HO$$CO==\\  Iterative Loop (corpclave) 1:04am
##..####//
||c.()||^/
||JS||||^|
BG||SC||^|

An ARC-12 spiderling is standing here.

A red light flashes on the CSS cam as it swivels toward Crypto.
You can't go 'n' from here.
The ARC-12 spiderling attacks you!
The ARC-12 spiderling aims its needler with deadly accuracy at Crypto.
You start attacking the ARC-12 spiderling.
Crypto throws a clumsy blow at the ARC-12 spiderling.
[ COPS ]: Crypto exclaims, "o no!!"
[ Stopped attack. ]
[*                             ] [ -2 0/53 ]  Ow!  Your chest!
The ARC-12 spiderling's needler shot punches perfectly through Crypto's breast.  He freezes slackjawed, then brings his hand weakly up toward the wound.  Blood pulses through his dying fingers as he slides to the ground.
[*                             ] [ +18 0/500 ]  Chill.
You feel completely relaxed; every bit of stress has drained out of you.

You feel an ethereal hand reaching down into your body and ripping your soul free of its corporeal prison.  You rise faster, faster, through infinite space rushing toward a tunnel of bright light...






~^~^~^~^~^  Banks of the Styx (hell, outside of time)
~^~^^^~^~^  The shore of a vast river, too wide to see the other side of.  The
~^~^()~^~^  ground here is of a dry black stone, cracked with thin lines of
~^~^><~^,'  glowing red.  The air is extremely hot and none too moist.
==||  ==,'  A patch of large, blue mushrooms with reddish spots are growing
           here.

Alix, Nails, dex, Ran, Never, Blitzkreig, tiny iceman, Black, Berrik, Relinquo, Scary_Jane, Aismo, Dover, and tetrahydrocannabinol are standing here, dozing. Charon is standing here. Tiny Laura_Morabito and Caine are sitting here, dozing. Janus is sitting here.
[ Exits:  north  south ]
[ COPS ]: Crypto was killed by an ARC-12 spiderling in the corpclave.
The world rapidly reduces to a distant pinpoint of light, and all you hear is a gentle white noise roar...
You feel faint from the intense heat.
Crypto's body locks up and falls over.
Charon [to Caine]: I am so SICK of being in hell.
[ COPS ]: Colecovision says, "argh"
[ queued 'south' ]
[ queued 's' ]
AUGH!  This heat is killing you...
You feel faint from the intense heat.
Is this place even real?  Does that even make sense?
You're no doctor, but...
[**************************]
His hideously mangled body barely clings to life.  He has bulging muscles rippling under his skin.  He seems a little jumpy.  He has a rounded purple nose.  He has webbed fingers.  Long, thick whiskers protrude bizarrely from his cheeks near his nose.

You can't stop anything right now, buddy.
You can't stop anything right now, buddy.