Scroll Thief — 134 of 138

Part II - The Last Lousy Point

A mouse is an animal. "A small mouse [if the mouse is flying]hovers in midair, looking confused[else]is tentatively exploring the space[mouse activity][end if]." Understand "small" or "fur" or "brown" or "white" or "brown and white" as the mouse. The description of the mouse is "A small mouse with brown and white fur." The mouse is not visible between rooms.

The pseudo-mouse is privately-named scenery in the Disused Closet. Understand "small" or "fur" or "brown" or "white" or "brown and white" or "mouse" as the pseudo-mouse when the mouse is off-stage.

Should the game choose when comparing the mouse against the pseudo-mouse: it is a good choice.

Instead of doing anything with the pseudo-mouse: say "The mouse has disappeared again."; take no time.

The printed name of the pseudo-mouse is "mouse".

To decide whether the mouse is active:

if the mouse is enclosed by the player, no;

if the mouse is captured, no;

if the mouse is flying, no;

yes.

To say mouse activity:

if the mouse activity mode is one:

say ", skittering back out into the room";

otherwise if the mouse activity mode is two:

say ", climbing into [the holder of the mouse]".

The mouse activity mode is initially zero. [Prevent repetitive actions.]

Every turn when the mouse is active (this is the mouse movement rule):

if the mouse is off-stage and there is not a person in the Disused Closet:

if a random chance of 1 in 4 succeeds, move the mouse to the Disused Closet;

otherwise if the mouse is on-stage:

if the location of the mouse is the location:

[say "Seeing your sudden appearance, the mouse disappears back into some crack in the floorboards.";]

remove the mouse from play;

otherwise:

if the holder of the mouse is an open container (called the home):

if a random chance of 2 in 3 succeeds:

if the mouse activity mode is zero:

now the mouse activity mode is one;

move the mouse to the holder of the home;

otherwise:

now the mouse activity mode is zero;

otherwise if the mouse can touch an open container (called the item):

if a random chance of 1 in 3 succeeds:

if the mouse activity mode is zero:

now the mouse activity mode is two;

move the mouse to the item;

otherwise:

now the mouse activity mode is zero.

Before going when the room gone to is the location of the mouse and the mouse is on-stage and the mouse is active: remove the mouse from play.

Effect of casting blorb at the mouse:

say "The mouse is alarmed by the glowing of your spell, and skitters away before the strongbox can form. Without a target to protect the spell fizzles ineffectually."

Effect of casting blorb at the unhandled mouse when the mouse is flying:

award points for "earning the Last Lousy Point";

award the "Mouse Input" achievement;

say "The mouse squeaks in alarm as the box begins to form around it.";

make no decision.

Every turn when the unhandled mouse is in a closed container (called the home):

if the player can see the home, say "A muffled squeaking emanates from [the home] as the mouse realizes it is trapped.";

now the mouse is handled;

award points for "earning the Last Lousy Point";

award the "Mouse Input" achievement.

Definition: the mouse is captured if it is enclosed by a closed container.

Persuasion for asking the mouse to try doing something:

say mouse chatter;

persuasion fails.

To say mouse chatter:

if the mouse is affected by nitfol, say "'[one of]Wizard?[/br][or]Wizard! Wizard.[/br][or]Books here. Tasty books.[/br][or]Wizard eat books?[/br][or]Books good.[/br][or][i]Principles of Thaumaturgy[/i] by Bizboz.[/br][or][i]The Mousetrap[/i] by Qqwy.[/br][or][i]Hiding Places of Cubes of Foundation[/i] by old Guildmaster.[/br][or][i]Spellbreaker[/i] by David Lebling.[/br][or][i]Sorcerer[/i] by Brian Moriarty.[/br][or][i]Enchanter[/i] by Blank and Lebling.[/br][or][i]Advent[/i] by Crowther and Woods.[/br][or][i]Zork[/i] by Anderson Blank Daniels Lebling.[/br][or]Magic books taste.[/br][or]Many magic books.[/br][cycling]'[p]";

otherwise say "The mouse squeaks."

Every turn when the mouse is in the location and the mouse is visible and the mouse is affected by nitfol (this is the mouse activity rule): say mouse chatter.

Default response for the mouse: say mouse chatter.

Effect of casting izyuk at the mouse: say "The mouse floats slowly into the air, wheeling its legs frantically."; affect the mouse with izyuk for 5 turns.

Report dropping the mouse:

if the mouse is flying, say "You release the mouse and it remains hovering in midair.";

otherwise say "The mouse scampers out of your hand and across the floor.";

rule succeeds.

Understand "pet [something]" as rubbing.

Instead of rubbing or touching the mouse: say "The mouse squeaks as you pet it. Its fur is surprisingly soft."