Puzzle-Making Practice "The Golden Ball" (RESULT)

[The Great Underground Empire]

Hi everyone!  @heltenjon and I tied on the last one, so we collabed on this one!    (And apologies if this wasn't supposed to be a new thread, please delete or move if needed.  Just didn't want to keep everyone waiting.)

The Rules!

Participants write entries that must do the following:
1. Use at least 3 of the provided elements (inventory, NPCs, a piece of the room like a cabinet or faucet etc.)
2. Give a step-by-step walkthrough of your puzzle solution.
3. Don't add new elements. For example, if the room is a forest, breaking a thin branch off a tree makes sense unless the host said the trees were huge and tall. But adding a hollowed-out stump with a bear sleeping in it is too specific. Assume all important elements have been mentioned by the host.
4. Keep any dialog elements summarized rather than typing out the whole conversation (for example, "threaten the mailman", "ask the child for advice", and so on, instead of giving every spoken line).

Each contest runs for two weeks to allow for a good number of entries, and then it switches to voting for one week. The participant whose solution gets the most votes gets to come up with the next scenario! (Please also provide a link to these rules).  Current entries until Feb. 24th.

Voters use the criteria of:
a) how logical the puzzle seems
b) how creative or unexpected (but still sensible) is the use of elements
c) how satisfying is the solution (Is it too simple? Way too complicated? Or just right?)

Here we go!

The Golden Ball

Premise: You're a young princess whose golden ball has fallen down a well, and there's a damn talking frog who won't bring it back up unless you kiss him.  Gross!  You're getting that ball back without him!

Location: You're in a bright, happy forest with soft breezes gently tickling the treetops.  The castle isn't far away, but you can't leave sight of the well because you just know some damn peasant will get your ball before you come back, and then where would the economy be?  The well is made of old, crumbly stone, has a little wooden roof and winch, but when you crank up the rope, the bucket is long gone.  The water looks very deep, dark and cold.  The frog is squatting on the edge of the well, eyeing you inappropriately and making little kissy noises.

You are carrying:

• Your floofy silk and lace princess gown upon your willowy frame.
• Your thin silver tiara beset with three diamonds, upon your willowy head.
• A surprising amount of whalebone corsetry, given how willowy you are.
• A sewing needle that you stole from a servant for a laugh.
• An apple some hag gave you.
• A garter, in case of unexpected marriage.
• A knife in your garter, in case of mustached men in leotards with funny ideas about the redistribution of wealth.

And you can see:

• A bird nest occupied by a heavily sleeping owl.
• A mossy stone with a sword sticking out of it. The sword can not be pulled out.
• A hole in the ground, perhaps the home of a fox or a badger?
• A sheep grazing.
• An overgrown road leading to the well.
• A broken wagon along the road, long abandoned. There are some broken musical instruments in the wagon.
• A pig, seemingly gathering straw for building his house.
• The youngest billygoat Gruff, lost and outdistanced by his older brothers.
• Some strange-looking mushrooms, with a skeleton nearby.

Have fun, can't wait to see your entries!

[RootBound]

Thanks for hosting this round, both of you. This looks fun and I'm excited to try it out!

I've been asked if the hosts can post entries, and I think the best thing would be to follow the lead of most of the other competitions here and let the hosts post entries but not consider them as "votable" unless there isn't enough participation from others. I hope that's fair.

If anyone feels strongly that it should work differently, I'm certainly open to discussing.

[The Great Underground Empire]

Thanks!  I don't mind being non-votable, I just want to have fun too. 

[RootBound]

Get ready! Action and story await in...

THE SOCIAL APPROACH!

Spoiler

Offer the APPLE to the GOAT in exchange for him using his climbing skills to go down the well and see if he can spot the golden ball in the water.
But it's too dark! Use the KNIFE to reflect sunlight down the well so that goat can see into the water.
It works! You know where the ball is! But how to reach it?
Among the MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS is a MINI HARP. Its strings are intact but the frame is broken.
Take a BONE from SKELETON and wedge it into the mini HARP frame to make the strings taut.
You now have a sieve to dredge the bottom of the well!
But you can't just tie it to the rope--it needs to be able to lift the ball, not just swing back and forth.
Pick some MUSHROOMS from the ground and offer them to the PIG in exchange for his building skills, which include intricate rope work. Right? Right.
So you attach the HARP, which can now be suspended horizontally as a lifting device, to the ROPE at the top of the well.
But the FROG is onto you. He keeps leaping at your face when you get close, so you have to distract him.
Take one of the CRUMBLING STONES from the well and throw it near the OWL.
The owl swoops down to attack! The frog leaps away! But now there's an ANGRY OWL on the well.
You have one last idea. You take a RUSTED TIN WHISTLE from the wagon and blow it at the owl. The owl merely cocks its head.
You blow it at the SHEEP bur the sheep runs in the wrong direction and does not scare the owl.
Finally you blow the rusted whistle at the GROUND BURROW.
A FRIGHTENED MUSKRAT runs out!
The OWL swoops over and snatches the plump muskrat away for dinner.
Finally! You lower the HARP into the well and use it to scoop up the GOLDEN BALL.
At last! You hold it in your hands and admire it!
You turn around only to see...
The SKELETON stands before you, eyes transfixed on the golden ball. Stealing the bone must have awakened some dormant curse!
You run down the overgrown ROAD to the next plot point.

[close]

[cat]

The Lipstick-on-a-Pig Approach

Spoiler

> Ask FROG about alternatives.
The frog insists on kissing a princess.
> Ask PIG what it is doing
The pig is trying to build a palace out of straw.
> Ask why
The pig has a secret crush on the frog, who insists on marrying a princess. A palace might help.
> Offer PIG help to become a princess in exchange for the ball
The pig agrees.
> Look at PIG
You see a close-up of a pig.
> Use TIARA with HEAD
You should add some hair first.
> Use CORSET on BELLY
The pig is too big, it doesn't fit.
> Use GARTER on LEG
It fits snugly around the pig's thigh.
> Look at SNOUT
It could use some lipstick.
> Pick up STRAW
Inventory added: STRAW
> Look at WAGON
The wagon is lying in the ditch, one wheel lifted above ground.
> Use STRAW on WHEEL
You spin the straw into a long thread of gold.
Inventory added: LONG GOLD THREAD
> Use LONG GOLD THREAD with NEEDLE
The thread is too long.
> Use KNIFE with LONG GOLD THREAD
You are not skilled with knives. Instead of the thread, you cut your own finger.
Inventory added: DROP OF BLOOD
> Use LONG GOLD THREAD with SWORD STUCK IN STONE
This works better. You manage to cut the thread.
Inventory added: PIECE OF THREAD
> Use PIECE OF THREAD with NEEDLE
Inventory added: NEEDLE WITH THREAD
> Use PRINCESS GOWN with SWORD STUCK IN STONE
You manage to cut a large piece of cloth from one of numerous underskirts.
Inventory added: CLOTH
> Use CLOTH with CORSET
> Use NEEDLE WITH THREAD with CORSET WITH CLOTH
Inventory added: WOBBLY CORSET
> Pick up SKELETON RIB CAGE
The rib cage falls apart and leaves you with a bunch of RIBS.
Inventory added: RIBS
> Use RIBS with WOBBLY CORSET
Inventory added: EXTENDED CORSET
> Use PRINCESS GOWN with SWORD STUCK IN STONE
You cut another large portion of your underskirt
Inventory added: CLOTH
> Use NEEDLE WITH THREAD with CLOTH
(Embroidery minigame, perhaps?)
Inventory added: DRESS
> Examine PIG
> Use EXTENDED CORSET with BELLY
> Use DRESS with BELLY
> Use LONG GOLD THREAD with HEAD
> Use TIARA with HEAD
> Use DROP OF BLOOD with SNOUT
The pig now looks like a princess!
> Ask PIG to follow you to the WELL
> Talk to FROG and introduce PRINCESS PIGGY
The FROG immediately falls in love with the PIG. They kiss and with a pink, fluffy, puffy cloud, the pig turns into a frog. The couple jumps into the WELL and gives you the GOLDEN BALL as well as the TIARA (which is way to big for the frog's head now). You return happily to your castle.
The frogs stay in the well and live happily ever after.

[close]

[RootBound]

The Lipstick-on-a-Pig Approach

Hilarious and very weird.

[heltenjon]

As one of the hosts, my entry is out of contest, made just for the heck of it.
The USE IT ALL approach:

Spoiler

EXAMINE WELL
There's simply no way you could climb down there.
EXAMINE ROPE
It's old and rotten. Tying knots and climbing down that way seems impossible.
CALL FOR HELP
The owl looks annoyed at you, then goes back to sleep. The frog winks his eyes and pouts his lips. The sheep and the goat both say «Baaa!», then «Jinx!», then «Jinx again». The pig ignores you in a very piglike fashion.
TALK TO SHEEP
The sheep will have you know she is a magic sheep and has no interest in helping you. Unless there is something in it for her.
TALK TO GOAT
The little goat says that he's looking for his brothers.
TELL GOAT HIS BROTHERS ARE IN THE WELL
The little goat says they would be too heavy to scale the small stones of the crumbling wall of the well.
TELL GOAT HIS BROTHERS SAID HE SHOULD GET THE BALL FOR THE NICE PRINCESS
The little goat says he will only listen to his brothers, not someone who claims to know them.
USE KNIFE ON SHEEP
The magic sheep easily evades you, mocking your little garter-knife.
OFFER APPLE TO SHEEP
The sheep eagerly takes a bite, agrees to help you, then turns greenish in the face and keels over.
USE KNIFE ON SHEEP
You are no murderer, but that wool could come in handy. Unfortunately, the knife cannot cut the magic wool.
EXAMINE SWORD IN STONE
There's a plaque, saying «Magic sword, standard model ex caliber 2. Do not remove. In case of emergency, say your prayers.»
SAY YOUR PRAYERS
Nice try.
PULL SWORD
It won't budge. I guess you are not meant to be king.
MOVE SHEEP OVER TO THE SWORD
It's too heavy for your willowy frame.
USE KNIFE ON CLOTHES
You get cloth strips.
TIE STRIPS TO SHEEP
USE STRIPS WITH STONE (NOT THE SWORD!)
USE STRIPS WITH PIG
You have made a sort of pulley. The pig, lost in his own thoughts, does not notice that you have harnessed him. If you could only make him move in the right direction, he will pull on the makeshift rope and move the sheep towards the sword in the stone.
TELL PIG TO GO
The pig ignores you and keeps on gathering straw.
SCARE PIG
The pig remains utterly unscared.
SHOVE PIG
Your willowy frame does not lend itself to this type of action.
TALK TO PIG
Lengthy conversation that sheds light on the pig's life and motivation. During this, you learn that he and his brothers are building houses to protect themselves from the fearsome wolf. It also becomes apparant that his knowledge of said wolf is rather limited.
EXAMINE WAGON. EXAMINE INSTRUMENTS.
Most of the instruments are beyond repair, but there is a broken flute that draws your attention. Obtained flute parts.
EXAMINE SKELETON
Poor guy. You remind yourself not to eat that type of mushroom anytime soon. He appears to have a ring on his finger. The teeth in the skull glitters in the sun.
TAKE RING
EXAMINE RING
The ring seems to have no magic powers, unfortunately. But maybe it could be of some other use?
USE RING WITH FLUTE PARTS
Amazing! The ring fits exactly where the flute is broken, fixing it!
EXAMINE HOLE IN THE GROUND
You recognize the tracks as fox tracks. They look fresh.
CALL FOX/TALK TO HOLE
This fails rather unspectacularly.
BLOW FLUTE INTO HOLE
You play a catchy tune (What does the Fox say?) that scares the fox out of the hole. He runs around for a bit.
Cut scene. The pig is startled by the fox, first thinking it is the wolf. You add some «well known facts» about wolves, like their long, bushy tail or orange tint, but then the pig notices that the tracks are wrong (lacking HUGE CLAWS), the WOLF HOWL is lacking and it's not all that SCARY. The fox runs into the wagon and out again, brushing aside a box, exposing a broken ACCORDION. The fox returns into the hole. The pig does not move and gets back to straw gathering.
TAKE ACCORDION. EXAMINE ACCORDION
There is a hole and some buttons are missing.
USE NEEDLE AND THREAD ON ACCORDION (Maybe cutting off more silk from your dress first.)
The hole is fixed.
USE KNIFE ON SKULL
Obtained teeth.
USE TEETH ON ACCORDION
You manage to make some makeshift buttons.
CUT CORSETRY WITH KNIFE
Obtained spikes.
USE SPIKES WITH  TRACKS
The tracks now look suitably wolfish.
BLOW FLUTE INTO HOLE
The fox runs out again. The pig notices the new tracks, remarking on the claw size. But it is not SCARY or HOWLING.
While the fox animation is running, you quickly
PLAY ACCORDION
The owl is startled awake and flaps about for a while. The pig says that he understands that this animal must be SCARY in order to frighten the tough old owl in such a manner. But without HOWLING, it cannot be the wolf.
While the fox and owl are still animating, you even quicker
HOWL INTO WELL
The echo makes it an impressive sound. The pig is now convinced that the fox is the wolf and starts running, dragging the strips connected to the sheep after him. Using the sword stone as a pulley, the sheep is moved to the sword in the stone. Eventually, the fox goes back into the hole, the owl settles down in its nest and goes back to sleep, and the pig uneasily returns to his straws.
PUSH SHEEP AGAINST SWORD IN THE STONE
Obtained wool.
USE NEEDLE AND THREAD WITH WOOL AND YOURSELF
You now look kind of wooly.
TALK TO GOAT
He thinks you are his brother until he notices that you have no horns.
USE GARTER WITH TIARA AND SPIKES
You are now horny, so to speak.
TALK TO GOAT
He thinks you are his brother and is persuaded to climb down the well, which he does, easily like a mountain goat (which he is), grabbing the golden ball for you.

End scene: You walk away with the golden ball when the pig comes running with his finished load of straw. In passing, he thanks you for saving him from the wolf and plants a huge, sloppy kiss directly on your face. You swear. The frog laughs so hard it falls into the well. The end.

[close]

[The Great Underground Empire]

Omg, I love all these entries so much. 

[cat]

*bump* Any more puzzles for us?

[The Great Underground Empire]

Sorry for the delay, I was on a trip and just made it back.  And this is a non-voteable entry due to being co-host!

Update: I just finished writing the entry, it is not what I expected to come out but I'm posting it anyways, lol.  Content warning, it's a little dark and has on-screen momentary violence and death.  It feels very Neil Gaiman to me.

Brace yourselves a bit for the BLACKOUT Approach.

Spoiler

While thinking what to do and staring down this unwanted amphibious Lothario, you take an absent-minded bite of the APPLE.

[FadeOut(30);
Wait(720000);
FadeIn(30);]

Your eyes flutter open blearily.  You're looking up at the treetops and sky, because you're laying in the grass.

You're also looking at the too-close face of a PRINCE, because he is kissing you.

Startled, you fumble in your GARTER, then lash out with your KNIFE.  The PRINCE falls off you.

There is now BLOOD here.

[while (cPRINCE.Blood > 0) {
  Wait(1);
  cPRINCE.Blood --;
}]

...

There is now a DEAD PRINCE here.

You slowly realize you are hyperventilating from shock and adrenaline.

Gazing around as if in a dream, you also slowly realize the FROG, PIG and BILLYGOAT GRUFF are staring at you in horror.

There is a long, tense moment.

Then the PIG drops his sticks and starts to run.

no no nonono nononoNONONONO no witnesses, NO WITNESSES

[FadeOut(30);
Wait(24000);
FadeIn(30);]

Your eyes flutter open.  There is no sign of the FROG, PIG, BILLYGOAT GRUFF or DEAD PRINCE.  The OWL is gone, his nest overturned as if kicked over in hurried flight.  The KNIFE is also gone.

There is a large amount of WATER splashed out around the sides of the WELL.

You look down at your dress.  There is a large amount of BLOOD and DIRT on it.

You tear it off, and stuff it into the HOLE IN THE GROUND.  You pack DIRT into the HOLE until it is SOLID GROUND again.

Without your DRESS, clad only in CORSETRY and a GARTER, you don't look like a princess anymore.  You could be anyone.

Anyone at all.

You look at the WELL for a long time.

The CRUMBLING STONE of the WELL gives in to several good kicks.  More water spills out, stained red, but it soaks into the ground and you kick DIRT over it.  There is now a COLLAPSED WELL here that could easily have caved in on itself from age.

You look at the castle in the distance, symbol of the patriarchy that makes FROGS and PRINCES think they can take what they want, when they want.

...

You find the BROKEN WAGON just needs a little work with ROPE and STICKS to be serviceable.  You harness the SHEEP to it with ROPE.

You idly finger the jewels and silver of your TIARA.  They might be enough to buy another life.

You set your sights west, away from the castle, and drive the WAGON on, as the sun dips towards the horizon like a GOLDEN BALL falling slowly into a WELL.

[Fadeout(30);]

[close]

[The Great Underground Empire]

Sorry everyone, my spouse and I caught COVID following a trip last week and I was too knocked out to remember about setting up voting.  And update to my update moments ago, I just figured out how to add a poll for the first time, lol.   

[cat]

It's a pity only two entries can be voted for. I picked The Social Approach, for obvious reasons. I hope this competition will get more participants in the future.

[heltenjon]

I think what's so cool about the solutions here, is that I wouldn't have thought of that way of doing it (apart from my own non-entry, of course). The Great Underground Empire goes horror on me, which is always interesting. But for the two candidates:

Rootbound:

Spoiler

I suspect I would be stuck right at the beginning, by not shining the light into the well. I like how you made all the animals into characters who play a role in the story. Using the harp as a lift was nice and unexpected.

[close]

Cat:

Spoiler

I absolutely love the humour of this, down to the lipstick on the pig. Very nice 3-point puzzles, and a beautiful leap of adventure game logic when spinning the straw into gold.

[close]

I voted for

Spoiler

Cat and the Lipstick-on-a-Pig Approach

[close]

[RootBound]

Voted for @cat obviously.

Great room setting and solutions by everyone. 

[The Great Underground Empire]

We have a winner!  Congrats to cat, great entries by all! 

[The Great Underground Empire]

I'd also like to suggest maybe, in the event of future ties, the winners privately do a gentleperson's agreement on which one will be the sole host next round.  Given this is just a lil eight pound, six ounce baby competition, it'd free up another player. 

[cat]

Thanks! I'm a bit intimidated, considering the previous great competitions, but I will come up with a new topic.

[RootBound]

Thanks! I'm a bit intimidated, considering the previous great competitions, but I will come up with a new topic.

The great thing (I hope!) about this competition is that even if you were to just rush it and throw together random room elements, a random goal, and a random collections of inventory, I think people would still enjoy trying to figure it out.    At least, I know I would. 

Looking forward to the next round!