Been re reading this code so many times and can't figure out the problem, been tearing my hair out, any suggestions/solutions would be greatly appreciated.
Ignore the naff attempts at story writing its just filler till I get the engine working.
I've highlighted the area I believe the problem is in.
full code attatched

Basically when location = location.exit.(N,S, E or W) is run its meant to change the players location to a different place, in the current location two of these exits lead back to the same place, these commands work, but when I type N or W it says "attempt to index global 'location' (a nil value)", now changing location = location.exit.W to location = clearing it works but if I did it this method then I would have to right masses of code I'm trying to shorten it so each location has a set of exit values which link up to a standard move function thus dramatically reducing code.
I'm not being lazy I just want to get in the habit of writing concise readable code.

In advance thanks for even reading this.

relevant code: (Lua code)
[source lang="plain"]--move standard
function stmove() --standard functions
if intAA == "N" then
[color=#ff0000]location = location.exit.N
elseif intAA == "E" then
location = location.exit.E
elseif intAA == "S" then
location = location.exit.S
elseif intAA == "W" then
location = location.exit.W
elseif intAA == "statcheck" then
charsheet()
elseif intAA == "showi" then
Inv.display()
elseif intAA == "help" then
print(help())
else
stmoveused = 0
end
end
--places oooooooo repeatr .exit = {N = , E = , S = , W = } = {name = "", Desc = ""}
foresta = {name = "foresta", Desc = "you look around and you are in a dark forest, something is rustling North of you"}
[color=#ff0000]foresta.exit = { N = forestsnork, E = foresta, S = foresta, W = clearing}

function foresta.move()
stmoveused = 1
stmove()
if intAA == "examine forest" then
print("\n".."you look around and see a sea of fir trees coating in small fern skirts, the sun looms \nhigh and the blossoming green of the leaves suggests the season to be early spring.")
elseif intAA == "smell forest" then
print("the smell of ferns and dry leaves freshens your senses")
elseif stmoveused == 1 then
_ = 4
else
print("\n","unknown command")
end
end


clearing = {name = "clearing", Desc = "you enter a small clearing, and find a small health potion"}
clearing.exit = {N = foresta, E = foresta, S = foresta, W = foresta}

function clearing.move()
stmoveused = 1
stmove()
if intAA == "examine clearing" then
print("\n" .. "you see nothing of note")
elseif intAA == "smell forest" then
print("still smells like the forest")
elseif stmoveused == 1 then
_ = 4
else
print("\n" .. "unknown command")
end
end

forestsnork = {name = "forestsnork", Desc = "A wild snork sharply shoots its eye's towards you, its looks angered by your presence" }
forestsnork.exit = {N = temple, E = forestsnork, S = foresta, W = forestsnork}
function forestsnork.move()
stmoveused = 1
stmove()
if intAA == "examine snork" then
print("\n" .. "a pudgy little creature looks at you angryly")
elseif intAA == "smell forest" then
print("\n" .. "smells like snork poo")
elseif stmoveused == 1 then
_ = 4
else
print("\n" .. "unknown command")
end

end

temple = {name ="temple", Desc = "you have found the holy grail well done, you may now win",}


print ("\n".."welcome to the land of spud you are an adventurer")
[color=#ff0000]location = foresta
stmoveused = 1
n = 1
Wmonster = snork
Damage = 1
monDamage = 1

repeat
[color=#ff0000]print (location.Desc)
[color=#ff0000]intAA = io.read()
location.move()
if Warrior.H <= 0 then
print("sadly you have died")
break
end
until location == temple[/source]
http://codeviewer.org/view/code:2785

apologies the <span> stuff was to colour the code to show which bits where relevant.

Thank you, you sir are a god!!!!!!!!!