TAPESTRY walkthrough
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TAPESTRY: An Interactive Destiny
by Daniel Ravipinto
An entry in the 2nd annual Interactive Fiction Competition
Author's note: The major "puzzle" in TAPESTRY is the choice of Paths the
player has through the game, which in turn affect the three endings
possible. This, combined with the fact that the panels can be played in
any order prevents a true linear "walkthrough." Instead, this guide has
been broken up into sections: first by panel, and then by the Path the
player wishes to follow.
Also, the majority of the player's time in TAPESTRY is not spent taking
actions, but rather looking around at the world around him/her and learning
as much about it as possible before reaching a decision. Therefore, while
it is possible to quickly run through the game (once one knows the proper
actions), this guide also takes into account what the player has learned
about TAPESTRY and Timothy Hunter, the character he/she plays.
PLEASE do attempt to play the game before resorting to the walkthrough.
One of the major points of TAPESTRY is exploration and self-discovery. This
walkthrough reveals many of the secrets of TAPESTRY and may ruin the game
for you.
One final point: TAPESTRY may seem to be centered on morality and "proper"
choices. This was not my intention. There is a grander scheme going on
(which the opening quote alludes to, and which, I hope, the epilogue makes
clear), and I hope that the judgemental nature of some of the characters
will not turn off players until they have a chance to finish the entire
story.
SECTION 0: OPENING
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The opening begins in "Nothing." Take whatever actions you please,
the opening is completed after two acceptable commands (including "wait")
are entered...
SECTION I: PROLOGUE
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[NOTE: The Prologue can be skipped entirely by using the 'begin' command.
HOWEVER, it is suggested that players run through it at least once. It
contains important information necessary to understanding the rest of
the story. By nature, the opening is NOT a section in which the player
can expect to solve puzzles in order to continue. Instead he/she should
step back, look about, ask questions and try to understand what is going
on. It will end in its own time. If you ARE stuck, and have no idea
how to continue, just type "wait" a few times. In fact, the entire
Prologue can be run on 'autopilot' by typing "wait" until it's
over.]
A NOTE ON THE PATHS:
There are three Paths through TAPESTRY, represented by three NPCs. Once
a Path has been chosen, it CANNOT be abandoned, and any attempt to will be
thwarted either by the Parcae or by Morningstar (depending on which Path
the player is currently on).
THE PATH OF ATROPOS - Atropos tells Timothy that it is not right that
his Moira be changed. She wishes Timothy to "replay" history, and not
take Morningstar's offer of a change. She also says that the fears
that have haunted him are not to faced. [WHAT THIS MEANS IN GAMING
TERMS: Do all the things Morningstar told you about in the Prologue,
and when the Wraith appears (the embodiment of Timothy's fear and
self-loathing), refuse to face it].
THE PATH OF MORNINGSTAR/LACHESIS - Lachesis tells Timothy that he should
carefully consider Morningstar's offer, it is the only chance he has
to change his past. Morningstar tells Timothy that his actions have
been evil and selfish and he has caused much suffering because of them.
He should take this opportunity to prevent his current situation from
occuring. [WHAT THIS MEANS IN GAMING TERMS: Do everything you can
to prevent what Morningstar told you about in the Prologue (ie. be at
the hospital when your mother dies, find a way to help Sarah without
euthenizing her, find a way to NOT hit the little girl in the car
accident). NOTE: The Wraith does not appear on this Path].
THE PATH OF CLOTHO - Clotho agrees with Atropos' view that Timothy's
Moira was formed by his own choices, and therefore should be stood by.
However, she does tell Timothy that this opportunity can be used to
understand the reasons behind his actions, and perhaps to face the fear
and guilt which have haunted him for so long. [WHAT THIS MEANS IN GAMING
TERMS: The first section of this Path is identical to the Path of
Atropos. However, when the Wraith appears, the player should agree
to face it, and find a way to defeat it].
SECTION II: THE MAIN GAME
-------------------------
Section II begins with Timothy abandoned in the now ruined Tower. From
here, he has an opportunity to travel to the three events represented in
the three panels of the Tapestry.
The Tapestry is used by TOUCHing one of its panels (ie TOUCH FIRST
PANEL, TOUCH SECOND PANEL). Upon doing so, Timothy is transported to one
of the three events:
[NOTE: You can return to the Ruined Tower from one of the Tapestry
panels by TOUCHING the tapestry found in that area.]
SECTION II.I: THE FIRST PANEL - ALICIA
--------------------------------------
GENERAL INFORMATION: To the west, on the bed, you will find your wallet.
To the south, in the work room, are your work papers, a telephone, and an
appointment book. Reading the appointment book, you get information on
Dr. Hughes and Michael at work, as well as the fact that you are supposed
to be working on the Thompson account.
You know that you have to complete the Thompson account by Monday, but
you also know that your mother is destined to die shortly. Calling Dr.
Hughes (CALL MERCY HOSPITAL, CALL DOCTOR, etc...), you can get some
information by ASKing HIM ABOUT MY MOTHER. Hmm...well, they say she's
fine...
CALL MICHAEL and ASK HIM ABOUT THE THOMPSON ACCOUNT. He'll give you
the background on what you need. Mike says that all the papers you need
are here, so READ ABOUT THE THOMPSON ACCOUNT IN THE PAPERS (alternatively,
you can just "read account" or "read thompson account," which is something
that can be done in all other 'look up' situations). Well, now you know
that there are three sections to work on. Start from the beginning and
READ THE BACK RECORDS. You suddenly realize that there are some records
missing! CALL MIKE and ASK HIM ABOUT THE MISSING RECORDS. OK, go on and
READ THIS YEAR'S INTAKE, then READ THE FORMS.
You've hit a serious snag. You need those papers signed by Monday, but
you need to get in touch with the notary public. Maybe Mike can come to
the rescue again. CALL MIKE and TELL HIM ABOUT THE SIGNATURES. He'll help,
but just as you're about to leave, a call comes in. Your mother's dying...
THE PATH OF ATROPOS/CLOTHO: When you went through this during your life,
you chose to help the Thompsons rather than be with your mother when she
died. You must make that decision again. CALL THE TAXI SERVICE (you'll
need the wallet from the bedroom), and then go outside to the driveway to
WAIT. When the taxi arrives, GET IN. The notary public's office is at
City Hall, so CABBIE, TAKE ME TO CITY HALL.
You tried, but you were too late. The story will continue one week
later at your mother's funeral. To the north is the casket, so go NORTH.
The Wraith appears...this is where the Paths diverge.
ATROPOS: You are guilty of the sins Morningstar accused you of, and
have no right to defy this judge. The Wraith will ask you if you will face
your crimes. Say NO. Atropos will appear and speak, then you will be
returned to the Ruined Tower.
CLOTHO: Say YES to the Wraith's question. [Note: if you have faced
the Wraith in a previous panel, this decision will already have been made
and the Wraith will automatically either defeat you or begin your
inquisition]. "Admit the evil you have done!" Say NO. "What excuse have
you?" TELL WRAITH ABOUT THE THOMPSON ACCOUNT. "You abandoned her! Left
her for dead!" Say NO. "Where WERE you?" SAY CITY HALL. Clotho will
appear and congratulate you, then return you to the Ruined Tower.
THE PATH OF MORNINGSTAR: Leaving your mother to die at Mercy was a
horrible thing, and there's no way you can repeat it. But what about the
Thompson account? You'd better CALL MIKE. Well, you have to TELL HIM ABOUT
your MOTHER. "...are you trying to tell me you're NOT going to be able
to do the Thompson account...?" Say YES. Now, CALL THE TAXI SERVICE. Go
to the driveway and WAIT for the cab to arrive, then GET IN it. CABBIE,
TAKE ME TO MERCY HOSPITAL. When you arrive, LOOK AT your MOTHER.
Morningstar will appear and congratulate you for doing the right thing,
then send you back to the Tower.
SECTION II.II: THE SECOND PANEL - SARAH
---------------------------------------
GENERAL INFORMATION: On top of the fireplace's mantel is a snapshot, to
the north is the driveway, where this morning's paper lies. Sarah is in the
bedroom to the west, lying in bed next to a small endtable. South of the
bedroom is the bathroom, where Sarah's pills are in the cabinet and a small
glass lies on the sink's edge. South of the den is your office, where your
phone and papers are. Inside the desk's drawer is an address book. You
know that this scene deal's with Sarah's illness.
EXAMINE THE FIREPLACE and GET THE SNAPSHOT, then head south to your
office. OPEN THE DRAWER, and GET THE ADDRESS BOOK. READ IT. Perhaps
Doctor Albero can help you. CALL MERCY HOSPITAL and talk to him.
ASK HIM ABOUT SARAH. No help there. The papers on your desk are
for Mercy Hospital. LOOK UP ALBERO IN THE PAPERS. He appears there, but
you get no further information. Head NORTH twice to the driveway. GET THE
PAPER. READ IT. Aparently Dr. Albero hasn't told you the whole truth.
Head SOUTH, then WEST and visit Sarah. EXAMINE SARAH. GET THE PILLOW.
ASK HER ABOUT HERSELF. ASK HER ABOUT ILLNESS. EXAMINE THE ENDTABLE.
OPEN THE DRAWER. ASK SARAH ABOUT THE ENDTABLE. You've learned two things:
1) Sarah's tired, but is having trouble falling asleep, 2) There's
something in the endtable's drawer she doesn't want you to see. Head SOUTH.
EXAMINE THE SINK, EXAMINE THE CABINET. GET THE GLASS. OPEN THE CABINET
and GET THE PILLS. EXAMINE THE PILLS. Now you have a way to put Sarah
to sleep.
THE PATH OF ATROPOS/CLOTHO: Remember from Morningstar's diatribe from
the Prologue that Timothy put Sarah to sleep, distracted her somehow, then
smothered her with a pillow. First FILL THE GLASS with water from the sink,
then head NORTH. GIVE THE PILLS TO SARAH. She still hasn't fallen asleep.
SHOW THE SNAPSHOT TO SARAH. Then TELL SARAH ABOUT THE LAKE. She's now
asleep, and however painful it may be, you can KILL SARAH. If you attempt
to leave, you realize you're forgetting something important. Try OPENing
THE DRAWER. The Wraith appears...
ATROPOS: You are guilty of the sins Morningstar accused you of, and
have no right to defy this judge. The Wraith will ask you if you will face
your crimes. Say NO. Atropos will appear and speak, then you will be
returned to the Ruined Tower.
CLOTHO: Say YES to the Wraith's question. [Note: if you have faced
the Wraith in a previous panel, this decision will already have been made
and the Wraith will automatically either defeat you or begin your
inquisition]. "Admit that you never loved her!" Say NO. "Admit that
she never loved you!" Say NO. "Tell me of Sarah!" TELL WRAITH ABOUT
SARAH. "You cannot prove that you were even ONCE happy together!" TELL
WRAITH ABOUT LAKE. Proof? SHOW SNAPSHOT TO WRAITH. Clotho will appear
and congratulate you, then send you back to the Tower.
THE PATH OF MORNINGSTAR: You know that you cannot allow yourself to
kill Sarah as you did the first time around, but what solution is there to
her problem? The paper told you that Dr. Albero was starting an
experimental treatment program. Go to your office and CALL ALBERO, then
ASK HIM ABOUT THE EXPERIMENTAL TREATMENT PROGRAM. He refuses to help!
Maybe you need more information on this project. LOOK UP ALBERO IN PAPERS
again. This time, the program you read about catches your eye. READ
ABOUT PROGRAM IN PAPERS. There are three sections. READ METHOD and READ
RESULTS produce nothing useful, but READ BUDGET does. Apparently Albero's
skimming money off the project. CALL HIM and ASK HIM ABOUT THE BUDGET.
He's asked you a question...what DO you want? ASK HIM ABOUT SARAH. ASK
HIM ABOUT THE PROJECT. Now that you've gotten Sarah onto the project list,
perhaps you should go tell her to bolster her spirits. Go to her room and
SHOW HER THE PAPER or TELL HER ABOUT THE PROJECT. However, it seems that
Sarah doesn't think that life is worth living. SHOW HER THE SNAPSHOT and
TELL HER ABOUT THE LAKE. Morningstar will appear, and then return you
to the Ruined Tower.
SECTION II.III: THE THIRD PANEL - THE CAR ACCIDENT
--------------------------------------------------
GENERAL INFORMATION: This is the event which ended Timothy's life and
whose aftermath is the story's beginning. Tim's involvement with it is
limited, and hence there is little he can do. Through the opening and the
first few moves, Tim continues driving toward his unavoidable fate. Trying
to STEP ON THE GAS or BREAK or TURNing THE WHEEL accomplishes nothing, and
for the moment it seems that Morningstar and the Fates have lied. However,
as the accident approaches its final outcome, Tim has a brief moment in
which he can change history. That moment begins when the car strikes the
pavement after rebounding off the curb ("The car strikes the pavement with
resounding force, the tires squealing as they touch ground").
THE PATH OF CLOTHO/LACHESIS: Timothy cannot change history, and must
strike the poor girl who has fallen into the street. He must WAIT until
the inevitable happens... But rather than finding himself in Nothing, as
occured at the game's beginning, he appears at the top of a dark cliff.
Far below, he can see a river, and LOOKing AT THE CLIFF, he remembers his
fear of heights. He must overcome it, and since this appears to be a
nightmare he has had before, he must JUMP OFF THE CLIFF. After a terrifying
fall, he finds himself at the cliff's bottom. LOOK AT THE RIVER and try
DRINKing THE WATER. Apparently this is nasty stuff. LOOK AT THE SKY and
the moon, and Tim remembers his childhood. Continuing his dream, Timothy
can try TOUCHING and then GETting THE MOON. He now has Light, which he
can use to fight the Darkness of the river. PUT THE MOON IN THE RIVER and
the Wraith will appear...
ATROPOS: You are guilty of the sins Morningstar accused you of, and
have no right to defy this judge. The Wraith will ask you if you will face
your crimes. Say NO. Atropos will appear and speak, then you will be
returned to the Ruined Tower.
CLOTHO: Say YES to the Wraith's question. [Note: if you have faced
the Wraith in a previous panel, this decision will already have been made
and the Wraith will automatically either defeat you or begin your
inquisition]. "So you kill again!" Say NO. "How do you explain away
your action?" TELL WRAITH ABOUT THE ACCIDENT. "You are a fool and a
coward!" Say NO. "What adversary have YOU stood against?" This may
seem to be a difficult question, but what adversary are you facing
right now? SAY YOU TO THE WRAITH. Clotho will appear, congratulate you,
then send you back to the Tower.
THE PATH OF MORNINGSTAR: Tim must TURN THE WHEEL and avoid hitting
the young girl. Unfortunately, his momentum is too great and he ends up
crashing anyway, this time striking the figure on the sidewalk... He
awakens not in Nothing, but in Everything. Morningstar will appear
shortly (you can WAIT for him), explain where you are, then send you
back to the Tower.
SECTION III: THE ENDGAME
------------------------
Section III begins when the player completes his/her final Panel of the
Tapestry. Rather than being returned to the Tower, Timothy Hunter finds
himself in Nothing, in what appears to be the same situation as he
found himself at the beginning of the story. This section can be solved
in exactly the same way (by WAITing or by taking some other sort of
action).
SECTION IV: THE EPILOGUE
------------------------
The conclusion to the story depends entirely on which Path the player
chose. There are three different endings to TAPESTRY.
Thank you for taking part in the 2nd Annual Interactive Fiction Competition.
I hope that you enjoyed TAPESTRY and would be very appreciative of any
comments or constructive criticism you may have.
