In this game, a DARER AD in a GAME MAG transports you to a land based entirely on palindromes, which are words or phrases that use the same letters backwards as forwards. There, you'll need to solve many puzzles, destroy the KAOS OAK, and defeat the DIKTAT KID before you can use the TIX EXIT and leave.
This solution is by David Welbourn, and is based on Release 1 of the game.
SPOILERS AHEAD. Reading a walkthrough prematurely can sometimes diminish one's enjoyment of an interactive fiction game. Please make an honest effort to play the game before reading this walkthrough.
> i —or— s.(see introduction or skip introduction)
> y —or— n.(to screen reader question, as appropriate)
Fun Enuf
> x me. i. x darer ad.
> x elf. x cap. x oak. x tile lit.
> shuttuhs.(Turning shuttuhs on.)
Hold on. Lemme explain some of this weirdness.
The cap has LO VOL (low volume) and LOVE VOL (high volume) settings. It's initially set to LOVE VOL to make weird noises when a special command is required. This walkthrough will keep the LOVE VOL setting.
SHUTTUHS is a creative palindromic re-spelling of shutters. When this optional game setting is on, shutters will close off locations when you no longer need them. You may miss out on some bonus points, also known as Last Lousy Points, that way, though. Of course, this walkthrough will show how to get all the LLPs, so we're turning this option on.
Each letter in "Kaos Oak", whenever it's mentioned, is randomly either upper or lower case unless you turn that feature off with GRAMMAR G.
> pack cap.(+1; you're now wearing it.)
Elf gives you a Set O Notes, tells you about the cap's pip, then flees. A tix exit now blocks the south exit.
> stats.(+1 Last Lousy Point for palindromic SCORE)
> poop —or— tit —or— boob.(+1 LLP for palindromic CURSE)
> dial aid.(+1 LLP for palindromic HINT)
> peep.(+1 LLP for palindromic LOOK)
> refer.(+1 LLP for palindromic VERBS)
> xyzzy. plugh.
> x notes. read notes.
> x cap. x pip.
Hm, about that pip.
The pip of the cap is weird. With every five unhelpful (yet recognized) palindromic commands, the pip gains a charge and lights up. For each charge, you can EYE something and get a number from 1 to 79, giving you a rough idea how far into the game you'll need to use that something. Not super-helpful, but it is what it is.
Also, when the pip gets a charge, you'll hear a hint on how to earn a Last Lousy Point you haven't earned yet. Much more helpful than the eye-numbers.
I'd prefer to ignore the pip for this walkthough, but I can't. I want to show off some of those palindromic commands, but in Release 1, the pip is buggy if it has multiple charges, making THINK and INVENTORY unusable and causing a fatal crash when you examine the pip! So I recommend EYE-ing something to use up pip-charges as soon as possible, making the game safe again.
I'll render any pip-charging commands in purple; they're entirely optional and skippable.
Finally, it's really easy to miss or forget that the Elf said there's more to the cap than just the pip. About halfway into the game, you'll need to PACE CAP to give yourself some speed, and I think most players will have quite forgotten about the cap or written it off as useless by then.
> x tix exit.(Need X-ITE TIX.)
> x lit.(Grebeberg is west; Yelpley is east.)
> till lit. tilt lit.
> w.
Seer Trees
> x rats.(Need to use something powerful.)
> star rats. start rats.
> e. e.
Yawn Way
The map is useful. The phone book is not.
> take pyx. x pyx.
> x man.(The listing is random.)
> n.
Art Xtra
> x art. take art.
> x lover. talk to lover.(He wants Stray Arts.)
> s. s.
My Gym
> x Dave. x lots.
> evade Dave.(+1. He leaves. You get the Sto Lots and a wash saw.)
> i. x lots.(It's a carry-all.)
> x saw.(It cuts things with liquid.)
> w.
Worn Row
> x ender. x Rob. x dab.("WORN ROW")
> talk to Rob.(He finds you uninteresting.)
> bore Rob.(+1; he leaves; dab now "WOR- ROW".)
> x dab. word row.(+1)
The location transforms into...
Word Row
You get a pity tip when you arrive here.
> x tip.(Can do something extra with the cart.)
> x cart.(Take only one book at a time.)
> trace cart.(+1 Last Lousy Point; found Dwelt Lewd; tip altered.)
> x tip.(Good for free snack cans at Seedy Dee's.)
Note: Authors' names are randomized.
> x YA.(It's a self-help book.)
> x EC.(It's a civics text.)
> x NI.(It's an wise advice book.)
> x TI.(It's a book of clever put-downs.)
> x Dwelt Lewd. g. g. g.(Repeat until end.)
> x dab.(WOR+ ROW has another configuration.)
> bade dab. track cart.
> wore row. worf row. wort row. worm row.
> eye art.("9")
> eye saw.("16")
> work row.(+1)
The location transforms again!
Work Row
> x rotator.(spins things)
> x reifier.(improves things)
> x reviver.(fixes old things)
> tram art. tray art.
> use art on reifier.(+1; trap art ⇒ party trap)
> x trap.
> part trap.
> go to rats.
Seer Trees
> use trap on rats.(+1)
Rats and trap are gone. "Oh, Who" phone book drops; it's as useless as the previous phone book. You get a gift fig. You can now go north, west, and south from here.
> x fig. x who.(Its listings are also random.)
> gif fig.
> n.
Cold Loc
> x king. talk.(Wants socio-advice.)
> x sap.(Need a tool to pry it off.)
> x fir.
> pass sap. rife fir. kin Nik.
> eye king.("12")
> go to row.
Work Row
> word row.
Word Row
> take EC. go to king.
Cold Loc
> use EC on king.(+1; get Spur Ups; king leaves.)
> x ups.(Helps you feel or be UP twice, somehow.)
> read ups.(P, U, asterisk in triangle)
> spud ups. spun ups. pun up. sput ups. put up. pub up. pud up.
> eye ups.("14")
> n.
Flu Gulf
> x lug. talk to lug.
> x rocs.(proud, shiny, white, clean, staring)
> x sum. x lobe.(Never going that way.)
> gull lug. gulp lug. score rocs.
> eye lug.("22")
> s. e.
Apse Spa
> x taps. x sod.(Has health benefits.)
> take sod.(You need a container for it.)
> spat taps. pat tap.
> w. s. w.
Dumb Mud
> x rut. x dung. x veil.
> turd rut. turn rut. turk rut.
> eye veil.("60")
> e. s.
Ooze Zoo
> x eels. x rampart.
> sleek eels. sleet eels.
> talk to eels.
With the use of the helpful GO TO command, we'll start jumping all over the map, using things on other things, seemingly at random. I apologize for how chaotic this makes the rest of the walkthrough, but honestly, I don't think the chaos can be minimized all that much.
> go to art.
Art Xtra
Because you got rid of rats earlier, you get El Doodle that was left for you here.
> x doodle.(Might be a map? It needs paring down.)
> n.
Evaded Ave
> x nub. x Frood. talk.(Needs new creative snark.)
> bun nub. bunt nub. bung nub.
> eye nub.("10")
> go to cart.
Word Row
> take TI. go to Frood.
Evaded Ave
> use TI on Frood.(+1; he leaves; you get bunk nub)
> x tube.
> w.
Trapeze Part
> x net. tend net.(+1; get pole, net, recipe)
> x recipe.(Need martini tram, Ore Zero, TNT, and resale laser.)
> x tent net. x pole.
> e. e.
Yell Alley
> x van.(Seedy Dee's; has eye)
> use eye on tip.(+1. Get snack cans; van leaves; bomb mob visible.)
> x cans. x mob. x TNT.
> x yam. take yam.
> x popper. take it.(can't: need inner peace)
> x line nil.(Can't ever cross it.)
> link nil.
> go to row.
Word Row
> work row.
Work Row
> use nub on reviver.(+1; bunk nub ⇒ stock cots)
> x cots.
> go to eels.
Ooze Zoo
This Last Lousy Point probably seems completely unclued, but clues about it may appear much later in the game. I'm using knowledge from previous game sessions here.
> slam mammals.(+1 LLP)
> use cots on eels.(+1; south way open)
> s.
Frush Surf
> x wets. x mats. x ysk.
> take mats.
> e.
Moo Room
Astonishingly, "senile felines" isn't understood.
> x petal. x cats.
> stack cats.(+1 LLP; they leave.)
> x coop. take it.
> listen. see bees.(+1 LLP)
> listen. g. g. g.
> x hay.(Useful for building and stuffing.)
> go to mud.
Dumb Mud
> use coop on dung.(+1; west open.)
> use dung on rut.(+1; south open; coop gone.)
> w.
Swamp Maws
> x dam.(Needs a surveying tool.)
> n.
Yack Cay
> x tide. use tide on doodle.(+1; El Doodle ⇒ spa maps and sharp rahs)
> x spa maps. x sharp rahs.
> x rots. x sim.
> x Wonk. talk to Wonk.(He needs practical help.)
> x yurt.(It's really messy.)
> know Wonk. shark rahs. share rahs. shard rahs.
> store rots. story rots. stork rots.
> miss sim.(But no "misses sim".)
> eye Wonk.("42")
> s. s.
Uneven U
> x villa. x den. x Doc.
> use net on Doc.(+1; you can now call him Dr. D.)
> talk.
> use maps on Doc.(+1; you can now understand the maps.)
> coda doc. cods doc.
> s.
Lair Trial
> eye ogre.("51")
> x fog. x ogre. talk.(Need someone else to deal with it.)
> ergo ogre.
> go to spa.
Apse Spa
> x bog. x gloop.
> x maps.(+1; gain sage gas; lose maps.)
> x gas.(It can make something wiser.)
> saga gas. sago gas.
> go row.
Work Row
> word row.
Word Row
> take NI.(You also get SOME DEMOS.)
> x Some Demos.(A pamphlet about making weird art.)
> go to Wonk.
Yack Cay / Roomy Moor
> use NI on Wonk.(+1; mist leaves; north opens.)
> n.
Lac Oft Focal
> x lac. x ile.
> x boat.(Need item of humility.)
> x kayak.(Need steering tool.)
> calf lac. call lac.
> use pole on kayak.(+1; give pole; get you buoy)
> x buoy. eye buoy("65")
> go to yawn way.
Yawn Way
> e.(The Spur Ups aren't quite enough to make you be UP. Need action.)
CAUTION: You're unstable here. If you don't PULL UP immediately here, you'll fall to Toll Lot on the other side. But once you're stable here, you don't have to worry about that anymore.
> pull up.(+1; the Spur Ups crumble.)
> take cup. x cup. eye cup.("17")
> x diff id.(Scanner of some sort.)
> puck cup. did id. die id. dig id.
> dill id. dim id. diss id.
> smell.("roses or...")
> s.
Swept Pews
> x ort. take it. smell it. eye it.("51")
> x drow. talk. x grail.
> trod ort. tron ort. troi ort. troy ort.
> eye grail.("18")
> n. e.
Toll Lot
> x arc.(Might be hiding something.)
> x orc. talk.
> crow orc. crop orc. crab arc. cram arc.
> crap arc. crass arc. cray arc.
> eye orc.("23")
> go sap.
Cold Loc
> use saw on sap.(+1)
> use cup on sap.(+1)
> go to grail.
Swept Pews
> i.(The past sap has become purist sirup.)
> use sirup on grail.(+1; drow and grail leave; south opens.)
> s.
Drawl Ward
> x Nob. talk. x crib.
> bone Nob. bony Nob. bonk Nob.
> eye Nob.("20")
> go to spa.
Apse Spa
> use cup on sod. go to Nob.
Drawl Ward
> use sod on Nob.(+1; cup and Nob gone; get Elan Ale)
> x ale. w.
Dopy Pod
> x sac.(dirty!)
> x med.(dispepsid or dyspepsyd)
> x lip.
> pile lip. case sac. cash sac. cast sac.
> eye sac.("28")
> take med.(The lip vanishes.)
> go to flu.
Flu Gulf
> muss sum. must sum. muse sum.
> use med on lug.(+1; he leaves; gain cash sac)
> x cash.
> go to orc.
Toll Lot
> use cash sac on orc.(+1; orc leaves; north and south open)
> n.
Gross Org / Den, Evened
> x gate.(roses or...?)
> x Ned. talk.(He wants a fight/argument.)
> x knits. smell knits.
> dent Ned.
> deny Ned.(+1; he leaves)
> take knits.
> s. s.
Deft Fed
> x decal. x grog. x tan.
> stand nats.(+1; you take it)
> x Sniffins. talk.
> go row.
Word Row
> take YA. go Sniffins.
Deft Fed
> use YA on Sniffins.(+1; get Dirt Rid; he pushes you back to Toll Lot)
Toll Lot
> x rid. s.
Bon Snob
> x toons. take grog.(Sniffins wants a trade.)
> talk.
> use ale on Sniffins.(+1; Elan Ale ⇒ Gorge Grog)
> go hay.
Moo Room
> use demos on hay.(+1; lose demos; gain straw arts)
> go lover.
Traded Art
> use arts on lover.(+1; get soot tattoos)
> x tattoos.
> go ward. e.
Scrap Arcs
> x rig. x metals.
> girl rig. gird rig.
> eye metals.("21")
> use mats on metals.(+1; gain YE KEY; lose mats)
> x key.(roses or)
> go to gate.
Den, Evened
> use key on gate.(+1; key gone; get gate tag)
> x tag.(roses or)
> use tag on tattoos.(+1; State Tats)
The tats are mentioned at the very end of your inventory.
> i. x tats.
> n.
Pro Corp
A Psi Wisp is about to attack you! Head to Worn Row! You'll drop all but the map and cap in the chase! If the Wisp stings you, you'll wake in Den, Evened and pick up your stuff.
> go row. worn row.
Worn Row
The redness ender and Psi Wisp destroy each other. The bad dab is gone. Your stuff is returned; you take them.
> work row. go pro.
Pro Corp / Bald Lab
> x log. take it.(Light, hollow, and rattles?)
> x band. take it.(Needs weird science.)
> x tub. x pics.
> butt tub.
> use grog on tub.(+1; Gorge Grog ⇒ resale laser)
> look.(You feel itchy.)
> balm lab.(+1 LLP)
> x laser.
> go work.
Work Row
> use rid on reviver.(+1; Dirt Rid ⇒ Cave Vac)
> x vac.(powerful)
> use log on rotator.(+1; gold log ⇒ dork rod)
> x rod.(gives you inner peace)
> use band on reifier.(+1; DNA band ⇒ DNA hand)
> x hand.(motionless)
> go pod.
Dopy Pod / Dope Pod
> use vac on sac.(+1; Cave Vac ⇒ radar)
> x radar.(Can RAD things with it.)
> go toll.
Toll Lot
> rad crag.(+1; get UFO tofu; radar damaged a bit)
> x tofu.
> go to swamp.
Swamp Maws
> rad dam.(+1; get eroded ore; radar ⇒ roto motor)
> x ore. x motor.
> use motor on hand.(+1; DNA hand ⇒ Mr. Arm)
> x arm.
> go to tnt.
Yell Alley
> use arm on tnt.(+1; gain TNT; arm and mob leave)
> go flu.
Flu Gulf
> use tan on rocs.(+1; west open)
> w.
Sneer Greens
> x rims. x totem. x Guy. talk.
> go lac.
Lac Oft Focal / Lac Old Local
> use rod on boat.(+1; dork rod ⇒ enact-cane)
> x cane. read cane. go to popper.
Yell Alley
You must have created the enact-cane earlier for this to work:
> take popper. go hay.
Moo Room
> use cane on hay.(+1; enact cane ⇒ moor broom)
> x broom. go yurt.
Roomy Moor
> use broom on yurt.(+1; moor broom ⇒ exam axe)
> x axe. go veil.
Dumb Mud
> use axe on veil.(+1; veil and axe gone; north opens)
> n.
Le Babel
> x v. x opossum.
> muss opossum.(+1 LLP; it leaves)
> x orb. take orb.(not yet: You need more balanced thinking.)
> listen. g. g. g.
> brow orb.
> go work
Work Row
> use buoy on rotator.(+1; ME gem)
> x gem.
> use ore on reviver.(+1; eroded ore => Ore Zero; reviver dies)
> x ore.
> use knits on rotator.(+1; stinky knits ⇒ brag garb; rotator dies)
> x garb. smell garb.
> use ort on garb.(+1; garb now smells different.)
> smell garb.(mad and happy simultaneously)
> go to yak.
Frush Surf
The yak comes after you! First give yourself a speed boost, then run to the ogre!
> pace cap.(+1; have speed)
> n. n. w. w. s. s.
Liar Trail / Stride Dirts
> yak okay.(+1; ogre, yak, garb gone; east opens)
> e.
Motto Bottom
> x web. x mat. take mat.(denied: It needs augmentation.)
> ta mat. tamp mat.
> use gas on mat.(+1; tame mat ⇒ guru rug)
> x rug.
> use rahs on rug.(+1; guru rug ⇒ stir-writs)
> x writs.
> w. n.
Uneven U / Unitin' U
I'm not sure when the porch crop shows up; it's not in this location when you're first here.
> x crop.
> use saw on crop.(+1; wash saw ⇒ balsa slab)
> x slab. x crop.
> n. e. n.
Le Babel
> take orb.(lose writs)
> s. s.
Mont Nom
> x ark. listen.("Nom on!")
> x Ian. talk to Ian.(He thinks you're not classy enough.)
> nail Ian.(+1; he leaves.)
> use yam on fig.(+1; ark shakes. You need another food combo!)
> use tofu on cans.(+1; You take the martini tram to Fun Enuf!)
Fun Enuf
> x tram. x recipe.
> use laser on tram.(+1; oak, recipe, tram, laser, ore, TNT gone)
> n.(not yet: You need a weapon.)
> go to Yuge Guy.
Sneer Greens / Et Tu Butte
> use popper on totem.(+1; gain murdered rum)
> x rum.(powerful)
> listen.
> go to dome.
Emo Dome
You must have both the tats and orb to go north from here.
> use tats on id.(No need to do that.)
> n.
Red Roses Order
> x rim. x Ms. x flag. talk to Ms.
> use orb on rim.(+1; Orb, Ms Ism, tats gone; get Yard Ray)
> look. x e-divide.
> x sword. use slab on rows.(+1; balsa slab ⇒ not-a-baton)
> x baton.(Lifeless)
> x ray.(Out of fuel; "EMIT ????????")
> s.
The Droll Lord and Madam change the place to Teem-Civic Meet.
Emo Dome
> go to work.
Work Row
> use baton on reifier.(+1; not-a-baton ⇒ taboo bat)
The reifier dies and a test set is now revealed.
> x bat. x test set.
> use rum on ray.(+1; the ray is now charged)
> emit noontime.(+1; lots of light!)
> use ray on test set.(+1; set destroyed)
You're ready for the final battle.
> go to fun.
Fun Enuf
> n.
Dirge Grid / Top Spot
> use ray on redivider.(Fink and Rev are in the way.)
> x Fink. x steel. use gem on Fink.(+1. Fink leaves.)
> x Rev. x strap. use bat on Rev.(+1. Rev leaves.)
> x Kid. x hurt. x redivider.
> use ray on redivider.(+1. Kid gone. Get X-ITE TIX.)
> x arenas. x helix. x tix.
> s.
NU FUN (formerly Fun Enuf)
> x tile. x exit.
> s.(+1)
*** Roxor! Roxor! Roxor! ***
And your X/O box contains an antimetabole as a gift.
> amusing
Extras
Amusing
This is the response to AMUSING after you win the game:
Funny (I hope) things to try:
A general sweeping note: the mistakes file (Ailihphilia mistakes.i7x) should have all the possible palindrome tries you can make and the text they give. It should be included in the release or at https://bitbucket.org/andrewschultz/ailihphilia.
Another sweeping note: the tables file (Ailihphilia tables.i7x) in the same location(s) should have all the random texts.
Attacking yourself, the ergot ogre, the pact cap, the made dam, or the eels.
Asking for PCP in Evaded Ave or Yell Alley.
Trying to BUNT NUB three times.
RM GNU around the gnu, or RM MR around Mr. Arm.
SMELL the gnu dung, butene tub or Yuge Guy.
XYZZY.
Some USE X ON Y: you can look in the table of specific use rejects (xxrej in the story.ni file) for them all.
Characters
Flee Elf is in Fun Enuf. He'll give you a Set O Notes and explain a few things when you PACK CAP. Then he flees, of course.
Some stark rats block you in Seer Trees. USE PARTY TRAP ON RATS to get rid of them.
Dave is a guh-thug in My Gym. EVADE DAVE to defeat him.
Rob is a guh-thug in Worn Row. BORE ROB to defeat him.
King Nik, in Cold Loc, wants some socio-advice. To help him, USE EPOCH COPE ON KING. He gifts you with Spur Ups.
Gulf Lug, in Flu Gulf, has tummy pains. To help him, USE DEMO MED ON LUG. He pays you with a cash sac.
Some scorn rocs block you in Flu Gulf. USE NAT'S TAN ON ROCS to make them fly away in shame.
Some sleep eels block you in Ooze Zoo. USE STOCK COTS ON EELS to make them more comfortable.
The Door Frood blocks you in Evaded Ave; he wants a clever gift. USE TO IDIOT ON FROOD to make him happy (and go away).
A bomb mob is guarding some TNT in Yell Alley. But after you USE MR ARM ON TNT to take it away, they'll leave.
A kayo yak is in Frush Surf. It will chase you if you have the brag garb altered by the troll ort, because of the garb's unusual smell. With the aid of PACE CAP to make you faster, run to the ergot ogre in Lair Trail. The yak defeats the ogre if you YAK OKAY.
Some cats are in Moo Room. You can... STACK CATS?
Some bees are heard buzzing in Moo Room, but can you SEE BEES?
The Known Wonk, in Yack Cay, needs practical help. USE NULL ILLUN ON WONK and the mist sim will stop blocking your way north.
Code Doc, also called Dr. D, is in Uneven U. USE TENT NET ON DOC to give him some cover. Then USE SPA MAPS ON DOC so you can understand the maps.
An ergot ogre blocks you in Lair Trail. Defeat him by bringing the kayo yak there.
A wordy drow blocks you in Swept Pews. USE PURIST SIRUP ON LIAR GRAIL to satisfy the drow (and make him leave).
A cross orc blocks you in Toll Lot. To pay his toll, USE CASH SAC ON ORC.
Bond Nob blocks you in Drawl Ward; he needs your help. To help him, USE DOSE SOD ON NOB. He'll thank you with Elan Ale.
Ned is a guh-thug in Gross Org. DENY NED to defeat him.
Sniffins needs your help with his restaurant, Deft Fed. USE YOB ATTABOY ON SNIFFINS to help him and get a Dirt Rid. Later, in his new restaurant, Bon Snob, USE ELAN ALE ON SNIFFINS to trade the ale for his Gorge Grog.
A Psi Wisp lurks in Pro Corp; it will chase you and try to sting you! Lead it to the redness ender in Worn Row; they'll destroy each other.
Yuge Guy is an oppo in Sneer Greens. USE REP POPPER ON ME TOTEM to defeat him and gain some murdered rum.
An opossum is scared in Le Babel. MUSS OPOSSUM.
Ian is a guh-thug in Mont Nom. NAIL IAN to defeat him.
Ms. Ism is an oppo in Red Roses Order. USE BROS ORB ON MIRROR RIM to defeat her and get a Yard Ray.
Knife Fink is an oppo in Dirge Grid. USE ME GEM ON FINK to defeat him.
Verses Rev is an oppo in Dirge Grid. USE TABOO BAT ON REV to defeat him.
Diktat Kid is your main oppo in Dirge Grid. After Fink and Rev are gone, USE YARD RAY ON REDIVIDER to defeat the Kid and turn the Dirge Grid into a Top Spot. You'll also get some x-ite tix!
Mentioned:
The Droll Lord and Madam change the Red Roses Order into the Team-Civic Meet.
Several random names are listed in both phone books.
The books in Word Row name their (randomized) authors.
You meet people when using the boat and kayak.
Code Doc namedrops many associates.
Random animals are heard in the Moo Room.
And there's many more casual references I'm overlooking or glossing over. For example, Star Trek: The Next Generation has at least two, via WORF ROW and TROI ORT.
Credits and Dev Ed
The response to CREDITS is:
I'd like to thank my testers for finding so much that left me free to think up more weirdness. They are, in alphabetical order: Marnix Van Den Bos, Mike Carletta, Wade Clarke, Arthur DiBianca, Viv Dunstan, Anssi Raissanen, Brian Rushton, Mike Spivey, Brian Stovall, and Jack Welch. While I made an effort to run tests to minimize silly errors, they found a lot and still gave positive suggestions about cluing and so forth. If you want to join this elite club, and you find a bug, write me at email redacted.
IFComp organizers past and present. Without them, I wouldn't have started and kept going. Whether that's good for gaming is up for debate, but it's been good for me.
Various Python communities, especially StackOverflow, helped me to organize source control and write utilities that helped not only to extract palindromes but also to tune up Inform code (obligatory thanks to all past and current Inform developers, from whom I've stolen game code and/or used extensions) and run simple tests.
I also found some websites useful. DEV ED or DEVED will show which helped me and how.
if you persist in going south from Fun Enuf at the beginning of the game, declining to adventure at all, and never even obtaining the pact cap.
Roxor! Roxor! Roxor!
if you go south through the tix exit with the x-ite tix, after a full adventure where you solved all the puzzles and defeated the Diktat Kid.
Eyed
When the pip of the pact cap is lit, you may EYE something and get a number that roughly tells you how far into the game it's needed. Frankly, I didn't find this feature to be useful, but it is interesting. If two items have the same number, try to USE one of them on the other.
Use THINK to see a list of things you've eyed, but be careful. If your pip has two or more charges, THINK will trigger a fatal stack overflow error.
Here's a list of things that I eyed. (Of course, this is an incomplete list of the things that could be eyed.)
TO IDIOT (TI): 5
bad dab: 8
trap art: 9
party trap: 11
King Nik: 12
EPOCH: COPE (EC): 12
sleep eels: 13
Spur Ups: 14
past sap: 16
wash saw: 16
Puce Cup: 17
wordy drow, Liar Grail (Swept Pews): 18
dose sod: 19
stamp mats: 21
slate metals: 21
Gulf Lug (Flu Gulf): 22
cash sac: 23
cross orc (Toll Lot): 23
YOB ATTABOY (YA): 24
Elan Ale: 25
cassettes sac: 28
crag arc (Toll Lot): 29
Ye Key: 31
stinky knits: 33
gold log: 35
yahoo hay (Moo Room): 36
SOME DEMOS: 36
Revolt Lover: 37
gate tag: 38
NULL ILLUN (NI): 42
Known Wonk: 42
dork rod: 45
Pact Cap: 50
brag garb: 51
Kayo Yak (Frush Surf): 51
ergot ogre (Lair Trial): 51
troll ort: 51
sage gas: 53
sharp rahs: 54
snack cans: 57
moor broom: 58
Tru Yurt: 58
lie veil (Dumb Mud): 60
Bros' Orb (Le Babel): 61
DNA band: 62
DNA hand: 63
you buoy: 65
bomb mob, TNT (Yell Alley): 66
scorn rocs (Flu Gulf): 67.
rep popper (Yell Alley): 68
Balsa Slab: 70
murdered rum: 72
ME gem: 76
x-ite tix: 79
tix exit: 79
Inventory
This game gives a rather eccentric response to INVENTORY. I'm grouping items that have their own statements as "top level". The list of items that can go into the sto-lots is very large, but since item forms and functions are nearly meaningless in this game, I opted to simply split the sto-ables in two, based on which half of the map the item was acquired. (The roto motor, Mr. Arm, and x-ite tix are listed with Grebeberg arbitrarily.) Otherwise, I'll keep the item groupings as presented by the game.
Top level items
your sto-lots. It's a player's carry-all in My Gym, guarded by Dave.
To get rid of Dave, evade Dave. You acquire the sto-lots.
Stuff you acquire go into your sto-lots automatically; you don't need to worry about the sto-lots once you have it.
an X/Y Pyx. It's a map in Yawn Way.
X X, XX, M, or MAP will examine the pyx.
When you examine the pyx, an ASCII art map of the locations you've visited so far is displayed, showing your current location in red text.
state tats. Acquire them by using the gate tag on the soot tattoos. You'll automatically wear the tats.
The tats are listed at the very end of the response to INVENTORY.
In Emo Dome, the tats are your automatic passkey for getting past the diff id, but you still won't enter the Red Roses Order to the north unless you also have the Bros Orb with you.
When you're done with Red Roses Order, you'll erase the tats.
Sto'd from Grebeberg
some Spur Ups. Acquire them by using EC (the "Epoch: Cope" book about civics) on the king in Cold Loc.
In Yawn Way, PUFF UP (using a spur) to reach Emo Dome.
In Emo Dome, PULL UP (using the other spur) to stablize yourself so you can stay up there without falling to the other side.
a stamp mats. They're in Frush Surf.
In Scrap Arcs, use the mats on the slate metals to acquire Ye Key.
a poo coop. It's in the Moo Room.
In Dumb Mud, use the coop on the gnu dung to pick it up, then use the dung on the turf rut to fill it up. Now you can go south to Mont Nom and west to Swamp Maws.
gnu dung. It's in Dumb Mud.
Use the poo coop on the dung to pick it up, then use the dung on the turf rut (also in Dumb Mud) to fill it up. Now you can go south to Mont Nom and west to Swamp Maws.
some Spa Maps. In Yack Cay, create the Spa Maps by using the edit tide on El Doodle.
In Uneven U, first use the tent net on Code Doc, then use the spa maps on Code Doc, so you learn how to read them.
In Apse Spa, read the maps. You'll acquire some sage gas.
some sharp rahs. In Yack Cay, create the sharp rahs by using the edit tide on El Doodle.
In Motto Bottom, use the rahs on the guru rug (see sage gas) to create stir writs.
some past sap or purist sirup. It's attached to the fir in Cold Loc.
First, use the wash saw on the sap to free it. Use the puce cup on the sap to carry it.
In Swept Pews, the sap becomes purist sirup. Use the sirup on the grail. Both the drow and the grail will leave and you can now go south to Drawl Ward.
some sage gas. In Apse Spa, acquire the gas by successfully reading the Spa Maps there.
In Motto Bottom, use the sage gas on the tame mat to create a guru rug; see sharp rahs for the next step.
In Drawl Ward, use the sod on Bond Nob. He'll gift you with Elan Ale and you can now go west to Dopy Pod and east to Scrap Arcs.
a you buoy. In Lac Oft Focal, you acquire the buoy when you use the elope pole on the kayak.
In Work Row, use the buoy on the rotator to shatter the buoy and obtain the ME gem that was inside it.
a cash sac. In Flu Gulf, you get the cash sac when you give the Demo Med to the Gulf Lug.
In Toll Lot, use the cash sac on the cross orc. He'll leave, and you may now go north to Gross Org and south to Deft Fed.
straw arts. In Moo Room, acquire the arts by using SD (the "Some Demos" book about making weird art) on the yahoo hay.
In Art Xtra, use the straw arts on Revolt Lover to obtain soot tattoos.
an Enact Cane. In Lac Oft Focal, create the cane by using the dork rod on the Tao Boat.
After you've made the cane, you can take the rep popper in Yell Alley.
In Moo Room, use the cane on the hay to create a moor broom.
a moor broom. In Moo Room, create the broom by using the enact cane on the yahoo hay.
In Roomy Moor, use the broom on the Tru Yurt to create an exam axe.
an Exam Axe. In Room Moor, create the axe by using the moor broom on the Tru Yurt.
In Dumb Mud, use the axe on the lie veil. You can now go north to Le Babel.
a Balsa Slab. In Uneven U, create the slab by using the wash saw on the porch crop. (Note: The crop won't be there until some other puzzle is solved, but it's not obvious what.)
In Red Roses Order, use the slab on the sword rows to create a not-a-baton.
some Eroded Ore. In Swamp Maws, acquire the ore by using the radar on the made dam (via rad dam).
In Work Row, use the eroded ore on the reviver to create Ore Zero.
a roto motor. It's what's left of the radar after using the radar to acquire both the UFO tofu and the eroded ore.
At Cold Loc, use the saw on the past sap. Now you can take the sap with the puce cup.
a trap art. It's in Art Xtra.
In Work Row, use the art on thr reifier to create a party trap.
a pity tip. You acquire it when you first arrive in Word Row.
Examine the tip to learn you can do something extra with the cart of books. (The tip changes after you trace cart.)
At Yell Alley, use the van's eye on the tip to get some snack cans from Seedy Dee's navy van. A bomb mob with TNT is also revealed.
a party trap. Create it by using the trap art on the reifier in Work Row.
In Seer Trees, use the trap on the stark rats. You can now go north, west, and south from there to Cold Loc, Dumb Mud, and Ooze Zoo respectively. Also, El Doodle is now available in Art Xtra.
El Doodle. You acquire it in Art Xtra, but only after using the party trap on the stark rats in Seer Trees.
In Yack Cay, use the edit tide on the doodle to create spa maps.
a bunk nub. It's in Evaded Ave.
You'll automatically take the bunk nub when you give TI to the Door Frood and he leaves.
In Work Row, use the bunk nub on the reviver to create some stock cots.
a tent net. Acquire it in Trapeze Part when you tend net there.
In Uneven U, use the net on Code Doc to give him some cover; the net is like an instant roof.
an elope pole. Acquire it in Trapeze Part when you tend net there.
In Lac Oft Local, use the pole on the kayak to obtain the you buoy.
some stock cots. In Work Row, create them by using the bunk nub on the reviver.
In Ooze Zoo, use the cots on the sleep eels. Now you can now go south to Frush Surf.
a Puce Cup. It's in Emo Dome.
You are unstable in Emo Dome until you PULL UP there with the Spur Ups. When you are stable, you can easily take the cup.
In Cold Loc, use the cup on the past sap to carry it. (If the cup already has sod in it, you'll be given the option to dump the sod out first; the sod will go back to Apse Spa.)
In Apse Spa, use the cup on the dose sod to carry it.
The cup is destroyed when you use the sod on Bond Nob in Drawl Ward.
a troll ort. It's in Swept Pews. (An ort is a scrap of food left over from a meal.)
Use the ort on the brag garb to give it an unusual smell that the kayo yak (in Frush Surf) will chase you for.
a ME gem. In Work Row, acquire the gem by using the you buoy on the rotator.
In Dirge Grid, use the gem on Knife Fink to defeat him, exploiting his greed.
an Elan Ale. In Drawl Ward, acquire the ale by using the dose sod on Bond Nob.
In Bon Snob, use the ale on Sniffins to trade the ale for the Gorge Grog.
Gorge Grog. Acquire it in Bon Snob by using the Elan Ale on Sniffins; you make a trade.
In Pro Corp, use the grog on the butene tub to obtain the resale laser. Also, the place is now a Bald Lab.
a Demo Med. It's in Dopy Pod.
In Flu Gulf, use the med on the Gulf Lug; you get a cash sac as payment.
Ye Key. In Scrap Arcs, acquire the key by using the stamp mats on the slate metals.
First, in Gross Org, you must DENY NED to get him away from the etage gate. Gross Org is now 'Den, Evened'. Use Ye Key on the gate to unlock it and get the Gate Tag.
some stinky knits. They're in Gross Org.
In Work Row, use the knits on the rotator to create brag garb.
a Gate Tag. In 'Den, Evened', use Ye Key on the etage gate to get the Gate Tag.
In Work Row, use the yard ray on the test set to test that the ray works.
In the Dirge Grid, after Fink and Rev are gone (see ME gem and taboo bat), use the ray on the redivider to defeat the Diktat Kid and obtain the x-ite tix.
a taboo bat. In Work Row, acquire the bat by using the not-a-baton on the reifier.
In Dirge Grid, use the bat on Verses Rev to defeat him, partly clearing your way to the redivider and Diktat Kid.
Books
Note that you may only carry one book at a time from the tract cart. You refuse to take DWELT LEWD.
NULL ILLUN (NI). In Word Row, this advice book is in the cart.
In Yack Cay, use NI on the Known Wonk. This disperses the mist blocking your way north to Lac Oft Focal. Wonk enters his yurt.
Yob Attaboy (YA). In Word Row, this self-help book is in the cart.
In Deft Fed, use YA on Sniffins. You'll get a Dirt Rid, and he'll remodel his restaurant into Bon Snob.
Epoch: Cope (EC). In Word Row, this civics text is in the cart.
In Cold Loc, use EC on King Nik. In exchange for your advice, the king gives you some Spur Ups, then leaves.
To Idiot (TI). In Word Row, this book of clever put-downs is in the cart.
In Evaded Ave, give TI to the Door Frood. He leaves, and you take the bunk nub automatically. You can also now go west to Trapeze Part and east to Yell Alley.
SOME DEMOS (SD). In Word Row, this pamphlet about making weird art falls out of NULL ILLUN when you take it; you take SOME DEMOS as well.
In Traded Art, you may optionally use SD on the Revolt Lover to learn what he thinks of the book.
In Moo Room, use SD on the hay to craft some straw arts.
some snack cans. Acquire them in Yell Alley by using the eye (of the navy van there) on the pity tip (after you trace cart in Word Row).
a gift fig. Acquire it in Seer Trees when you use the party trap on the stark rats.
some UFO tofu. Acquire it in Toll Lot when you rad the crag arc (using the radar.
Wearing
a Pact Cap, set to LOVE VOL. It's in Fun Enuf.
To pick it up: pack cap. You'll automatically wear it.
It has a volume control with two settings: LO VOL and LOVE VOL. When at LOVE VOL, the initial setting, the cap will be noisy; a weird noise means a weird action is required. This is meant to be a hint. At LO VOL, it does not make noises.
There is a pip on the cap that, if lit, means you can EYE something. For most items, you'll get a number between 1 and 79 that roughly shows how far along in the game when you'll likely use that item. See Eyed for an incomplete summary of these numbers.
When you EYE something, you use up one of the pip's charges. The pip goes dark when you use up its charges.
CAUTION: While the pip is has multiple charges, the think and inventory commands aren't usable! Fatal stack overflow can happen! EYE things until the pip winks out.
You can PACE CAP to make you speedy! Use this in Frush Surf when the kayo yak is chasing you; see brag garb.
a brag garb. In Work Room, use the stinky knits on the rotator to obtain the brag garb.
Use the troll ort on the brag garb to improve the garb's smell. You'll automatically wear the garb.
In Frush Surf, the kayo yak chases you because of the garb's new smell. PACE CAP to make yourself run faster, then run directly to the ergot ogre in Lair Trail. If you agree (YAK OKAY), the yak gets rid of the ogre and you can now go east to Motto Bottom.
AIDE MEDIA
the Darer Ad. You're carrying it when the game begins.
It's useless. Totally useless. It only exists to help explain (in the prologue) how you got to this land of palindromes, and even that's really vague.
the Set O Notes. In Fun Enuf, the Flee Elf gives these notes to you when you pack cap.
Examine it, then read it. It names your main opponents in the game and also says that you'll need to build a North-Tron, whatever that is.
Every so often, the game will tell you non-obvious details about your current location, citing the Set O Notes as the info source. This is a good and useful technique for authors, but it doesn't really help the player that much.
the epicer recipe. Acquire it in Trapeze Part when you tend net there.
It explicitly names the four things you'll need to make a North-Tron: a martini tram, Ore Zero, TNT, and a resale laser. When all four are at Fun Enuf, use one of them on another one to build a North-Tron, which immediately goes through the Kaos oaK, opening the way north to Dirge Grid.
North-Tron parts
These four parts are listed in the epicer recipe. Bring all four to Fun Enuf, then use any part on any other part to build the North-Tron, destroy the kAos oAk, and clear the way north to Dirge Grid.
Oh, what's a North-Tron? Um, it's a thing that goes north. Very powerful. Go ask your father.
the TNT. In Yell Alley, acquire it by using Mr. Arm on it.
a resale laser. Acquire it in Pro Corp by using the Gorge Grog on the butene tub.
the Ore Zero. In Work Row, acquire Ore Zero by using the reviver on the eroded ore.
the martini tram. In Mont Nom, use the mayo yam on the gift fig, then use the UFO tofu on the snack cans. After both food combos, you'll take the martini tram to Fun Enuf!
Technically, you never carry the tram, but it is listed as a found North-Tron part in your inventory.
Stats
The response to STATS or SCORE is:
Your overall score so far is S of 88 in several turns. [if low score] But don't worry, points pile up pretty quickly once you get going. [end if] [if have all LLPs] You got all LLPs. [else] You need at least [either] 77 to win [or] 77+X to win, since you got X bonus points.
Broken down by regions, you have D of 10 for Dim Mid (current region*), G of 30 for Grebeberg (current region*), Y of 37 for Yelpley (current region*) and X of 11 extra points. Note some acts you can perform in one region may be scored for another.
[if vanquished any thugs*:] You currently disposed of GT guh-thugs blocking your way: thug-names [e.g.: Ian, Ned, Rob and Dave].
[if Yuge Guy gone:] You've gotten rid of the Yuge Guy.
[if Ms Ism gone:] You've gotten rid of La Gal/Ms. Ism.
[if Diktat Kid gone:] Now you're in NU FUN and have all the points, there's seemingly not much to do but go south through the Tix Exit.
[if found recipe, but no North-Tron pieces:] You don't have any of the four North-Tron pieces you need to destroy the kAOS oak, according to the epicer recipe.
[if found recipe and any North-Tron pieces:] You also have NT pieces of 4 North-Tron pieces you need to destroy the KaOs OaK, according to the epicer recipe. [if have all 4] You probably want to USE one North-Tron part on another.
[if used optional palindromes:] You've also found P of 385 palindromes that were there but not critical to the story. This won't affect the ending in any way, but the more you find, the more clues you can get, so hopefully it will be fun.
Notes:
The phrase "(current region)" is added after a region's name if you are currently in that region.
The statement about guh-thugs isn't reported late in the game, but I couldn't tell which condition turns it off.
Although I earned a full score, I'm still unsure where one of the points came from. There shouldn't be any confusion about this, but I did get confused, and I apologize.
Needless to say, I did not find all 385 optional palindromes, but I did find 219 of them (plus "senile felines" which the author didn't), so I'm content with my performance.
10 points are awarded in the Dim Mid region (Fun Enuf and Dirge Grid) as follows:
1 point for PACK CAP in Fun Enuf.
1 point for PACE CAP.
1 point for USE LASER ON TRAM in Fun Enuf. (Or use any other two North-Tron parts on each other.)
1 point for USE RUM ON RAY.
1 point for EMIT NOONTIME.
1 point for USE RAY ON SET in Work Row.
1 point for USE GEM ON FINK in Dirge Grid.
1 point for USE BAT ON REV in Dirge Grid.
1 point for USE RAY ON REDIVIDER in Dirge Grid.
1 point for SOUTH in Nu Fun.
30 points are awarded in Grebeberg (everywhere west from Fun Enuf) as follows:
1 point for USE TRAP ON RATS in Seer Trees.
1 point for USE EC ON KING in Cold Loc.
1 point for USE COTS ON EELS in Ooze Zoo.
1 point for USE COOP ON DUNG in Dumb Mud.
1 point for USE DUNG ON RUT in Dumb Mud.
1 point for USE TIDE ON DOODLE in Yack Cay.
1 point for USE NET ON DOC in Uneven U.
1 point for USE MAPS ON DOC in Uneven U.
1 point for READ MAPS in Apse Spa.
1 point for USE NI ON WONK in Yack Cay.
1 point for NAIL IAN in Mont Nom.
1 point for USE SAW ON SAP in Cold Loc.
1 point for USE CUP ON SAP in Cold Loc.
1 point for USE POLE ON KAYAK in Lac Oft Focal.
1 point for USE MED ON LUG in Flu Gulf.
1 point for USE DEMOS ON HAY in Moo Room.
1 point for USE ROD ON BOAT in Lac Oft Focal.
1 point for USE CANE ON HAY in Moo Room.
1 point for USE BROOM ON YURT in Roomy Moor.
1 point for USE SAW ON CROP in Uneven U.
1 point for USE AXE ON VEIL in Dumb Mud.
1 point for USE TAN ON ROCS in Flu Gulf.
1 point for RAD DAM in Swamp Maws.
1 point for USE ORT ON GARB.
1 point for USE POPPER ON TOTEM in Sneer Greens.
1 point for USE YAM ON FIG in Mont Nom.
1 point for USE TOFU ON CANS in Mont Nom.
1 point for YAK OKAY in Liar Trail.
1 point for USE GAS ON MAT in Motto Bottom.
1 point for USE RAHS ON RUG in Motto Bottom.
37 points are awarded in Yelpley (everywhere east from Fun Enuf) as follows:
1 point for EVADE DAVE in My Gym.
1 point for BORE ROB in Worn Row.
1 point for WORD ROW for the first time in Wor- Row.
1 point for WORK ROW for the first time in Wor+ Row.
1 point for PUT ART IN REIFIER in Work Row.
1 point for GIVE TI TO FROOD in Evaded Ave.
1 point for TEND NET in Trapeze Part.
1 point for USE EYE ON TIP in Yell Alley.
1 point for PUT NUB IN REVIVER in Work Row.
1 point for PUFF UP in Yawn Way.
1 point for PULL UP in Emo Dome.
1 point for PUT BUOY IN ROTATOR in Work Row.
1 point for USE SIRUP ON GRAIL in Swept Pews.
1 point for USE SOD ON NOB in Drawl Ward.
1 point for USE MATS ON METALS in Scrap Arcs.
1 point for USE CASH SAC ON ORC in Toll Lot.
1 point for DENY NED in Gross Org.
1 point for USE KEY ON GATE in Gross Org.
1 point for PUT BAND IN REIFIER in Work Row.
1 point for USE ARTS ON LOVER in Traded Art.
1 point for USE TAG ON TATTOOS in Traded Art.
1 point for USE LOG ON ROTATOR in Work Row.
1 point for USE KNITS ON ROTATOR in Work Row.
1 point for STAND NATS in Deft Fed.
1 point for USE YA ON SNIFFINS in Deft Fed.
1 point for USE ALE ON SNIFFINS in Bon Snob.
1 point for USE GROG ON TUB in Pro Corp.
1 point for USE RID ON REVIVER in Work Row.
1 point for USE VAC ON SAC in Dopy Pod.
1 point for RAD CRAG in Toll Lot.
1 point for USE MOTOR ON HAND in Swamp Maws.
1 point for USE ARM ON TNT in Yell Alley.
1 point for USE REVIVER ON ORE in Work Row.
1 point for USE ORB ON RIM in Red Roses Order.
1 point for PUT SLAB IN ROWS in Red Roses Order.
1 point for USE BATON ON REIFIER in Work Row.
1 point for to be determined
11 extra points (also called Last Lousy points, LLPs, or bonus points) are awarded as follows:
1 point for STATS (instead of SCORE).
1 point for REFER (instead of VERBS or HELP).
1 point for PEEP (instead of LOOK). SEES is a good try.
1 point for POOP or TIT or BOOB or PAP (instead of CURSE). DOOD is a good try.
1 point for DIAL AID (instead of HINT).
1 point for TRACE CART in Word Row.
1 point for STACK CATS in Moo Room.
1 point for SEE BEES in Moo Room.
1 point for MUSS OPOSSUM in Le Babel.
1 point for BALM LAB in Bald Lab.
1 point for SLAM MAMMALS in Ooze Zoo.
Note:
0 points for USE CUP ON SOD in Apse Spa.
0 points for leading Psi Wisp to redness ender in Wore Row.
