-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- RYAN VEEDER PRESENTS: A ROPE OF CHALK WALKTHROUGH DOT TXT -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ++++++++++++++++ INTRODUCTION ++++++++++++++++ Welcome to the walkthrough for "A Rope of Chalk," my entry in IFComp 2020. I hope you have been enjoying my entry, and I apologize for whatever it was that got you stuck enough to refer to a walkthrough. If you are not stuck enough that you have to refer to a walkthrough, please hold off on perusing this document until you do get sufficiently stuck, or I guess until after you've finished the game. "A Rope of Chalk" is very linear, and it should not be possible to put the game in an unwinnable state, no matter what you do. If something seems to be going horribly wrong, you should only worry about it from an in-universe perspective. ++++++++++++++++++++++++ ACT I: LANE MULVILLE ++++++++++++++++++++++++ When the game starts out you will be controlling Lane. At the beginning of Act 1, Hina delegates to Lane the duty of looking at Xavier's chalk drawing. The map looks like this: C - B - A | D | NORTH: ^ E - F - G | H You begin at location B. Make your way to location H (WEST, SOUTH, SOUTH, EAST, EAST, SOUTH) to reach Xavier's drawing. You are of course encouraged to look around and talk to people on your way there; you may even wish to visit location A, even though it is not part of the most direct route. Many players don't notice that you can talk to Nathalie in different locations to find out her opinions on the various artworks. Examine the drawing or talk to Xavier to discover what it is a drawing of. Then, return to the judges' table at location B (NORTH, WEST, WEST, NORTH, NORTH, EAST). While walking back from location H, you will see that some of the artists have finished their chalk drawings. Lane will notice different things about them now that some time has passed. When you reach the judges' table, talk to Hina (TALK TO HINA) to make your report about Xavier's art. Unfortunately, Lane will lose consciousness before a final decision can be made. Don't worry! There is no way to avoid this. ++++++++++++++++++++++ ACT II: ALEC ARDEN ++++++++++++++++++++++ Now you are controlling Alec. Hina and Nathalie are taking care of Lane, but you should still try to contribute somehow. Talk to Hina, and she'll tell you to get a bucket of water. The map looks like this: C - B - A | D | NORTH: ^ E - F - G | H You begin at location B. Go east, and try to fill up the bucket (with a command like TURN ON FAUCET or FILL BUCKET). Alec will realize that he needs a key to activate the faucet. Go west, and talk to Hina again. She'll give you the key. Go east, and try to fill up the bucket again. This time, you'll be successful. Now it is your job to go to location H and erase Xavier's art. Follow the same route you took as Lane. Be aware that, since you are Alec now, you can examine all the artworks again to see what Alec thinks of them. Also, be aware that as you pass location E, a strange noise will make Alec stop in his tracks, forcing you to try going east a second time. You can try to pour the bucket of water on any of the artworks (or people!), but Alec will stop short of executing such mischievous notions. You may find his reasoning amusing, though. Before you reach location H, Alec will see his beloved Jessica has fainted in location G. For some reason, this sight is enough to overwhelm Alec entirely, and you will lose control of him. Don't worry! There is no way to avoid this either. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ACT III: NATHALIE DURANT ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Now you are controlling Nathalie, but you are no longer at the sidewalk chalk tournament. It will eventually become clear that this section is taking place one year earlier. H | G - F - E | NORTH: ^ D | A - B - C You begin at location A. Go east to location B, and you will see a "creature" (actually Alec) waiting for you. Talk to him to get a vague idea of what is going on. Continue east to location C, and you will meet the Beast. Talk to him to get some more ideas about what is going on. Go north to location D. Here, a big sand castle is blocking your way. Attack the sand castle, and Nathalie will break part of it. Keep attacking it until you can move on. Locations E, F, and G are each interesting in their own ways. When you finally reach location H, talk to Hina. The ensuing conversation will give you a better idea of what is going on. At the end of the conversation, Act III will end. +++++++++++++++++++++++++ ACT IV: HINA SHIROIWA +++++++++++++++++++++++++ Now you are controlling Hina, although this isn't immediately obvious. You are in the Kingdom of Cealdhame, which Jonathan was drawing on his patch of sidewalk. The map looks like this: 1 -- 2 -- 3 -- 4 -- 5 \ / \ / \ / \ / 6 -- 7 -- 8 -- 9 / \ / \ / \ / \ 10 -- 11 -- 12 -- 13 -- 14 NORTH: ^ \ / \ / \ / \ / 15 -- 16 -- 17 -- 18 / \ / \ / \ / \ 19 -- 20 -- 21 -- 22 -- 23 You begin at location 12. When you've finished exploring and enjoying the world of Cealdhame, find your way to the edge of the map and then continue past the edge, out of Cealdhame, into the outside world. Now the map looks like this: C - B - A | D | NORTH: ^ E - F - G | H You begin at location E. Your goal in this act is to activate the spigot in location A and drink some pure water. Go north, and north again, to location C, and meet Ahigu, who will prevent you from continuing east to location B. Go south, south again, and east to location F. Here you can meet Jack Skellington, from Tim Burton's 1993 masterpiece The Nightmare Before Christmas, and many of his friends. Go east to location G, then south to location H. Here you will meet Nega-Hina. When you talk to her she will explain everything you need to know. Critically, you must ask her about Ahigu (by selecting "Ask about one of the places you've been." and then "Ask about the Coils of Ahigu.") so that she can tell you about a magic amulet to be found in Cealdhame. When you're finished talking to Nega-Hina, go north to location G. Look in the knight's hand to find the key to the spigot. Go west, and west again, to location E. Re-enter the realm of Cealdhame (with a command like ENTER CEALDHAME or GO DOWN). You will find yourself in location 12 again. Go southeast, and then southwest, to location 21. Here is the fortress Cynebrand, home of Princess Hebryn. Take her magic bracelet, Hlutorbeg, and wear it. Then you can exit Cealdhame (by going southwest, southeast, or up). Go north, and north again, to location C. Now, when you go east to location B, Ahigu will be unable to stop you. If he is somehow still stopping you, make sure you're wearing Hlutorbeg. In location B, you'll meet Lane's unconscious body. You can talk to her willingly; if not, she will force you to talk to her when you try to continue east. When you're finished talking to Lane's unconscious body, go east to location A. Try to activate the spigot (with a command like ACTIVATE SPIGOT), and Nathalie will stop you. If you can't figure out how to deal with Nathalie, you can use the command HELP, which has an especially helpful response here. You can keep using the HELP command until it tells you exactly what to do. Once Nathalie is ready to leave you alone, try to activate the spigot again. Then drink the water that comes out. Congratulations! You've finished the game! But there's some more to look at, if you wish. ++++++++++++ APPENDIX ++++++++++++ Now you are controlling yourself, in the year 2020, in my office. You can find bits of information about all the characters here. Some of them are harder to find than others. Be aware that the default Inform 7 behavior of describing what's on scenery supporters in room descriptions has been suppressed, in order to provide a richer exploratory experience. Also be aware that you have to READ or OPEN a book to look at its contents. You can quit the game whenever you want. Thank you very much for your interest. - Ryan Veeder Iowa September 13, 2020