The following is a complete description of the story world. Anything not explicitly mentioned in this description is not possible in this world.

Tom is sick, and he needs a special potion from the merchant who works at the market. Tom's cottage is connected to the market via a crossroads which also connects to the merchant's house.

There is a bandit lurking in the crossroads, who is a known criminal. There is a guard at the market who wants to punish criminals, but the guard does not initially know where the bandit is.

At night, the merchant takes all her possessions to her house and goes to sleep.

What characters want:

• Tom wants to have the potion and be back at his cottage.
• The merchant wants to sell her items for coins.
• The guard wants to punish criminals.
• The bandit wants to have valuable items (coins and potions).

What characters can do:

• Walk between connected locations
• Buy something from the merchant (for one coin)
• Attack someone (while armed with a sword)*
• Rob someone who is unarmed (while armed)*
• Rob someone who is asleep*
• Loot something from a dead person*
• Wait for night (only Tom can do this)

* Attacking and stealing are crimes punishable by death.

What characters have:

• Tom has one coin.
• The merchant has the potion and a sword.
• The guard has a sword.
• The bandit has a sword and one coin.

Stories end when Tom either dies or returns to his cottage with the potion.