Carolyn VanEseltine

Part 5 - Barrier Sentences

To write a barrier sentence:

now the current barrier is a random barrier in the current room;

if the number of barriers in the current room is 1:

if the current barrier is ocean:

now the barrier sentence is "Long waves roll over the surface of [the current barrier] and exhaust themselves as curling foam. Here beside the shore, the ocean's edge [if the number of entries in the prevented directions list of the current room is greater than the number of entries in the permitted directions list of the current room]blocks travel in all directions except [permitted directions list of the current room][otherwise]blocks the way [prevented directions list of the current room][end if].";

otherwise if the current barrier is brambles:

now the barrier sentence is "Wiry branches and extremely long thorns form a barrier of [current barrier] that [if the number of entries in the prevented directions list of the current room is greater than the number of entries in the permitted directions list of the current room]blocks all directions except [permitted directions list of the current room][otherwise]blocks the way [prevented directions list of the current room][end if].";

otherwise if the current barrier is cliff face:

now the barrier sentence is "You stand at the base of [a current barrier] that rises impassably to the [prevented directions list of the current room].";

otherwise if the current barrier is a pillar:

now the barrier sentence is "To the [prevented directions list of the current room], there stands [a current barrier].";

otherwise:

now the barrier sentence is "[A current barrier] [if the number of entries in the prevented directions list of the current room is greater than the number of entries in the permitted directions list of the current room]blocks you from travelling in any direction except [permitted directions list of the current room][otherwise] prevents you from travelling [prevented directions list of the current room][end if].";

otherwise if the number of barriers in the current room is 2:

repeat with target barrier running through the barriers in the current room:

if the target barrier is not the current barrier:

now the alternate barrier is the target barrier;

if the current barrier is ocean:

if the number of entries in the prevented directions list of the current room is greater than the number of entries in the permitted directions list of the current room:

now the barrier sentence is "Paths wend [permitted directions list of the current room] around [alternate barrier] and approach the edge of [the current barrier].";

otherwise:

now the barrier sentence is "The rolling waves of [the current barrier] block the way [list of directions prevented by the current barrier], and [an alternate barrier] blocks your way [list of directions prevented by the alternate barrier].";

otherwise if the current barrier is brambles:

if the alternate barrier is brambles:

if the number of entries in the prevented directions list of the current room is greater than the number of entries in the permitted directions list of the current room:

now the barrier sentence is "Brambles girdle this area, permitting you to leave only [permitted directions list of the current room].";

otherwise:

now the barrier sentence is "Brambles block you from travelling [permitted directions list of the current room].";

otherwise:

if the number of entries in the prevented directions list of the current room is greater than the number of entries in the permitted directions list of the current room:

now the barrier sentence is "[A current barrier] hems your way with sharp thorns, and [an alternate barrier] also presents an obstacle to travel. From here, paths lead [permitted directions list of the current room].";

otherwise:

now the barrier sentence is "[A current barrier] presents a dangerous obstacle to proceeding [list of directions prevented by the current barrier], and [an alternate barrier] blocks your way [list of directions prevented by the alternate barrier].";

otherwise if the current barrier is cliff face:

if the number of entries in the prevented directions list of the current room is greater than the number of entries in the permitted directions list of the current room:

now the barrier sentence is "You can travel freely to the [permitted directions list of the current room], but all other routes are blocked by [a list of barriers in the current room].";

otherwise:

now the barrier sentence is "[A current barrier] rising sharply before you prevents you from going [list of directions prevented by the current barrier], and [an alternate barrier] blocks your way [list of directions prevented by the alternate barrier].";

otherwise if the current barrier is a pillar:

if the alternate barrier is a pillar:

now the barrier sentence is "Two pillars stand here, one to the [list of directions prevented by the current barrier] and one to the [list of directions prevented by the alternate barrier]. They are visibly different in design, but were likely once part of the same structure.";

otherwise if the alternate barrier is a lake:

if the number of entries in the prevented directions list of the current room is greater than the number of entries in the permitted directions list of the current room:

now the barrier sentence is "[A current barrier] stands to the [list of directions prevented by the current barrier], and, to the [list of directions prevented by the alternate barrier], the still surface of [an alternate barrier] blocks your route.";

otherwise:

now the barrier sentence is "[A current barrier] stands alone on the shore of [an alternate barrier]. You can circumvent them to the [permitted directions list of the current room].";

otherwise if the alternate barrier is a river:

if the number of entries in the prevented directions list of the current room is greater than the number of entries in the permitted directions list of the current room:

otherwise:

now the barrier sentence is "[A current barrier] stands alone on the shore of [an alternate barrier], which is clearly too broad to cross. From here, you can travel [permitted directions list of the current room].";

otherwise:

if the number of entries in the prevented directions list of the current room is greater than the number of entries in the permitted directions list of the current room:

now the barrier sentence is "To the [permitted directions list of the current room], you can travel freely, but all other routes are blocked by [list of barriers in the current room].";

otherwise:

now the barrier sentence is "[A current barrier] to the [list of directions prevented by the current barrier] bears lonely testament to some greater structure standing here in the far-distant past. [A alternate barrier] hems your path in, blocking you from going [list of directions prevented by the alternate barrier].";

otherwise:

if the number of entries in the prevented directions list of the current room is greater than the number of entries in the permitted directions list of the current room:

now the barrier sentence is "Between the [current barrier] and the [alternate barrier] here, you can only travel [permitted directions list of the current room].";

otherwise:

now the barrier sentence is "[A current barrier] blocks the way [list of directions prevented by the current barrier], and [a alternate barrier] blocks the way [list of directions prevented by the alternate barrier]";

otherwise:

now the barrier sentence is "Due to [the list of barriers in the current room] hemming your route, you [if the number of entries in the prevented directions list of the current room is greater than the number of entries in the permitted directions list of the current room]can only travel to the [permitted directions list of the current room] [otherwise]cannot travel [prevented directions list of the current room][end if]."

Five Gods Exiled — 32 of 191