Counterfeit Monkey — 267 of 292

Section 2 - The Barman

[Parker the barman has two critical functions:

-- to guide us towards Lena as our next contact

-- to let us play the game that wins the origin paste.

Once these things have occurred, he fades into the background somewhat; after Slango appears at Counterfeit Monkey, Parker's description in the room is partially suppressed to reflect the fact that the protagonist's attention has moved elsewhere.

Conceptually, the game-playing trick sort of recapitulates the bit with the barker at the very beginning of the game, except that this time the challenge is considerably more difficult and at the same time Andra provides more coaching on it.

Another way to look at it is that tests and games are a narratively lazy excuse to introduce puzzles. This is a valid criticism. However, there are a couple of compensating advantages that made me think it was worth using them anyway. First, these games create a sense of playfulness in Atlantean culture about the effects of letter-removal; otherwise, we mostly see it being used either to exert authoritarian power (when used by the Bureau) or to conduct criminal activities (when used by the smugglers and others). Second, this particular game demonstrates the funny way that the Counterfeit Monkey skirts illegality using technically permissible activities.]

Understand "ask [barman] for [any barman-carried thing]" as requesting it from (with nouns reversed).

Definition: a thing is barman-carried if it is carried by the barman.

The barman is criminal and alert. Understand "man" or "bar man" as the barman.

The greeting of the barman is "[one of]'Help you?' asks Parker the barman unenthusiastically[or]Parker acknowledges our return with a nod[stopping]."

whether he hath seen slango is a questioning quip.

The printed name is "whether he has seen Slango". The true-name is "whether he hath seen slango".

Understand "has" or "if" or "parker" or "barman" or "bartender" as whether he hath seen slango. The comment is "'I wonder whether you've seen an associate of mine,' we say to Parker. 'Name of Slango.'".

It mentions Slango.

The response is "Parker looks over the bar at us. 'He comes in here from time to time,' he says. 'Very regular customer. Always has about three rum and cokes.' [paragraph break]This is a lie, and therefore a test. Slango doesn't drink alcohol himself and doesn't permit drunkenness in his crew.".

It quip-supplies the barman.

It is restrictive.

challenge Parker about the rum is a performative quip. The comment is "'Must be a different Slango,' we say. 'Mine is more of a root beer man. Thanks anyway though[slango-friendship].'".

It mentions Slango.

The response is "'Oh, [i]that[/i] Slango,' Parker says[if the origin paste is visible and the origin paste is not seen], thoughtfully moving [the origin paste] sitting on the bar[end if]. 'He's been around town the last couple of days, but not today. If you know his lady friend[lena-needed], you might try her.' [paragraph break]Lady friend? [if the Aquarium is visited]Lena, presumably, but you didn't real[ize] she and Slango had progressed to quite that status[otherwise]This can only mean Lena, she being the only female native with whom Slango spends much time socially. But you wouldn't have guessed that she'd advanced to the status of [i]lady friend[/i]. Either way, Lena is a rather odd woman who keeps a used bookstore off Deep Street[end if].".

It quip-supplies the barman.

It directly-follows whether he hath seen slango.

Understand "barman" or "him" or "bartender" as challenge Parker about the rum.

[check up on Lena is a performative quip. The comment is "'Lena at home, then?'".

It mentions Lena.

The response is "He shrugs. 'Lena's got a lot of different projects going on. I don't keep track.'".

It quip-supplies the barman.

It directly-follows challenge Parker about the rum. ]

Carry out barman discussing challenge Parker about the rum:

complete "Ask people around here if they've seen Slango";

assign "Talk to Lena at the Aquarium Bookstore" at Aquarium Bookstore.

Availability rule for whether we can hath origin paste:

if the origin paste is not seen or the origin paste is not on the bar-top or the origin paste is won:

it is off-limits.

Instead of asking the barman for the origin paste:

if the barman recollects whether we can hath the origin paste:

say "We've already established that the Origin Paste has to be won rather than bought or given away.";

otherwise:

try discussing whether we can hath the origin paste.

whether we can hath the origin paste is a questioning quip.

The printed name is "whether we can have the origin paste". The true-name is "whether we can hath origin paste".

Understand "have" or "if" as whether we can hath origin paste. The comment is "'That Origin Paste for sale?' ".

It mentions origin paste.

The response is "'Well now,' he says, grinning, 'that would surely be illegal, would it not? Origin Paste is after all a controlled substance in this country, due to its unhappy association with fraudulent activities. On the other hand there is no law against someone [i]winning[/i] the Origin Paste in a completely legitimate game of chance or skill.'".

It quip-supplies the barman.

Availability rule for how one might go about winning:

if the origin paste is not on the bar-top or the origin paste is won:

it is off-limits.

how one might go about winning is a questioning quip. Understand "prize" or "game" or "competition" as how one might go about winning. The comment is "'Explain this game as though I have no idea what you're talking about,' you say, leaning on the bar in an interested fashion. Are you flirting with Parker? No? Okay. Good to know.".

It mentions origin paste.

The response is "'It's a designated challenge game,' says Parker. You've seen this played before, but he explains the rules anyway. [paragraph break]'There are two contestants, one challenger and one defender.

'The challenger chooses any object he likes and shows it to the moderator ahead of time.

'The defender, without seeing the object, stipulates a general category. The challenger has five minutes to turn his designated object into an item that fits the defender's category, or he forfeits his ante.'".

It quip-supplies the barman.

It indirectly-follows whether we can hath the origin paste.

Every turn when play the game is available and barman does not recollect barman-nudge and barman does not recollect play the game:

casually queue barman-nudge.

barman-nudge is an NPC-directed quip.

The response is "'What do you think? You up for a try at the Origin Paste?'"

A plausibility rule for play the game:

it is plausible.

An availability rule for play the game:

if the origin paste is won:

it is off-limits;

if game is in progress:

it is off-limits.

After printing the name of play the game when play the game is recollected by the player:

say " again".

play the game is a performative quip. The comment is "'I'd like to play [if immediately]that[otherwise if the barman recollects play the game]again[otherwise]for the Origin Paste[end if],' we say.".

It mentions origin paste, entertainment.

Understand "again" as play the game.

The response is "'[one of]Excellent. Oh, I did mention the small matter of the entry fee?'[paragraph break]I get out the roll of bills and he peels off two twenties.[paragraph break]'Thank you. [or]Paying again, are you? Very good then. [or]You are a glutton for punishment, but I don't mind taking your money for nothing. [stopping]Now, you pick your entry article, and I'll ask one of these good gentlemen to suggest a def[ense] category.'".

The nag is "[game-coaching][line break]".

It quip-supplies the barman.

It indirectly-follows how one might go about winning.

It is repeatable.

Instead of going from the Counterfeit Monkey when the game is in progress:

say "We've got an ante down for this game and our time isn't up yet. Do we really want to leave? >>";

if the player consents:

continue the action;

otherwise:

say "That seems sensible to me too."

To decide whether game is in progress:

if origin paste is won:

no;

if the wager is not yourself:

yes;

if the current quip is play the game:

yes;

no.

[An availability rule for give up:

if game is in progress:

make no decision;

otherwise:

it is off-limits.

give up is a performative quip. The comment is "'Argh, mulligan,' you say. 'I don't think this wager is going to work out for me.'".

It mentions yourself, origin paste.

The response is "He grins and shrugs sympathetically. 'Bad luck.'".

It quip-supplies the barman ]

To say game-coaching:

if the wager is the player:

say "[one of]'Just pick something you've got on you and show it to me to establish your bet.'[no line break][or]'Have you picked a wager object yet?'[no line break][or]The barman waits for you to show him your wager object.[no line break][stopping][run paragraph on]";

otherwise:

say "The barman keeps an eye on our remaining time."

The wager is an object that varies. The wager is yourself.

The wager-name is some indexed text that varies.

The wager-judging rule is an object based rule that varies. The wager-judging rule is the liquid wager rule.

The wager-index is a number that varies.

Setting action variables for giving something to the barman when play the game is the current quip and the wager is yourself:

try showing the noun to the barman instead.

Understand "choose [something]" as showing it to when play the game is the current quip.

Rule for supplying a missing second noun while showing something to:

if the current interlocutor is a person:

change the second noun to the current interlocutor;

otherwise if the number of visible other people is 1:

implicitly greet a random visible person who is not the player;

change the second noun to the current interlocutor;

otherwise:

say "You must show [the noun] to someone specific."

Instead of showing something to the barman when play the game is the current quip and the wager is yourself:

if the noun is yourself:

say "'No no no,' he says. 'No suicides or self-inanimations in my bar today, thanks.'" instead;

now the wager-name is "[The noun]";

now the wager is the noun;

make wager-choice;

while something (called the wager-parent) which is not the wager proffers the wager:

change the wager to the wager-parent;

try the barman discussing wager-accepted;

game concludes in five turns from now.

Instead of showing something to the barman when the wager is not the player:

if the noun is not proffered by the wager:

say "'Sorry,' he says, 'but I know that didn't come from [the wager-name in lower case] you bet on.'" instead;

consider the wager-judging rule for the noun;

if the rule succeeded:

now the Origin Paste is won;

record "winning a barroom bet" as achieved;

try the barman discussing wager-won;

now the wager is the player;

otherwise:

choose a row with a selected rule of wager-judging rule in the Table of Wager Suggestions;

say "'[one of]That doesn't fit the category[or][personal no][or][awkward no][at random],' says [the barman]. [summary entry][paragraph break]".

Every turn when the location is Counterfeit Monkey and the wager is not the player:

repeat with item running through things which are proffered by the wager:

if the item is visible:

consider the wager-judging rule for the item;

if the rule succeeded:

now the Origin Paste is won;

record "winning a barroom bet" as achieved;

try the barman discussing wager-won;

now the wager is the player.

wager-accepted is an NPC-directed quip.

The response is "'Right,' says [the barman]. '[The wager-name] it is.' [paragraph break]He turns towards the group assembled around the dartboard. 'Anyone want to defend against this character?' (with a nod at you). [paragraph break][wager-choice]".

wager-won is an NPC-directed quip.

The response is "'A winner!' says the barman, straightening up. 'What do you know? The Origin Paste is all yours, darling.'[paragraph break]This produces a squawk of surprise and irritation from the defendant, and you get the impression that this game has been agreeably fleecing tourists all day. Pity you had to come along and spoil it.";

To make wager-choice:

let N be the wager-index plus 1;

if N is greater than the number of filled rows in the Table of Wager suggestions:

change N to 1;

let selection be false;

while selection is false:

choose row N in the Table of Wager Suggestions;

consider the selected rule entry for the wager;

if the rule failed:

change the wager-judging rule to the selected rule entry;

change the wager-index to N;

now selection is true;

otherwise:

increase N by 1;

if N is greater than the number of filled rows in the Table of Wager suggestions:

change N to 1;

To say wager-choice:

say "[run paragraph on]";

choose a row with a selected rule of wager-judging rule in the Table of Wager Suggestions;

say "[description entry]";

Sanity-check drinking the wager when the wager-judging rule is the tiny wager rule:

say "You know from experience that a quantity of liquid smaller than a pebble is not deemed to count." instead.

Table of Wager Suggestions

The wager-assessment rules are an object-based rulebook.

A wager-assessment rule for something (called the proposed solution) (this is the liquid wager rule):

if the proposed solution is fluid:

rule succeeds;

rule fails.

A wager-assessment rule for something (called the proposed solution) (this is the tiny wager rule):

if the heft of the proposed solution is 1:

rule succeeds;

rule fails.

A wager-assessment rule for something (called the proposed solution) (this is the import wager rule):

if the proposed solution is edible and the proposed solution is not a vegetable:

rule succeeds;

rule fails.

At the time when game concludes:

if the Origin Paste is won:

make no decision;

otherwise:

now the wager is the player;

try the barman discussing time up;

Time up is an NPC-directed quip.

The response is "'Your time is up, I'm afraid,' says the barman. 'No luck this time, eh? Pity.' He divides your cash ante in half: half for the house, half to the defender who bet against you."

complain that the game seems unfair is a performative quip.

The printed name is "complain that the game is unfair". The true-name is "complain that the game seems unfair".

Understand "is" as complain that the game seems unfair. The comment is "'This game is unfair,' we say. 'You're the moderator, but you have a vested interest in the defender continuing to win, because you get half the ante every time!'".

It mentions origin paste.

The response is "'The house puts up the stakes, remember,' he says. 'But the Counterfeit Monkey has been running this game for years, and would people keep coming back to play if it were rigged?' [paragraph break]Of course, the regulars usually play def[ense] and newcomers offense, which makes the game into a device for fleecing strangers for the benefit of the bar and its usual patrons. But sometimes someone is allowed to win, if they're clever.".

It quip-supplies the barman.

It indirectly-follows Time up.

Procedural rule while showing something to someone:

ignore the carrying requirements rule.

Availability rule for whether he hath any other games going:

if the origin paste is unwon:

it is off-limits.

whether he hath any other games going is a questioning quip.

The printed name is "whether he has any other games going". The true-name is "whether he hath any other games going".

Understand "if" or "has" or "parker/barman" as whether he hath any other games going. The comment is "'So, is there anything else I can win? Any other games going?'".

It mentions paste.

The response is "Parker laughs. 'Not until tomorrow, kid,' he says. 'We only run one game a day.'".

It quip-supplies the barman.

how long he hath worked at bar is a questioning quip.

The printed name is "how long he has worked at the bar". The true-name is "how long he hath worked at bar".

Understand "has" as how long he hath worked at bar. The comment is "'How long have you been working at this pub?' we ask. 'And do you like it?'".

It mentions employment.

The response is "He wrinkles his nose. 'Word of advice: don't go around asking questions like that down here,' he says.".

It quip-supplies the barman.

It is background-information.

what he thinks about the Bureau is a questioning quip. The comment is "'What's your opinion on the Bureau of Orthography?'".

Understand "parker/barman" as what he thinks about the Bureau.

It mentions Bureau, barman.

The response is "'I think it's just that little bit more corrupt and oppressive than usual for a governmental body,' he says. 'I'm not in fav[our], but I don't fool myself that everything would be wine and roses everywhere else, either.'".

It quip-supplies the barman.

It is background-information.

whether he hates customs officials is a performative quip. The comment is "'Do you hate Customs officials?' we ask.".

Understand "parker/barman" or "if" as whether he hates customs officials.

It mentions immigration, barman.

The response is "'Naw. Not running anything myself, am I?'".

It quip-supplies the barman.

It is background-information.

Instead of the barman discussing a civic quip when the barman does not know slango-friendship:

say "[one of]He just laughs and shakes his head[or]He grins, but doesn't answer[or]'What do you think?' he asks. I don't think we're going to get answers on this kind of question. Not while he doesn't trust us. But it hardly matters[at random]."

whether he believes in god 2 is a questioning quip. The comment is "'Where do you stand on God?' we ask[you-are-religious].". The printed name is "whether he believes in God".

It mentions religion.

The response is "'Don't give it much thought,' he says. 'Please don't tell me you're here with a pamphlet . I won't read it.'".

It quip-supplies the barman.

It is background-information.

Understand "if" or "parker/barman" as whether he believes in god 2.

Test tobarman with "test act1 / test chard / test car / test Slango-missed / go to outdoor / open backpack / look / wave p-remover at spill / get sill / go to counterfeit monkey".

Test barman with "tutorial off / talk to barman / x barman / a slango / a rum / look / a paste / a whether we can have / ask how / play / z / z" in counterfeit monkey.