L and the Empress of Sand (B)

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Out of the strongbox tumbles ... {<table style="width: 100%; position: absolute; top: 50px;"> <tr> <td>[[B O O K|Gateway 4]]</a></td> <td>[[B O O K|Gateway 4]]</td> <td>[[B O O K|Gateway 4]]</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[[B O O K|Gateway 4]]</a></td> <td>[[B O O K|Gateway 4]]</td> <td>[[B O O K|Gateway 4]]</td> </tr> </table>}

This book, like all books, is a [[<u><i>slipway</i></u>|Frisland]]. <audio src="sound/mystwarp.wav" autoplay>

SCENE V. Then was this island. A black island. An ash island. You are standing in the burnt flesh of books, mulchy on top, where the rain has raked, still brittle and embery beneath. A textual soil, a flame-tilled library. One or two of the books [[<u><i>may still function</i></u>|Fifth Bookshelf]].

{<table style="width: 100%; position: absolute; top: 50px;"> <tr> <td>[[B O O K|Gateway 5]]</a></td> <td>[[B O O K|Gateway 5]]</td> </tr> </table>}

SCENE VI. Some god o' the island. Snow and snow. Slow snow. Fast slow. Static. Sizzling. And a single [[<i><u>book</u></i>|Book]].

(if: $key01 is "got" and $key02 is "got" and $key03 is "got")[(goto: "Fourth bookshelf")] (else:)[(goto: "Back to Ash Island")]

<div class="fadein">And there she sat, like some great claw, ringed and studded, clenched around her <span class="tooltip">beauty.<span class="tooltiptext">(Of course, her high station contributes to her allure, though she is not an empress in any real sense. Her palace is a ruin, and is in Sandsnarl, a location of indistinct character – hardly an empire.)</span></span> I bent to make the offering which swam in me: a seam or store of seedlings to be scattered as confetti. [<span class='blink'>...</span>]<link|(click: ?link)[(goto: "First test")]</div>

<div class="fadein">“Fish,” I said, and said their names: <div id="health-bar"><div class="bar"></div></div> (print: "<script>GE.updateScore(" + (text: $maxScore) + "," + (text: $score) + ");")\ \ []<scorelogic|\ [<div class="shake">...</div>]<reaction| \ [(link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>brill</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>brill</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateTEST")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>silverstone</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>silverstone</div>(set: $mistakes to it + 10)(go-to: "Mistake 1")] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>bream</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>bream</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateTEST")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>boarfish</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>boarfish</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateTEST")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>icefish</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>icefish</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateTEST")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>angelfish</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>angelfish</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateTEST")]]]<batch| </div>

{[<div style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100vw; height: 100vh;"></div>]<link|(click: ?link)[ (if: $score is 20)[(replace: ?reaction)[<div class="shake">(She raised a thuggish brow.)</div>]] (if: $score is 50)[(replace: ?reaction)[<div class="shake">(She pinched her cuffs till they were taut.)</div>]] (if: $score is 80)[(replace: ?reaction)[<div class="shake">(She smoothed her sails. She thumbed her ruff.)</div>]] (if: $score > 110)[(go-to: "I'd come forearmed")] (else:)[ (set: $score to it + 10) (print: "<script>GE.updateScore(" + (text: $maxScore) + "," + (text: $score) + ");") (replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore")] ] ]}

(set: $maxScore to 120)\ (set: $score to 0)\ (set: $mistakes to 0)\ \<div class="fadein">I went to her, as many do, with much and more crammed hotly in my <span class="tooltip">cortex<span class="tooltiptext">The cerebral cortex: the folded crust of the brain, where our perceptual experience is formed, and from which memories are drawn.</span></span> – my skull a stoppered powderflask, its freight accrued from moving through four decades’ worth of rooms and books and contexts. [<span class='blink'>...</span>]<link|(click: ?link)[(goto: "And there she sat")]</div>

(set: $maxScore to 160)\ (set: $score to 0)\ \<div class="fadein">I’d come forearmed with knowledge of her fondnesses, her vanities, her soft spots, and one of these was in my <span class="tooltip">gift:<span class="tooltiptext">(<i>in the gift of</i>, meaning within one’s power to award or distribute. Be careful, L.)</span></span> <i>words</i>. Since what she deigned to love were things that whirr or simmer in a cosmos, [<span class='blink'>...</span>]<link|(click: ?link)[(goto: "things that in")]</div>

<div class="fadein">things that in themselves are blips – inconsequential, dainty, barely present – but when accreted in a heap may threaten absolute eclipse – such things as are intensely <span class="tooltip">coalescent.<span class="tooltiptext">(As in given to amalgamating into a single coherent entity. But now I must concentrate.)</span></span></div>[<span class='blink'>...</span>]<link|(click: ?link)[(goto: "Second test")]</div>

(if: $score is 40)[(replace: ?reaction)[<div class="shake">(She rolled her mane.)</div>](replace: ?batch)[(display: "Second test batch 2")]] (if: $score is 80)[(replace: ?reaction)[<div class="shake">(She plumped her robes. She almost purred.)</div>](replace: ?batch)[(display: "Second test batch 3")]] (if: $score is 120)[(replace: ?reaction)[<div class="shake">(She motioned to her grand vizier.)</div>](replace: ?batch)[(display: "Second test batch 4")]] (if: $score > 150)[(go-to: "By now she had")] (else:)[ (set: $score to it + 10) (print: "<script>GE.updateScore(" + (text: $maxScore) + "," + (text: $score) + ");") (replace: ?scorelogic)[] ]

<div class="fadein">“Games of skill,” I tendered next, “of this or any other time.” <div id="health-bar"><div class="bar"></div></div> (print: "<script>GE.updateScore(" + (text: $maxScore) + "," + (text: $score) + ");") []<scorelogic|\ [<div class="shake">...</div>]<reaction| \ [(link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>chess</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>chess</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore2")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>skittles</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>skittles</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore2")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>mastermind</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>mastermind</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore2")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>bingo</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>bingo</div>(set: $mistakes to it + 10)(go-to: "Mistake 2")] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>boules</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>boules</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore2")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>marbles</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>marbles</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore2")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>horseshoes</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>horseshoes</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore2")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>whodunits</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>horseshoes</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore2")]]]<batch|

(set: $maxScore to 200)\ (set: $score to 0)\ \<div class="fadein">By now she had been deeply drawn, and shone from every ribbon, scale and sequin. The greed that spiked her eyes was real, each pupil like a peppercorn, the ruby in her coronet a beacon. [<span class='blink'>...</span>]<link|(click: ?link)[(goto: "Beneath her mantle")]</div>

<div class="fadein">Beneath her mantle: boiling rock. I felt the heat from where I knelt below her. But when a plan is in full swing there’s little time for taking stock – I bore the sweat and faced this <span class="tooltip">Krakatoa.<span class="tooltiptext">(A rather vulgar reference, L; Krakatoa is a caldera in Indonesia, the eruptions from which have led to hundreds of deaths in recent years, tens of thousands historically. In fairness, my end seems close at hand.)</span></span> [<span class='blink'>...</span>]<link|(click: ?link)[(goto: "Third test")]</div>

(if: $score is 50)[(replace: ?reaction)[<div class="shake">(She closed her fan.)</div>](replace: ?batch)[(display: "Third test batch 2")]] (if: $score is 100)[(replace: ?reaction)[<div class="shake">(She flashed a fang. She sloughed her gloves.)</div>](replace: ?batch)[(display: "Third test batch 3")]] (if: $score is 150)[(replace: ?reaction)[<div class="shake">(She bid the guardsmen leave the room.)</div>](replace: ?batch)[(display: "Third test batch 4")]] (if: $score > 190)[(go-to: "And then her shadow")] (else:)[ (set: $score to it + 10) (print: "<script>GE.updateScore(" + (text: $maxScore) + "," + (text: $score) + ");") (replace: ?scorelogic)[] ]

<div class="fadein">“Words,” I said, “that may be paired with ‘over’”: <div id="health-bar"><div class="bar"></div></div> (print: "<script>GE.updateScore(" + (text: $maxScore) + "," + (text: $score) + ");") []<scorelogic|\ [<div class="shake">...</div>]<reaction| \ [(link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>abundance</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>abundance</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore3")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>give</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>give</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore3")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>arm</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>arm</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore3")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>sleep</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>sleep</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore3")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>go</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>go</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore3")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>left</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>left</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore3")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>candle</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>candle</div>(set: $mistakes to it + 10)(go-to: "Mistake 3")] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>bearing</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>bearing</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore3")]]]<batch|

(set: $maxScore to 100)\ (set: $score to 0)\ \<div class="fadein">And then her shadow fell on me – she broke upon me, gripped me by my ears. She hauled me up the <span class="tooltip">dais<span class="tooltiptext">(<i>Dais</i>: the raised platform on which the throne squats. Hers is plain stone, the ridged tongue of the carpet thinning.)</span></span> steps to underneath the canopy as flame dripped from the palace chandeliers. [<span class='blink'>...</span>]<link|(click: ?link)[(goto: "Fourth test")]</div>

<div class="fadein">And me now hissing “Vibrant colours”: <div id="health-bar"><div class="bar"></div></div> (print: "<script>GE.updateScore(" + (text: $maxScore) + "," + (text: $score) + ");") []<scorelogic|\ [<div class="shake">...</div>]<reaction| \ [(link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>scarlet</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>scarlet</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore4")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>scandal</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>scandal</div>(set: $mistakes to it + 10)(go-to: "Mistake 4")] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>cherry</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>cherry</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore4")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>fire engine</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>fire engine</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore4")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>cyan</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>cyan</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore4")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>spinal fluid</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>spinal fluid</div>(set: $mistakes to it + 10)(go-to: "Mistake 4")] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>magenta</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>magenta</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore4")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>raspberry</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>raspberry</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore4")]]]<batch|

(if: $score is 20)[(replace: ?reaction)[<div class="shake">(The carpet rucked – a living welt.)</div>](replace: ?batch)[(display: "Fourth test batch 2")]] (if: $score is 40)[(replace: ?reaction)[<div class="shake">(Her fingers twisted in my cotte.)</div>](replace: ?batch)[(display: "Fourth test batch 3")]] (if: $score is 60)[(replace: ?reaction)[<div class="shake">(She tore her veil and undershirt.)</div>](replace: ?batch)[(display: "Fourth test batch 4")]] (if: $score > 90)[(go-to: "I bucked")] (else:)[ (set: $score to it + 5) (print: "<script>GE.updateScore(" + (text: $maxScore) + "," + (text: $score) + ");") (replace: ?scorelogic)[] ]

(set: $maxScore to 150)\ (set: $score to 0)\ \<div class="fadein">I bucked, but weakly – like a boat unengined and unmoored in choppy waters. Enough to make an awkward knot of tongue and knee and tail and throat, my skeleton a scree of spoons and saucers. [<span class='blink'>...</span>]<link|(click: ?link)[(goto: "Fifth test")]</div>

<div class="fadein">“Names of rivers, fictional or real”: <div id="health-bar"><div class="bar"></div></div> (print: "<script>GE.updateScore(" + (text: $maxScore) + "," + (text: $score) + ");") []<scorelogic|\ [<div class="shake">...</div>]<reaction| \ [(link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>congo</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>congo</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore5")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>volga</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>volga</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore5")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>moth</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>moth</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore5")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>yukon</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>yukon</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore5")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>anduin</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>anduin</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore5")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>niger</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>niger</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore5")]]]<batch|

(if: $score is 20)[(replace: ?reaction)[<div class="shake">(Her braies a foaming parachute.)</div>](replace: ?batch)[(display: "Fifth test batch 2")]] (if: $score is 40)[(replace: ?reaction)[<div class="shake">(Her ancestors a gathered ghostly mob.)</div>](replace: ?batch)[(display: "Fifth test batch 3")]] (if: $score is 70)[(replace: ?reaction)[<div class="shake">(Her scowl an oak tree, lightning-rent.)</div>](replace: ?batch)[(display: "Fifth test batch 4")]] (if: $score > 120)[(go-to: "And when she reared")] (else:)[ (set: $score to it + 5) (print: "<script>GE.updateScore(" + (text: $maxScore) + "," + (text: $score) + ");") (replace: ?scorelogic)[] ]

(set: $maxScore to 100)\ (set: $score to 0)\ \<div class="fadein">And when she reared, oh monstrous swan, her gown a maelstrom, mouth ablaze and open, I leant to take in one small <span class="tooltip">bite<span class="tooltiptext">(Yes, I have been practising the bite. Practising, practising. The moment has come.)</span></span> the one small word I’d waited on and pulled it free as if it were a hairpin. [<span class='blink'>...</span>]<link|(click: ?link)[(goto: "End")]</div>

<div class="fadein">And what I took is still in my possession – it is and isn’t what you’d call a weapon. ☙ </div>

[<div class="fadein"><img src="http://www.gojonstonego.com/games/empress-of-sand/empress-logo-transparent.png" class="logo"><div class="notebox intro">L, otherwise known as the Librarian, is a restless collector, categoriser, cataloguer. Such is her preoccupation with this calling that she involves herself conspicuously and continuously in other people’s affairs, misdeeds, endeavours and altercations. In this ludokinetic poem, you play as L.</div></div> <div style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100vw; height: 100vh;"></div>]<link|(click: ?link)[(goto: "difficulty")]

(if: $score is 20)[(replace: ?reaction)[<div class="shake">(She raised a thuggish brow.)</div>](replace: ?batch)[(display: "First test batch 2")]] (if: $score is 50)[(replace: ?reaction)[<div class="shake">(She pinched her cuffs till they were taut.)</div>](replace: ?batch)[(display: "First test batch 3")]] (if: $score is 80)[(replace: ?reaction)[<div class="shake">(She smoothed her sails. She thumbed her ruff.)</div>](replace: ?batch)[(display: "First test batch 4")]] (if: $score > 110)[(go-to: "I'd come forearmed")] (else:)[ (set: $score to it + 10) (print: "<script>GE.updateScore(" + (text: $maxScore) + "," + (text: $score) + ");") (replace: ?scorelogic)[] ]

(link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>pool</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>pool</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore2")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>carrom</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>carrom</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore2")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>bagalagram</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>bagalagram</div>(set: $mistakes to it + 10)(go-to: "Mistake 2")] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>liar dice</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>liar dice</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore2")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>air hockey</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>air hockey</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore2")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>ice hockey</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>ice hockey</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore2")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>tongue hockey</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>tongue hockey</div>(set: $mistakes to it + 10)(go-to: "Mistake 2")] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>hook-a-duck</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>hook-a-duck</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore2")]]

(if: $mistakes is $chances)[(goto: "Fail")](else:)[(set: $score to 0) \ <div class="fadein">“I’m sorry – I meant something else.” I take a breath, try again. [<span class='blink'>...</span>]<link|(click: ?link)[(goto: "First test")]</div>]

(link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>blowfish</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>blowfish</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateTEST")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>banjo</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>banjo</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateTEST")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>boxfish</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>boxfish</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateTEST")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>oaffish</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>oaffish</div>(set: $mistakes to it + 10)(go-to: "Mistake 1")] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>dogfish</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>dogfish</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateTEST")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>knifefish</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>knifefish</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateTEST")]]

(link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>clingfish</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>clingfish</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateTEST")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>coffinfish</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>coffinfish</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateTEST")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>parrotfish</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>parrotfish</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateTEST")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>frogfish</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>frogfish</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateTEST")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>selffish</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>oaffish</div>(set: $mistakes to it + 10)(go-to: "Mistake 1")] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>goosefish</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>goosefish</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateTEST")]]

(link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>hagfish</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>hagfish</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateTEST")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>horsefish</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>horsefish</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateTEST")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>hawkfish</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>hawkfish</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateTEST")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>haddock</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>haddock</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateTEST")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>fingerfish</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>fingerfish</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateTEST")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>catfish</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>catfish</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateTEST")]]

(if: $mistakes is $chances)[(goto: "Fail")](else:)[(set: $score to 0) \ <div class="fadein">“I’m sorry – I meant something else.” I take a breath, try again. [<span class='blink'>...</span>]<link|(click: ?link)[(goto: "Second test")]</div>]

(link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>hoplite</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>hoplite</div>(set: $mistakes to it + 10)(go-to: "Mistake 2")] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>hopscotch</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>hopscotch</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore2")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>nim</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>nim</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore2")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>whim</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>whim</div>(set: $mistakes to it + 10)(go-to: "Mistake 2")] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>tic tac toe</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>tic tac toe</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore2")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>diablo</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>diablo</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore2")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>rummy</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>rummy</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore2")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>go</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>go</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore2")]]

(link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>snooker</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>snooker</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore2")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>poker</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>poker</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore2")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>smoker</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>smoker</div>(set: $mistakes to it + 10)(go-to: "Mistake 2")] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>minesweeper</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>minesweeper</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore2")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>jugger</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>jugger</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore2")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>jigger</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>jigger</div>(set: $mistakes to it + 10)(go-to: "Mistake 2")] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>horse bones</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>horse bones</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore2")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>people bones</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>people bones</div>(set: $mistakes to it + 10)(go-to: "Mistake 2")]

(if: $mistakes is $chances)[(goto: "Fail")](else:)[(set: $score to 0) \ <div class="fadein">“I’m sorry – I meant something else.” I take a breath, try again. [<span class='blink'>...</span>]<link|(click: ?link)[(goto: "Third test")]</div>]

(link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>ring</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>ring</div>(set: $mistakes to it + 10)(go-to: "Mistake 3")] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>bite</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>bite</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore3")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>hand</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>hand</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore3")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>hang</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>hang</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore3")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>hung</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>hung</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore3")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>hedge</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>hedge</div>(set: $mistakes to it + 10)(go-to: "Mistake 3")] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>spill</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>spill</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore3")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>take</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>take</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore3")]]

(link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>walk</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>walk</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore3")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>crawl</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>crawl</div>(set: $mistakes to it + 10)(go-to: "Mistake 3")] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>cast</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>cast</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore3")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>pass</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>pass</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore3")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>blown</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>blown</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore3")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>draft</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>draft</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore3")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>haul</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>haul</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore3")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>knot</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>knot</div>(set: $mistakes to it + 10)(go-to: "Mistake 3")]

(link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>clock</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>clock</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore3")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>stop</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>stop</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore3")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>change</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>change</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore3")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>blame</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>blame</div>(set: $mistakes to it + 10)(go-to: "Mistake 3")] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>shame</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>shame</div>(set: $mistakes to it + 10)(go-to: "Mistake 3")] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>disc</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>disc</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore3")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>comb</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>comb</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore3")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>share</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>share</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore3")]]

(if: $mistakes is $chances)[(goto: "Fail")](else:)[(set: $score to 0) \ <div class="fadein">“I’m sorry – I meant something else.” I take a breath, try again. [<span class='blink'>...</span>]<link|(click: ?link)[(goto: "Fourth test")]</div>]

(link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>lemon</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>lemon</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore4")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>lime</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>lime</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore4")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>limb</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>limb</div>(set: $mistakes to it + 10)(go-to: "Mistake 4")] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>french fuschia</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>french fucshia</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore4")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>bastard pink</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>bastard pink</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore4")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>bubblegum pink</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>bubblegum pink</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore4")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>carnation pink</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>carnation pink</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore4")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>bright pink</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>bright pink</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore4")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>hot pink</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>hot pink</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore4")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>pop punk</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>pop punk</div>(set: $mistakes to it + 10)(go-to: "Mistake 4")]

(link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>maiden pink</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>maiden pink</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore4")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>electric pink</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>electric pink</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore4")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>electric lavender</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>electric lavender</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore4")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>neon flamingo</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>neon flamingo</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore4")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>azure</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>azure</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore4")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>pleasure</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>pleasure</div>(set: $mistakes to it + 10)(go-to: "Mistake 4")] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>unrolled</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>unrolled</div>(set: $mistakes to it + 10)(go-to: "Mistake 4")] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>emerald</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>emerald</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore4")]]

(link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>mana</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>mana</div>(set: $mistakes to it + 10)(go-to: "Mistake 4")] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>banana</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>banana</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore4")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>buttercup</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>buttercup</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore4")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>uppercut</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>uppercut</div>(set: $mistakes to it + 10)(go-to: "Mistake 4")] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>daffodil</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>daffodil</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore4")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>windmill</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>windmill</div>(set: $mistakes to it + 10)(go-to: "Mistake 4")] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>pear</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>pear</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore4")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>mango</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>mango</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore4")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>mustard</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>mustard</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore4")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>mint</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>mint</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore4")]]

(if: $mistakes is $chances)[(goto: "Fail")](else:)[(set: $score to 0) \ <div class="fadein">“I’m sorry – I meant something else.” I take a breath, try again. [<span class='blink'>...</span>]<link|(click: ?link)[(goto: "Fifth test")]</div>]

(link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>anduin</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>anduin</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore5")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>danube</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>danube</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore5")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>cam</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>cam</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore5")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>dove</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>dove</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore5")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>derwent</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>derwent</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore5")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>misbourne</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>misbourne</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore5")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>ouse</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>ouse</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore5")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>thames</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>thames</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore5")]]

(link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>kwai</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>kwai</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore5")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>mareb</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>mareb</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore5")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>giba</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>giba</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore5")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>styx</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>styx</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore5")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>jamma</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>jamma</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore5")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>elbe</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>elbe</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore5")]]

(link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>trent</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>trent</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore5")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>tay</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>tay</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore5")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>spey</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>spey</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore5")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>severn</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>severn</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore5")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>seine</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>seine</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore5")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>yonne</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>yonne</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore5")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>moira</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>moira</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore5")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>vistula</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>vistula</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore5")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>tibe</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>tiber</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore5")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>tigris</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>kuma</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore5")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>rhine</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>rhine</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore5")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>kuma</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>kuma</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore5")]] \ (link-replace: "<div class='wordcontainer'>lethe</div>")[<div class='blankwordcontainer'>lethe</div>(replace: ?scorelogic)[(display: "UpdateScore5")]]

<div class="fadein"><span style="text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 0.6em;">Before you start, choose a level of difficulty:</span> <span style="font-size: 0.8em;">— [<span class="red">“Unlimited room for error.”</span>]<link1|(click: ?link1)[(set: $chances to 9999)(goto: "I went to her")] — [<span class="red">“Three chances.”</span>]<link2|(click: ?link2)[(set: $chances to 30)(goto: "I went to her")] — [<span class="red">“One slip-up and it’s over.”</span>]<link3|(click: ?link3)[(set: $chances to 10)(goto: "I went to her")] </div>

<div class="fadein">I faltered, jammed. That word was wrong. The chance, right then, had slipped away. ☙ </div>

↶

↷

L, otherwise known as the Librarian, is a restless collector, categoriser, cataloguer. Such is her preoccupation with this calling that she involves herself conspicuously and continuously in other people’s affairs, misdeeds, endeavours and altercations.

In this ludokinetic poem, you play as L.