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Pytho's Mask

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description Pytho's Mask Overview

Pytho's Mask is a parser-based interactive fiction game written by Ian Finley, notable for placing second in the 2001 Interactive Fiction Competition. Set in a richly simulated ancient Greek theater during a classical festival, the game tasks players with solving a murder mystery. It uses traditional text-adventure mechanics to explore themes of mythology and performance, requiring players to interview suspects and gather clues. The game is intended for players of historical text adventures and classic puzzle-driven narratives.

help Pytho's Mask FAQ

Who actually wrote Pytho's Mask?

Pytho's Mask is credited to Emily Short, published in 2001, and built with Inform 6, not Ian Finley [IFDB record](https://ifdb.org/viewgame?id=spsnevz1br6f2z3v). The catalog attribution appears to mix this game up with another interactive fiction title.

What is the real story of Pytho's Mask?

You play Soteria, a member of the Order of the Phoenix who attends a royal ball during the Night of the Comet and must protect the king. It is fantasy court intrigue with romance and light detection, not an ancient Greek theater murder mystery.

How does conversation work in Pytho's Mask?

The game combines ASK/TELL parser commands with menu-based conversation, so you question attendees, learn motives, and piece together threats. Much of the story comes from talking to characters and overhearing gossip rather than solving large inventory puzzles.

Did Pytho's Mask place second in the 2001 Interactive Fiction Competition?

No reliable record supports a second-place finish: its original SmoochieComp entry was not ranked, while the 2001 XYZZY Awards named it Best NPCs and made it a finalist in several other categories [IFWiki record](https://www.ifwiki.org/Pytho%27s_Mask). The catalog's competition claim should be corrected.

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