Delphi. Remember that Tuesdays are 50% off for first-timers. Have a nice day.'";

now the red apple is in the Waiting Area;

now the receipt is nowhere;

now prophecy-told is true;

now the ticket stub is on the golden shrine.

The Underworld is down from the Garden of the Hesperides.

Instead of dropping a meaty thing:

if Ladon is in the location or the player is in the Gates of Hades:

say "And watch your livestock be turned into kibble? No way!";

else:

continue the action.

Instead of giving a meaty thing to someone:

if the second noun is Ladon or the second noun is Cerberus:

say "And watch your livestock be turned into kibble? No way!";

else:

continue the action.

Instead of going down from the Garden of the Hesperides:

if Ladon is in the Garden of the Hesperides:

say "The dragon blocks your way and roars. You manage to dodge its fiery attack as it turns the grass where you were standing to ash. Boy, you really should have brought your inhaler with you on these errands.";

else:

say "You attempt to step on the first step but your foot goes right through the stairway! You step back hastily. Looks like only spirits can go down the strange staircase.".

Ladon is a person in the Garden of the Hesperides. "There is a monstrous, terrifying dragon named Ladon here."

Check asking Ladon about anything:

say "The dragon roars a mighty roar and your knees become jelly. You'll never be able to reason with it..." instead.

Check telling Ladon about anything:

say "The dragon roars a mighty roar and your knees become jelly. You'll never be able to reason with it..." instead.

Check giving anything to Ladon:

say "The dragon roars a mighty roar and your knees become jelly. You'll never be able to reason with it..." instead.

Check showing anything to Ladon:

say "The dragon roars a mighty roar and your knees become jelly. You'll never be able to reason with it..." instead.

Instead of showing the chewed bone to Ladon:

say "The dragon sits up and starts panting at the sight of the bone, but soon shakes off the strange behavior, roaring a mighty roar. Your knees become jelly. You'll never be able to reason with it...".

Instead of giving the chewed bone to Ladon:

say "The dragon sits up and starts panting at the sight of the bone, but soon shakes off the strange behavior, roaring a mighty roar. Your knees become jelly. You'll never be able to reason with it...".

Instead of throwing the chewed bone at Ladon:

say "It does seem rather like the dragon is itching to run after something, but you can't just throw it right at him, he'd just eat it and then eat you. Besides, with your muscles? Hah! That wouldn't do anything except trigger your asthma."

The description of Ladon is "You are spellbound by the long black claws, lizardly wagging tail, vicious sharp white teeth, crimson skin, and smokey, billowing breath emanating from the dragon's nostrils. The beast seems restless, and its great, bat-like wings shiver and fidget in anticipation of chasing after something."

Understand "dragon" and "the dragon" and "lizard" as Ladon.

The chewed bone is in the Garden of the Hesperides. The description of the chewed bone is "Ugh... it's still got some flecks of meat on it. You long for the days when plastic knives were all you found from luckless adventurers."

Instead of eating the chewed bone:

say "Are you a dragon or a dog? No, I thought not."

The enormous tree is a supporter in the Garden of the Hesperides. "[if Ladon is in the Garden of the Hesperides]An enormous tree is brimming with heavenly apples here, but it's partially obscured by the dreadful dragon.[else]The enormous apple tree, now fully in view thanks to Ladon's absence, looks very enticing, with its branches full of divine red apples." The enormous tree is fixed in place. Understand "tree" and "appletree" and "apple tree" and "glorious tree" and "glorious" and "enormous apple tree" as the enormous tree. Understand "apple" as the red apple.

Instead of putting something on the enormous tree:

say "You find that a very silly idea and think it best not to entertain it any longer."

Picking is an action applying to one thing. Understand "pick [something]" and "pluck [something]" as picking.

Check picking:

if the noun is the wild grasslands:

try taking the wild grasslands instead;

else if the noun is not the red apple:

say "[Those] can't be plucked." instead;

else if the noun is not on the enormous tree and the player is in the Garden of the Hesperides:

say "No, stealing one piece of forbidden fruit is enough. You don't want to be like Eve." instead.

Carry out picking:

try taking the noun instead.

Does the player mean taking the enormous tree:

it is very unlikely.

Does the player mean eating the enormous tree:

it is very unlikely.

Does the player mean tasting the enormous tree:

it is very unlikely.

The red apple is an undescribed thing. The red apple is on the enormous tree. The description of the enormous tree is "You can see a [red apple] hanging from every branch of this glorious tree. They all look simply divine."

Understand "apple" as the red apple. The description of the red apple is "The apple looks absolutely divine, almost too perfect. You expect Snow White to come running any minute now."

Instead of smelling the red apple:

say "It smells crisp and clean and heavenly, but you're on a low-acid diet so you can't partake.".

Instead of eating the red apple:

say "The red apple looks absolutely scrumptious but you're on a low-acid diet so you can't partake."

Instead of throwing the chewed bone at the strange staircase:

if Ladon is in the Garden of the Hesperides:

say "You manage to chuck the chewed bone down the strange staircase and watch it bounce down each step. Ladon gives a fiery, excited bark and flies after it down the stairs, tail wagging as he flies.";

now Ladon is nowhere;

now the chewed bone is in the Gates of Hades;

else:

say "You're not in the mood to play fetch right now."

Instead of throwing the chewed bone at the enormous tree:

if Ladon is in the Garden of the Hesperides:

say "Ladon stands between you and the apple tree, so he'd catch it immediately.";

else:

say "You're not in the mood to play fetch right now."

Instead of throwing the chewed bone at the cave:

if Ladon is in the Garden of the Hesperides:

say "The cave isn't very far away, so that wouldn't keep Ladon occupied very long.";

else:

say "You're not in the mood to play fetch right now."

Instead of throwing the chewed bone at the red apple:

if Ladon is in the Garden of the Hesperides:

say "Ladon stands between you and the apple tree, so he'd catch it immediately.";

else:

say "You're not in the mood to play fetch right now."

Apple Theft is a scene. Apple Theft begins when the player carries the red apple for the first time. Apple-taken is a truth state that varies. Apple-taken is false.

When Apple Theft begins:

increase the score by 1;

follow the notify score changes rule;

try requesting the score;

now apple-taken is true.

After deciding the scope of the player:

if the location is the Garden of the Hesperides:

place the red apple in scope;

else if the location is Amazonia and warrior-guard is false:

place some vines in scope;

place some roses in scope;

place the moss in scope;

place the glowing dirt in scope.

Rule for reaching inside a room:

if the noun is the red apple:

allow access;

if the noun is a medicinal thing:

allow access.

Check taking the red apple:

If Ladon is in the Garden of the Hesperides:

say "The dragon blocks your way and roars. You manage to dodge its fiery attack as it turns the grass where you were standing to ash. Boy, you really should have brought your inhaler with you on these errands." instead;

else if the player is in the Garden of the Hesperides and the player carries the red apple:

say "No, stealing one piece of forbidden fruit is enough. You don't want to be like Eve." instead;

else if the player is in the Garden of the Hesperides and the red apple is not on the enormous tree and the red apple is not in the Garden of the Hesperides:

say "No, stealing one piece of forbidden fruit is enough. You don't want to be like Eve." instead;

else if the player is in the Garden of the Hesperides and apple-taken is true and apple-dropped is false:

say "No, stealing one piece of forbidden fruit is enough. You don't want to be like Eve." instead;

else:

now apple-dropped is false;

continue the action.

Apple-dropped is a truth state that varies. Apple-dropped is false.

Before dropping the red apple:

now apple-dropped is true.

test apples with "w/ s/ w/ w/ take bone/ throw bone at strange staircase/ take red apple"