#do steps = hatted = visitedNest = visitedCargo = visitedMain = 0;

Break loose the bond upon the bow.
Set sail for pirate realm.

They will give me to Davy Jones,
but you I give the helm.

START

Aboard the Ocean Raider {{steps}}  |  restart #do steps++ #do bookmark = "intro"
#do username = prompt("Er, what shall I call you?","Ahab");

Very well {{username}}, the captain of the Ocean Raider is led away in leg irons.

captain

Our galleon carries success,
a treasure chest of gold.
Alas I give this last request,
so do as you are told.

Main Deck  •  Lower Deck  •  Cargo Hold

Alas I give this last request,
so do as you are told.

The Royal Navy slung a rope,
dragging my ship in tow.
Do not let them keep her in dock.
Escape this curs’d foe.

Break loose the bond upon the bow.
Set sail for pirate realm.
They will give me to Davy Jones,
but you I give the helm.

Main Deck {{steps}}  |  restart  |  back #do steps++ #do bookmark = "main"
#test visitedMain === 1; #iftrue

Arg, you've been to the main deck before. The barrels look familiar.

#test visitedMain === 0; #iftrue

Here be ropes, sails, and other riggings. A sturdy rope ladder extends up the main mast. Beside the ladder is a pickle barrel made of oak staves and iron hoops.

#do visitedMain = 1; #test hatted === 0 #iftrue

Upon one barrel rests the captain's tricorn.

#test hatted === 1 #iftrue

Someone put a petunia on the barrel where the tricorn used to be ( the hat's now on your head, Cap'n {{username}} ).

#do sceneBit = Math.floor(Math.random() * 6) + 1; #test sceneBit === 1 #iftrue

A parrot on the stern gallery squawks incessantly.

#test sceneBit === 2 #iftrue

A sailor shouts something indiscernable from the brig below.

#test sceneBit === 3 #iftrue

If not mistaken, the cook seems to be singing in the galley.

#test sceneBit === 4 #iftrue

A solitary lime rolls around the deck, then topples overboard.

#test sceneBit === 5 #iftrue

The Jolly Roger snaps smartly in the breeze.

#test sceneBit === 6 #iftrue

Water laps against the sides of the ship, marking time.

Crow's Nest  •  Lower deck  •  Cargo Hold

#do hatted = 1

You pick up the hat. Pinned up on the sides and back, it has three corners. Into this classic pirate’s tricorn is etched “Captain.” It fits surprisingly well, {{username}}.

Lower Deck {{steps}}  |  restart  |  back #do steps++ #do bookmark = "lower"

A sailor snores softly inside the dingy brig. Starboard, a solid door secures the bosun’s quarters. Entrance to the galley aft is blocked by a burly cook.

#test hatted === 0 #iftrue

The sailor stirs and sniffs the air.

sailor

Fetch me some food, swabby.

#test hatted === 1 #iftrue

The sailor sits up on the prison cot and stares at your tricorn.

sailor

Please Cap'n {{username}}, stop the squawk. That parrot sounds powerful hungry.

Main Deck  •  Galley  •  Cargo Hold

Galley {{steps}}  |  restart  |  back #do steps++ #do bookmark = "galley"

Finding the name of a beverage, it makes sense to go where beverages are found: in the galley. The entrance is blocked by a stout and sturdy cook, who studies you with suspicion.

cook

Whass'a password?

Utter “Avast 1492"  •  Say “slog of grog"
Improvise a rude gesture

Rude Gesture {{steps}}  |  restart  |  back #do steps++ #do bookmark = "improvise"
#test hatted === 0 #iftrue

Thwap! The cook flicks a meaty finger against your forehead. The lights dim.

You come to consciousness on the …

#test hatted === 1 #iftrue

“Why, if it weren’t for the tricorn," he mutters, then just stands there in bulky silence.

Say “avast 1492"  •  Say “slog of grog"

"Avast 1492" {{steps}}  |  restart  |  back #do steps++ #do bookmark = "avast"
#test hatted === 1 #iftrue

You utter: Avast 1492

“{{username}}, are you sure you belong to this crew?" the cook asks with a squinting eye.

Say “slog of grog" or improvise a rude gesture.

#test hatted === 0 #iftrue

“Stow-away," shouts the cook and flicks a meaty finger against your forehead. The lights dim. You come to consciousness on the …

"Slog of Grog" {{steps}}  |  restart  |  back #do steps++ #do bookmark = "grog"

The password must be “grog" since that is a beverage. Apparently this is a favourite drink of the captain, who wrote it on the flag for safekeeping. In any case, the cook gives you a mug of spiced wine and, as if an afterthought, offers a handful of pistachio nuts.

Ship's stern  •  Open the pickle barrel  •  Cargo hold

You munch on one nicely roasted pistachio and put the rest in a pocket.

Barrel Opener {{steps}}  |  restart  |  back #do steps++ #do bookmark = "search"

After a long moment, realization dawns that the pickle barrel is probably not relevant to saving the ship. Still, the thought of pickles lingers.

Main Deck  •  Cargo Hold   •  Crow’s Nest

Ship's Stern {{steps}}  |  restart  |  back #do steps++ #do bookmark = "stern"

The captain likes spiced wine, but with pistachios? You pull a face of disgust and hope they are just for guests. On the gallery is a parrot protecting a skeleton key on a lanyard around its neck. Feed the parrot some ...

Nuts  •  Grog  •  Crackers

Feed Pistachios {{steps}}  |  restart  |  back #do steps++ #do bookmark = "parrot"

The parrot was apparently squawking from hunger. Once fed, it falls asleep, allowing you to remove the skeleton key.

Bosun’s Quarters  •  Captain’s Quarters  •  Crow’s Nest

Feed Grog {{steps}}  |  restart  |  back #do steps++ #do bookmark = "throw"

It is hungry, not thirsty — not that grog is fit for a cockatoo.

Offer it nuts  •  Say "Polly want a cracker?"

Feed Cracker {{steps}}  |  restart  |  back #do steps++ #do bookmark = "cracker"

A cruel taunt, {{username}}.

The parrot is squawking from hunger and you don’t have a cracker.

Offer nuts  •   Offer grog  •  Head to the crow’s nest

Bosun's Quarters {{steps}}  |  restart  |  back #do steps++ #do bookmark = "bosunQ"

Messy even by pirate standards. While casting a critical eye over this dishevelment, a shiver of urgency shivers moves you to move on.

Make your way to the main deck  •  Head to the lower deck
Visit the cargo hold

Captain's Quarters {{steps}}  |  restart  |  back #do steps++ #do bookmark = "captainQ"

Navy officers snatched the captain quickly, leaving the oak door ajar. You slip in and slip the gold covered key into the lock of the chest mentioned by the captain. It does indeed contain treasure. Take the . . .

Leather pouch of coins
Machete  •  Map of the islands

Take Coin Pouch {{steps}}  |  restart  |  back #do steps++ #do bookmark = "pouch"

You will be wealthy, but imprisoned since the ship is still secured by the Royal Navy.

Head up the crow’s nest
Take the machete  •  Take the map

Take Map <{{steps}}  |  restart  |  back #do steps++ #do bookmark = "map"

If only the ship was free on the sea, you could cruise for spices. Alas, it is not.

Take the machete  •  Take the pouch
Go to the cargo hold

Take Machete {{steps}}  |  restart  |  back #do steps++ #do bookmark = "machete"

Cutlery to cut the rope, free the ship. Racing to the main deck, you swing an arm’s-length of razor sharp steel and sever the tow rope.

Proclaim yourself captain
Go looking for that parrot
Brandish the sword in the sky

Brandish Sword {{steps}}  |  restart  |  back #do steps++ #do bookmark = "brandish"

Apparently you weren’t told not to play with such things. They can put out an eye. Not a bad look on a pirate, but a bit difficult for judging distance.

Do try again, this time more safely.

Look for Parrot {{steps}}  |  restart  |  back #do steps++ #do bookmark = "lookParrot"

Arg, you were this close to having a meaningful existence! But no, the squawking proved just too much and you’ve lost focus.

Please try again, next time more sensitively.

Captain {{steps}}  |  restart  |  back #do steps++ #do bookmark = "proclaim"

Aye, matey! For Cap'n {{username}} you are.

Replay?

[ success is possible in less than ten steps ]

Cargo Hold {{steps}}  |  restart  |  back #do steps++ #do bookmark = "cargo"
#test visitedCargo === 1 #iftrue

You've been to the cargo hold before. Avoid the stack of cannon balls. #test visitedCargo === 0 #iftrue

The cargo hold contains: an anchor being used for ballast, jars of olive oil and barrels of pickled meat, and cannon balls precariously stacked into a pyramid. Oh, and one lime.

#do visitedCargo = 1

Go to the main deck  •  Go to the lower deck

Take Lime {{steps}}  |  restart  |  back #do steps++ #do bookmark = "lime"

You pick up the ripe citrus fruit ( Citrus aurantifolia ). It puckers the lips and protects the bones. #test hatted === 0 #iftrue

It's rather over-ripe. You drop it from your inventory.

#test hatted === 1 #iftrue

You take a bite. That tart taste means no scourge of scurvy for you.

Go to the main deck  •  Go to the lower deck

Take Cannon Ball {{steps}}  |  restart  |  back #do steps++ #do bookmark = "cannon"

The stack shifts. As you hurriedly slide the sphere back in place, somebody slams the hatch door shut. Darkness ensues. You step back, then leap against the hatch door.

Leap Against Door {{steps}}  |  restart  |  back #do steps++ #do bookmark = "leap"

In the darkness you stumble over the same stack of cannon balls, this time dislodging an array that at first trips, then concusses. Well, that didn’t work.

Restart from the …

Crow's Nest {{steps}}  |  restart  |  back #do steps++ #do bookmark = "nest"
#test visitedNest === 1 #iftrue

You've been to the crow's cage atop the main mast before, {{username}}. Nothing new to see; move along.

#test visitedNest === 0 #iftrue

To look-out for the ship, you climb the riggings to the crow’s nest lookout. Lowering the Jolly Roger to this small platform, you see the name of a beverage scrawled on the flag in what looks to be the captain’s cursive.

#do visitedNest = 1

Down to the main deck.