View source for An Old Man

''Not to be confused with [[The Old Man]] ([[Halloween]] adventure).''

[[File:oldman_sea.gif|center]]

'''An Old Man''' resides [[The Old Man (and the Sea)|by the sea]]. He sends you on the quest [[An Old Guy and The Ocean]].

*''At level 10 or lower:''

:You knock on the door of the seaside shack, but there's no answer. Maybe try back later.

*''First visit at level 11 or higher:''

:Hello there, young Adventurer. Back when I was your age, I used to be quite a fisherman. These days, well, what with my arthritis, and my gout, and this old war injury, well, I don't get out there so much anymore.

:Say, is that a set of SCUBA gear you've got there? Maybe you can help me. I lost my favorite boot, you see. Dropped it right off the side of my boat. Time was I'd just fish until I dredged it back up, and boy, lemme tell you, was it a hoot! But not anymore. That dang marlin sapped the last of my strength.

:Think you could go down there and get it for me? I'd be obliged, yessirree.

:Oh, and hey, if you wanna take your little buddy with you, this'll help.
{{acquire|item=little bitty bathysphere}}

:*''[[11,037 Leagues Under the Sea]] ascension only:''
::You're going to need something to help you breather{{sic}} underwater. Normally, I'd just sell you an old SCUBA tank, but I'd like you go down there and evict the Naughty Sorceress, so have my best pants.
{{acquire|item=really, really nice swimming trunks}}

:If you need something to help you breathe underwater, I've got this old SCUBA tank I'd be willing to part with. Let's call it 10,000 Meat. On second thoughts, let's call it a SCUBA tank, and say it ''costs'' 10,000 Meat.

{{button|Buy the tank (10,000 Meat)}}

:*''With sufficient meat:''

::Pleasure doin' business with you!

::{{meat|type=spent|amount=10000}}

::{{acquire|item=old SCUBA tank}}

:*''Without sufficient meat:''

::You can't afford it, buster!

:*''If you have an [[old SCUBA tank]]:''

::You already bought that.

*''If you installed a [[sushi-rolling mat]] at your campsite in a previous ascension:''
:Looks like you used to have one of these, have another!
{{acquire|item=Sushi-rolling mat}}

*''Subsequent visits:''
:Say, have you found my boot yet? I know it's down there somewhere.

*''With the [[damp old boot]]:''
:Say, is that my boot you've got there? Yippee! Thanks, Adventurer! I knew you'd come through for me.

:What can I give you in return, youngster? Surely there's something in this old pile of ju... treasure... that you could use.

<center>
{|
|-
|{{button|Take}}
|{{InlineItem|das boot}}
|-
|{{button|Take}}
|{{InlineItem|fishy pipe}}
|-
|{{button|Take}}
|{{InlineItem|crate of fish meat}}
|-
|{{button|Take}}
|{{InlineItem|damp old wallet}}
|-
|}
</center>
*''After trading for an item''
:The Old Man takes his boot and gives you your reward.
{{acquire}}
:"Take care of yourself, Adventurer. If you need me, I'll just be sitting here, dreaming about lions."

*''Subsequent Visits after trading''

:The old man snores fitfully, muttering something about a lion. Dying. In the rain.

*''With a [[psychoanalytic jar]]:''
{{button|Use psychoanalytic jar on him}}

:You open up the jar and look into the patient's eyes.
{{acquire|item=jar of psychoses (The Old Man)}}

==Notes==
*If you ascend, then you can purchase another [[damp old boot]] from [[Big Brother]] and the Old Man will give you another treasure for it.
*While in most [[special challenge path]] runs, the Old Man is replaced with this message:
:That shack you saw on the main map was just a picture of an old shack drawn on the ground.

==History==
*Prior to [[History of Loathing (2013)#September 17, 2013|September 17, 2013]], the Old Man would only offer the [[old SCUBA tank]] for purchase if you did not have [[makeshift SCUBA gear|some]] [[aerated diving helmet|other]] breathing apparatus already. If you already had an [[aerated diving helmet]] in your inventory, [[Display Case]], or [[Closet]], the message would show:
*:You shouldn't waste your money -- you've already got an aerated diving helmet.
*Also, if you had a [[makeshift SCUBA gear]], it would show:
*:You shouldn't waste your money -- you've already got some SCUBA gear.
*Returning your [[sushi-rolling mat]] was added in August 2025 prior to the release of [[11,037 Leagues Under the Sea]]. 

==References==
*This is a reference to a novella [[wikipedia:The Old Man and the Sea|''The Old Man and the Sea'']] by [[wikipedia:Ernest Hemingway|Ernest Hemingway]]

[[Category:Locations|Old Man, An]].