WALKTHROUGH FOR 9LIVES
By InformStorm

9Lives is an interactive fiction comprised of 6 levels; on each level, the Player Character assumes a completely new identity and is located in a completely new environment. There is nothing in common between the different levels… 

Envision the levels as a stack of layers: game play begins on level 4, meaning that you will need to climb through levels 5 and 6 in order to reach the top of the stack and win the game. On every level, rising to the next layer is accomplished by making the “right” choices. Making the “wrong” choices will drop you down through the layers until you finally reach the bottom (level 1), at which point you can begin the arduous journey back up through the stack. 

There is a limit to the number of times you can traverse up and down through the layers without completing the game, but most players should be able to complete the game before hitting this limit (which automatically ends the game). 

Just remember, life is full of difficult choices – sometimes, doing the right thing requires making difficult decisions. The good news is: it ain’t over until it’s over! 

SPOILER 1:
The death of the Player Character is non-terminal. However, you only get nine lives.

SPOILER 2:
The theme of the game is reincarnation. Movement between levels is only possible if you die; it’s HOW you die that determines whether you’ll go up (good decisions) or down (bad decisions).

SPOILER 3:
Selfish acts will result in your death and drop you down to the next lower level; selfless acts of self-sacrifice will result in your death but transport you up to the next higher level.

FINAL SPOILER ALERT:
THE REST OF THIS DOCUMENT SHOWS ONE SHORT PATH TO COMPLETE EACH LEVEL; the “Good” path will take you up to the next higher level, the “Bad” path will drop you down to a lower level. You can keep “dying” and changing levels over and over until your nine lives are exhausted (although if you get to the “Normal Human” level 4 times, you will also die).

Bottom (Dung Beetle) level:
Begins in “Near the River Ganges”

GOOD PATH
>n
>n

BAD PATH
(there is no “bad” path on this level)
_________________

Fierce Animal level:
Begins in “Den”

GOOD PATH
>s
>e
>e
>open den
>take pack

BAD PATH
>s
>e
>e
>take fish
_________________

Subhuman level:  
Begins in “Hallway”

GOOD PATH
>s
>open drawer
>take key
>n
>n
>unlock elevator
>open elevator
>jump in to elevator

BAD PATH
>s
>open drawer
>take key
>n
>n
>unlock elevator
>open elevator
>push her
_________________

Normal Human level:  this is the level on which the game begins
Begins in “Middle of the North Atlantic”

GOOD PATH
>wait
(repeat 14 times)
•	Note: the easiest way to repeat your entry is to press the UP ARROW on your keyboard, then press enter

BAD PATH
>wait
>swim to boat
_________________

Wise Human level:
Begins on “LEVEL 9”

GOOD PATH
>d
>d
>pray to statue
>d
>rescue
>u
>n

BAD PATH
>u
>wait 
(repeat 4 times)
_________________

Super Human level:
Begins on “Rooftop”

GOOD PATH
>take briefcase
>fly to beach
>trade briefcase for metal case
>fly to refugee camp
>give metal case to doctor

BAD PATH
>take briefcase
>fly to beach
>trade briefcase for metal case
>fly to rooftop
>give metal case to janine