In this wordplay game about rhyming an alliterative phrase with another alliterative phrase, you play as either Yves O or Eve O, the gnome put in charge of gathering items for a feast of remembrance. You begin in your new home, Reeve Row, with a copy of the Last Least Fast Feast checklist.
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.
The stars on the map represent when the protagonist leaves a location, but instead of arriving at "Wandering ... Where?", they arrive at one of four side-quest locations. For example, after successfully moving the rug, the next time the protagonist attempts to leave Reeve Row, they might find themselves in Stuck State, or Toy Toss if Stuck State has already been visited, and so on.
Walkthrough
Reeve Row
> x me. i. x feast. x learner. x rug.
Please ignore the rug for now. I think there's a bug that can happen if the rug disappears too soon.
> sassed ceased.(+1 bonus via Fast Feast)
> leave low.(not quite)
> leave lo.(+1)
Wandering ... Where?
> pondering pair.(+1)
Ooh, Ooh...!
> x Zuzu. x Loulou.
> mumu.(+1)
> cuckoo.(+1)
> tutu.(+1)
> booboo.(+1; you get cocoa)
> x cocoa.
> doodoo.(+1 bonus)
> juju.(+1 bonus)
> poohpooh.(+1 bonus)
You acquired a lurking lump during this sequence.
> x lump.
> s.
Stuck State
When you leave "Ooh Ooh" for the first time after you acquire the cocoa, you are shunted to a side-quest location. The first side-quest location is always Stuck State. When you complete a side-quest, you automatically return to "Wandering ... Where?".
> duck date. fuck fate. uck ate.
> buck bait. huck hate. luck late.
> pluck plate.(+1)
Wandering ... Where?
> x plates.
> laundering lair.(+1)
Dove 'N Doubt
> x oven.
> lovin lout.(+1)x lout.
You need the lout first so he can help you with these next two actions:
> shovin shout.(+1)
> oven out.(+1)
Reeve Row
Both the oven and the lout are now here.
> grieve grow.(+1)
> heave ho.(+1; goon guide found; lout leaves)
> x guide.
> tune tide. rune ride. boon bide.
> dune died. loon lied.
> prune pride.(+1; you are now more observant)
> x guide.(new checklist)
> spoon spied.(+1)x spoons.
> believe below.(+1; trap door found)
> down.(no: locked)
Okay, now deal with the rug.
> slayed slug. bade bug.
> paid pug. aid ugh. fade fug.
> played plug.(+1)x plug.
> jade jug.(+1)x jug.
> made mug.(+1)x mug.
The rug is now gone.
> out.(Joy Jaws take you to...)
Toy Toss
This is another side-quest location.
> x Ross.
> soy sauce.(+1)
Wandering ... Where?
> x sauce. in.
Reeve Row
> sleeve slow. peeve poe. weave woe.
> out. n.
Ooh, Ooh...!
A passive pit is now here.
> massive mitt.(+1)x mitt.
> s. w.
Dove 'N Doubt
A shook shard is now here.
> x shard. hook hard.(+1. You're taken to...)
Took, Tarred
In this location, you auto-leave when you get all three items to get here.
> book bard.(+1)
> cook card.(+1)
> look lard.(+1)
Wandering ... Where?
> x card. x lard.
> squandering square.(+1)
Squalor Square
By the way, you only find the lyres here if you previously read the guide and became more observant.
> x lyres. x stare.
Deal with the light lyres:
> fight fires.(+1)
> white wires.(+1)x wires.
Deal with the staller stare:
> mauler mare.
> caller care.(+1; the stare is affected)
> baller bear.(+1. Staller stare replaced with bleat-bloat.)
> dollar dare.(+1 bonus)
> x bloat.
> fleet float. eat oat. deet dote.
> neat note.(+1; bloat gone and downed dork here)
Now that you have the neat note and the downed dork, you can find things here you couldn't before.
> beet boat.(+1)x boat.
> meat moat.(+1)x moat.
The dork helps with one more thing.
> pound pork. bound bork.
> found fork.(+1)x forks.
The note and the dork are gone.
> w.
"Hi-Ho, I Owe" Sty-Sto'
This is another side-quest location. Get some money, then buy something with it.
> x bro. x isles.
> penny piles.(+1; gained money, but lost the brochure)
> x piles.
> cry crow. fie foe. guy go. lie low.
> pie po.(+1)
Wandering ... Where?
> x pie.
> maundering mare.(+1)
Gap, Goo / (Zap!) Zoo
> x vials.
> dented dials.(+1)x dials.
> x guide.(You seem to have everything there.)
> sap sue. tap too. bap boo. cap coo.
> dap do. rap rue. trap true.
> slap slew. flap flew. clap clue.
> map moo. nap new. pap poo.
> zap zoo.(+1; the terrain changes)
New things: lotus life, tree troop, ferret (fake).
> x life. x troop. x ferret.
> notice knife.(+1)x knives.
> see soup.(+1)x soup.
> carrot cake.(+1)x cake.
> n.
Edgy Ill Hedge-y Hill
Another temporary location. Deal with the bee.
> x bee.
> hopper hee. popper pea.
> flopper flea.(+1. Leaves a copper key.)
> x key.
With the bee/flea gone, you can riff on the location.
> wedgie will.
> veggie ville.(+1)
Wandering ... Where?
> x veggies. in.
Reeve Row
You use the plug, wires, dials, and guide to fix the oven.
You also automatically use the key to unlock the trap door.
> x oven. x feast.
You have everything you need, but instead of going down right away, let's see some optional bonus content.
> out.
Wandering ... Where?
Did you notice the region names in the status line? You can riff on them this once:
> chrome craw.(+1 bonus)
> d.
Woe Worry Slow Slurry
> x fool. x maam. x fellow.
There's no jay jewel, Sunnied Sam, or bust bellow available; these dun doods only have fun foods:
> gray gruel.(+1 bonus)x gruel.
> honeyed ham.(+1 bonus)x ham.
> just jello.(+1 bonus)x jello.
Don't forget to riff on the location name!
> blow blurry. co curry.
> foe furry. ho hurry.
> potpourri.(+1 bonus)x potpourri.
> u. in.
Reeve Row
> d.(This is one-way.)
Trappy Trawl
> crappy crawl. mappy mall.
> scrappy scrawl.(+1)
> whappy wall.(+1)
Happy Hall
You and some servants prepare the banquet. Note the "own aura"; it's easy to miss.
> x aura.
> Pappy Paul.(+1)x Paul.
> Sappy Saul.(+1)x Saul.
> Lone Laura.(+1)x Laura.
> Known Nora.(+1)x Nora.
> cappy caul.(+1)
Your copy of the Feast is gone. Now get everyone to chat.
> yappy yall.(+1)
> bappy ball.(+1)
Compete! Compel!
Now find a way out and a place to go to.
> wheat well.(+1; that's your destination)
> seat sell. teet tell.
> feet fell.(+1)
Wheat Well
> neat nell.
> sheet shell.(+1. You need to get to your door!)
> beat bell.(+1)
> meet Mel.(+1. He gives you Leet Lel by Pete Pell.)
> x Lel.
Now judge Lel in one of three ways, your choice.
> sweet swell.(+1. You judge Lel favorably.)
> heat hell.(+1. You judge Lel unfavorably.)
> repeat repel.(+1. You don't judge Lel.)
*** Cease seeking: Peace? PEAKING! ***
> missed
Extras
Characters
A stun-steed zooms by and berates you when you first gain a bonus point.
Zuzu and Loulou are a mama and papa in "Ooh, Ooh". Their kid isn't with them.
A lovin' lout is hiding in the laundromat. You're not sure if he's a troll or an orc or a hybrid of the two. But you do know his muscles can help you move a couple things.
Some joy jaws take you to the Toy Toss for some mandatory fun. They have huge smiles.
Boy Boss Roy Ross is the host of the Toy Toss game.
A staller stare is a creature in Squalor Square who just stares at you, preventing you from doing very much.
A bleat-bloat replaces the staller stare, but it leaves when you acquire a neat note and you find it far more interesting than the bloat is.
A downed dork in Squalor Square has a talent for finding odd things.
Amped Ox is a burly workman from the Damped Docks near Squalor Square. He leads you to some food that he and the other workmen don't need.
Bri-Bro works at the deli. After you make a purchase, he helps you find your way back to your neighborhood.
A bopper bee aggressively forces you onto a hill near some stores, but it's really a harmless flopper flea in disguise.
A cray cruel fey fool, a Moneyed Ma'am, and a fussed fellow stand around in the Woe Worry Slow Slurry.
Some servants help you prepare the banquet.
Pappy Paul, Sappy Saul, Lone Laura, and Known Nora are your invited guests to the Happy Hall. (Other gnomes will witness the ritual via magical mirrors.)
Mel the Mail Maven delivers a biography to you in the wheat well, even though your home is in Reeve Row and the wheat well is completely new to you.
Mentioned:
The Loyal Leader consulted a large intelligent machine called the Royal Reader, which selected you from all the other gnomes to gather everything needed for the feast. Bowen B. and Joan G. were particularly unhappy about your selection.
Steve Stowe sold Reeve Row to you.
Jenny Giles, Kenny Kyles, Rennie Riles, Benny Biles, and Lenny Lyles are some of the authors of the Any Isles brochure.
Pete Pell wrote the Leet Lel biography.
Leet Lel is an associate you knew and who died this year. You have several feelings about Lel, both good and bad.
Credits
This is response to CREDITS:
Thanks to Adam Sommerfield for holding the first ParserComp and fos1 for keeping it going this year, and Christopher Merriner for helping previously.
Thanks to Onno Brouwer for testing.
Thanks to people who tested previous entries in the series. They helped iron out some core bugs that made code reusable. Often they alerted me to stuff that couldn't be wrong
Thanks to you for playing this.
Inventory
Banquet Bits
Just collect these. You automatically use all the banquet bits at once when you arrive at Happy Hall.
jade jug. In Reeve Row, say JADE JUG near rayed rug.
made mug. In Reeve Row, say MADE MUG (or MAID MUG near rayed rug.
spoons. Almost anywhere, after you successfully examine the goon guide and learn about finding cutlery, say SPOON SPIED.
cocoa. In Ooh Ooh, Zuzu and Loulou give this powdered drink mix to you after you say four of the six words they like.
plates. In Stuck State, say PLUCK PLATE.
soy sauce. In Toy Toss, say SOY SAUCE.
lard. In "Took, Tarred", say LOOK LARD.
forks. In Squalor Square, say FOUND FORK near the downed dork.
carrot cake. In the Zap Zoo, say CARROT CAKE near the ferret (fake).
soup. In the Zap Zoo, say SEE SOUP near the tree troop.
knives. In Zap Zoo, say NOTICE KNIFE near the lotus life.
pie (po'). In "Hi-Ho", using the penny piles, say PIE PO.
beet boat. In Squalor Square with the neat note, say BEET BOAT.
meat moat. In Squalor Square with the neat note, say MEAT MOAT.
veggies. In Edgy Ill Hedge-y Hill, after the bopper bee is gone, say VEGGIE VILLE.
gray gruel. In Woe Worry Slow Slurry, say GRAY GRUEL near the cray cruel fey fool. This is a bonus item you don't need.
honeyed ham. In Woe Worry Slow Slurry, say HONEYED HAM near the Moneyed Ma'am. This is a bonus item you don't need.
just jello. In Woe Worry Slow Slurry, say JUST JELLO near the fussed fellow. This is a bonus item you don't need.
potpourri. In Woe Woory Slow Slurry, say POTPOURRI. This is a bonus item you don't need.
Oven Bits
Just collect these. You automatically use all the oven bits at once to fix the oven when you return to Reeve Row with all of them and the goon guide.
played plug. In Reeve Row, say PLAYED PLUG near the rayed rug.
massive mitt. In Ooh Ooh, say MASSIVE MITT near the passive pit.
cook card. In "Took, Tarred", say COOK CARD.
white wires. In Squalor Square near the light lyres, say FIGHT FIRES then WHITE WIRES.
dented dials. In "Gap, Goo" (or Zap! Zoo), say DENTED DIALS near the vented vials.
Tools
Last Least Fast Feast. You're carrying it.
Examine it (or just X by itself) to view a checklist of items to find; see banquet bits. The checklist updates itself. It never lists the bonus items, though.
You automatically put the checklist somewhere safe for the next gnome when you wear the CAPPY CAUL in the Happy Hall.
a leet learner. You're carrying it.
This item is meant to give you gentle hints. Use LL by itself to scan the current location. You can also LL something to scan that thing.
The number of dots displayed tells you how many target phrases are associated with the location or item scanned. (Unless the learner is set to GO GUESS.)
If the reading is dim, this puzzle is optional.
When you're shown a pair of numbers, the first number is the average length of the first word(s) in the original phrase(s) minus the average length of the first word(s) in the target phrase(s). Likewise, the second number is the difference of the average lengths of the second words.
When you make a successful guess, a dot winks out and the numbers are recalculated without that target phrase.
Roughly, guess a longer word when the number is greater than zero, and a shorter word when the number is less than zero, but not always because of averages, so it's not much of a hint, is it?
Use HINT LL repeatedly to get the author's version of this explanation. Good luck!
a lurking lump. Acquire it by making five incorrect guesses that are understood.
The lump begins with one charge. The lump is energized further by making more incorrect guesses that are understood. After several such guesses, the lump gains a charge. Each new charge requires more guesses than the previous one.
To spend a charge, say JERKING JUMP or JJ. If there's anything critical that can be done in your current location, the lump solves the next step for you. You still get the point for solving that puzzle. If there's no critical puzzle in your current location, the charge isn't spent.
Note that the lump doesn't help you solve optional puzzles. It also won't waste charges in mundane travel
a goon guide. In Reeve Row, you find the guide inside the broken oven after you and the loving' lout HEAVE HO the rayed rug.
First, say PRUNE PRIDE to give you the ability to read the guide and be more observant.
Examine the guide to see its own checklist and learn its advice on cultery finding.
Almost anywhere, SPOON SPIED after seeing the guide's checklist to acquire spoons.
The guide is used with the oven bits to repair the oven.
some penny piles. In "Hi-Ho", say PENNY PILES near the Any Isles brochure.
Still in "Hi-Ho", say PIE PO (to the Bri-Bro) to buy a pie (po') with your penny piles.
a copper key. In Edgy Ill Hedge-y Hill, near the bopper bee, say FLOPPER FLEA. The flea replaces the bee and drops the key.
In Reeve Row, you automatically use the key to unlock the trap door, assuming you discovered the trap door earlier.
Leet Lel, by Pete Pell. In Wheat Well, Mel delivers this to you when you successfully MEET MEL there.
Examine Leet Lel (in your sheet shell), then choose how to judge Lel with one of three judgments: SWEET SWELL, HEAT HELL, or REPEAT REPEL. This ends the game.
Score
This is the response to SCORE:
You have scored a total of CURRENT-SCORE out of MAXIMUM-SCORE points and need NEEDED-SCORE to win. You have found BONUS-SCORE of 10 bonus points so far. [if some bonus points are no longer available] You are locked out of LOCKED-SCORE points. You can check for the maximum score dropping in the upper right, which usually happens when you take a one-way passage. [end if]
[if no recorded guesses] You haven't figured any ideas that might score a point later, but if you do, Beef, Beans, Grief, Greens will explicitly warn you. THINK would give more detailed information. [else if any recorded guesses] You also have number useful ideas you thought of before you weren't quite ready, and number can be done now, but number can't, yet. You can see more detailed information with THINK. [end if]
[if you have the lurking lump, add:] You have also used the lurking lump N times (X left) and are Y of Z good-guess rhymes away from it recharging. You have made a total of G good guesses, as well.
There are 59 standard points and 10 bonus points. Only the standard points count towards winning, and you need all of them.
Listing explicitly how to get all the standard points would be rather pedantic when you have the walkthrough, yes?
1 point @ "Ooh, Ooh!" for saying a fifth word that Zuzu and Loulou like.
1 point @ "Ooh, Ooh!" for saying a sixth word that Zuzu and Loulou like.
1 point @ "Ooh, Ooh!" for saying a seventh word that Zuzu and Loulou like.
1 point @ "Squalor Square" for DOLLAR DARE.
1 point @ "Wandering ... Where?" for successfully using CHROME CRAW to open a downward secret passage. (This is riffing on the "Roam, Raw" region name seen in the status line, and probably only works when you have everything on your Fast Feast checklist.)
1 point @ "Woe Worry Slow Slurry" for GRAY GRUEL near the cray cruel fey fool.
1 point @ "Woe Worry Slow Slurry" for HONEYED HAM near the Moneyed Ma'am.
1 point @ "Woe Worry Slow Slurry" for JUST JELLO near the fussed fellow.
