The Institute

You are standing at the main entrance, in front of a thick metal door. A keypad is mounted on the wall next to you. (live: 2s)[Suddenly your body is riddled with laser bolts; you spend your last few moments on earth screaming in unbearable agony. YOU ARE DEAD.] (click:"YOU ARE DEAD")[(reload:)]

You are standing in the southern corridor. The main entrance is [[ahead of you->3. Main Entrance]]. To your rear lies [[the main lobby->1. Lobby]]. A heavily armored robot emerges from behind a rubbish bin, and aims its laser cannons at you as it whines, "AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY--TRESPASSERS WILL BE TERMINATED."

You breathe a sigh of relief as you and Natasha emerge from the Institute and run across the empty parking lot. As you look back over your shoulder, she whispers, hoarsely: "We're out, we're alive, we're still alive..."

You are standing in a vast lobby. High above you buzzing flourescent lights flicker intermittently. A massive LED sign glows brightly off to your right, and on the opposite side of the room, a beat up soda machine sits next to a pile of empty cardboard boxes. Corridors branch out from the lobby to the [[north->2. Northern Corridor]], [[east->17. Eastern Corridor]], [[south->14. Southern Corridor]], and [[west->4. Western Corridor]].

You are standing in a corridor. Beside you, the smell of burnt flesh hangs in the air. A stack of brochures sits on a rectangular folding table. The corridor ends a few meters to [[the west->5. End of Western Corridor]]. A vast lobby lies to [[the east->1. Lobby]].

You are standing in a dimly lit chapel, next to a blood stained altar. A female figure lies wrapped in chains at the foot of the altar. [[Across from you->10. Chapel Aisle]], near the northern wall, a robed figure stares into a glowing orb and chants barbarous invocations. Behind you, a curtain conceals the [[chapel alcove->12. Chapel Alcove]].

You spend ages searching through innumerable stacks of decrepit, dust covered books for something of interest. Most of the books are printed in indecipherable scripts that mean nothing to you, but one book written in English catches your eye; "On the Origins of Cosmic Terror". [[Continue->6. Library Entrance]].

You are standing in the eastern corridor. In the distance, you hear strange chirping and chattering sounds. At your feet, much of the floor is covered in sticky yellow slime. Doors open to [[the north->18. Greenhouse]] and to [[the south->16. Gym Entrance]]. The corridor ends a few meters [[to the east->21. End of Eastern Corridor]]. The main lobby lies [[to the west->1. Lobby]].

You are standing in the southern corridor, next to a printer and waste basket. Beside the printer, a motionless body lies curled up in a pool of slime. There is a door beneath an EXIT sign [[to the south->13. Rear Entrance]]. Behind you lies [[the main lobby->1. Lobby]].

You are standing next to a steel door, beneath an EXIT sign. A presedential portrait hangs slightly askey on the wall next to you. Behind you, [[a corridor->14. Southern Corridor]] connects to the main lobby. [[12. Chapel Alcove]]

You are standing next to a filing cabinet at the far end of the eastern corridor. A mechanical owl is mounted on the wall. Closed doors face [[north->20. Genetics Lab]] and [[south->22. Cryogenics Lab]]. To [[the west->17. Eastern Corridor]], a corridor leads back to the main lobby.

You are standing in a cryogenics lab, surrounded by test tubes, beakers, and jars full of strange liquids. In the corner are three human sized metallic pods. [[Behind you->21. End of Eastern Corridor]], a doorway leads back to the eastern corridor.

You are standing in a laboratory, surrounded by swarms of buzzing flies. The stench of decay fills the room, and blood and guts are strewn everywhere across the floor. The walls are covered in a mix of protein sequence diagrams, scientific formulas, and bizarre occult sigils. A set of surgical tools are laid out on a metal counter next to you. [[Behind you->21. End of Eastern Corridor]], a doorway leads back to the eastern corridor.

You are standing at the far end of the western corridor. You choke back nausea as you stare at the burnt corpse lying by your feet. [[Behind you->4. Western Corridor]], a corridor connects to the main lobby. To [[the north->6. Library Entrance]], soft white light radiates from behind a half open door.

You are standing in the aisle of a dimly lit chapel. Beside you, a glowing orb is mounted on an ivory pedastal. To the east, tall stone columns surround [[a massive altar->11. Chapel Altar]].

You are standing in the alcove of a chapel, next to a ten foot tall statue formed in the likeness of a menacing owl monster. A scimitar hangs from the wall nearby. To the west, on the far side of a thick crimson curtain, lies [[a dimly lit chapel->11. Chapel Altar]]. To the east, [[a passageway->13. Rear Entrance]] leads to the southern corridor.

You are standing just inside the entrance to a library, surrounded by [[shelves stacked high with books->9. Library Stacks]]. To your left, a spiral staircase leads up to [[a gallery->7. Library Gallery]]. To your right, a narrow doorway opens onto [[a smaller room->8. Library Reading Room]]. [[Behind you->5. End of Western Corridor]], a doorway leads back to the western corridor.

You are standing in the library gallery, at the top of [[a twisting spiral staircase->6. Library Entrance]], next to a three foot high plaster statue of Cupid. A cabinet of curiosities lies open before you, revealing a mummified fetus, a human brain in a test tube connected to a mass of wires and gears, and other unnatural oddities. Behind the cabinet, a skillfully rendered mural covers the wall.

You are standing in the library reading room, next to an imposing stuffed grizzly bear. Before you, an oversized tome lays open on a round oak table. An antique musket and an oil painting hang from the wall next to you. [[Behind you->6. Library Entrance]], a doorway leads back to the main library.

You are standing in the gym, next to a treadmill and a set of barbells. The air reeks of sweat. In the corner, a [[row of red lockers->24. Lockers]] is lined up next to a long wooden bench. [[Across from you->15. Gym Jacuzzi]], an exercise bike sits next to a row of complicated machines and a jacuzzi. [[Behind you->17. Eastern Corridor]], a doorway leads to the eastern corridor.

You are standing in an indoor greenhouse, surrounded by lush exotic plants. At your feet lies the body of a dead scientist in a lab coat. You hear soft gurgling noises coming from the [[back of the greenhouse->19. Back of Greenhouse]]. [[Behind you->17. Eastern Corridor]], a doorway leads to the eastern corridor.

You are in a gym, next to a steaming jacuzzi. To your right, an exercise bike is dwarfed by a row of siniter looking metal contraptions. [[Across the gym->16. Gym Entrance]], a treadmill, a set of barbells, and a row of lockers are located near the entrance.

You sweep aside vines and leaves as you move towards the source of the gurgling sound. (live: 2s)[Then you see it, a sight so abominable that your mind instantly shatters... ] (live: 4s)[You stand transfixed, screaming incoherently, as the thing in the corner devours your soul. YOU ARE DEAD.] (click:"YOU ARE DEAD")[(reload:)]

In one of the lockers, you find a laser gun! [[Continue->16. Gym Entrance]]

Welcome to THE INSTITUTE, an interactive text adventure by David A. Powers. [[Click here->Help]] for instructions on how to play. [[Begin game->1. Lobby]].

The help page is under construction. [[Return to game->1. Lobby]]

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