kq4-decompile/rooms/kq4-057-witch-cave/57-witch-cave.md

Room 57: Witch Cave (filename: 57-witch-cave.md)

This room is a dismal cave inhabited by three one-eyed old witches. The room features a central cauldron bubbling over a fire, various jars and bottles on shelves, and a human skull. The witches are a significant puzzle in the game - they possess a glass eye (item 6) that enables them to see, and players can interact with them in multiple ways including stealing or returning the eye, collecting a scarab beetle (item 7), and avoiding being transformed.

Look Description

"This is a dismal and dreary cave. In the center of the cave, over a hot fire, boils a foul-smelling brew inside a large black cauldron."

When global109 >= 3: "Within it, reside three one-eyed old witches."

If scarab is on floor: "You see a black scarab on the cave floor."

Interactions

Status	Behavior Type	Command	Response
TODO	Look	/bottle	"You don't want them." (Print 57 16)
TODO	Look	/caldron	"A greenish, foul brew boils ominously within the cauldron." (Print 57 18)
TODO	Look	/brew	"The green brew looks disgusting...and smells that way, too!" (Print 57 19)
TODO	Look	/fire	"A hot fire burns under a large cauldron filled with bubbling brew." (Print 57 20)
TODO	Look	<out/cave	"Outside the cave, you see the terrible grabbing trees." (Print 57 21)
TODO	Look	/dirt or <down	If global207 (scarab present): "You see a black scarab on the cave floor." (Print 57 22) / Else: "There is nothing of interest on the cave floor." (Print 57 23)
TODO	Look	/wall	"There is nothing of interest on the rough cave walls." (Print 57 24)
TODO	Look	/shelf	"You see bottles and jars of disgusting-looking stuff. None of it interests you, though." (Print 57 25)
TODO	Look	/skull	"You shiver at the sight of a human skull on the shelf." (Print 57 26)
TODO	Look	[<around,in][/room,cave] or [/!*]	Dynamic description combining cave appearance and witch/scarab presence (Print 57 17)
TODO	Look	/eye	"The blind, one-eyed hags peer at you through a glass eye." (Print 57 3) - Only if eye owned by room 57
TODO	Look	/hag	Varies based on whether player has eye, local10 state, or if eye is owned by -1 (Print 57 4/5/6)
TODO	Get	/bottle	"You don't want any of them." (Print 57 27)
TODO	Get	/skull	"You don't need it." (Print 57 28)
TODO	Get	/brew	"You wouldn't want it!" (Print 57 29)
TODO	Get	/caldron	"It's too heavy to carry." (Print 57 31)
TODO	Action	chew,drink/brew	"You gag at the thought!" (Print 57 30)
TODO	Talk	converse	Different responses based on eye ownership: (answer1/answer2/answer3 scripts)
TODO	Inventory	rob,get/charm	If has scarab: "You already have the scarab." (Print 800 0) / If no scarab and !global207: "What scarab?" (Print 57 7) / If far from scarab: "You can't get that." (Print 800 1) / Else: triggers pickUp script
TODO	Inventory	get,rob/eye	If doesn't have eye and eye owned by room 57: Must be in rect 119-129 x 122-136 to pick up (+3 score, sets global182) (Print 57 8/9)
TODO	Inventory	deliver,return,fling/eye	If has eye: various responses based on local10 state, triggers witchMoan script (Print 57 10/11)
TODO	Action	/hag kill	"You couldn't do it." (Print 57 12)
TODO	Action	/hag get	"You wouldn't want them." (Print 57 13)
TODO	Action	/hag kiss	"YUCK!!" (Print 57 14)
TODO	Action	/hag deliver	"The witches don't want it." (Print 57 15)

Scripts

Status	Behavior Type	Name	Trigger	Behavior
TODO	Interaction	rm57Script	Entry (when global109 >= 3 and has eye but not scarab)	Throws scarab to player, then pleads for eye return
TODO	Interaction	pickUp	Player uses get charm with scarab present	Animates picking up scarab (+2 score, sets global207)
TODO	Interaction	answer1	Player talks to witches with eye owned by room	Prints dialogue sequence about witches (Print 57 34-36)
TODO	Interaction	answer2	Player talks to witches with eye in inventory	Random dialogue about witches begging for eye (Print 57 37-40)
TODO	Interaction	answer3	Player talks to witches without eye	Dialogue enticing player closer (Print 57 41-43)
TODO	Background	witchEye	Continuous when witches active	Animates witch eyes looking around, switches between witches
TODO	Background	witchChase	Player gets close to witches without eye (distance < 30)	Witches chase and transform player into newt/creature
TODO	Background	witchMoan	Triggered when eye delivered or after transformation	Witches react to receiving eye, eventually release player
TODO	Background	scarabToss	Scarab present in room	Animates scarab moving/jumping
TODO	Background	ouchness	Player touches control area $0004 (hot zone)	Prints "Ouch!" (Print 57 0)

Technical Notes

• Room Number: 57
• Picture: 57
• Style: $0010 (DISPATCH style)
• Exits: South → Room 6
• Music: Sound 12 (witchMusic) - plays during witch encounter

State Variables

Variable	Values	Description
global109	0-3+	Game progress - witches appear when >= 3
global182	0, 1	Glass eye collected flag (score awarded)
global207	0, 1	Scarab present in room (collected or not)
global189	0, 1	Room initialization flag
global101	1	Set to 1 in init
global228	string	Format buffer for room description
local10	0, 1	Eye delivered state (0 = not delivered, 1 = delivered)
local12	0, 1	Transformation/cutscene active flag
local13	0, 1	Ouch sound cooldown flag
newAct	instance	Scarab actor instance
newAct_2	instance	Witch actor instance
newProp_4	instance	Witch eye prop (visible when witch looking)
newProp_5	instance	Left witch prop
newProp_6	instance	Right witch prop
newProp_7	instance	Left witch full prop
newProp_8	instance	Right witch full prop

Inventory Items Referenced

Item Index	Item Name
6	Glass Eye (charm)
7	Black Scarab

Synonyms

• dirt = dirt
• hag = fishwife

Key Mechanics

1. Witch Transformation: When approaching the witches without the glass eye, they chase and transform the player into a creature (view 184 or 186 depending on position). This is triggered when distanceTo(newAct_2) < 30 and player doesn't have item 6.

2. Glass Eye Puzzle: The eye can be stolen from the witches (requires standing in specific rect), returned to them, or flung. Returning the eye unlocks the scarab throw and allows further interaction.

3. Scarab Collection: After returning the eye, witches throw a scarab to the player. The scarab can then be picked up for +2 score.

4. Hot Zone: The area over the fire (control area $0004) causes "Ouch!" message when touched.