LJ Server Maintenance, the interactive game
You are in cluster 7. It is pitch black.
>inventory
In your pockets is a box of matches and a 500 Internal Server Error.
>examine server error
You can’t see that. It’s dark.
>examine matches
You can’t see that. It’s dark.
>go to fail_fandomanon
It’s too dark to walk there. You may be eaten by a grue.
>post to LiveJournal
Your post begins to move through the series of tubes, and then comes to a halt with a clunk.
>post to LiveJournal
Your post begins to move through the series of tubes, and then comes to a halt with a clunk.
>examine LiveJournal
You can’t see that. It’s dark.
>light a match
In front of you is the series of tubes that allows you to post to LiveJournal. Or, at least, it would, if there weren’t a goat chewing on the wires.
>examine wires
They have been chewed by a goat.
>examine tubes
They won’t work with the wires in this state.
>examine goat
Its eyes glow a demonic yellow.
>repair wires
The goat waves its horns threateningly when you approach the wires.
>use matches on goat
Setting the goat on fire won’t help matters.
>examine server error
The server error is a picture of a goat.
>use server error on goat
The goat waves its horns threateningly at the picture. But at least it’s distracted from the wires.
>repair wires
You don’t know how to repair the wires. Maybe maintenance will fix it if you wait long enough.
>wait
Your match has burned out. It is pitch black.
>wait
You hear footsteps, followed by angry bleating, and a loud clunking in the series of tubes. After a while, the clunking stops and the lights turn on. Light!
>examine tubes
The series of tubes is now back in working order.
>examine goat
You don’t see any goat here.
>post to LiveJournal
Your post whizzes merrily away from you through the series of tubes.
>go to fail_fandomanon
You enter cluster 9. It is pitch black.
>oh, not again
I don’t understand what you want to do.
>give up and go outside
You enter a big, blue room. It seems a little familiar, as if you’ve been here before. There is no series of tubes here. You’re not entirely sure what to do without them. But at least you won’t be eaten by a grue.
THE END … OR IS IT?
World of the Ring by Jian Guo
Middle-Earth seems like it’s a pretty happening place: plenty of exotic locales to explore, elves handing out gifts, trees to ride when your footses ache, and treasure available only to those courageous enough to take it. If it ever existed in a Tolkien novel or note, then Jian has probably drawn it: his jaw-droppingly resplendent masterpieces tell just as enthralling a story as the novels they emulate… though in considerably fewer words. The lead image: “A Long Adventure with a Hobbit” is available in print form at Jian’s DeviantArt.
