TMUK Text Adventures #1: Chapter 2 - The search for Mr. K.

[Stomski]

The search for Mr. K.

Links to story progression:
Chapter 1: You awake in a room... (30/250)
2.1: The city entrance (30/250)
2.2: On further examination (30/250)
2.3: He's not very talkative (30/250)
2.4: All parked up (30/250)
2.5: Obviously you meant conversation, right? (30/250)
2.6: It didn't take long for us to get to this point (30/250)
2.7: Better find someone who's interested first (30/250)
2.8: He wants for nothing (30/250)
2.9: He didn't find that noteworthy (30/250)
2.10: Prowling for a queue (30/250)
2.11: Don't want to be that guy (30/250)
2.12: Compliance (31/250)
2.13: And this is my wife, Oprah (31/250)
2.14: You can do better than this (31/250)
2.15: I wonder if this will have any pay off later? (31/250)
2.16: Shamonnn, heee-heee! Hoooo! (31/250)
2.17: This place is better than Burton or Dotty-P's! (31/250)
2.18: Style is in the eye of the beholder (31/250)
2.19: He's got what you need (31/250)
2.20: His question was directed at Blueshift really (31/250)
2.21: He's gone? (31/250)
2.22: Why didn't I make a Sunglasses Hut joke? (31/250)
2.23: Stop wasting people's time (31/250)
2.24: What a pants idea (31/250)
2.25: caribbeancroft.co.uk/ (31/250)
2.26: Yum! (31/250)
2.27: Poetry? Try again (31/250)
2.28: When in doubt, try to sell to everyone (31/250)
2.29: Who is this Shades you speak of? (31/250)
2.30: I just realised, Jeff is the name of Phil's lost hamster, no wonder he managed to escape! (31/250)
2.31: To be honest, they've never been out of fashion (31/250)
2.32: He's out the back (31/250)
2.33: Yub nub! (32/250)
2.34: He almost bit your hand off (34/250)
2.35: Another cameo of sorts (34/250)
2.36: I hope this translates as Hell Yeah! (34/250)
GAME OVER (Blueshift): Man, game over (34/250)
LOAD 2.33 (32/250)
2.37: Don't you want to haggle? (32/250)
2.38: Now you're getting it! (32/250)
2.39: Never look a gift horse in the mouth (32/250)
2.40: That's an expensive gourd (32/250)
2.41: The ol' switcharoo never works with his ilk (32/250)
2.42: What secret is he hiding? (32/250)
2.43: Guess you'd better pay the 20 (32/250)
2.44: So what did he show you earlier? (34/250)
ERROR / GAME OVER (Martin): I'm pretty sure you knew violence wasn't the answer (34/250)
2.45: I'd prefer a White Russian than a Black Mexican (34/250)
2.46: My preciousnessss (35/250)
2.47 / ERROR (Martin): Consider this (35/250)
2.48: No sunglasses for you (35/250)
2.49: The return to the gate (35/250)
2.50: One or two somethings missing (35/250)
2.51: How less descriptive can I be of poor Enrique (35/250)
2.52: NO CHURROS FOR YOU! (That's a Seinfeld reference) (35/250)
2.53: It seems like a lot, but these really are tasty (35/250)
2.54: A points grab! (39/250)
2.55: Lovely buildings (40/250)
2.56: It's a sign! (40/250)
2.57: It's a banner! (40/250)
2.58: Keeping the faith (43/250)
2.59: TECHNO TECHNO TECHNO TECHNO (43/250)
2.60: You heathen (43/250)
2.61: PROWL PROWL PROWL PROWL (43/250)
2.62: A state of decay perhaps (43/250)
GAME OVER (Blueshift): Severing ties... with your abdomen (43/250)
2.63: He's still not making much sense (43/250)
2.64: Can you crack the code? I mean, it's not going to offer any clues, but try anyway! (44/250)
2.65: It's not as rude as you think it is (44/250)
2.66: Flashing red lights are always good, right? (44/250)
2.67: It's not a DELL that's for sure (44/250)
2.68: INDEX (44/250)
2.69: Oooh, narrative exposition (44/250)
2.70: Not useful (44/250)
2.71: A man walks into a bar, ouch (47/250)
GAME OVER (Blueshift): What is your quest? (47/250)
GAME OVER (Blueshift): Nice disguise (47/250)
2.72: Home of The Big Mick, it's like a Big Mac, but without sesame seeds on the bun (44/250)
2.73: You are not sticking your hand in there! (47/250)
2.74: Dirty tables (47/250)
2.75: Not quite the joy you were hoping for (48/250)
2.76: A sensible pricing structure (48/250)
2.77/ERROR (Pinwig): Back to the plaza (48/250)
2.78: When you can't follow, just enter (51/250)
2.79: All roads lead to... a spaceport (51/250)
2.80/ERROR (Shockprowl x7): Gotta be careful with those capitals (51/250)
2.81: Covering all the bases (51/250)
2.82: I wonder what this is for? (52/250)
2.83: The ARKade (55/250)
2.84: Let's see what we've got here (55/250)
2.85: A closer look at the skill games and an enticing offer! (55/250)
2.86: Airball! (55/250)
2.87: Whack-a-mole, more like just whack (55/250)
2.88: That poor dog (55/250)
2.89: So close (55/250)
2.90: God's a big fan of Skee-ball, y'know (55/250)
2.91: Have you looked in the back? (55/250)
2.92: You were given this info earlier (55/250)
2.93: There is a potential kill screen coming up if anyone is interested (55/250)
2.94: This is big you guys (55/250)
2.95: Make your wish (55/250)
2.96: It's not that easy (55/250)
2.97: New skill acquired (60/250)
2.98: As a mid-90s Jazz fan, this clip of MJ hurts (60/250)
2.99: Just double checking I guess (60/250)
2.100: Very expensive (60/250)
2.101: Take his balls (61/250)
2.102: He doesn't want to play with your balls (61/250)
GAME OVER (Pinwig): If only there was a way to distract him (PATCHED!) (61/250)
LOAD 2.102 (61/250)
2.103: Not a lot here (64/250)
2.104: Thought you'd need reminding of this (64/250)
2.105: Where's Moss and Roy? (65/250)
2.106: He wants to feel your package (65/250)
2.107: Time to move on (65/250)
2.108: Back to the plaza (65/250)
2.109: He just checks the names (65/250)
2.110: I do love callback humour (65/250)
2.111: It's not the security guard from earlier (65/250)
2.112: Seriously, this is the only Happy Days gif of Ron Howard on his own I could find (65/250)
2.113: Guess there hasn't been a DB update (65/250)
GAME OVER (Pinwig): Not him again! (65/250)
2.114: A gentle stroll (69/250)
2.115: I'm gonna have to improvise on this, thanks Martin (69/250)
2.116: HELP (69/250)
2.117: You might need to use this again (69/250)
2.118: He is grateful (69/250)
2.119: It's not crazy, thankfully (70/250)
2.120: Yo! (71/250)
2.121: What were you expecting (71/250)
2.122: Your negotiations will go nowhere (71/250)
2.123: A stunt would have been a better spoonerism (71/250)
2.124: Just like in the computer games, don't expect dialogue to change for no reason (71/250)
2.125: Someone else knows the move! (71/250)
2.126/ERROR (Pinwig): Back to the Plaza (71/250)
2.127: You can't hack this (71/250)
2.128: No more vehicles (71/250)
2.129: Oh Martin, you cad (71/250)
2.130: Aww, it was his brother all along (71/250)
2.131: Nice to find people with things in common (71/250)
2.132: A missed POI (71/250)
2.133 / ERROR (Blueshift): There's no pleasing some people (especially kids) (71/250)
2.134: You may need to address them individually (71/250)
2.135: Some of this you already knew (71/250)
2.136: It's almost like this is a description of a real world toy (71/250)
2.137: Thank you Uncle Phil (72/250)
2.138: It's cosmic (72/250)
2.139: This wasn't in the plan, but I'll make it work (72/250)
2.140: Not interested (72/250)
2.141: Still not interested (72/250)
2.142: I should have done this sooner (72/250)
2.143: Still gone (72/250)
2.144: Out of context, this sounds a bit dodgy (72/250)
GAME OVER (Pinwig): Please don't hurt me (72/250)
LOAD 2.144 (72/250)
2.145: Performers, performing (72/250)
2.146: Local knowledge is always useful (72/250)
2.147: I gave you the benefit of the doubt last time Martin (72/250)
GAME OVER (Pinwig): He didn't even register the dolphin (72/250)
2.148: Like a puppet on a string (73/250)
2.149: This is the meal ticket you've been waiting for (73/250)
2.150: You're not hungry (74/250)
2.151: But this guy clearly is, he could probably go for something else (74/250)
2.152: I'm glad you remembered the thread (74/250)
2.153: Observing the IT room (74/250)
2.154: The maintenance console (74/250)
2.155: How many lights do you see? (74/250)
2.156: Lights are on, but nobody's home (74/250)
2.157: I guess the tech guy liked to stand (74/250)
2.158 / ERROR (Martin): You can't just plug them into nothing (74/250)
2.159: Nothing's changed since you last tried to get to it (74/250)
2.160: He may have a bad fast food habit, but at least the tech guy was organised (74/250)
2.161: Why would even try this? (74/250)
2.162: I guess it hasn't been established that you're actually human and not a robot, but no (74/250)
2.163: It'd never fit through the door (74/250)
2.164: Multiple uses for these balls (74/250)
2.165: Making connections (74/250)
2.166: You're on the list (74/250)
2.167: Connection lost (74/250)
2.168: Mind sports qualification (77/250)
2.169: A chess puzzle (77/250)
2.170: A prisoner puzzle (77/250)
2.171: This is from Scrubs (77/250)
2.172: The numbers game (77/250)
2.173: 233 (77/250)
2.174: A champion's reward (77/250)
2.175: Scrabble players are a tricky bunch (77/250)
2.176: Illogical (77/250)
2.177: Is he who the note talked of? (77/250)
2.178: Well he took the note, so, yes, I guess? (77/250)
2.179: He's off meet and greeting other winners (77/250)
2.180: Nothing's changed (77/250)
2.181: I'll fraggin' kill y... Oooh, dolphin! SQUEEE! (77/250)
2.182: Your droids, they'll have to wait outside (80/250)
GAME OVER (Blueshift): That's 13 systems now (80/250)
2.183 / ERROR (Martin): I'm not sure what else you expected to see? (80/250)
GAME OVER (Pinwig): I didn't know you were into furries (80/250)
GAME OVER (Pinwig): Third time's a charm (80/250)
2.184: What could these all mean? (84/250)
2.185: Grate work! (84/250)
2.186: Yousa giving usa a clue? Meeeeeesa like (84/250)
2.187: I have to be careful what I write here (84/250)
2.188: There's no answer (84/250)
2.189: Seems they'd been arguing about something (84/250)
2.190: I guess they're from a different church (84/250)
2.191: I expect such commands from Blueshift, but not you Pinwig (84/250)
2.192: I guess the Infoterminal was correct (84/250)
2.193: Apparently it mans you're passionate (84/250)
2.194: They seem to be having fun (84/250)
2.195: He doesn't want to join... the party! (84/250)
2.196: Is this a callback puzzle? (84/250)
2.197: What were they disagreeing about again? (84/250)
2.198: I really don't think I'd use the same puzzle twice (84/250)
2.199: I did warn you (84/250)
2.200: Maybe the symbol was too obscure to be recognised (84/250)
2.201: Seriously, how great do you think Yo-Yos are? (84/250)
2.202: Thanks all the same (84/250)
2.203: I didn't even know the Tardis had one of those (84/250)
2.204: They seem friendly (84/250)
2.205: Are you sure this is a good idea? These are dangerous people (84/250)
GAME OVER (Pinwig): The thing is... there is no truth! (84/250)
LOAD 2.205 (84/250)
2.206: He doesn't seem that bad (84/250)
2.207: If only he could get the right help (84/250)
2.208: Maybe he just wants to offer him some tea? (84/250)
2.209: When do you want to go? (85/250)
2.210: It is possible it was already 8pm and nothing actually happened, she might have been making the noises herself (85/250)
2.211: It's not changed (85/250)
2.212: See? (85/250)
2.213/ERROR (Phil x5): Not the best solutions to the problem (85/250)
2.214: They must have gone (85/250)
2.215: I knew these would serve some purpose at some point (85/250)
2.216: You may be worthy now (86/250)
2.217: You are worthy! (87/250)
2.218: This place is very welcoming (90/250)
2.219: We have seen Train Spotting, right? Or read the book? (90/250)
2.220: Nothing ever bad happened in a dark tunnel, did it? (91/250)
2.221: Ewww, don't step in the water (94/250)
2.222: Could this be it? (94/250)
2.223: So suspicious, just let me in (95/250)
2.224: There are tools that make translating this really easy (95/250)
2.225: INSERT DISC 2 (95/250)
2.225 (cont.): DISC INSERTED (98/250)
2.226: You must do what you feel is right, of course (98/250)
2.228: Stand by your man, do do doooo (98/250)
2.229: Eavesdropping is rude, y'know (98/250)
2.230: Well that escalated... and then calmed down quickly (99/250)
2.231: Making new friends (99/250)
2.232: To the spaceport! (102/250)
2.233: What's he hiding? (102/250)
2.234: 1, 2, skip a few... (102/250)
2.235: Don't try to bend the door (102/250)
2.236: To be continued... (102/250)

The rules:
Anyone can contribute any idea on what to do next. After an indeterminate amount of time, I will decide it's time to proceed and whichever has the most likes from other forum users shall be the chosen course for our hero. In the case of a tie, I'll use best judgement based on theme of differing posts or whichever was posted first.

Basic commands:
LOOK [ X ] - Look at your surroundings or a specific thing
TAKE X - Add item X to your inventory
USE X - Use item within local area or inventory
USE X ON Y - As above, but with another item
INVENTORY - Display contents of your inventory
LOAD X - Load state from the conclusion of a previous chapter progress index
RESTART - Return to the first part of the current chapter

Other commands are available as required.

MOST POINTS EARNED HALL OF FAME!
Points attributed up to last save point.

Player	Points (Ch.2)
Pinwig	67 (49)
Martin	22 (16)
Blueshift	13 (8)

CAUSE OF DEATH/CRASHES/ERRORS HALL OF FAME!

Player	Deaths	Crashes	Errors	TOTAL
Pinwig	14.5		2	16.5
Blueshift	10		2	12
Martin	5.5		4	9.5
Shockprowl	1		7	8
Phil			5	5
Bogatan	3	1		4

[Stomski]

You race across the landscape and approach the city, for a long time you see no signs of human settlement. Eventually you see more and more rough disheveled shanty like buildings. You pull up at one hoping to make contact with a local. Looking into a window, it's too dark inside to see much and there are no obvious signs of movement, but the window frame looks damp in some way, odd considering the climate. You look with more intent and from the moisture at the top of the frame you see a drip slowly form. Expecting it to drop quickly, it doesn't. The light catches it and it has an off green colour, it oozes down, slime like in viscosity and appearance, then from behind it you hear a slight hiss and see a curved shadow lift. Whatever's in there you don't want to find out, you hit the gas on the speeder bike and get out of there.

In a short time you come across what was once a road. There's a broken sign directing you towards the city gates, you follow the road and then out of the horizon comes a large imposing wall rise up in front of you. As you get closer, you see somewhat of a large weathered metal door reinforced structural beams constructed with large rivets and a thick sandstone surround. There's not discernible way to attract attention.

'I'd better knock I suppose' you think to yourself, dismount walk to the door and give it a sharp few knocks. Being greeted with no response, you exclaim 'There doesn't seem to be anyone here. I'll go back... hrmm.' Then suddenly from the supposed rivet right in front of you, some kind of round illuminated communication device, almost like an eye, bursts forth as if assessing you. A voice speaks sharply in a strange language. You stammer that you don't know your name, it continues to address you quickly, gives almost a chuckle before disappearing back into the hole from which it had come from. Just as you think 'I don't think they're going to let me in, I'd better go.' and turn to leave, a loud clanking comes from inside the door as it starts to lift. You get back on the speeder bike and tentatively ride it slowly beyond the door as it descends and slams down loudly behind you. At least those creatures outside aren't getting to you in here.

As your eyes adjust you seem to be in some kind of dirty security clearance area. Perhaps the city inhabitants are doubly worried about things on the outside getting in. There's a long queue towards a security check gate where they even seem to be performing X-Rays of people. Scattered around there is something of a middle eastern bazaar. Several people in various attires grouped around many different stalls, all selling and buying various wares. Of them a few catch your eye, one selling toys, clothing, knock off sunglasses and of course several of various delicious smelling international cuisines.

A security guard approaches you and directs you to the vehicle parking area.

Inventory:	Transformers pants (wearing), green uniform (wearing), key card, note
Location:	City clearance area
Connected Locations (0/1):	None
Uninvestigated POI:	6

Current Score: 30/250

[blueshift]

Examine guard

[Stomski]

Jan 5, 2019 22:46:14 GMT blueshift said:

Examine guard

You're not as far as you know a qualified Doctor of Medicine and think better of it.

Inventory:	Transformers pants (wearing), green uniform (wearing), key card, note, speeder bike
Location:	City clearance area
Connected Locations (0/1):	None
Uninvestigated POI:	6

Current Score: 30/250

[Pinwig]

Hoorah!

PARK bike

[Pinwig]

I see we now have additional info - six points of interest in this location and one exit.

[blueshift]

I am concerned that we can't examine the guard in any way. Perhaps he has since mysterious powers

He might hold all the answers. Let us
LOOK at guard
SAY where am I?

[Shockprowl]

Yes, ASK the guard about where we are.

[Pinwig]

Yep. We might get more out of him though if we do as he's asking and park the bike first.

[Stomski]

Jan 6, 2019 8:37:22 GMT blueshift said:

LOOK at guard
SAY where am I?

You look at the guard. He's standing confidently, surveying the ongoing hustle and bustle. Decked out in light body armour, he's armed with a gun slung over one shoulder, it's big, almost overkill for controlling whatever happens at this security check. A noise comes from the entrance gate, he glances towards it and shifts nervously.
His hand tenses up as if readying for something... After a brief moment he seems to relax and returns to watching the crowds around the market stalls.

You approach and ask him where you are. He grunts pointing you towards the vehicle park area and then gestures you towards the security check queue.

Inventory:	Transformers pants (wearing), green uniform (wearing), key card, note, speeder bike
Location:	City clearance area
Connected Locations (0/1):	None
Uninvestigated POI:	6

Current Score: 30/250

[Stomski]

Jan 6, 2019 0:19:20 GMT Pinwig said:

I see we now have additional info - six points of interest in this location and one exit.

There might be some quirks in the POI numbers whilst I figure out how this is going to work in practice!

[Pinwig]

Soooo.

We need to park the bike to get it out of the way, or the guard is going to get upset. I would imagine the one connected location is on the other side of the security gate and the main puzzle in this location is how to get to it. Six points of interest suggests that there are things in the bazaar that will help us get through the security check, and possibly additional items we need to collect for future use. We have the keycard still, but the picture on it shows we've stolen it, so that probably won't be any use.

PARK bike.

[Stomski]

Jan 6, 2019 19:25:41 GMT Pinwig said:

PARK bike.

You go to drop off the speeder bike at the vehicle park. The attendant tells you that there's plenty of space on level 4 and as you scoot forwards he leans forward looking at your ride and quickly gets on the phone to someone... Overhearing the start of the conversation you hear him talk to someone called Shades. You park up and return to the main area.

Item Removed: Speeder bike

Inventory:	Transformers pants (wearing), green uniform (wearing), key card, note
Location:	City clearance area
Connected Locations (0/1):	None
Uninvestigated POI:	5

Current Score: 30/250

[blueshift]

LISTEN to conversion

[Pinwig]

We might need to go back into the car park to do that, although we didn't actually change location. So he recognised the bike rather than us. We don't even know if the bike is ours. It sounded like we had organised things in the facility in chapter one, but it still sticks in my mind that we got up this morning and went to work as usual before ending up somehow in the cupboard. Was that a false memory?

[Pinwig]

Ok, so try to listen to the conversation if we can, then

LOOK around the bazaar.

[Pinwig]

We don't have any money so we're going to need to think about that if we want some toys or fake sunglasses. Maybe our pants are rare and valuable, but we can't barter with them because of the chaffing problem.

[Grand Moff Muffin]

He might not have recognised the bike - he might just have been interested in it. Should we try and sell it before someone nicks it?

Martin

[blueshift]

Jan 6, 2019 21:46:46 GMT Grand Moff Muffin said:

He might not have recognised the bike - he might just have been interested in it. Should we try and sell it before someone nicks it?

Martin

I concur. We can get a lot of quatloos for that

[Pinwig]

Interesting idea. That would tell us if we can get back to the bike too. Err, so what's the command?

RETRIEVE bike.

[Stomski]

Jan 6, 2019 21:08:37 GMT blueshift said:

LISTEN to conversion

You return to the vehicle park, but the attendant has already hung up.

Jan 6, 2019 21:29:08 GMT Pinwig said:

LOOK around the bazaar.

Several people in various attires grouped around many different stalls, all selling and buying various wares. Of them a few catch your eye, one selling toys, clothing, knock off sunglasses and of course several of various delicious smelling international cuisines.

Jan 6, 2019 22:03:20 GMT Pinwig said:

RETRIEVE bike.

You return to the vehicle park, but there's no pedestrian entrance, just an exit. You ask the attendant if you can get your bike, but he says in response;

"You mean that old 74-Z? Fast piece of kit, what is it? An '83?"

He pauses as if considering something before continuing.

"Ah don't worry... Hey man, you seem new here. Unless you're leaving through that main gate - which I wouldn't do if I were you, all vehicles shall be moved for their owners to a vehicle park within the inner wall once you get through that security check."

Inventory:	Transformers pants (wearing), green uniform (wearing), key card, note
Location:	City clearance area
Connected Locations (0/1):	None
Uninvestigated POI:	5

Current Score: 30/250

[Shockprowl]

Uh-oh. Security check?

[blueshift]

Only one thing for it

SEDUCE guard

[Stomski]

You do make it interesting for me, don't you?

[Pinwig]

Shockers! Pay attention! we've been discussing the security check - it will be what we need to get through to get out of this location. See the original description. Blueshift! Behave!

I think these messages are telling us that the bike/park is not something we need to worry about - that was just about getting rid of the bike. Our priorities are to find out what we can about the bazaar and learn what we need to do to get through the security check.

Er, in Blueshift speak that's, "We need to impress and seduce the local stall holders so they're on our side."

SAY to toy seller, "What a collection you have! I'm extremely envious of your set of MOC Throttlebots."

[blueshift]

No no, we start by trying to seduce the security guard. He might be able to help us and give us more information that way.

I agree that we need to seduce the local stall holders.

Maybe we can sell our bike to the security guard once he is seduced.

[Grand Moff Muffin]

Or.

Save game, overturn a stall, yell "THE BORG ARE COMING!" (or possibly "MUSHROOM!") while pointing outside, and in the ensuing panic make a dash for the entrance.

What's the worst that can happen? We die, and come back a little wiser.

Martin

[Shockprowl]

Oh we have to make Stom' describe Blue' seducing security guards.

[Pinwig]

A lot of time was wasted punching walls, not wearing clothes and not looking at doors/key cards. I put this all on you guys! (Blueshift mainly)

I'll just put this here. 

[Grand Moff Muffin]

PUNCH air.

WEAR clothes.

LOOK AT walls, doors, floor, ceiling.

PICK UP any keys, keycards, money or instruction manuals scattered around the room.

Martin