Under a Tree

Under a Tree (#1058)

(an instance of Generic Room with Seats made by Marcus)

     Here under the boughs of a gnarled old persimmon tree is spread a large blanket. Three old guys are sitting being poets at a picnic, well supplied with wine and little bean cakes.

You find a nice spot on the blanket, near the tidbits.

You notice some details:
      Basho has a proud warrior's bearing, but is dressed in old, patched clothing. He's famous, but doesn't seem to mind.
      Kyokusui is a staunch, honorable warrior, two swords stuck prominently in his belt. He scowls.
      Chinseki is a doctor. He looks at you inquisitively, not without humor. He offers you a bean cake; he seems to think you'll like it.

[Citation: FROM THE COUNTRY OF EIGHT ISLANDS: An Anthology of Japanese Poetry. Trans. and ed. by Hiroaki Sato and Burton Wasson. New York: Columbia University Press, 1986.]

EXITS:
      Beyond the tree, the wide forest. [ wood ] a Forest. You head out into the woodsraining

This place has a certain ambiance...
     Basho offers you and the others some wine from a jug.
     The poets look like they're about to start up on something.
     One of the poets whispers to you that they're going to do a 'renga', a poem in turns...
     Basho says, "Under a tree both soup and fish salad are covered with cherry blossoms."
     Chinseki says, "the westerly sun peaceful, it's fine weather--"
     Kyokusui says, "a traveler passes scratching louse bites as spring ends."
     Basho says, "He hasn't learned how to sport a sword with sheathcover properly."
     Chinseki says, "come the bright moon, promotions are made at the temporary palace."
     Kyokusui says, "the wood-cutter made a rice-huller swiftly..."
     Basho says, "to the saddled three-year-old horse the autumn has come."
     Chinseki says, "the rain changes its name in various ways."
     Kyokusui says, "men and women bathe in a Suwa hot spring as evening grows dark."
     Basho says, "among them a tall exorcist--"
     Chinseki says, "pushing an argument off to one side--"
     Kyokusui says, "from a tenuous point her love has grown intense."
     Basho says, "when lost in thought, she's prodded to eat."
     Chinseki says, "looking at the moon, her face--sleeves laden with dew."
     Kyokusui says, "on a boat in an autumn wind she's scared of the sound of waves."
     Basho says, "geese fly away toward Shiroko, Wakamatsu."
     Chinseki says, "a thousand scrolls recited at Ishinden under blossoms in their prime."
     Kyokusui says, "a pilgrim died on the road where heat haze rises."
     Basho says, "above all a butterfly in reality stirs pity!"
     Chinseki says, "not enough strength even to write a letter!"
     Kyokusui says, "with a silk gauze a noble figure avoids the sun."
     Basho says, "he weeps, insisting, 'I'd like to see Kumano'."
     Chinseki says, "at Ki the barrier guard with a short bow is obstinate."
     Kyokusui says, "his bald head must be due to excessive drinking."
     Basho says, "so dark now the dots on the dice are peered at."
     Chinseki says, "facing his temporary altar he says prayers--"
     Kyokusui says, "'Say what you will, I sit on the earth floor and suffer no fleas!'"
     Basho says, "'I am, in this village, a butt of derision.'"
     Chinseki says, "he's hated for being a busybody over the dance festival."
     Kyokusui says, "night after moonlit night, the moon until dawn..."
     Basho says, "the pampas grass, having beckoned for too long, is now withered."
     Chinseki says, "his is simply a square grass hut with dew."
     Kyokusui says, "'I've sent back the money, saying "That's bothersome"'."
     Basho says, "the decision is not to take the doctor's drugs."
     Chinseki says, "when blossoms come into bloom he runs about places like Yoshino."
     Kyokusui says, "getting bitten by gadflies in springtime mountains..."
     The poets have nothing more to say.

VERB SOURCE CODE:

get_amb:

if (caller != this)
    return E_PERM;
endif
if (this.amb_index < length(this.amb_noise))
    this.amb_index = this.amb_index + 1;
    return this.amb_noise[this.amb_index];
else
    this.amb_index = 0;
    this:stop_amb();
endif
.

slower:

this:announce_all("The poets seem to start taking their time a little more...");
this.amb_delay = this.amb_delay + 10;
.

faster:

this:announce_all("The poets seem to get a little more eager for their turns.");
(this.amb_delay > 10) ? this.amb_delay = this.amb_delay - 10 | (this.amb_delay = 
10);
.

end_amb:

pass(@args);
if (!this.occupied)
    this.amb_index = 0;
endif
.

PROPERTY DATA:
amb_index