Learning the Basic Scripting of the Ren'Py Interactive Visual Novel Engine

Sambiglyon's interactive 'visual novel' version of Nicola J. Bolton's "The Secret of Healey Nab"
childrens book was produced with an excellent easy to learn story creation engine called Ren'Py.
'The Secret of Healey Nab' visual novel: http://sambiglyon.org/healey
Ren'Py: http://www.renpy.org/
In this Making Of guide, we lead you section by section through the narrative script file for 'The
Secret of Healey Nab' and explain the basic rules and instructions for writing your own interactive
content using Ren'Py!
If you do take the bold step of making your own Ren'Py stories and find yourself getting stuck, you
can contact us at marty@sambiglyon.org for free personalized guidance.
Let's go!
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# Declare images below this line, using the image statement. Backgrounds have 'image bg'
in front of their name, while character PNG frames and other images that will be overlaid on
the background have 'image' in front of their name. Every image file you use in your book
must be defined with an 'image' statement in this opening section of the script.
image bg prologue = "prologue.png"
image bg nab woods = "nab_woods.png"
image bg nab woods smoke = "nab_woods_smoke.png"
image bg secret pathways = "secret_pathways.png"
image bg secret pathways smoke = "secret_pathways_smoke.png"
image bg dawn = "dawn.png"
image bg dawn second = "dawn_second.png"
image bg mist = "mist.png"
image bg flames = "flames.png"
image bg winter hill = "winter_hill.png"
image bg winter hill bushes = "winter_hill_bushes.png"
image bg winter hill bushes dark = "winter_hill_bushes_dark.png"
image bg winter hill dark = "winter_hill_dark.png"
image bg winter hill aerials = "winter_hill_aerials.png"
image bg blue waters = "blue_waters.png"
image bg hills = "hills.png"
image bg woodland path = "woodland_path.png"
image bg fields = "fields.png"
image bg fields 2 = "fields_2.png"
image bg housing estate = "housing_estate.png"
image bg primrose yell = "primrose_yell.png"
image bg mist smoke = "mist_smoke.png"
image bg stone cairn = "stone_cairn.png"
image bg stone cairn 2 = "stone_cairn_2.png"
image bg chorley = "chorley.png"
image bg brinscall = "brinscall.png"
image bg end = "end.png"
image healey logo = "healey-logo.png"
image hawthorn speaking = "hawthorn_speaking.png"
image hawthorn afraid = "hawthorn_afraid.png"

image hawthorn speaking small = "hawthorn_speaking_small.png"

image hawthorn thoughtful = "hawthorn_thoughtful.png"
image hawthorn worried = "hawthorn_worried.png"
image hawthorn worried reverse = "hawthorn_worried_reverse.png"
image hawthorn sigh = "hawthorn_sigh.png"
image hawthorn alarmed = "hawthorn_alarmed.png"
image hawthorn smile = "hawthorn_smile.png"
image moorhound howl = "moorhound_howl.png"
image moorhound growl = "moorhound_growl.png"
image moorhound growl short = "moorhound_growl_short.png"
image moorhound growl shorttail = "moorhound_growl_shorttail.png"
image moorhound growl reverse = "moorhound_growl_reverse.png"
image moorhound growl reverse shorttail = "moorhound_growl_reverse_shorttail.png"
image moorhound riding = "moorhound_riding.png"
image moorhound smiling = "moorhound_smiling.png"
image moorhound smiling short = "moorhound_smiling_short.png"
image moorhound smiling reverse = "moorhound_smiling_reverse.png"
image moorhound smiling reverse full = "moorhound_smiling_reverse_full.png"
image moorhound smiling reverse full 2 = "moorhound_smiling_reverse_full_2.png"
image moorhound thoughtful = "moorhound_thoughtful.png"
image moorhound thoughtful reverse = "moorhound_thoughtful_reverse.png"
image moorhound neutral = "moorhound_neutral.png"
image moorhound neutral short = "moorhound_neutral_short.png"
image moorhound staring = "moorhound_staring.png"
image moorhound staring reverse = "moorhound_staring_reverse.png"
image moorhound staring short = "moorhound_staring_short.png"
image moorhound wire = "moorhound_wire.png"
image moorhound wire wince = "moorhound_wire_wince.png"
image moorhound front = "moorhound_front.png"
image moorhound front short = "moorhound_front_short.png"
image moorhound front reverse = "moorhound_front_reverse.png"
image moorhound wire eyemove = "moorhound_wire_eyemove.png"
image moorhound freed = "moorhound_freed.png"
image moorhound freed reverse = "moorhound_freed_reverse.png"
image moorhound flying = "moorhound_flying.png"
image moorhound flying short = "moorhound_flying_short.png"
image moorhound growl ghost = "moorhound_growl_ghost.png"
image moorhound returned = "moorhound_returned.png"
image moorhound tail = "moorhound_tail.png"
image larch speaking = "larch_speaking.png"
image larch speaking reverse = "larch_speaking-reverse.png"
image larch bottle = "larch_bottle.png"
image larch frowning = "larch_frowning.png"
image larch frowning reverse = "larch_frowning_reverse.png"
image larch smiling = "larch_smiling.png"
image larch smiling reverse = "larch_smiling_reverse.png"
image larch happy = "larch_happy.png"
image larch happy reverse = "larch_happy_reverse.png"
image larch confident = "larch_confident.png"
image larch afraid = "larch_afraid.png"
image larch sitting = "larch_sitting.png"
image larch yawning = "larch_yawning.png"
image larch yawning small = "larch_yawning_small.png"
image larch tired = "larch_tired.png"
image larch tired small = "larch_tired_small.png"

image larch sad = "larch_sad.png"

image larch sad reverse = "larch_sad_reverse.png"
image larch sleeping = "larch_sleeping.png"
image larch layawake = "larch_layawake.png"
image larch berries = "larch_berries.png"
image larch terror = "larch_terror.png"
image larch fall = "larch_fall.png"
image larch handheldout = "larch-handheldout.png"
image larch handheldout reverse = "larch-handheldout_reverse.png"
image larch coughing = "larch_coughing.png"
image larch idea = "larch_idea.png"
image quercus smiling = "quercus_smiling.png"
image quercus smiling reverse = "quercus_smiling_reverse.png"
image quercus smiling reverse 2 = "quercus_smiling_reverse_2.png"
image quercus waving = "quercus_waving.png"
image quercus worried = "quercus_worried.png"
image laurel cross = "laurel_cross.png"
image laurel smiling = "laurel_smiling.png"
image laurel smiling reverse = "laurel_smiling_reverse.png"
image laurel smiling small = "laurel_smiling_small.png"
image laurel upset = "laurel_upset.png"
image laurel happy = "laurel_happy.png"
image laurel happy small = "laurel_happy_small.png"
image laurel okay small = "laurel_okay_small.png"
image primrose smiling = "primrose_smiling.png"
image primrose smiling reverse = "primrose_smiling_reverse.png"
image primrose smiling small = "primrose_smiling_small.png"
image primrose running small = "primrose_running_small.png"
image primrose singing = "primrose_singing.png"
image primrose singing small = "primrose_singing_small.png"
image primrose blank = "primrose_blank.png"
image primrose blank small = "primrose_blank_small.png"
image primrose blank reverse = "primrose_blank_reverse.png"
image primrose worried = "primrose_worried.png"
image primrose worried reverse = "primrose_worried_reverse.png"
image primrose worried small = "primrose_worried_small.png"
image primrose worried small reverse = "primrose_worried_small_reverse.png"
image primrose cross = "primrose_cross.png"
image primrose cross reverse = "primrose_cross_reverse.png"
image primrose back turned = "primrose_back_turned.png"
image primrose back turned reverse = "primrose_back_turned_reverse.png"
image primrose alarmed = "primrose_alarmed.png"
image primrose alarmed small = "primrose_alarmed_small.png"
image primrose shouting = "primrose_shouting.png"
image primrose shouting reverse = "primrose_shouting_reverse.png"
image primrose crestfallen = "primrose_crestfallen.png"
image primrose crestfallen reverse = "primrose_crestfallen_reverse.png"
image primrose neutral = "primrose_neutral.png"
image primrose sleeping = "primrose_sleeping.png"
image primrose sleeping small = "primrose_sleeping_small.png"
image primrose sleeping reverse = "primrose_sleeping_reverse.png"
image primrose terror = "primrose_terror.png"
image primrose joyous = "primrose_joyous.png"
image primrose fall = "primrose_fall.png"

image primrose crying = "primrose_crying.png"

image primrose crying reverse = "primrose_crying_reverse.png"
image primrose coughing = "primrose_coughing.png"
image willow smiling = "willow_smiling.png"
image willow tongue = "willow_tongue.png"
image willow tongue reverse = "willow_tongue_reverse.png"
image willow annoyed = "willow_annoyed.png"
image willow neutral = "willow_neutral.png"
image willow neutral reverse = "willow_neutral_reverse.png"
image ram front = "ram_front.png"
image ram side = "ram_side.png"
image ram side = "ram_side.png"
image ram side reversed = "ram_side_reversed.png"
image ram side reversed short = "ram_side_reversed_short.png"
image ram laying = "ram_laying.png"
image ram leap = "ram_leap.png"
image ram leap reverse = "ram_leap_reverse.png"
image ram alarmed = "ram_alarmed.png"
image drinks can = "drinks-can.png"
image bracken = "bracken.png"
image drinks can look = "drinks-can-look.png"
image deer walk = "deer.png"
image larch primrose run = "larch_primrose_run.png"
image mist smoke loop = "mist_smoke_loop.png"
image chapter 2 = "chapter-2.png"
image chapter 3 = "chapter-3.png"
image chapter 4 = "chapter-4.png"
image chapter 5 = "chapter-5.png"
image chapter 6 = "chapter-6.png"
image chapter 7 = "chapter-7.png"
image chapter 8 = "chapter-8.png"
image bin = "bin.png"
image fence = "fence.png"
image sprigg feet = "sprigg_feet.png"
image movie = Movie(size=(800, 600))
# Declare characters used in the book. This section is not compulsory but makes script
writing much easier, as once you give each character a shorthand name reference like 'p' or
'l' then when you are writing a line of narrative speech for a character in the script, you only
need to write that shorthand instead of the character's full name.
# The 'color' variable is an HTML hex-code value like those used when writing a web-page,
and defines the colour that the character's name will be shown in when they speak.
Finally, 'show_two_window=True' shows the character's name in a small box above the
main narrative text box at the bottom of the page when the character is speaking.
define p = Character('Primrose', color="#228B22", show_two_window=True)
define l = Character('Larch', color="#bd4f27", show_two_window=True)
define who = Character('???', color="#bd4f27", show_two_window=True)
define k = Character('King Hawthorn', color="#bd4f27", show_two_window=True)
define w = Character('Willow', color="#99f216", show_two_window=True)
define m = Character('Moorhound', color="#ff8c33", show_two_window=True)
define la = Character('Laurel', color="#993300", show_two_window=True)

define q = Character('Quercus', color="#009900", show_two_window=True)

define r = Character('Ram', color="#000000", show_two_window=True)
define s = Character('The Springs', color="#228B22", show_two_window=True)
define sy = Character('Sycamore', color="#228B22", show_two_window=True)
define narrator = Character(None, color="#000000", show_two_window=False)
define parents = Character('Parents', color="#bd4f27", show_two_window=True)
# In these definitions, we have removed 'show_two_window=True' and replaced it with
'kind=nvl'. What this does is tell the book that when narrative lines are using the shortcut
names below, the narrative box should disappear and those characters' lines of speech
should be overlaid over the background like a conventional book instead.
define fsp = Character('Primrose', color="#56c142", kind=nvl)
define fsl = Character('Larch', color="#bd4f27", kind=nvl)
define fsk = Character('King Hawthorn', color="#d291e", kind=nvl)
define fsw = Character('Willow', color="#228B22", kind=nvl)
define fsm = Character('Moorhound', color="#ff8c33", kind=nvl)
define fsla = Character('Laurel', color="#993300", kind=nvl)
define fsq = Character('Quercus', color="#009900", kind=nvl)
define fsr = Character('Ram', color="#000000", kind=nvl)
define fsnarrator = Character(None, color="#000000", kind=nvl)
# If Ren'Py does not support a particular kind of image movement animation by default then
you can define custom movements yourself. Some examples are below the Ren'Py
manual has a full guide to programming such movements.
define slidedown = CropMove(1.0, "slidedown")
define slideleft = CropMove(1.0, "slideleft")
define slideright = CropMove(1.0, "slideright")
define slideup = CropMove(1.0, "slideup")
# The instruction below overlays an image over the background image in the scenes where
the narrative text is overlaid on the background instead of in the narrative box.
'nvl_window.png' is an image you create that will be the same size as your book's window
(e.g if the book is in an 800x600 window theb ' nvl_window.png' should be this size too. A
common use for this is to overlay a dark transparent layer over the background s that the
overlaid text is easier to read.
init python:
config.empty_window = nvl_show_core
style.nvl_window.background = "nvl_window.png"
# These are other custom positions we have defined and are use in place of the default 'left'
and 'right' positions built into Ren'Py. In the case of these positions, they place the
characters higher up the screen than the default positions do.
init:
$ middleleft = Position(xpos=270, ypos=395)
$ middleright = Position(xpos=700, ypos=395)
# The book starts here. All instructions that relate to displaying backgrounds, text, images,
animations, etc that were defined in the section above go below.
# Place this instruction right before the first scene of your book.
label start:
# This instruction plays a movie file as soon as the book starts. Movies in Ren'Py should

be in a format called Theora. Ask Fleet where to get an excellent free movie file converter
from.
show movie
play movie 'Intro-large.theora.ogv'
# Backgrounds in a scene are displayed by using the 'scene bg' instruction, followed by the
background name that you defined at the top of the script. In this opening scene, we have
also used the 'at zoom' instruction to tell the book to fade the background in and then pan
cinematically across it.
# 'nvl clear' and 'window hide', meanwhile, tell the book (a) that it is a scene where narrative
text will be overlaid on the background instead of in the narrative box, and (b) to make the
narrative box at the base of the screen invisible.
scene bg dawn at Zoom((800, 600), (0, 20, 400, 300), (0, 600, 800, 600), 25)
with fade
nvl clear
window hide
# The 'play music' instruction plays an audio file. 'fsnarrator' (a term we defined at the top
of the script) tells the book not to do anything else until a key is pressed. Once the key is
pressed, the script goes to the next instruction down in the script and fades out the music
track. The two lines below that tell the book to fade in the book's logo image.
play music "silver-shine.mp3"
fsnarrator " "
stop music fadeout 1.0
show healey logo
with fade
# Putting narrative text inbetween the spech marks on the fsnarrator statement overlays the
speech over the background.
fsnarrator "Press the Space key or the left mouse button to advance forward a page. Press PgUp /
PgDn or use the mouse wheel to move back or forward a page. Press the right mouse button at
any time to bring up the Options menu. "
# Once the user presses a key after the above speech is shown, the next scene of the book
will begin. Again, the scene begins with the 'scene bg' statement. Each time you use this
statement, it wipes the screen and any characters displayed on it clean and you have to
define the positions of the characters and other overlaid images again.
# Note that in this scene we are using 'narrator' instead of 'fsnarrator'. This tells the book
to display the text in the narrative box instead of overlaying it on the background.
scene bg dawn
with fade
narrator "Above the busy market town of Chorley, in the heart of glorious Lancashire, lies an area
of countryside known as Healey Nab, or just 'The Nab' to us locals. The area is popular with
walkers and a network of hiking trails criss-cross the area."
narrator "The Healey Nab area has two small man-made lakes, 'Bottom Lodge' and 'Top Lodge', a
private fishing lake. The summit is Grey Heights and near to it, in the centre of the Nab Woods, is
a disused quarry known as Devil's Rock."
narrator "Grey Heights and its cairn of stones at 682 feet offer fine views over Chorley and it is
possible to see the skyline of Preston, Fiddlers Ferry power station in Merseyside, the silhouette of
Blackpool Tower and the Irish Sea."

narrator "From Chorley, 'The Nab' dominates the landscape and is the first significant height gain in
the transition from a heavily-populated area to the moorland of the West Pennine Moors."
narrator "For generations, the woods have watched over Chorley, these peaceful acres having
been Royal hunting grounds in medieval times. Nowadays they have visitors of different kinds."
narrator "The dog walkers, mountain bikers and ramblers all come from near and far to enjoy this
beautiful part of Lancashire."
narrator "Each season is special at Healey Nab. Autumn brings a riot of color to the woods.
Morning mist veils Top Lodge and the reservoirs; an ethereal dawn visitor. Leaves rustle underfoot
as you walk the many paths in the dappled light."
narrator "During winter, secret paths are revealed as the foliage recedes. When the great Frost
casts his mighty hand across the Nab during the great chill of January, the trees and heathlands
are transformed into a sparkling wonderland of ice and snow."
narrator "Hoar frost adorns the larches and pines in delicate beauty. Winter is not a dead time at
the Nab. In some areas, it is merely sleeping, in others it is wonderfully alive."
narrator "To witness the silent snowfall atop Grey Heights on the Winter Solstice lifts the soul and
feeds one's imagination. When spring arrives, so do the snowdrops and the first green shoots."
narrator "You'll find the fields surrounding the woods dotted with knock-kneed lambs. The Nab
gleams with newness and excitement as days lengthen."
narrator "Summer arrives, bringing with it the dog days of long, hot stillness. Midsummer madness
abounds as dragonflies dance among the meadows and deer cautiously dart between the trees."
narrator "It is in the Nab Woods that our story begins, dear reader..."
# In the scene below we introduce a new positioning variable, 'truecenter'. This tells the
book to show an image in the dead centre of the screen.
# Another new thing is putting \" and \" at the start and end of a sentence. What this does
is tell the book to display that section of narrative text inside speech marks to indicate
when someone is talking, or something that someone said is being quoted.
scene bg nab woods
with fade
nvl clear
window hide
show chapter 2 at truecenter
with fade
fsnarrator " "
scene bg nab woods
narrator "Spring had melted into Summer at Healey Nab. As the notoriously unpredictable British
weather permitted calmer days for the public, the woods became busier with ramblers and those
trying their luck on the tricky mountain bike trails."
narrator"So friendly and alive were the woods - and yet they held a secret. For it was here that the
Spriggs lived. Spriggs? Yes, dear reader, you may well be asking yourself what a Sprigg is."
narrator "But fear not, for they really are the most charming little creatures - or people, whichever
you prefer. The Spriggs were a peaceful and shy race who had dwelt in the woods of Healey Nab
for a tremendously long time."
narrator "How long exactly remained a mystery, as did their origins. One could describe them as
part plant, part animal. They stood roughly twelve inches tall - or as they put it, \"as tall as a pair of
wellington boots.\""
narrator "Spriggs had very short brown fur, little round faces and stubby muzzles that somewhat
resembled otters. Their ears were rabbit-like and they also possessed two leaf-like growths on
either side of their heads."
narrator "They did not possess tails. Spriggs were skilled at making their own clothing from the
resources their woodland home provided and adorned themselves in robes, little boots and
dresses woven from moss, bracken and clumps of fleece."
narrator "As their own body fur was very thin, during winter they stripped bark from the trees to
wear. It was said that the Spriggs spoke a language all of their own, although their voices were

said to be too low for a human to hear."

narrator "The Spriggs made pine needle tea to drink and they only ventured out of the woods in
order to catch a fish or two from nearby Blue Waters quarry, which was behind the woods."
narrator "Spriggs remained invisible to humans...except for a very tiny handful of local people who
claimed to have witnessed \"the gradely little folk on 't Nab.\""
narrator "A few stories and folklore sprang up over the years. Children who played in the woods
spoke often of seeing little footprints and faint laughter coming from the trees."
narrator "The \little folk\" came to be known as the guardians of the Nab. So it was, on a beautiful
July morning, that another day began..."
# If you want to make the book wait for a keypress before moving on, so that an image
(such as a chapter heading) stays on the screen, define the image in a scene all on its own
and use the fsnarrator instruction to make the book wait for the keypress.
scene bg secret pathways
with fade
nvl clear
window hide
show chapter 3 at truecenter
with fade
fsnarrator " "
# This scene below is where we start to see \" and \" used regularly. But instead of putting
speech marks in a piece of descriptive prose, its purpose here is to place speech marks
around what a character is saying in the narrative box. This is probably the most
bothersome part of writing a Ren'Py script, as you have to copy and paste \" and \" in front
of every line of speech a character says, and the book will crash when run if the pasting is
incorrect.
# So it may be easier not to use \" and \" when first writing the script, and then add it to
each line of speech later. All it means is that your characters' lines of speech will not have
speech marks around them.
scene bg secret pathways
with fade
narrator "It is said that in all walks of life there are those who follow the crowd and those who don't;
they are the ones who plow their own furrow, and don't conform to the conventional. Primrose was
one of those people."
narrator "She was a spirited young Sprigg, cursed with a vivid imagination and a longing to witness
the world beyond the woods."
narrator "Primrose sang as she skipped through the bracken; she had quite forgotten that she had
been instructed to gather some pine cones for her mum."
# This is the first instance of the script where we overlay a character PNG cut-out over the
background. At the top of the script we defined an image frame called 'primrose singing'.
We call it here with 'show' and then put a 'with fade' instruction below to tell the book to
fade the frame in instead of making it appear suddenly out of thin air.
show primrose singing
with fade
p "\"One day I shall embark upon a fantastic adventure!\""
narrator "Presently she came across something that was a source of wonder indeed. Her emerald
eyes lit up as she surveyed the latest 'treasure' left by human hands."
# The 'hide' instruction removes a a specific image from the screen so that you can overlay
something else in that position without having to use the 'scene' instruction to wipe the
entire stage.

hide primrose singing

# In its place, we show an image of a drinks can.
show drinks can
narrator "She picked up the empty plastic drink bottle and hurried back to her family."
scene bg prologue
with fade
# Here, we set the character frame to the custom 'middleleft' position we defined earlier, and
a little further down we display another character nearby with the custom 'middleright'
position.
show primrose smiling small at middleleft
p "\"Mom, Dad! Look, oh you must look! Another gift! The Outsiders have left us another gift!
Isn't it the most grand of things you ever did see?\""
narrator "The Outsiders was the name Spriggs gave to humans - or to be more precise, anyone
who wasn't a Sprigg and did not live in Nab Woods."
# Below, we show a new image frame for the same character. This is how you change a
character's frame of animation, so that when the book reader presses a key, the former
frame will automatically be replaced with the new one (which may have a new pose, facial
expression, etc)
# You have now grasped the basics of Ren'Py script construction. Each subsequent scene
uses a similar pattern of scene definition and then character speech definition and image
frame display, making it easily to quickly build a script using copy and paste.
show primrose blank small at middleleft
show laurel happy small at middleright
# A further important tip: a 'show' instruction should always precede a line of narrative text.
Otherwise if you write a narrative line stating that, for example, Primrose is shocked, and
-then- do the 'show' instruction, the 'shocked' character animation frame will not appear
until after a key is pressed, which will confuse the reader if the previous animation frame
(which might show Primrose smiling) is displayed whilst the 'Primrose is shocked' line is in
the narrative box.
la "\"Two in two days? Incredible. Summer always brings so many gifts from the Outsiders. We'll
add it to the collection at once!\""
show primrose smiling small at middleleft
show laurel smiling small at middleright
narrator "The Spriggs, in their innocence, were unaware that the items left by the wood's human
visitors were not gifts at all, but merely litter."
narrator "Primrose looked carefully at the clear plastic bottle."
hide primrose smiling small
hide laurel smiling small
show drinks can look
narrator " "
scene bg prologue
show primrose alarmed small at middleleft
show laurel okay small at middleright
p "\"This one is special - look how the sun shines through it! Please may I keep it? I'm going to
show it to Larch.\""

show laurel happy small at middleright

show primrose singing small at middleleft
la "\"Well alright, but take good care of it as it looks to be a very precious gift. Oh, and where are
those pine cones I asked you to collect?\""
show primrose worried small reverse at middleleft
scene bg prologue with vpunch
show laurel smiling small at middleright
show primrose worried small reverse at middleleft
p "\"Oops...I'll collect them later, I promise. Bye!\""
show primrose running small at offscreenleft with move
narrator "Primrose's mum sighed as her carefree daughter ran off again and turned to her
husband."
scene bg nab woods
with fade
show quercus smiling at truecenter
show laurel cross at right
la "\"What am I going to do about her? Daydreams all the time, never concentrates on her work.\""
q "\"Don't worry too much. Our Primrose is a smart lass - she'll surprise us all one day!\""
scene bg primrose yell
with fade
nvl clear
window hide
fsnarrator " "
fsnarrator "Primrose reached the stubby fir tree where her best friend Larch lived and called to him
loudly to draw his attention to her presence."
fsp "\"Larch! LARCH! Can you hear me?\""
fsnarrator "A sleepy Larch yawned as he stretched his arms and reluctantly opened the front door."
show larch yawning small
fsl "\"How could I not hear?\""
scene bg fields
with fade
show primrose smiling at right
p "\"Morning, lazy bones! I've got something to show you!\""
narrator "Primrose handed him the plastic bottle."
show larch bottle at left
show primrose singing at right
l "\"Oh wow, that's a beauty! Never seen a clear one before. Usually they come in different colors,
mostly green. You should hang it from a tree and then it'll catch the light.\""
show primrose blank at right
p "\"Good idea! Now, shall we go exploring?\""
show larch speaking reverse at left
show primrose crestfallen at right
narrator "Larch sighed."
show larch frowning reverse at left
show primrose blank at right
l "\"I'd love to, but I can't. I'm babysitting Willow again.\""
narrator "There was a rustling and Larch's excitable younger sister appeared."
show willow smiling at center with fade
show larch handheldout at right
show primrose smiling at left
w "\"Hello Primrose! You two going out playing? I'm coming too!\""
show primrose singing at left
p "\"There, problem solved! Off we go.\""
show larch frowning at right

narrator "Larch pulled a face at Primrose at this statement, and turned to Willow."
show primrose neutral at left
l "\"Three's a crowd. You know you'll only get in the way!\""
show willow tongue reverse at center
show larch speaking at right
narrator "Willow stuck her tongue out at him."
scene bg winter hill
with fade
show primrose smiling at left
show larch smiling at right
show willow smiling at center
narrator "The three Spriggs skipped through the dappled light of the trees and headed towards the
Grey Heights cairn, which marked the summit of the Nab."
show larch confident at right
l "\"What are we going to do today, then? Another treasure hunt?\""
show primrose neutral at left
show larch speaking at right
p "\"No, I'm going to go on an adventure...and I was wondering if you'd like to come with me. It's
going to be tremendously fun, I just know it.\""
narrator "Larch showed a distinct lack of enthusiasm."
show larch frowning at right
show primrose cross at left
p "\"I'm not going to be in the woods.\""
show primrose back turned at left
show larch frowning at right
narrator "Primrose pointed towards Winter Hill."
p "\"See that? That's where I want to go!\""
show larch afraid at right
narrator "Larch suddenly became afraid and began trembling."
show larch sad reverse at right
l "\"D-do you know what you're saying? L-leave the woods? You know we can't do that! It's
forbidden....surely you can't have forgotten why. Bad things lurking out there. Bad. Tthe...Moorhound lurks out there!\""
show willow annoyed at center
w "\"What's a Moorhound?\""
show primrose smiling reverse at left
show larch speaking at right
show willow neutral at center
narrator "Larch looked at Willow apprehensively."
l "\"You're too young to be told about it yet.\""
# Here, we set up a situation where a character is animated without the reader having to
press a key to display each frame of animation. In this case, we make the young girl
character Willow jump up and down on the spot by moving the character's animation frame
up the screen, then down, and then looping that up-down motion until the reader presses a
key.
# As we explained earlier, we put the narrator statement -before- the animation so that it
does not begin until the reader presses a key -after- the 'Willow jumped up and down'
statement is displayed in the narrative box.
narrator "On hearing this, Willow jumped up and down."
show willow annoyed at Move((350, 395, 'center', 'center'),
(350, 360, 'center', 'center'),
0.5, repeat=True, bounce=False)

show primrose crestfallen reverse at left

show larch frowning at right
w "\"No I'm not! If you don't tell me then I'll start screaming!\""
show larch speaking at right
show primrose blank reverse at left
l "\"Whoa, okay, okay, just be patient! Primrose, you need to put this idea out of your head, it's
crazy!\""
show willow tongue at center
show primrose cross reverse at left
narrator "Primrose remained defiant."
show willow neutral reverse at center
show larch frowning at right
p "\"I don't believe in that stupid Moorhound. I think it's just a silly story made up by the Sprigg
elders to scare them into not having adventures!\""
show willow neutral at center
show larch sad reverse at right
l "\"Rubbish...why would they do that?\""
show willow neutral reverse at center
show primrose shouting reverse at left
show larch speaking at right
p "\"Because grown-ups are boring and have no sense of fun!\""
narrator "Primrose looked at Winter Hill again."
show primrose back turned at left
show willow neutral reverse at center
show larch frowning at right
p "\"It's surely got to be the highest point in the land, maybe the whole world. And the mysterious
white thing on it. What do you suppose it really is?\""
narrator "She was of course, referring to the television signal transmitter mast, a well-known
landmark for miles around."
show larch speaking at right
show willow neutral reverse at center
l "\"I've no idea....I bet it's something that bites!\""
show primrose blank reverse at left
show larch sad reverse at right
p "\"Have you ever seen it at night? It glows in the dark with red lights!\""
show willow neutral at center
show larch afraid at right
l "\"Yes, those are its eyes. With so many eyes it can see things wherever they are. It would
definitely see us coming and maybe alert the Moorhound...or maybe eat us first!\""
show primrose cross reverse at left
show willow neutral reverse at center
show larch speaking at right
p "\"The Red Eyed Hill...I just have to climb it!\""
scene bg woodland path
with fade
nvl clear
window hide
show chapter 4 at truecenter
with fade
fsnarrator " "
scene bg woodland path
with fade
narrator "Born to the sound of the north wind, whose haunting cry is echoed in its howl, the great
Moorhound had prowled the West Pennine moors for centuries, so the stories told."
narrator "Its bark echoed for miles and it was feared by the Spriggs as a merciless and bloodthirsty

creature that would think nothing of devouring anything unlucky enough to cross its path."
show hawthorn speaking at center
k "\"The Moorhound keeps to its realm out on the moors, and we Spriggs keep to ours here in the
woods. Except when we venture to the Blue Waters to catch food. One must not wander any
further from the woods than the Blue Waters.\""
k "\"Those that do will surely meet their doom. This pact has remained unbroken for many years
and shall continue to do so and because of it, no Sprigg has suffered any serious harm.\""
hide hawthorn speaking
narrator "Primrose muttered under her breath."
show primrose cross reverse at center
p "\"Oh, what utter rot! I don't believe a word of it!\""
narrator "Larch, standing beside her, gulped."
show larch speaking at right
l "\"I'm not so sure.\""
show primrose shouting reverse at center
p "\"Nobody has ever seen this so-called Moorhound. So how do they know it's really out there?\""
show larch frowning at right
l "\"Well, you don't always have to see something in order to know it's there.\""
show primrose cross reverse at center
p "\"It's a hoax, I'm sure of it. And I intend to prove it. It's not going to stop me having an
adventure! I've decided that as soon as dawn breaks tomorrow, I'm leaving!\""
show larch afraid at right
l "\"What?! You can't be serious?\""
narrator "Several other Spriggs turned round and ordered Primrose and Larch to quieten down.\""
show larch speaking at right
narrator "Primrose lowered her voice to an angry whisper."
show primrose shouting reverse at center
p "\"I've never been more serious. If you're scared then you needn't come. However, you breathe
one word of this to anyone and you'll wish you'd never been born!\""
show larch frowning at right
narrator "Larch blinked. Primrose wasn't a Sprigg to mess with when her heart was set on
something. She could hold someone in a fearsome half nelson wrestling clutch when angered!"
scene bg dawn second
with fade
narrator "Dawn broke across the land and all was still at Healey Nab. Except one small Sprigg,
who was furtively making her way to the edge of the wood. Primrose had made up her mind and
she wasn't staying here a moment longer."
narrator "She had fashioned herself a small satchel made from tree bark, which was sufficient to
hold a few whimberries and minnows wrapped up in oak leaves, as well as couple of bottlecaps for
good luck."
show primrose cross at center
p "\"If no-one will come with me then I'll go on my own! It looks like it's going to be a sunny day.
Hopefully I can get to the Red Eyed Hill before nightfall.\""
scene bg blue waters
with fade
show primrose back turned at center
narrator "As she made her way past the Blue Waters quarry and towards the open moorland that
lay beyond, a voice called out."
who "\"Hey, Primrose, wait!\""
narrator "Primrose turned round to see Larch hurrying towards her."
show primrose neutral at center
show larch confident at right
l "\"You weren't thinking of going without your best friend were you?\""
show primrose singing at center
p "\"Of course not! Think you can keep up with me?\""

show larch smiling reverse at right

l "\"You bet! So, where exactly are we going?\""
show primrose smiling at center
p "\"To climb the Red Eyed Hill. Well, it's a journey into the unknown really. The best adventures
aren't planned. Let's just start walking and see where we end up.\""
narrator "And so the two Spriggs left their home of Healey Nab woods behind as their adventure
began."
scene bg nab woods
with fade
narrator "The Spriggs back at the wood were in uproar when it was discovered that Primrose and
Larch had left. King Hawthorn tried his best to comfort the distressed parents of the two missing
Springs, but the general opinion was not an optimistic one."
show hawthorn thoughtful at left
show laurel upset at center
show quercus worried at right
narrator "Bracken, one of the oldest Spriggs, muttered, \"They're goners for sure.\""
narrator "Oak and Sycamore chipped in, \"The Moorhound will hunt them down, oh woe!\""
scene bg winter hill
with fade
nvl clear
window hide
fsnarrator "The setting sun speared through the branches, casting a spider's web of lace-like
patterns on the cyclists, hikers and dog walkers who passed through the woods. "
fsnarrator "A deer cautiously edged its way along the trail, ears twitching, ever alert to the threat of
danger."
# The animation scene below differs from the vertical 'Willow jumping' sequence earlier in
that it makes a deer walk horizontally across the screen from off-stage on the right side of
the screen to off-stage on the left side. The X position '900' tells the book to start the
character's motion 100 points offscreen on the right hand side of an 800 point wide
background. '445' is the vertical height on the background that the deer is positioned at.
# The line below tells the deer to keep walking until it is 300 points offscreen on the left side
(so that the character frame has totally disappeared offscreen and is not showing a hand or
backside sticking out of the edge of the screen!).
# We set the Y position again at '445' because we want the deer to walk in a straight line. If
it were a lower value or higher, the deer would travel horizontally upwars or downwards.
'445' is also low enough that the deer's legs are displayed below the bottom of the screen
and so you can use a single animation frame to portray movement across the screen.
# '8' refers to the speed at which the character frame is moved across the screen. The
higher the number, the slower the motion. Experiment to find the number that suits your
particular scene.
show deer walk at Move((900, 445, 'center', 'center'),
(-300, 445, 'center', 'center'),
8, repeat=False, bounce=False)
fsnarrator " "
fsnarrator "They had no idea how far they had traveled or indeed their current location. They were
actually on the moorland of Black Coppice. In the distance, the outline of Healey Nab woods lay, a
shadow on the horizon."
scene bg winter hill bushes
show larch tired small at center

show primrose sleeping at right

narrator "Larch looked longingly at his home, wishing he was safe and well within its boundaries.
He panted with exhaustion as Primrose tried to settle under a bush."
l "\"We must've traveled miles. I don't feel safe here at all. This moor is so wide and open and
there's nowhere to hide.\""
narrator "Primrose's voice was reduced to a low whisper by her own tiredness."
show larch frowning at center
p "\"Too tired to run. This gorse is scratchy and prickly. But it'll have to do for tonight. You have to
rough it a bit if you want a proper adventure.\""
narrator "Larch was too worried about the Moorhound to relax."
show larch speaking reverse
l "\"I wonder if it can smell us out here?\""
narrator "Primrose handed him some whimberries."
show larch berries at center
show primrose crestfallen at right
p "\"Eat these, they'll take your mind off that silly old Moorhound! Oh, I wish I'd brought some pine
needle tea along, but I couldn't carry much else.\""
scene bg winter hill bushes
nvl clear
window hide
show primrose sleeping at left
show larch sleeping at right
fsnarrator "Overcome by their experiences, the Spriggs fell into uneasy sleep..."
scene bg winter hill bushes dark
with fade
nvl clear
window hide
show chapter 5 at truecenter
with fade
fsnarrator " "
scene bg winter hill bushes dark
with fade
nvl clear
window hide
show larch sleeping at right
fsnarrator "The world was still in darkness as the morning mist arrived to spread a ghostly veil
across the Pennines. The Nab was strangely silent - not even the faintest breeze could be heard
brushing against the leaves - and yet there was a noise; one that only Spriggs could hear."
fsnarrator "A faint, haunting sound that seemed to emanate from all around. It was almost as if the
wood itself was mourning the departure of Primrose and Larch."
scene bg winter hill bushes
show larch yawning at right
with fade
narrator "Larch woke and stretched. He'd had an uncomfortable night, sleeping under the gorse
bush. He was cold and damp too. The dew had formed overnight and moistened everything."
narrator "Back home in the comfort of Nab woods, he was shielded from such things. Rubbing his
eyes, he ventured out into the open. Beads of dew glistened on a spider's web."
scene bg winter hill bushes
nvl clear
window hide
show larch layawake at right
fsnarrator "The young Sprigg retreated back under the bush at the sight of the mist. It was hugging

the ground all around him, wanting to consume him. Larch had seen mist many times before, but it
was always kept in check by the trees of Nab woods."
fsnarrator "Now, out on this bare moor, there was nothing to restrain it. There was a dim but
persistent sense of fear out here that he couldn't fathom. He wanted to go home."
scene bg winter hill bushes
with fade
show primrose crestfallen at center
narrator "Primrose finally left the realms of slumber and panic hit her as she realized Larch wasn't
beside her. She called out his name at the top of her voice, fearing some terrible mishap had
befallen her friend."
narrator "Larch pushed through the heather and emerged beside Primrose. He placed his paw
gently on her back to reassure her."
show larch sad reverse at right
l "\"Ssh, I'm here! Try not to make so much noise.\""
narrator "Primrose jumped at his sudden touch, startled."
show primrose alarmed at center with vpunch
narrator "Primrose gathered herself and snapped at Larch."
show primrose shouting reverse at center
show larch frowning at right
p "\"Don't go wandering off then!\""
show larch speaking at right
l "\"I didn't, I was just looking around. I don't like this mist! It's all around us!\""
narrator "For the first time since the previous day, a smile broke across Primrose's face and the
tension between the two friends evaporated like mist under morning sun."
show primrose smiling at center
p "\"Mist can't harm you. I like it. It will shield us and stop us from being seen.\""
show larch smiling reverse at right
l "\"It's a cold and clinging wetness and I think it's given me a chill. My poor little feet are all
frozen!\""
show primrose singing at center
p "\"We'd better continue our journey and see if we can find something to eat along the way,\""
scene bg fields 2
with fade
narrator "The two Spriggs continued their journey across the moor. Larch scratched his head
thoughtfully"
show larch speaking reverse at center
show primrose smiling reverse at right
l "\"Do you have any idea where we're going?\""
show primrose back turned at right
p "\"Not really, but I have a hunch we're going in the right direction to reach the Red Eyed Hill.\""
scene bg fields
narrator "The mist was with them all the way as they trudged onwards and upwards through the
dark bracken that gave Black Coppice its name. Pushing through it was difficult when you were
only as tall as a pair of wellingtons."
narrator "Larch was relieved that the ground became gradually drier as they continued. Thick mud
would have been hard going on his little moss-covered feet."
show larch speaking reverse at center
l "\"Is it just me or is this moor getting steeper every step we take?\""
narrator "Primrose called back to Larch from a couple of feet in front of him."
show primrose blank reverse at right
with fade
p "\"Yes it is. I like the mist but now I'd like it to clear as I bet there's a terrific view from up here.\""
narrator "The ground was dotted with large stones. Something gleamed in the heather and Larch
bent down to pick it up. He looked carefully at the object, which unbeknown to him was a

discarded cigarette end."

show larch speaking reverse at center
show primrose neutral at right
l "\"I wonder what this is?\""
narrator "He touched the glowing end and yelped in pain as it burned his fingertip."
show larch afraid at center
l "\"Ouch!\""
narrator "Larch tossed the offending thing into a patch of bracken."
show larch handheldout at center
show primrose crestfallen at right
l "\"Obviously some weird type of biting insect. Horrible thing!\""
scene bg fields
narrator "Presently, Larch climbed up what he thought was a large mound of mossy ground."
show ram laying at right
show larch sad at center
narrator "He soon found out how wrong he was when the mound suddenly came to life and
moved!"
show larch afraid at center
l "\"Agggh!\""
who "\"BAAAA!\""
scene bg fields
show primrose shouting reverse at right
narrator "Primrose heard the commotion from her location up ahead and ran back through the
bracken in the direction of Larch. She grabbed the largest stick she could find and hurried to help
her friend. "
p "\"Larch! Where are you?\""
# In this scene, we change the ram character's animation frame continuously to show the
sheep leaping about from side to side and so give the scene an energetic quality.
scene bg fields
with fade
show ram leap reverse at left
show primrose singing at right
narrator "When she arrived she burst out laughing at the sight of Larch clinging for dear life - to the
back of a sheep!"
p "\"Oh Larch, are you feeling sheepish?\""
l "\"Not funny at all, Primrose! This sheep is a woolly bully!\""
show primrose joyous at right
show ram leap at left
narrator "The Spriggs did not fear sheep, whom they had witnessed many times grazing in the
fields surrounding Healey Nab woods."
p "\"Don't worry Larch, sheep won't eat us - they only eat grass!\""
show ram leap reverse at left
show primrose smiling at right
scene bg fields
with fade
narrator "Eventually the two Spriggs were able to calm down the startled animal into standing still.
Larch gratefully leapt to the ground."
show primrose smiling at right
show larch sitting at center
show ram front at left
l "\"Sincere apologies, my ovine friend. Didn't mean to step on you!\""
narrator "The gruff old ram accepted Larch's apology."

show larch smiling reverse at center

show ram side reversed short at left
show primrose neutral at right
r "\"What are you playing at though? There's nothing on Grain Pole Hill for you little forest folk!\""
show primrose alarmed at right
show ram side reversed short at left
show larch speaking at center
p "\"Grain Pole Hill? Is that what they call the Red Eyed Hill? Are we there already?\""
narrator "The sheep found this hilarious."
r "\"Haaa! No lass, you'll be meaning Winter Hill, that's a good few miles from here! But you're
almost at the summit of Grain Pole...can't miss it. Aye, we sheep love it. But listen...\""
narrator "Suddenly, their conversation was cut short as an eerie sound rent the air. The old ram
shuddered."
show larch afraid at center
show primrose alarmed at right
show ram alarmed at left with vpunch
r "\"Ay up, no good's coming when you hear that cry!\""
show ram side reversed short at left
show larch speaking reverse at center
show primrose worried at right
narrator "The sheep wasn't going to hang around. He turned and ran as fast as he could,
vanishing into the mist, along with several other sheep, bleating in terror."
# In the following animation, we use the deer animation code to make the ram 'run'. The
main difference is that we have set the motion speed at '1' to make the ram travel very fast
in order to reflect the fact that it is frightened.
show ram side reversed at Move((0, 445, 'center', 'center'),
(1400, 445, 'center', 'center'),
1, repeat=False, bounce=False)
narrator "Larch gulped."
show larch speaking at right
show primrose worried reverse at center
l "\"That noise ... it frightened the old sheep. What was it?\""
narrator "Primrose shook her head."
show primrose neutral at left
show larch frowning reverse at center
p "\"I ... I don't know, but I didn't like it!\""
narrator "Larch's voice became barely audible."
show larch speaking handheldout reverse at right
show primrose blank reverse at left
l "\"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?\""
show primrose neutral at center
show larch frowning at right
narrator "Primrose shuddered. Ever since she'd set out on this adventure, she'd convinced herself
that the Moorhound her elders spoke about was just a story dreamt up to frighten young Spriggs
into staying in the Nab woods."
narrator "But now, with sinister howls filling the air, she was beginning to wonder whether the story
was in fact true. Then a twig snapped."
show primrose back turned at center with vpunch
show larch afraid at right with vpunch
narrator "Primrose took Larch's hand and mouthed only one word."
p "\"RUN!\""
scene bg fields
show larch primrose run at center
narrator "Terrified beyond measure, Primrose and Larch fled as fast as their small legs could carry

them. They crashed through bracken and tripped over clumps of heather, cruel branches snagging
at their bodies as they tried their best to dodge them."
scene bg mist
with fade
show moorhound front at right
show larch terror at center
show primrose terror at left
narrator "Their escape was in vain; for looming in front of them out of the mist was a vast black
shape. The Spriggs ground to a halt, frozen with fear. Amber eyes glinted in the gloom, and with
teeth grinning white, the black shape revealed itself at last - the great Pennine Moorhound!"
scene bg mist
with fade
nvl clear
window hide
show chapter 6 at truecenter
with fade
fsnarrator " "
scene bg mist
with fade
show larch afraid at center
show primrose terror at center
narrator "The Moorhound uttered a deep, blood-chilling howl. Primrose and Larch were
surprisingly quick, given the circumstances; however, they knew they'd be no match for the mighty
beast, who would surely catch them in seconds."
show larch fall at center
show primrose fall at center
narrator "Primrose tripped over a stone, dragging Larch down with her!"
narrator "Fearing the worst, they turned round, expecting the Moorhound to be standing over them.
ready to devour the two little Spriggs. But...he wasn't there."
show bracken at right
show primrose alarmed at right
show larch speaking reverse at center
l "\"Where is he?\""
p "\"He could be anywhere. It is said that the Moorhound can become invisible.\""
narrator "The patch of bracken that they were hiding behind shuddered and the Moorhound uttered
a whine."
# The instruction 'with hpunch' is used to make a character frame shake horizontally briefly
as though the character is shivering quickly. The 'with vpunch' instruction, meanwhile,
makes a character shake vertically as though startled.
show bracken at right with hpunch
show primrose worried at right
show larch afraid at center
l "\"He's here!!!\""
show larch speaking at center
show primrose worried reverse at right
narrator "The two Spriggs turned to run again, but stopped as they realized the feared beast wasn't
chasing after them."
l "\"What is he doing? Do you think he's injured or something?\""
show primrose shouting at right
p "\"I don't think we should hang around to find out!\""
show larch sad at center
show primrose crestfallen reverse at right

narrator "Larch was as curious as he was terrified, and took a deep breath. He tiptoed over to the
patch of bracken."
show primrose shouting at right
show larch frowning reverse at center
p "\"What are you doing? He'll eat you!\""
show larch speaking reverse at center
l "\"No he won't ... he's in trouble! Come here and see for yourself!\""
hide bracken with fade
# During the production of this book script, there were not many hitches but one particular
one was in more complex scenes where a character was displayed on the left, right and
center. If one of the characters (such as the Moorhound in this book) is particularly large
then they can end up positioned in front of the other characters and obscure them.
# The way to ensure that a large character is displayed -behind- the other characters seems
to be to put that large character first in the list of 'show' instructions. Think of it like pasting
a cut-out of a character on a piece of paper and then pasting other character cut-outs over
the top of it.
# Another important tip is to keep track of where each character is standing on the stage
(left, center or right) so that when you define a new 'show' frame for that character, they are
always in the same position onscreen from frame to frame (unless you deliberately want to
move the character, of course). That way, you will end up having to go back and do
corrections to the script fewer times!
show moorhound wire at center
show larch sad at left
show primrose crestfallen at right
narrator "Primrose gingerly walked over. The Moorhound was lying on his side. There was no
mistaking the sharp horns on either side of his head, which were used to slash through thick
undergrowth when running."
show moorhound wire at center
show larch speaking reverse at left
show primrose crestfallen at right
narrator "Larch was barely able to speak due to his fear and stammered out his words."
l "\"Are you ... hurt?\""
show primrose worried at right
narrator "The dog responded in a deep, guttural voice."
show moorhound wire wince at center
show larch frowning reverse at left
show primrose neutral at right
m "\"Hurt no, trapped yes! Confound this discarded wire! Bound my paws so tight I can no longer
walk properly! A curse on those careless hill walkers!\""
narrator "The Spriggs were somewhat confused and asked how it happened."
show moorhound wire at center
show larch speaking reverse at left
show primrose alarmed at right
m "\"The way it always happens. Humans dropping litter all over the place. Please can you help
me?\""
l "\"Primrose, what do you think?\""
show moorhound wire wince at center
show larch handheldout at left
show primrose cross at right
p "\"If we do, do you promise not to eat us?\""
narrator "The Moorhound laughed."
show moorhound wire eyemove at center
show primrose worried at right

m "\"You little woodland people are too small to satisfy my appetite! I can't waste time on mere
morsels like you. Now a nice plump sheep on the other hand ... \""
narrator "Primrose was still wary, as the Moorhound's teeth and horns were wickedly sharp. But
the dog was in obvious distress and they could ignore him no longer. Primrose smiled at him."
show moorhound wire at center
show larch smiling at left
show primrose smiling at right
p "\"Spriggs always help whenever they can!\""
narrator "Primrose and Larch set to work carefully untangling the wire from the Moorhound's legs."
scene bg mist
with fade
show moorhound freed at center
show primrose sleeping reverse at right
narrator "Their small fingers made short work of the tight binding, and in no time at all the
Moorhound was free. He rose to his feet and flexed his paws."
show moorhound neutral at center
show larch smiling at left
show primrose smiling at right
m "\"A bit stiff, but no serious injury! Thank you so much, young Spriggs. Now I am free once
more! But now we must discard this rotten wire to prevent anyone else falling victim to it.\""
narrator "Larch carefully wound it into a tight loop."
show larch speaking reverse at left
show primrose neutral at right
l "\"Fascinating stuff, it doesn't snap when you bite it! Had no idea this could be so dangerous!\""
narrator "The Moorhound shook his head sadly and sighed."
show moorhound growl shorttail at center
show larch speaking reverse at left
show primrose blank at right
m "\"Oh ye of little knowledge. You don't know the folly of encountering litter, do you?\""
narrator "Primrose blinked, puzzled."
show primrose crestfallen at right
show larch frowning reverse at left
p "\"Litter? What is that?\""
narrator "Primrose reached in her handmade bag and removed a collection of bottlecaps."
show larch speaking reverse at left
show primrose back turned at right
p "\"Is it like treasure? We get treasure left in Healey Nab woods all the time. The Outsiders ...
humans, you call them ... leave it for us to find.\""
narrator "The Moorhound laughed so loud that it echoed across the moors."
show moorhound smiling at center
m "\"You foolish, naive creatures! Litter is the blight of the land - alas, it is litter you hold in your
hand!\""
show moorhound staring at center
show primrose crestfallen at right
show larch frowning reverse at left
p "\"What? But these look so pretty! How could these blight the land?\""
show moorhound thoughtful at center
show primrose cross at right
narrator "The Moorhound sat down and told the two Spriggs about how a small number of humans
disposed of their rubbish out in the countryside and how dangerous it was to wild animals."
m "\"So you see, litter is very bad indeed. Luckily not all humans are bad and many work hard to
keep your little Healey Nab wood clean and tidy.\""
narrator "Primrose looked at the bottlecaps."
show moorhound neutral at center
show primrose back turned reverse at right
show larch sad at left

p "\"What shall I do with these then?\""

m "\"Keep hold of them for now. They are bottlecaps. Not the most dangerous bits of litter I've
seen. But you must put them and the wire in the nearest bin. That's a device for putting litter in.\""
narrator "The two Spriggs nodded."
show moorhound staring at center
show primrose neutral at right
show larch speaking reverse at left
l "\"The mist doesn't seem to be clearing at all, does it?\""
show moorhound howl at center
narrator "The Moorhound sniffed the air."
m "\"It's not mist I can smell ... it's something else.\""
show moorhound growl shorttail at center
show primrose crying at right
show larch handheldout at left
p "My eyes are hurting. Something is making them water. Hey, what's that strange orange glow
over there?\""
narrator "Larch squinted as smoke started blowing towards them."
show larch speaking reverse at left
l "\"Is it sunset already?\""
show moorhound neutral at center
narrator "The Moorhound looked on in horror."
m "\"That's no sunset! I know what that is ... it's FIRE! A moorland fire! Danger! We've got to get
away from it right now!\""
show moorhound growl shorttail at left
show larch coughing at left
show primrose coughing at right
narrator "The two Spriggs were already coughing. They knew all about fire - they made small
campfires in order to heat up their pine needle tea."
scene bg flames
with fade
nvl clear
window hide
fsnarrator "Primrose had been taught from a young age about how it could burn you and how
quickly it could spread if not carefully monitored."
fsnarrator "The Spriggs always kept wooden pails of water close by when they started a campfire.
The fire they were witnessing now was a million miles away from the campfires they were used to."
fsnarrator "It was a raging inferno, rapidly consuming the moorland in front of them at an alarming
rate. The heat from it was intense."
scene bg mist smoke
with fade
show moorhound thoughtful at center
show larch coughing at left
show primrose coughing at right
l "\"It'll destroy anything in its path! We'll never be able to outrun it!\""
narrator "The Moorhound looked at them."
show primrose crying at right
show larch terror at left
show moorhound growl shorttail at center
m "\"Maybe not, but a Moorhound can run faster than fire and faster than the wind that's fanning
the flames. You helped me, now it is my turn to help you.\""
m "\"Climb on my back young Spriggs, and hold on tight. For I shall take you to the highest point in
my realm; a place of safety.\""
show moorhound howl at center
show larch coughing at left
show primrose crestfallen at right

m "\"I must howl too - to alert the good humans out there. Then they shall come and create
immense fountains of water. We must make haste!\""
narrator "Larch and Primrose clambered on to the Moorhound's back. Larch grabbed his horns,
rather like a cyclist gripping handlebars. Primrose gripped Larch's waist, and all at once they were
off as the Moorhound sprinted across the vast hillside, more swift and graceful than a racehorse."
scene bg mist smoke
nvl clear
window hide
show moorhound flying short at left
fsnarrator "The Spriggs cried out with exhilaration as they traversed several acres of land in just a
few minutes. Truly, nothing was fleeter of foot than a Pennine Moorhound."
# This is an unusual animation in this scene, as we are depicting rapid motion across a
landscape by horizontally scrolling a very long background quickly on a loop whilst the
character frame is static in front of the background, creating the illusion that it is the
character moving. This is a timeless technique used in old movies and some vintage
videogames / amusement arcade games.
scene bg mist smoke
show mist smoke loop at Move((300, 300, 'center', 'center'),
(3300, 300, 'center', 'center'),
1, repeat=True, bounce=False)
show moorhound flying at left
s "\"We're the wind!!\""
scene bg blue waters
with fade
nvl clear
window hide
fsnarrator "The fire was soon far behind them as they bounded up higher and higher ground. The
ride was as thrilling as it was terrifying. An adventure beyond Primrose's wildest dreams. But then
a horrible thought brought her to her senses."
fsp "\"Oh gosh, the fire ... it's heading straight for Nab woods!\""
scene bg nab woods smoke
with fade
nvl clear
window hide
show chapter 7 at truecenter
with fade
fsnarrator " "
scene bg nab woods smoke
with fade
show hawthorn speaking at center
narrator "The mist seemed to be turning thicker and darker and flowing through the Nab woods at
an alarming rate. King Hawthorn had felt uneasy all morning and was not in the mood for
company. He ventured outside the woods on the north side. Then he noticed the fire. He felt his
strength drain from him."
k "\"It isn't mist after all, it's smoke!\""
show hawthorn thoughtful at center
narrator "Flames as far as the eye could see. Barely a mile away and rapidly closing. Most of
Black Coppice was on fire. The ground was tinder dry due to the lack of recent rainfall. He began
processing the situation in his mind"
k "\"By the blazes, if it reaches us we're all done for!\""
show hawthorn worried at center

narrator "King Hawthorn hurried back to warn the others. Everyone would have to leave Nab
woods at once. Then he stopped running."
k "\"But where could we go to? These woods are our home! There's nowhere else we could go
to!\""
show hawthorn speaking at center
narrator "He heard the Sprigg Sycamore calling across to him from nearby."
sy "\"King Hawthorn! The moor is on fire!\""
show hawthorn sigh at center
narrator "The King sighed wearily at this rather obvious revelation. He cupped his paws together
and placed them to his mouth to help his voice travel farther."
k "\"Yes ... I know. Round up Oak, Bracken, Spruce and the other elders. Tell them to prepare
everyone to evacuate the woods.\""
show hawthorn thoughtful at center
sy "\"Evacuate to where? We Spriggs have never left Nab woods! Besides which, the Moorhound
lurks out there!\""
k "\"Right now I fear the fire more than the Moorhound. Maybe it fears it too!\""
show hawthorn speaking with hpunch
narrator "Suddenly an eerie howl echoed in the distance. King Hawthorn shuddered."
show hawthorn alarmed at center
k "\"That's the Moorhound for sure!\""
scene bg housing estate
with fade
nvl clear
window hide
fsnarrator "King Hawthorn wasn't the only one who heard the cry, for the people of Chorley and the
surrounding areas heard it too. They were no stranger to the strange howls, which always seemed
to occur before a disaster."
fsnarrator "\"It's almost as if whatever supernatural beast prowls the moors tries to warn us,\" one
man said as he noticed the smoke pouring from the moors."
fsnarrator "The emergency services wasted no time in hurrying to the scene. Speed was
everything where moorland fires were concerned."
scene bg secret pathways smoke
with fade
nvl clear
window hide
fsnarrator "The moorland fire did come perilously close to the edge of the Nab woods but was
extinguished in the nick of time, no thanks to the many firefighters drafted in from all across the
county. The bone-dry ground would've been likely to flare up again, but Mother Nature intervened
later that day as the heavens opened."
scene bg winter hill aerials
with fade
narrator "Meanwhile, some distance away from the Nab woods, the Moorhound was bounding
effortlessly up the slopes of Winter Hill."
show moorhound freed reverse at center
m "\"Welcome to the summit of Winter Hill!\""
show larch terror at right
show primrose terror at center
show moorhound thoughtful at left
narrator "Out of nowhere, huge aerials loomed at them and he halted as his two passengers began
screaming. The Moorhound was startled."
show moorhound neutral at center
show larch fall at right
show primrose terror at center
m "\"What's the matter?\""

narrator "Larch pointing to the mast, stammering."

show primrose worried at center
show larch afraid at right
l "\"Those things ... will they eat us?!\""
narrator "The Moorhound laughed loudly."
show larch speaking at right
show primrose crestfallen at center
show moorhound smiling reverse at left
m "\"They're not alive, young one. They're called masts, or transmitters ... at least that's what a
horse told me once. Humans built them many years ago. I have no idea what for but they won't
harm you.\""
show primrose worried at center
show larch speaking at right
show moorhound staring reverse at left
p "\"But that big one ... the one that has red eyes when darkness falls! A-Are you sure it's not
alive?\""
show primrose back turned at center
show larch speaking reverse at right
show moorhound thoughtful reverse at left
m "\"Oh yes, quite sure. The eyes are just lights that stop things flying into it at night.\""
show primrose alarmed at center
p "\"Birds?\""
show moorhound neutral short at left
show primrose blank at center
m "\"Maybe, but more likely human flying machines. You don't know much about the world, do
you?\""
narrator "The two Spriggs shook their heads sadly."
show larch handheldout at right
show primrose cross at center
l "\"We Spriggs were never supposed to leave the woods of Healey Nab. We all believe that if we
do then we'll get eaten ... by you!\""
show moorhound smiling reverse full at left
m "\"I wouldn't eat Spriggs! As I said earlier, you little folk are too small. But you're also fun to talk
to. I couldn't eat anyone who was interesting to talk to. Oh, and you saved my life too. Nothing to
fear from me.\""
show larch smiling at right
show primrose smiling at center
l "\"King Hawthorn needs to know the truth. Everyone is wrong about the Moorhound.\""
show moorhound thoughtful reverse at left
m "\"Being a misunderstood creature is something I'm used to.\""
narrator "Larch gasped as he admired the scenery."
show larch confident at right
l "\"What a fantastic view. You can see the whole world! To think, we've lived in Healey Nab woods
all our lives and we didn't know all this wonderful stuff existed!\""
show larch happy at right
show primrose back turned at center
show moorhound neutral short at left
p "\"But look at the horrible fire burning in the distance! If it reaches the woods our home will be
destroyed and all the other Spriggs will be in danger!\""
narrator "The Moorhound's ears pricked up."
show moorhound growl shorttail at left
show larch frowning at right
show primrose blank at center
m "\"Maybe not. Listen, you can hear the sirens. That's a good sign. It means that help is on the
way! Look, you can see the red machines on the road way down there. They're full of water to put
out the fire. I think your woods will be okay.\""
m "\"There's a road called Higher House Lane - I got that from the horse's mouth - that separates

the woods and the open moors. The fire never burns roads away. However, the wind could still
carry a bit of burning material over the road. But I think it'll get extinguished pretty quick.\""
show moorhound front reverse at left
narrator "The Spriggs watched anxiously."
show primrose back turned at center
show larch sad reverse at right
s "\"Let's hope so.\""
scene bg winter hill aerials
nvl clear
window hide
show fence at left
show bin at center
fsnarrator "The Moorhound walked over to a rubbish bin by the perimeter fence surrounding the
masts."
# This is another scene where we had problems with images being displayed in front and
obscuring those behind it. We had a fence and rubbish bin that appeared in front of the
characters, making it look as though they were standing behind the fence. Once we defined
the fence, then the bin, then the characters then this ensured that the bin appeared in the
background, with the bin in front of the fence and the characters in front of the bin and not
behind it.
# Again, the frame immediately after the bin is the Moorhound so that he does not obscure
the other two smaller characters on the stage by appearing in front of them.
scene bg winter hill aerials
show fence at left
show bin at center
show moorhound front at right
show primrose smiling reverse at left
show larch smiling at left
m "\"Here's a bin! Put the litter you collected earlier in it!\""
show primrose back turned at center
show larch handheldout at left
narrator "The Spriggs obliged and the bottlecaps and wire were deposited safely in the bin.
Primrose was a little sad to say farewell to the bottlecaps as they were rather nice to look at,
despite being litter."
show primrose neutral at center
show larch speaking reverse at left
show moorhound staring short at right
p "\"There's a lot of litter left in the Nab woods. We'd need a much bigger bin to put it all in!\""
show larch idea at left
narrator "This gave Larch an idea, which he planned to share with everyone upon their return
home."
scene bg chorley
with fade
show moorhound thoughtful at center
show primrose back turned at right
show larch sitting at left
narrator "It was uncanny that after so many weeks of dry weather, rain had suddenly arrived.
Larch and Primrose were convinced that the mysterious masts on Winter Hill were there to control
the weather. The Moorhound was inclined to agree."
show moorhound neutral at center
show primrose smiling at right
show larch smiling at left

narrator "The Moorhound smiled as the two Spriggs gazed out towards the distant town of
Chorley."
show moorhound smiling reverse at left
show primrose neutral at right
show larch speaking reverse at left
m "\"You know, seeing the sunset from the top of Winter Hill is a glorious sight.\""
show larch handheldout at left
l "\"It looks tempting, but ...\""
narrator "Primrose finished his sentence."
show primrose singing at right
p "\"... But we'd really like to go home. This has been a most gradely adventure!\""
show moorhound neutral at center
show primrose smiling at right
show larch happy at left
m "\"Then I shall take you there,\""
scene bg stone cairn
with fade
nvl clear
window hide
show chapter 8 at truecenter
with fade
fsnarrator " "
scene bg stone cairn
with fade
show hawthorn speaking at truecenter
narrator "The sun was starting to set on the Nab as King Hawthorn took his position on top of the
stone cairn, ready to make an impromptu speech, when he was interrupted by the sound of
barking."
show hawthorn afraid at truecenter
k "\"Run for your lives! Moorhound approaching!\""
show hawthorn alarmed at right
show moorhound returned at left
narrator "Everyone turned to flee, but the sound of laughter and happy voices made them stop and
turn round. There, riding on the back of the dog, were Larch and Primrose!"
narrator "A stunned silence descended over the Sprigg community as the Moorhound stopped just
a few feet from them. Several of the older Spriggs fainted."
scene bg stone cairn
show laurel happy at left
show quercus waving at center
narrator "Then the silence was broken as Primrose's parents came hurrying out of the crowd."
hide moorhound returned
show quercus worried at center
show larch speaking at right
show primrose back turned at left
parents "\"You're both alive! We'd given you up for dead!\""
show larch happy reverse at center
narrator "Primrose whispered to Larch."
show quercus smiling reverse at center
show larch idea at center
p "\"I told you grown-ups worry too much!\""
narrator "Then all eyes turned to the Moorhound, who wagged his tail in an attempt to look as nonthreatening as possible."
show moorhound tail at right
show hawthorn thoughtful at right

show primrose blank reverse at left

show laurel smiling reverse at left
show quercus smiling reverse 2 at center
show larch smiling at center
l "\"Everyone, let us introduce you to the Pennine Moorhound, a creature most misunderstood, but
with much to tell you all.\""
show moorhound thoughtful at right
show hawthorn alarmed at right
show larch frowning reverse at center
show primrose neutral at left
narrator "King Hawthorn looked uncertain but extended his paw in greeting, trusting that a friend of
Larch and Primrose was a friend of the Spriggs. Besides, the Moorhound hadn't eaten them!"
show moorhound staring short at right
show hawthorn thoughtful at center
show primrose smiling reverse at left
k "\"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Moorhound.\""
show primrose back turned at center
show moorhound neutral at center
show hawthorn worried reverse at left
show larch sitting at right
narrator "Once the Spriggs were reassured that the hound really wasn't a danger to them, they
settled down in a semicircle to listen to his tales of human beings and the very real threat of litter.
It was at that point that Larch remembered the idea he'd had earlier and decided to speak to King
Hawthorn about it."
scene bg stone cairn
with fade
show hawthorn smile at center
show larch smiling at left
show moorhound smiling short at right
k "\"A most splendid idea, young Larch, and one that we shall set to work on first thing tomorrow
morning! We'll get everyone to participate.\""
show moorhound staring short at right
m "\"May I take part?\""
show hawthorn speaking at center
show larch bottle at left
k "\"Why, certainly! We can't thank you enough for carrying Larch and Primrose to safety from the
fire. Also, do feel free to explore the woods of Healey Nab...perhaps you might wish to sample
some of our pine needle tea?\""
scene bg stone cairn 2
with fade
narrator "The following day, a group of cyclists and walkers passing through the Nab woods were
astounded to see that a second cairn had mysteriously appeared overnight, next to the original
one. The difference was that this one was made entirely of litter."
narrator "The group wondered whether the pile of litter was some kind of modern art project at first.
It certainly seemed the case until a small boy noticed a note written on a piece of tree bark, pinned
to the litter pile."
# The {i} and {/i} instructions, when placed either side of narrative text, show that text in an
italic style.
narrator "{i}Dear Outsiders{/i}"
narrator "{i}We hope you will continue to visit{/i}"
narrator "{i}But please try to keep the woods of Healey Nab tidy{/i}"
narrator "{i}And not drop your litter here{/i}"
narrator "{i}This will make us very happy{/i}"

narrator "{i}Kind regards{/i}"

narrator "{i}The Spriggs of Healey Nab{/i}"
scene bg stone cairn 2
narrator "Nobody had any idea what the Spriggs were or who'd written the note. Seeing as nobody
came forward despite repeated requests, eventually it was assumed that local environmentalists or
children must have done it."
narrator "The message got across though and some weeks later, a litter bin was installed in the
Nab woods, close to the information sign and map in the middle of the woods."
narrator "The Spriggs themselves began to venture outside their woodland home and see more of
the world."
scene bg brinscall
with fade
show primrose back turned at right
show larch smiling at center
narrator "A few weeks later Larch and Primrose made a journey to the pine woods of Brinscall and
made a remarkable discovery - unknown to everyone, a colony of Spriggs lived there too!"
scene bg nab woods
with fade
show larch smiling at left
show primrose singing at center
show laurel smiling at right
narrator "Shortly afterwards, Larch and Primrose became the new leaders of Healey Nab. King
Hawthorn had decided that the time had come to let the younger generation take control. Besides
which, his rheumatism was getting worse."
scene bg nab woods
with fade
show moorhound growl ghost at center
narrator "Children often spoke of seeing the little creatures whilst playing in the woods, and seeing
the giant paw prints on the ground. New legends emerged of a giant black dog that was said to eat
any naughty children who dropped litter or tried to harm wildlife."
show moorhound howl at center
with fade
narrator "The Moorhound was far too good-natured to ever do such a thing of course - but it didn't
hurt to scare the odd rambler by howling in the woods!"
narrator "Here ends the story dear Reader. But the adventures on Healey Nab continue and if you
ever visit it, you can begin an adventure of your very own. Just make sure not to drop your litter as
the Moorhound never forgets..."
scene bg end
with fade
nvl clear
window hide
fsnarrator " "
# The final instruction of any Ren'Py script is 'return'. This tells the book to conclude and
return to the main menu screen.
return