Matrix Text Game — 4 of 11

Part 2 - Ares

[We'll consider this the "vestibule" of the system. This "node" won't have any particularly important features or paydata. Nor will it have any IC unless there's a restricted alert sounded. If you want a node visible/reachable at a distance, make sure it has a higher Signal rating.]

West of My Commlink is Ares Macrotechnology. Ares Macrotechnology is a node. "A Greek coliseum looms before you. It is a formidable construct, the icon of Ares Macrotechnology. Pigeons and hawks flow into and out of the structure.[if Ares Restricted Alert is happening] There is an enormous statue of the Goddess Athena here. Or maybe she's not a statue. She is actively looking around the node, and she looks ready for a fight.[end if]". Understand "macro" and "macrotech" as Ares Macrotechnology.

When play begins:

Give Ares Macrotechnology a rating 4 in "signal";

[It might be useful to have a mechanism by which we can "join together" all of these nodes and other objects. To do this we use a "nexus" which will mean "all these nodes belong together". This allows us to change features of the entire area at once. If we add more nodes, we'll need to add them to this definition.]

The Ares System is a nexus. Ares Macrotechnology, Ares Hidden Node, and Ares Security are in The Ares System.

[We told the application that there was a node called "Ares Security" -- now we're defining it.]

Ares Security is west of Ares Macrotechnology. It is a node. "This is an armory. There are stacks of weapons, hung from every wall. [if Ares Restricted Alert is happening]Or there would be, if the alert were called off.[otherwise]Troops of Greek legions are stationed in this node.[end if]".

Table of Ares Security Stats

When play begins:

initialize Table of Ares Security Stats for Ares Security at rating 3;

Give Ares Security a rating 1 in "signal";

Give Ares Security a rating 4 in "firewall";

The God Ares is in Ares Security. It is a ice. [black ice] "[if Ares Restricted Alert is happening]There is a large statue of Ares, God of War and across from him, Athena.[otherwise]The statue of the god Ares has his sword leveled at you.[end if]".

Table of God Ares Stats

When play begins:

initialize Table of God Ares Stats for God Ares at rating 6;

Give God Ares a rating 4 in "armor";

Give God Ares a rating 5 in "attack";

Give God Ares a rating 6 in "blackout";

[Slave-Objects are different from other objects -- they don't do much of anything yet. If you have control of the node they're in you should be able to control the object.]

Font is a slave-object in Ares Security. It is fixed in place. "There is a font to one side of the node." The description of the font is "When you look inside the Font, you can tell that this is hooked up to security cameras because you see mundane non-matrix footage."

Gong is a slave-object in Ares Security. It is fixed in place. "There is a gong across from the font.[if Ares Restricted Alert is happening] That infernal object is the source of all the pain in your ears.[end if]"

The description of the gong is "This is the Ares alarm system. You definitely do not want to touch it."

[Inside of corporate systems, there's often wired segments to prevent hackers from just breaking in. This is why hackers now need to be physically present on many runs; you can't just hack in from anywhere or you're trying to take on the entire system's defenses. A 'hub-access-node" is a standard wired node around rating 3.]

Ares Hidden Node is west of Ares Security. It is a hub-access-node. "This room seems to be built out of skulls and bones."

Cycnus is in Ares Hidden Node. It is a ice. [black ice] "[if Ares Restricted Alert is happening]Cycnus laughs. It's not a laugh you ever wanted to hear, and you don't want to hear it again.[paragraph break]'You will pay for your treason! May my father Ares strengthen my spear against you, scoundrel! A new skull to adorn the walls, new blood to paint the halls!'[otherwise]There's this really mean looking guy in greek armor, just waiting for you to screw up so that he can put your head on a pike to scare off the next guy.[end if]". The description of Cycnus is "You examine Cycnus more closesly, and then you wish you hadn't. He has this disarming way of looking right through you, and the muscles on his neck roll around like the flesh doesn't even wish to stay on his bones. When he grins at you, it is not warm nor welcoming. It is cold, and toothy, and deadly. You now know what the pig feels like when it's led to the slaughter."

Table of Cycnus Stats

When play begins:

initialize Table of Cycnus Stats for Cycnus at rating 6;

Give God Ares a rating 5 in "armor";

Give God Ares a rating 6 in "attack";

Give God Ares a rating 7 in "black hammer";

[A data-object holds items of data. It can be encrypted (give it a crypt-rating). It could be unlocked (specify "The item is unlocked.)]

Ares Hidden Node contains a cage. The cage is a data-object. In the cage is a skeleton. In the cage is teeth. "There is a cage containing a skeleton in a corner of the node. The cage looks very strong." The crypt-rating of the cage is 2. The bomb-rating of the cage is 3. The item-type-description is "This cage is actually a data store."

The description is "[if the number of data in the cage is greater than 0]The cage is empty[otherwise]The cage door swings open. Inside is the skeleton. Oh, and you also notice there's some teeth scattered around the bottom of the cage[end if]."

The encrypted description of the cage is "Drek! The cage won't open. Must be 'locked'." The defused description of the cage is "Well, it should finally be safe..." The decrypted description is "The cage now appears transparent. The door is still closed."

The skeleton is a paydata. The item-type-description is "The skeleton is stiff and unyielding, like it feels as if it is safer in the cage than out there with that madman. Your analyze program reveals that this is actually data -- your objective!"

The teeth is paydata. The street value of the teeth is 10000. The item-type-description is "All these teeth laying scattered in the bottom of the cage looks worthless, but your analyze program reveals that it's actually a bunch of very interesting looking data. (Street value approximately [street value of the teeth]¥.)"

After taking the teeth:

award 5 points;

say "[1 sas]Whizzers! It feels good, finding something worth taking. What next?";

After taking the skeleton:

award 5 points;

say "[1 sas]The skeleton stiffly resists as you try to manhandle it into your satchel. Now you just need to get out of here and make sure you clean up.";