@gThe Cherry Grove
@w
@w  Stately cherry trees rise into the sky all around you.  Bird nets lie
@wstrewn across the trees, presumably to keep away the sparrows that flit
@wabout overhead.  There is a guard post set up here, with protection from
@wfoul weather, and a teapot and small stove.  The ground is cleared of any
@wunderbrush.  To your interest, you notice that no fallen cherries lie
@waround.  Whoever owns this grove must really love cherries.  

@gIn The Forest
@w  You walk through a tall, stately forest.  No underbrush or small bushes
@wbar your way, and the ground gives evidence of being swept clean regularly. 
@wThis is obviously the favored hunting grounds of some nobleman, given the
@worganization of the area and the lack of wildlife in evidence.  In the
@wdistance, you can hear movement through the forest, however, and the
@woccasional cry of a bird.  
@w
@g[ Exits: north west ]
@y(Golden Aura) @yIvan the fool wanders the forest, lost.
@w
@g[ Exits: north east ]
@y(Golden Aura) @yA guard of the Tzar's handpicked legions nervously guards the cherry trees.
@y(Golden Aura) @yA guard of the Tzar's handpicked legions nervously guards the cherry trees.
@y(Golden Aura) @yA guard of the Tzar's handpicked legions nervously guards the cherry trees.
@y(Golden Aura) @yA guard of the Tzar's handpicked legions nervously guards the cherry trees.

@wYou give @Y10,000@w gold to a guard.
@wThe guard peers around himself cautiously.
@CA guard says, @c"@CThe Tzar is very particular about his cherries, you know. This could get me i@Cn a lot of trouble.@c"
@w
@wA guard stares at the sky.
@CA guard says, @c"@CBut I've got pet fish to feed.@c"
@w
@wThe guard pulls a ripe cherry off a nearby tree.
@wYou receive a cherry from a guard.
@wYou both wince and duck as sirens begin flaring and lights flashing. It's the
@wemergency light fingers scan, especially designed for the Tzar by his pet
@wwizard! Better run, before the guards catch you here!
@w
@w
@wOh, wait, the alarms are dying down. In the distance, you hear faint cursing,
@wand the sound of someone beating on a metal box with a very large hammer.
@wGuess the wizard still has some work to do on this one.

@gIn A Castle
@w
@g[ Exits: north south ]
@r(Red Aura) @yTzar Ivan sits on his throne, eating cherries.
@w
@wYou eat a cherry.
@wThe Tzar sits up and stares at you, his face slowly purpling
@wwith insane fury.
@CTzar Ivan screams, @c"@CHOW DARE YOU!?!!!!@c"
@w
@wHe bellows incoherently, his fingers digging into the
@warmrests of his throne.
@w
@wHe claps his hands together, and orders the guards to tar you, feather you,
@wand throw you to the wolves in the forest.
@wThe guards haul you from the throne room.  After a brief investigation
@w(with a quick stop in the brothel and the ale-house, in case it might be
@whiding in there), they discover that they're out of tar, and the only
@wfeathers they can find wouldn't match your outfit.  Being the motivated
@wsoldiers that they are, however, they plunk a jester's cap on your head,
@wgive you a light beating, and toss you into the forest.
@wYou receive a @Yj@Re@gs@Bt@we@rr@G'@Ms @wcap from Tzar Ivan.

@wYou wear a @Yj@Re@gs@Bt@we@rr@G'@Ms @wcap on your head.

@wbearing ripe fruit on the same limb.  Small nooks hide marble fountains, and
@wbeautiful statuary, mostly of handsome young men, adorn the walkways.  The
@wwalkways themselves are lined with cool, white marble.  
@w
@g[ Exits: east south ]
@y(Golden Aura) @yThe Kaschei's cook is here, preparing delicacies for his master.

@wYou jump on the floor and breakdance wildly!
@wThe Kaschei's cook sits up, suddenly interested.
@CThe Kaschei's cook asks, @c"@CWow!  I haven't seen a performance like that since Little Billy an@Cd the Bootleg Bowlers came through three years ago.  Now, let me tell you, that was a show! @C They did it all!  Elf bowling, dwarf bowling, even some sprite darts!  You ever seen sprite@C darts?  You nail one of the little suckers up to a board and throw darts at it.  Great fun,@C but you've got to know what you're doing, or they die too quick.  Gotta remember to nail 'e@Cm up by the wings, see?@c"
@w
@wHe beams with pride at you.
@w
@w
@wHe sniffs sadly, and stares into space, remembering the good old days.
@wWith a start, he remembers himself.
@CThe Kaschei's cook says, @c"@CHey, want a job?  We could use a jester around here.  Lord knows i@Ct gets boring as hell, waiting for anything interesting to happen.@c"
@w
@wHe digs through a chest and comes up with some clothing, only slightly used and washed
@wlast year.
@wYou receive a servant's outfit from the Kaschei's cook.
@wYou receive a @Yj@Re@gs@Bte@rr@G'@Ms@w cap from the Kaschei's cook.

@wYou wear a servant's outfit on your torso.
@wYou wear a @Yj@Re@gs@Bte@rr@G'@Ms@w cap on your head.


@gKaschei's Throne Room
@w  You stare around you in awe at the throne room you've just entered.  The
@wfloor seems to be a seamless piece of black marble, veined in a fiery red. 
@wThe walls stretch upwards to a ceiling hidden by height and shadow.  The
@wonly piece of furniture in this room is an enormous golden throne, engraved
@wwith roaring lions and firebirds in flight.  Crystal balls shed either light
@wor a hauntingly beautiful music.  
@w
@g[ Exits: north east ]
@r(Red Aura) @yThe Kaschei sits on his throne, haughtily ignoring everyone.

@CThe Kaschei exclaims, @c"@CNoooo!  This cant be happening!  The Evil Sorcerer ALWAYS win...hmm, @Cscratch that.  Director!@c"
@w
@wHe impatiently taps his foot.
@w
@w
@wIn a moment, a pale young man, dressed in black and carrying a clipboard
@wwalks onto the scene.  The evil sorcerer glares at him.
@CThe Kaschei asks, @c"@CReally, can't we come up with some original lines here?  MUST we always p@Carrot lame dialogue from a show where they couldn't even afford HORSES?@c"
@w
@wThe director shrugs, pulls a piece of paper off the clipboard, and shows it
@wto the evil sorcerer.  Whatever it is seems to infuriate the sorcerer, as he
@wscreams, rips up the paper, and turns the director into a new...err...toad.
@w
@wThe sorcerer turns to you and glares.
@CThe Kaschei exclaims, @c"@CWell, I wont dignify this scene with my presence any more!@c"
@w
@wHe strips to the buff, rips off his ring, and drops it all to the floor.
@wStark naked, he then parades in a dignified fashion out of the room.
@wYou reach down to get his belongings, but find that only the ring remains.
@wYou receive a sorcerer's ring from the Kaschei.

@gIn The Forest
@w  You walk through a tall, stately forest.  No underbrush or small bushes
@wbar your way, and the ground gives evidence of being swept clean regularly. 
@wThis is obviously the favored hunting grounds of some nobleman, given the
@worganization of the area and the lack of wildlife in evidence.  In the
@wdistance, you can hear movement through the forest, however, and the
@woccasional cry of a bird.  
@w
@g[ Exits: north west ]
@y(Golden Aura) @yIvan the fool wanders the forest, lost.

@wYou give a sorcerer's ring to Ivan the fool.
@wIvan stares at the ring in his hand.  He then peers at you intently and says,
@CIvan the fool asks, @c"@CWell, this is something I should have done, but between you and me, nob@Cody else needs to know, right?@c"
@w
@wHe winks cheerfully and strolls off, leaving a bag of cherries on the stump
@wnext to where he was standing.
@w
@wRemembering what started this entire thing, you take one out of the bag.
@wYou receive a ripe cherry from Ivan the fool.

@gIn The Forest
@w
@w  The forest around you is light, with stately trees reaching delicate
@wbranches towards the sun.  Songbirds merrily sing, and deer cross your path,
@wlooking at you curiously.  A light breeze springs up, bringing you the scent
@wof pine.  A small stream gurgles merrily nearby, and the feeling of
@whappiness fills the air.  
@w
@g[ Exits: south ]
@y(Golden Aura) @yThe Firebird floats above the forest.
@y(Golden Aura) @yIvan wanders the forest, happy with his true love.

@wYou drop a ripe cherry.
@wThe Firebird gets a ripe cherry.
@wThe firebird hisses in annoyance that you think she can be so
@weasily bought, but you notice that it doesn't stop her from snatching up
@wthe cherry and happily eating it.  Typical of most women, she doesn't
@wthank you, just soars off in search of more fruit.  You're about to turn
@waway in disgust and leave when you see something glimmering on the
@wground.  It's a firebird feather!
@wYou receive a firebird feather from the Firebird.
@wThe Firebird eats a ripe cherry.

@wYou give a firebird feather to a weasel.
@wThe weasel gingerly takes the firebird feather, tossing it into the air and blowing on his
@wfingers like it's hot.  He whirls around and tosses it into the pot with the other things
@wyou've brought him.  The odor that rises isn't exactly appetizing...burnt stepmother head
@wseveral days old and a whiff of toasted gemstone.
@CA weasel asks, @c"@CPerfect!  But we've barely started, and we're running late already!  What's @Cnext?@c"
@w
@CA weasel asks, @c"@COh, yes!  I need a crest from the royal family.  Which royal family?@c"
@w
@wA weasel eyes you suspiciously.
@CA weasel exclaims, @c"@CThere's only one royal family with a worthwhile crest to get, so get to @Cit!@c"
@w
@W**@Y Task Done  @w: Bring a firebird's feather back to the weasel.
@W** @GTask Added @w: Bring a royal crest back to the weasel.
l33t bin
