Alabaster — 85 of 123

Chapter 16 - Eric Eve Nov 1

Rule for quip-introducing why you must burn the box:

say "[roman type]Always people are telling you to do things; no one ever explains why.";

list no other quips.

why you must burn the box is a questioning quip. The comment is "'Why do you want me to burn the box?' you ask.".

It mentions heart-sized box.

The response is "'Only that way can I be made whole - and set free,' he tells you, 'So, will you do that for me?'".

The nag is "[one of]The corpse frowns at you, waiting for an answer[or]Clearly time itself is not going to be allowed to go on until you answer the hart's question[or]'It is not a difficult request, man!' says the hart[or]'Shall I just go for a canter around the woods and return when you've come to a decision?' he asks irritably[or]'Why' (the hart asks itself rhetorically) 'are all the living such imbeciles?'[or]His sarcasm exhausted, the hart can only wait[or]You somehow continue to hold out against the hart's impatience[or]You still give no answer to the hart's question[or]'In case you've completely forgotten,' the hart says, 'some time ago I asked whether you would be willing to burn the box for me.' He glares at you[or]You continue not to answer[stopping]."

The uncertainty-refusal is "'It's no pact unless you commit yourself. Don't be such a weakling.'".

It is restrictive.

It quip-supplies corpse.

It assumes burn-box.

It is listed.

yes-13 is an affirmative quip. The printed name is "say yes". The true-name is "yes-13". The comment is "'Very well, if that is what you wish,' you agree.[will-burn-box]".

It mentions heart-sized box, deal.

The response is "'Good,' the hart replies, 'And in return, I will aid you against your prisoner. But do not delay, the deed must be done [']ere the night is o'er[if the player does not know happy-name-known][queue what his name seems as immediate obligatory][end if][queue ask-away as postponed optional].'".

It directly-follows why you must burn the box.

It quip-supplies corpse.

no-14 is a negative quip. The printed name is "say no". The true-name is "no-14". The comment is "'No, I cannot do ask you ask,' you say.".

It mentions heart-sized box, deal.

The response is "The undead hart regards you with sad eyes[set body-context to corpse]. 'Then we are both undone - I had hoped better of you,' he sighs. His eyes slowly close, his legs sag, and he sinks back to the ground, inert once more.[hart-no-longer-undead]".

It directly-follows why you must burn the box.

It quip-supplies corpse.

Every turn during Stopped-Time:

follow the Happy planning rules.

The Happy planning rules are a rulebook.

First Happy planning rule:

if the player does not know will-burn-box:

rule fails. [1]

A Happy planning rule when the player knows Snow-White-possessed:

if the player does not recollect banish-her-too:

queue banish-her-too as postponed obligatory;

rule succeeds.

A Happy planning rule when the player does not know vampirism-revealed and the player does not know Snow-White-possessed:

if the player recollects no-11:

make no decision;

if the player knows you-were-king:

make no decision;

if the player does not recollect ask-away:

queue ask-away as postponed optional;

rule succeeds.

A Happy planning rule when the player does not know happy-name-known:

queue what his name seems as postponed obligatory;

rule succeeds.

The last Happy planning rule:

queue hart-expires as postponed obligatory. [2]

Hart-expires is an NPC-directed quip.

The response is "The silver glow surrounding the hart begins to fade.

'Alas, I can stay no longer,' he tells you, 'Farewell - and beware!'

He sinks to the ground, a final sigh escaping his decaying throat, 'Do

not delay - box - heart - burn.'

Then the glow is gone, and the hart is still once more, with nothing to

show he ever moved.[hart-no-longer-undead]."

It quip-supplies corpse.