gistfile1.py

#! /usr/bin/env python

pages = {
    "start": {
        "text": "It's a dark night outside.  Somewhere a wolf howls.",
        "prompt": "Where will you take shelter, the haunted house, or the bat "
        "cave?",
        "next": ("haunted house", "bat cave"),
    },
    "haunted house": {
        "text": "By the light of your flickering torch, you're able to make it"
        " to\nthe haunted house.  You find a candle and light it.  You can"
        " see\na winding staircase, and a hallway.",
        "prompt": "Go upstairs, or into the hallway?",
        "next": ("upstairs", "hallway"),
    },
    "upstairs": {
        "text": "As you reach upstairs, something whooshes past you, knocking "
        "out\nyour candle.  Oh no, it's coming back again!  You feel its "
        "fur\nbrushing against your face.  You wake in fright to find your"
        " cat\nis on your bed, meowing at you.  It was only a dream!",
    },
    "hallway": {
        "text": "You move into the hallway, and trip over into an open coffin."
        "The\ndoor slams shut.  The haunted house has claimed another "
        "victim!",
    },
    "bat cave": {
        "text": "The rocks are very slippery here, too slippery.  You're "
        "unable to\nkeep your grip.  The bats will feast well tonight!",
    },
}

where = "start"
while True:
    print
    print pages[where]['text']
    print

    if not 'next' in pages[where]:
        break

    while True:
        print "{0} ({1})?".format(
            pages[where]['prompt'],
            ", ".join(pages[where]['next'])
        )
        to = raw_input()
        if to in pages[where]['next']:
            where = to
        break