Familiar as your dream may be, the shapes and the colours that surround you feel as scary as ever. For more than two months the beginning of your nightly nightmares have stayed the same. The old woman drags you up from your bed. Your struggles are in vain against the iron-hard grip of the bony hands as she pushes you out of the window. But instead of falling headlong towards the backyard below you find yourself in an alien world, trying desperately to wake up.

The Temple
An Interactive Homage to H.P. Lovecraft
(c) 2002 Johan Berntsson

Please type "help" for instructions and license information.
Release 2 / Serial number 021118 / Inform v6.15 Library 6/2
Standard interpreter 1.0

Void
You plunge through limitless abysses of inexplicably coloured twilight and distorted sound, whose material and gravitational properties are beyond reason and understanding. The abysses are by no means vacant, being crowded with hazy objects, much like shadows, that are moving around in a haphazard manner.

You try to feel your body, but get only the strangest feeling. Something is there, but no reaction, no nerve pulse, feels normal. As you look down on your body you see only a haze, like those of the shadows around you.

A cascade of red colour explodes below you.

They are sometimes stationary, sometimes moving around. Their movement is not linear and they seem to suddenly dissolve from one place, only to appear from nothing in a new place, apparently at random. Although they sometimes are close to you they always appear hazy.

Suddenly there is a new element in your dream, one you have never experienced before. A sense of blinding fear threatens to overwhelm you as a shape appears close to you. There is nothing visually different about it, but you can't bear looking at it for very long.

In your current state of fear your mind and body refuse to cooperate.

The shadow disappears somewhere. A slave under someone else's will, you find yourself moving towards a place you have never seen before.

Roof
The city below you is ancient. Dark domes and steep roofs form a silent silhouette against the clear star-filled sky. You are standing on the roof of a tower, built of crumbling masonry, which seems to be centuries old. An iron railing of strange design circles the perimeter of the roof and a winding staircase leads down.

The railing won't budge, but one of the statues breaks of in your hands.

In the stone the artist has carved a hideous monster. It is vaguely human-shaped, but the arms are too long, the skin is covered by scales, and the fangs are definitely out of place.

The winding staircase leads to a spacious chamber inside the tower.

Study
Dust and spider webs cover all surfaces in this room in a soft silver gleam, blurring the outlines of the furnishings into fantastic, dreamy forms. The walls are lined with bookshelves and a lone desk lies at one corner. Close to a staircase, which leads further up and down the tower, is a massive table made of black stone. A doorway leads to a smaller room to the south.

On the desk is a yellow paper.

take paper
examine writing
down
south
put statue down
examine table
put statue on desk
put statue on ink
put statue on dust
put statue on table
put statue on bookshelves
up

On the paper is a coded message and it is impossible to say even in which language the text is written.

examine writing
down
south
put paper down
put statue down
put all down
examine table
put paper on desk
put paper on ink
put paper on dust
put paper on table
put paper on bookshelves
put statue on desk
put statue on ink
put statue on dust
put statue on table
put statue on bookshelves
put all on desk
put all on ink
put all on dust
put all on table
put all on bookshelves
up

The base of the stone table is covered with carvings, each showing different kinds of creatures, or maybe Gods, standing on stone tables. Humans, who seem to be reciting prayers or spells, are standing in front of the creatures.

You spot something behind the table. Pushing the cobwebs aside, you reveal some writing, crudely painted on the stone wall with black paint.

examine writing
down
south
put paper down
put statue down
put all down
put paper on desk
put paper on ink
put paper on dust
put paper on table
put paper on bookshelves
put statue on desk
put statue on ink
put statue on dust
put statue on table
put statue on bookshelves
put all on desk
put all on ink
put all on dust
put all on table
put all on bookshelves
up

It seems to be a poem, or chant. The language is unfamiliar and complicated, and you repeat the syllables with a low voice: Y'ai'ng'ngah h'ee-l'geb f'ai throdog.

Even as you speak you sense something approaching. The light in the room darkens, and a mysterious green glow is emitted from some dust on the stone table. Its brightness intensifies to an unbearable level and you involuntarily step away. A shape appears on the previously empty table. As the flash fades away you recognise the shape as that of a man, lying still on the table.

[Your score has just gone up by five points.]

touch body
down
south
put statue down
put paper down
put all down
put statue on desk
put statue on table
put statue on bookshelves
put statue on ink
put statue on dust
put paper on desk
put paper on table
put paper on bookshelves
put paper on ink
put paper on dust
put all on desk
put all on table
put all on bookshelves
put all on ink
put all on dust
up

The unconscious man is young, tall, and white. You guess he could be of British descent. The most striking thing about him is his clothes, which looks at least eighty years out of fashion.

After several attempts, you manage to shake the man awake. He sits up on the table, still confused. In response to your many questions the man simply states that he can't remember and it seems that he is suffering from amnesia.

examine staircase
down
south
put statue down
put paper down
put all down
put statue on desk
put statue on table
put statue on bookshelves
put statue on ink
put statue on dust
put paper on desk
put paper on table
put paper on bookshelves
put paper on ink
put paper on dust
put all on desk
put all on table
put all on bookshelves
put all on ink
put all on dust
up

You browse through the library but can't find any books written in a language you can read, so you leave them alone.

The man gets up from the table and looks around, perplexed. 'I think I've been here before', he mutters.

The dust is everywhere.

The man asks who you are. You tell him about your dream, and how you ended up here.

The desk is well used and the surface has many scratches and stains of ink.

The man falls silent for a while, and then he says: 'Some parts of my memory have come back now. I remember that my name is Charles Bristow and I studied archeology and history in New England. Something terrible happened but of that I can recall only small fragments.' He looks around the chamber and says with despair in his voice, 'My God, where am I? Will my nightmares never end?'

Hall
This damp hall occupies the whole ground level of the tower. A staircase provides access to the higher levels, while a massive oak door, set in the southern wall, leads out.

Charles comes walking behind you.

take into bristow
up
put paper down
put statue down
put all down

The door is big and made of crude oak logs, which have darkened to almost black with time and wear. The lock and the iron handle look handcrafted and antique.

Charles tries to open the door and says 'It's locked. Do you know where the key is?'

The winding staircase leads to a spacious chamber inside the tower.

Study

Charles comes with you.

Storage
This is a minor storage chamber, connected to the study through a doorway in the northern wall. There are some shelves, mostly vacant, here.

On one of the shelves are four small vials, each neatly labelled and containing some green powder.

Charles follows you.

take vial
put paper down
put statue down
put all down
take all off shelves
put paper on shelves
put statue on shelves
put all on shelves
north

Randomly you pick one of the vials from the shelf.

Charles picks up a vial. 'I saw this before in a dream', he says and puts it back.

take vial
put vial down
put paper down
put statue down
put all down
take all off shelves
put paper on shelves
put statue on shelves
put vial on shelves
put all on shelves
north

mysterious vial
yellow paper
hideous statue

Randomly you pick one of the vials from the shelf.

take vial
put paper down
put statue down
put all down
put paper on shelves
put statue on shelves
put vial on shelves
put all on shelves
north

mysterious vial
mysterious vial
yellow paper
hideous statue

Randomly you pick one of the vials from the shelf.

Charles is lost in thoughts.

take vial
put vial down
put paper down
put statue down
put all down
put paper on shelves
put statue on shelves
put vial on shelves
put all on shelves
north

mysterious vial
mysterious vial
mysterious vial
yellow paper
hideous statue

Study

Charles comes walking behind you.

down
south
put statue down
put vial down
put paper down
put all down
put statue on desk
put statue on table
put statue on bookshelves
put statue on ink
put statue on dust
put vial on desk
put vial on table
put vial on bookshelves
put vial on ink
put vial on dust
put paper on desk
put paper on table
put paper on bookshelves
put paper on ink
put paper on dust
put all on desk
put all on table
put all on bookshelves
put all on ink
put all on dust
up

Just as you descend the last steps of the staircase you notice that something is wedged between the door and the door frame!

Hall

Charles comes with you.

take into bristow
up
put vial down
put paper down
put statue down
put all down

You explain your idea for Charles and he lifts you up. After a few moments of nervous search your fingers touch cold metal. You jerk it out and Charles puts you down again. The fruit of your effort is an iron key.

[Your score has just gone up by three points.]

up
put key down
put vial down
put paper down
put statue down
put all down
open door with key

wrought iron key
mysterious vial
mysterious vial
mysterious vial
yellow paper
hideous statue

up
put key down
put vial down
put paper down
put statue down
put all down
open door
lock door with key

south
up
close door
put key down
put vial down
put paper down
put statue down
put all down

Before A Dark Tower
This area in front of an old tower offers a nightmarish view over a monstrous tangle of dark stone buildings. Most buildings are elliptical, built of irregular-sized basalt blocks of irregular size. None of them seem to have any doors or windows. There is a square further down to the southwest. The sole passage to the tower is through the door to the north.

Charles comes walking behind you.

close door
north
take into southwest
put statue down
put key down
put vial down
put paper down
put all down

Judging from the masonry the tower must be centuries old. It towers high above the nightmarish city below.

Charles looks nervously around.

Public Square
There is a large public square here, surrounded by the same strange elliptical buildings on all sides except to the east, where a high wall built of massive sandstone blocks stands. There is a road to the west leading deeper into the city. Against the sky you see a high tower to the northeast. The only trace of life comes from the south where a road leads to what appears to be a temple.

Charles comes with you.

west
south
take into northeast
put statue down
put key down
put vial down
put paper down
put all down

The wall is running in north-south direction. It is constructed of huge sandstone blocks and must be more than twelve feet high.

The temple is an impressive and forbidding structure, adorned by mysterious mural paintings. Many people have gathered inside, and muffled sounds of praying can be heard even from the outside.

Charles is lost in thoughts.

'Look at the carvings, and the strange shape of that building! I know well what that temple is housing. It is a house of worship of the evil Gods. Don't go there if you value your life.'

Road
Wandering through the deserted city you stumble upon something unexpected. A large crack yawns darkly into the side of one of the ponderous elliptical buildings to the north. You wonder what monumental forces could have effected this rupture. The road extends to the east and west.

Charles comes walking behind you.

west
east
north
put key down
put vial down
put paper down
put statue down
put all down

The crack is just wide enough to squeeze through.

Charles sighs deeply and says  'Will I ever see Miriam again?' to himself.

Squeezing through the crack, you manage to enter the building.

A Dark Hallway
The building is of great size and decorated with extreme elaborateness, giving you a glimpse the nameless past. The walls are covered with mural carvings, whose interpretation escapes you. The smoothness of the sheer stone walls is interrupted by a crack that gapes into the southern wall. A doorway to the north leads deeper inside the building.

Charles comes walking behind you.

south
north
put statue down
put key down
put vial down
put paper down
put all down

The carvings shows picturesque patterns and figures, but you have a feeling that they are not meant for decoration. Instead, they make you think of illustrations in works of physics and mathematics.

Charles studies the wall and says 'Nice carvings, but I don't understand what they mean.'

Library
This is an enormous vaulted chamber whose lofty stone groining rise indefinitely into the murky shadows overhead. The exposed stonework features mural carvings in curvilinear designs. Vast shelves of dark wood line the walls, but they are all empty. Although deserted, the place has the air and the feel of a big library. The main exit is to the south.

Charles comes with you.

A shout of surprise stops you in your tracks. Charles is standing in a remote corner, looking down at something. You move closer, and find a skeleton lying partly hidden in a niche.

take note
take book
south
put statue down
put paper down
put key down
put vial down
put all down
take note off skeleton
give charles note

The yellowed remains lie face down on the floor, still covered by torn clothing. Its bony hand is clutching a note.

Charles points at the skeleton and says 'Poor fellow, I hope we don't end up like him'

take book
south
put statue down
put paper down
put key down
put vial down
put note down
put all down
give bristow note

note
wrought iron key
mysterious vial
mysterious vial
mysterious vial
yellow paper
hideous statue

A message is written in spidery script on the note:

I must be brief, because there is not much time left. The fever is burning in my body and I think I won't survive the night.

The Caelestae Horriblis has answered many of my questions. I know of the evil Gods of the past. I now understand that the barbaric rites in the temple have raised them from their eternal sleep and that it is only a question of time before they reconquer Earth. When this happens, we are all doomed. Our only hope is to reimpose the ban once set upon the evil Gods by the Eternal Ones. A sacrifice, on which a mystic symbol is written with holy powder, is necessary to summon them . Hidden in the cryptic language of the Caelestae Horriblis were the ingredients for this powder, and I gathered them in my hideout. I have searched for the exact shape of the mystic symbol, but this knowledge has been denied me. My time is running out, but I know that people from Earth are sometimes thrown into this dimension, and my last wish is that someone can continue where I failed and prepare the sacrifice.

Charles looks at the note and suddenly grows pale. 'Mother of God...', he whispers and drops the note on the floor, 'it is my handwriting.'

take note
take book
south
put statue down
put paper down
put key down
put vial down
put all down

The yellowed remains lie face down on the floor, still covered by torn clothing.

Charles is lost in thoughts.

The skeleton is dressed in the torn remains of a tweed jacket and cotton trousers.

take note
south
put statue down
put paper down
put key down
put book down
put vial down
put all down

Caelestae Horriblis
wrought iron key
mysterious vial
mysterious vial
mysterious vial
yellow paper
hideous statue

A forbidden book of ancient lore, unfortunately written in Latin, which you can't read. One thing of interest is that the title, Caelestae Horriblis, and the author's name, Abtin Mukhtar, have been written both in Arabic and Latin letters.

When you compare the writing on the label with the name written in the Caelestae Horriblis, you discover a vial labelled Mukhtar!

[Your score has just gone up by two points.]

take note
south
put key down
put mysterious vial down
put paper down
put statue down
put mukhtar down
put horriblis down
put all down

vial labelled Mukhtar
Caelestae Horriblis
wrought iron key
mysterious vial
mysterious vial
yellow paper
hideous statue

Apart from it being labelled Mukhtar, it looks identical to the other vials and contains some green power.

Charles is lost in thoughts.

A Dark Hallway

Charles comes walking behind you.

south
north
put statue down
put key down
put mysterious vial down
put mukhtar down
put horriblis down
put paper down
put all down

west
east
north
put key down
put mysterious vial down
put horriblis down
put paper down
put statue down
put mukhtar down
put all down

Crossroads
The road to the public square, way back east, forks into a north-south road here. To the west looms yet another of the stone buildings.

Charles comes walking behind you.

east
south
north
put key down
put mysterious vial down
put horriblis down
put paper down
put statue down
put mukhtar down
put all down

Road
The ceaseless blandness of the surrounding architecture has a dimly sinister suggestiveness and you can't but help but wonder who the primal entities which rear, or reared, here are. The road leads north, deeper into the city.

Charles comes with you.

put key down
put mysterious vial down
put horriblis down
put paper down
put statue down
put mukhtar down
put all down
south

Dead End
This part of the town is radically different from the parts closer to the tower. The roads are narrower and the paving is irregular, sometimes stone slabs and sometimes cobblestones. The buildings are tall but less well kept than before. There are still no windows or doors, but there are a few overhead bridges from house to house. The road ends here and the only way out is to the north.

A cat is sitting on one of the overhead bridges.

Charles comes walking behind you.

examine bristow
look in slab
north
put key down
put mysterious vial down
put paper down
put statue down
put mukhtar down
put horriblis down
put all down
ask cat for bristow
drop key against cat
drop mysterious vial against cat
drop statue against cat
drop mukhtar against cat

The cat is almost completely white. Only a spot on its tail is black. It is sitting on an overhead bridge and looks frightened.

Charles says 'Oh God, I'm so tired of this. I only want to return home.'

The cat says 'Meow.'

The paving consists of stone slabs and cobblestones. It is in bad repair.

'I used to have a cat, you know' Charles remarks.

The cat says 'Meow.'

One of the stone slabs seems out of place. Kicking it emits a hollow sound, much like there was some cavity below it.

The cat looks down at you.

examine bristow
take slab
north
put key down
put mysterious vial down
put paper down
put statue down
put mukhtar down
put horriblis down
put all down
ask cat for bristow
drop key against cat
drop mysterious vial against cat
drop statue against cat
drop mukhtar against cat

You push the stone slab aside, revealing a entrance to a staircase, leading down into darkness.

The cat looks scared.

examine bristow
take into entrance
north
put key down
put mysterious vial down
put paper down
put statue down
put mukhtar down
put horriblis down
put all down
ask cat for bristow
drop key against cat
drop mysterious vial against cat
drop statue against cat
drop mukhtar against cat

Stairs
You are the top of an staircase, leading down into darkness. A few steps above is the opening, through which you can return to the city.

Charles arrives, and looks around with a puzzled expression. He seems to hesitate briefly, and then says 'Look, I know that this must sound insane, but ever since I came here I keep getting the feeling that I have seen this place before, like in a dream or in a distant past that I have almost forgotten.'

take into entrance
put key down
put mysterious vial down
put horriblis down
put paper down
put statue down
put mukhtar down
put all down
down

Charles looks down the stairs and says gravely 'Don't ask me how, but I just know that if I go down there I won't return alive. Go ahead if you have to, but I will stay here and wait for you.'

In the almost complete darkness, the stairs seem endless but you finally arrive to a corridor far below the city.

Corridor
The staircase to the south opens into a wide corridor, reaching further north. One both side massive walls rise, culminating in massive vaults, on which carvings are just visible. The floor is strewn with fallen blocks, sand, and detritus of every kind.

Behind and above, a faint luminous blur tells of the distant world outside.

The stone is badly fragmented and the carvings almost gone.

They are just shapeless fragments of stone.

Corridor
This is a Cyclopean north-south corridor ten feet wide, paved with octagonal and square blocks, and solidly vaulted overhead. A side passage once led west, but it has collapsed.

south
north
put key down
put mysterious vial down
put horriblis down
put paper down
put statue down
put mukhtar down
put all down

Chamber
You are in a round vaulted chamber, about fifty feet across. The black masonry suggests that this might be a room under one of the mysterious buildings in the city. The chamber is bare and undecorated. Two corridors lead from this room, one to the south and one to the east. Looking up also reveals a square opening in the ceiling.

In the floor just below the opening in the ceiling is a trapdoor. It is closed and carefully sealed down with metal bands.

Seeing the trapdoor suddenly gives you an unexpected feeling of fear, and suggestions of some special peril.

south
east
put statue down
put key down
put mysterious vial down
put mukhtar down
put horriblis down
put paper down
put all down

The trapdoor is carefully sealed with metal bands, which look strong. Its size corresponds to the opening in the ceiling above, and it is possible that it might lead to similar chamber below.

Corridor
This is a badly heaped east-west corridor. It is almost completely dark, but you can make out a chamber further east. In the north wall is the entrance to a caved-in corridor.

west
east
put key down
put mysterious vial down
put horriblis down
put paper down
put statue down
put mukhtar down
put all down

You struggle through the debris.

Rock Chamber
This is a black chamber, directly cut in the rock. Crystals embedded in the walls reflect and magnify the available  light. There is an antique gas stove mounted in one of the walls, and a rack just above it. The sole exit leads west into a dark corridor.

The chamber seems ancient, but the furniture feels more recent. Someone must have been using this chamber not so long ago.

You can also see a chair and a wooden chest (which is closed) here.

take bottle
take chair
take kettle
take yellow
take red powder
turn stove on
take into chair
put statue down
put key down
put mysterious vial down
put mukhtar down
put horriblis down
put yellow down
put all down
open bottle
light stove with bottle
light stove with chair
light stove with kettle
light stove with yellow powder
light stove with red powder
take all off rack
put statue on rack
put statue on chair
put key on rack
put key on chair
put mysterious vial on rack
put mysterious vial on chair
put mukhtar on rack
put mukhtar on chair
put horriblis on rack
put horriblis on chair
put yellow on rack
put yellow on chair
put all on rack
put all on chair
west

It is an old gas stove, which can be turned on by turning a switch. On the stove is a kettle.

The gas stove is currently switched off.

The rack is mounted on the wall above the stove. On the rack are some red powder, some yellow powder and a glass bottle, inside which is a clear liquid.

It is a big and heavy wooden chest. You can't see inside, since it is closed.

You struggle through the debris.

Chamber

In the floor just below the opening in the ceiling is a trapdoor. It is closed and carefully sealed down with metal bands.

Corridor

Behind and above, a faint luminous blur tells of the distant world outside.

Stairs

You can also see Charles Bristow here.

'I just have this brief memory of seeing a crowbar in an underground chamber somewhere.'

Dead End

A stone slab has been moved, revealing a dark entrance leading down.

A cat is sitting on one of the overhead bridges.

Charles comes walking behind you.

Public Square

Charles comes walking behind you.

west
south
take into northeast
put key down
put mysterious vial down
put paper down
put statue down
put mukhtar down
put horriblis down
put all down

Road
An endless array of indistinguishably drab stone buildings lies at either side of the road. Though humbled by the sheer magnitude of the other buildings, a distinctive temple-like structure catches your eye at the south end of the road. Flickering light emanates from its high and narrow windows, casting uncertain shadows on the murals that adorn its wide doorway.

Charles follows you.

south
put key down
put mysterious vial down
put paper down
put statue down
put mukhtar down
put horriblis down
put all down
north

The murals decorating the main entrance to the temple are hard to interpret. Some humans are engaged in what appears to be a ritual. One is bringing a tray with something on it to a table and the others are standing a few paces behind, holding long knifes.

Charles looks at the temple and says 'I think that the tower and the temple are more recent than the city itself. The style is quite different, don't you think?'

From inside the temple sounds of chants and prayers are heard, but the are too muffled to make out clearly.

Temple
The temple is an immense building, whose vaulted ceiling towers high above. It is scantily lit, but a stage is set in its southern part. On the stage there is a huge statue, whose appearance is frightening even from this distance. In front of the statue is a roughly cube-shaped black stone table. There are lots of people in front of the stage, and the air is filled with sounds of chants and prayer. The main exit is to the north.

Charles follows you.

There is some commotion as a man is led up to the stage by a few persons, who force him onto the stone table and ties him down.

north
put key down
put mysterious vial down
put horriblis down
put paper down
put hideous statue down
put mukhtar down
put all down

The huge statue on the stage is indeed grotesque and frightening. It is vaguely human-shaped, but the arms are too long, the skin is covered by scales, and the fangs are definitely out of place.

A hooded, priestly figure carrying a dagger approaches the victim on the table. Without further ceremony he stabs the man in the chest. People around you start chanting terrible hymns in a foreign language.

You notice suspicious glances from people close to you. Charles whispers that it is better to leave before the crowd get too suspicious, and leaves the temple.

You manage to slip out unnoticed.

Road

You can see Charles Bristow here.

south
put statue down
put key down
put mysterious vial down
put other down
put horriblis down
put paper down
put all down
north

Before A Dark Tower

Charles comes walking behind you.

close door
north
take into southwest
put key down
put mysterious vial down
put paper down
put statue down
put mukhtar down
put horriblis down
put all down

south
up
close door
put key down
put mysterious vial down
put horriblis down
put paper down
put statue down
put mukhtar down
put all down

The winding staircase leads to a spacious chamber inside the tower.

Study

Charles comes walking behind you.

down
south
put key down
put mysterious vial down
put paper down
put statue down
put mukhtar down
put horriblis down
put all down
put key on ink
put key on desk
put key on dust
put key on table
put key on bookshelves
put mysterious vial on ink
put mysterious vial on desk
put mysterious vial on dust
put mysterious vial on table
put mysterious vial on bookshelves
put paper on ink
put paper on desk
put paper on dust
put paper on table
put paper on bookshelves
put statue on ink
put statue on desk
put statue on dust
put statue on table
put statue on bookshelves
put mukhtar on ink
put mukhtar on desk
put mukhtar on dust
put mukhtar on table
put mukhtar on bookshelves
put horriblis on ink
put horriblis on desk
put horriblis on dust
put horriblis on table
put horriblis on bookshelves
put all on ink
put all on desk
put all on dust
put all on table
put all on bookshelves
up

You put the vial labelled Mukhtar on the black stone table.

take vial
examine writing
down
south
put key down
put mysterious vial down
put paper down
put statue down
put horriblis down
put all down
put key on ink
put key on desk
put key on dust
put key on table
put key on bookshelves
put mysterious vial on ink
put mysterious vial on desk
put mysterious vial on dust
put mysterious vial on table
put mysterious vial on bookshelves
put paper on ink
put paper on desk
put paper on dust
put paper on table
put paper on bookshelves
put statue on ink
put statue on desk
put statue on dust
put statue on table
put statue on bookshelves
put horriblis on ink
put horriblis on desk
put horriblis on dust
put horriblis on table
put horriblis on bookshelves
put all on ink
put all on desk
put all on dust
put all on table
put all on bookshelves
up

Caelestae Horriblis
wrought iron key
mysterious vial
mysterious vial
yellow paper
hideous statue

Once again you read the syllables of the chant aloud... Y'ai'ng'ngah h'ee-l'geb f'ai throdog.

The green sand emits a faint glow which quickly assumes an unbearable brightness. When the light finally dissipates, the vial is gone. Nothing seems to have changed, yet you detect something alien in your mode of thinking.

The sight of the writing evokes strangely uncommon thoughts.

A stream of incomprehensible thoughts floods your brain, as if an alien presence was occupying your mind.  You are unsure whether to attribute it to fatigue or to insanity.

[Your score has just gone up by five points.]

down
south
put key down
put vial down
put paper down
put statue down
put horriblis down
put all down
examine paper
put key on ink
put key on desk
put key on dust
put key on table
put key on bookshelves
put vial on ink
put vial on desk
put vial on dust
put vial on table
put vial on bookshelves
put paper on ink
put paper on desk
put paper on dust
put paper on table
put paper on bookshelves
put statue on ink
put statue on desk
put statue on dust
put statue on table
put statue on bookshelves
put horriblis on ink
put horriblis on desk
put horriblis on dust
put horriblis on table
put horriblis on bookshelves
put all on ink
put all on desk
put all on dust
put all on table
put all on bookshelves
up

A deep feeling of frustration in projected into your brain. This soon gives away to a concentrated study of the papers. One sentence is revealed, then another. Before long, Mukhtar has decoded the message, and you are swept away in a powerful vision.

Dark Chamber
This is a small chamber with rough walls, cut directly from rock. There is a fireplace set in the wall, and a doorway leading west.

You can see an old man here.

The man seems to be at work. He puts a handful of yellow powder in a bowl.

[Your score has just gone up by five points.]

x me
x shadow
x shape
pull railing
x statue
d
x paper
take paper
x table
x writing
x man
touch man
x books
x dust
x desk
d
x door
u
s
take vial
take vial
take vial
n
d
stand on charles
unlock door with key
open door
s
x tower
sw
x sandstone
x temple
ask charles about temple
w
x crack
n
x carvings
n
x carvings
x skeleton
take note
x note
show note to charles
x skeleton
x torn clothes
take book
x book
x vial
x mukhtar
s
s
w
n
s
s
x cat
x slabs
search slabs
move slab
d
d
x carvings
x blocks
n
n
x trapdoor
e
e
x stove
x kettle
x rack
x chest
w
w
s
s
s
ask charles about chest
u
n
e
e
s
x mural
listen
s
x huge statue
n
n
ne
n
u
put mukhtar on table
read writing
x paper
QUIT


A beautiful day in Bostwin! You are awakened by a ray of sunlight peeking through a window shade and rise refreshed after a restful night's sleep.  You've given your Company a weekend pass to get some R&R after your last grueling mission.  Wasting precious little time your entire company took off for the city proper to pack in as much drinking, carousing, brawling, wenching and other relaxing pursuits as possible in 48 hours.  In the fields of battle your men are an elite unit of trained professionals.  Off-duty they're pretty much like every other bunch of soldiers you've ever served with.

A weekend off and what to do? After the challenges of the past year when you were first promoted and assumed command of Charlie Company you've nearly forgotton what free time is and what you're supposed to do with it.

Pentari
An Interactive Prequel To First Light
Copyright 1998 (C) Howard A. Sherman.  All Rights Reserved.
Type 'Info' For Information About This Game or 'Help' for Instructions.
Release 6 / Serial number 030206 / Inform v6.21 Library 6/10

Your Quarters
Rank certainly does have its privileges.  When you were a lowly lieutenant you had to share cramped quarters with a fellow lieutenant at your previous assignment.  Commanding a company of your own affords you the luxury of private, spacious quarters just outside the barracks themselves. As a further abuse of your power your chest and bunk are not standard issue items from the Pentari millitary supply center.

You can see a postcard here.

Charlie Company Compound
Your company compound consists of three large buildings bordering a large, open area where company formations precede the orders of the day.  To the west the Company's supply building can be seen while directly ahead of you lies your company's barracks which seem quieter than a crypt.  Off to the east you hear the distant shouts of another Company drilling.  Poor souls.

Charlie Company Barracks
If the Army of Bostwin were to publish a new edition of the soldier's handbook, a picture of this barracks should be included as the example other companies should follow.  The floors are polished to an almost blinding shine while each of the bunks lining both sides of this building are perfectly made.  Every locker next to each bunk is closed and locked. Not a single scrap of paper, not one article of clothing, nay not even a dust particle looks out of place.  The powerful smell of high quantities of pine cleaner nearly burns your nostrils. Damn, you run a good comapny.

You can see a Pentarian Transporter here.

The Charlie Company Barracks (in the Pentarian Transporter)

Your vision swims as your sight of the barracks blurs into a myriad of chaotic colors. You feel a moment of disorientation...

As you begin to materialize your eyes grow wide as you realize you're not in front of the Bank of Bostwin, where the transporter usually takes you in the city.  You're not even outdoors, you're indoors! What the hell is going on here...?

Entrance Hall
Your footsteps echo loudly as you walk through this room taking in the vast expanse of its size.  The walls rise majestically upward and outward to form a huge room which, curiously, is empty.  You can't help but wonder why such a large room is needed for the straight-forward task of accepting guests and visitors. To the east a wide open arch leads to what must be a library while to the north you hardly help but notice a huge, semi-circular marble staircase leading up to parts unknown.

[Your score has just gone up by five points.]

Library
This is a vast chamber lined floor to ceiling with bookcases filled to capacity with books.  You haven't seen such a collection of knowledge since your academy days.  A cursory glance at some bookshelves reveal several titles on various topics of magic, history, philosophy, science and a hundred other topics.  A few large tables with chairs are in the center of the room inviting anyone to make use of these impressive facilities.

The wizard Morden is here staring at you, the smallest of smiles on his face.

You can also see a copy of The Legends and Lore of Pentari here.

covert
take other
put other down
push other to floor
west

Spots in all the colors of the rainbow dance in front of your eyes as you feel yourself displaced...

You find yourself in the deep recesses of Vamvevmew's castle and instantly a wave of fear and depression hit you as hard as any enemy ever has.  Your hand shoots right for your sword in its scabbard on reflex and you grip the hilt so hard your knuckles whiten.

Castle
You are at the center of an intersection which runs east to west as well as north to south.

The Dark Elf walks in.

south
west
put sword down
hit elf
north
east

Castle Entrance
This large open area stands just inside the castle's gate and would be the place all visitors would first go before being allowed entrance to the castle proper.  A guard station, long abandoned, is here. A corridor stretches into the castle itself to the north.

You can see a Magical Seal here.

Your fist smashes the ward, shattering it into a cloud of shimmering dust.

[Your score has just gone up by ten points.]

Castle

You can see The Dark Elf here.

The Dark Elf walks around as if looking for something.

Main Hall
This once majestic room was where visitors would come to relax and meet with the formal lord of the castle in a somewhat informal atmosphere. Several large comfortable couches are scattered about, dusty and altogether squalid.  Many large tapestries still hang on the walls but are horribly faded from age.  Large open archways lead east and west while a huge fireplace dominates the center of the room against the northern wall.

Main Hall, by the Fireplace
You are at the northern end of the main hall taking in the panorama of what was once a majestic area where perhaps treaties were signed, strategies laid and plans foiled.

You can see a Large Fireplace here.

Spiral Stairway
A large spiral staircase made entirely of marble polished smooth corkscrews up to a second floor and down to murky depths below. An archway north is cluttered with fallen rubble and crumbled stone but looks otherwise passable.

north
get in floor
put sword down
west
up

Castle Dungeon
Dark, dank and musty are the highpoints of this dungeon.  A guard post is here, positioned in such a way as to afford a view of the rows of cells and the prisoners they once contained.  An open cell is just ahead to the north.

Dining Room
The Duke wasn't one to stand on ceremony therefore he took all his meals in this room.  This large room allowed many servers to shuttle back and forth from the kitchen to the north without getting in anyone's way. Dominating the center of the room is a long, grand table lined with comfortable looking high-backed chairs while exquisite paintings dot the walls.

A folded linen towel is lying on the floor

take towel
north
put sword down
open towel
push towel to floor
south

take towel
close towel
north
put sword down
push towel to floor
put sword in towel
south

Kitchen
Perhaps even larger than the dining room itself, this kitchen delivered many fine state dinners in its day.  Large wood-burning stoves line one side of the room while on another are rows of preparation tables.

Dining Room

A folded linen towel is lying on the floor

Armory
Many death-dealing weapons of every type were stored here.  Several tall racks probably held spears while shorter ones mounted against the wall stored various kinds of swords.  Other wall mounts, also empty, give you no idea what sort of weapons may have been held by them.  A large archway north is partially blocked by collapsed stones and rubble.

You can see a jewel encrusted dagger here.

take sword
take dagger
north
take all
east

Treasury
In times past the vast wealth of the Duke would be stored here.  Alas, with the castle taken and the Duke gone so with him went his riches. As you remember your history lessons, you recall the genealogy of the Dukes of Bostwin and their love of collecting treasures.  You could only imagine what vast treasures were contained in this room long ago.

A finely crafted oaken chest is here.

put dagger down
put chest down
put all down
north
south

take sword
north
put dagger down
put other down
put all down
east

east
west
put dagger down
put chest down
put all down
hit elf
north
south

oaken chest: Dropped.
jewel encrusted dagger: Dropped.

The Dark Elf walks around as if looking for something.

take dagger
take chest
east
west
take all
hit elf
north
south

Main Hall

You can see a jewel encrusted dagger and an oaken chest (which is closed) here.

take dagger
take chest
east
west
take all
north
south

take dagger
east
west
put chest down
north
south

Main Hall, by the Fireplace

You can see a Large Fireplace here.

The Main Hall, by the Fireplace (in the Large Fireplace)

You can see a dirty scroll here.

Taken.

[Your score has just gone up by ten points.]

Main Hall

You can see an oaken chest (which is closed) and a jewel encrusted dagger here.

fwoosh
take dagger
take chest
east
west
put scroll down
take all
north
south

You hear a roar of flames as a fireball materializes out of nowhere and floods the entire room in a burst of flames! The intensity of the fireball blasts the chest open and miraculously, except for a slight discomfort of warmth, you are otherwise uneffected.

[Your score has just gone up by ten points.]

take emerald
take dagger
take chest
close chest
east
west
take all
empty chest
push emerald to chest
push dagger to chest
north
south

You feel a surge of power flow through you as you pick up the small emerald...Taken.

[Your score has just gone up by five points.]

take dagger
take chest
close chest
east
west
put emerald down
take all
put emerald in chest
push dagger to chest
north
south

You need to be holding the jewel encrusted dagger before you can put it into something else.

Armory

You can see a fine Pentarian sword here.

The Dark Elf walks in.

examine emerald
take sword
north
put emerald down
hit elf
push sword to floor
east

(the fine Pentarian sword)
Taken.

The Dark Elf senses your aura of power and realizes you have the emerald he's been looking for! He bashes you on the back of your head with the hilt of his sword and steals the small emerald from you!

Your vision swims and you can't quite your bearings...

You hear alot of shouting nearby between Vamvevmew and a familiar sounding voice followed by an explosion as the hair stands up on your head! You draw your sword and attempt to get your bearings but you feel displaced...

Your vision struggles for clarity as you attempt to look through the smoke and the dust to behold two figures locked in sorceral combat! You can make out Morden mumbling something under his breath as he gestures towards The Dark Elf and a bolt of lightning hits Vamvevmew squarely in the chest!

Howling in rage and pain, the Dark One returns the volley with a fire strike which lights up a previously invisible defensive shield around Morden! Essentially unhurt, Morden looks weakened from this engagement...

You look on in bewilderment but know that you must do something!

Castle, Upper Level
This large room has taken on some new charasterics recently... now the walls are covered with blast marks of unknown origin from floor to ceiling.  Smoke wafts throughout and it's about 10 degrees warmer in here.

A box made of solid platinum is sitting on the floor here.

You can also see a small emerald, The Dark Elf and Morden here.

take emerald
put sword down
open box
hit elf
push emerald to floor
put sword on box

Wounded by the Wizard Morden and distracted by the mortal combat he is engaged in, you are able to come up behind Vamvevmew and run him through with your sword.

A look of surprise crosses his face as he looks down and realizes he is mortally wounded. He gives you a black look and attempts to reach for your throat but doesn't quite make it, crumpling to the floor he breathes his last and dies.

[Your score has just gone up by ten points.]

take emerald
put sword down
open box
push emerald to floor
put sword on box

put emerald down
put sword down
put all down
open box
put emerald on box
put sword on box
put all on box

small emerald: Done.
fine Pentarian sword: Done.

take emerald
take sword
open box
push emerald to floor
push sword to floor

Castle, Upper Level
This large room has taken on some new charasterics recently... now the walls are covered with blast marks of unknown origin from floor to ceiling.  Smoke wafts throughout and it's about 10 degrees warmer in here.

A box made of solid platinum is sitting on the floor here.
On top are a fine Pentarian sword and a small emerald.

The platinum box and the small emerald crowning it glows a very bright green accompanied by what sounds like a chorus of singing angels!

A man is materializing in the room, at first projected by a ray of green power emanating from the small emerald but in mere seconds the ray is gone and the man is here...

He is garbed in the tabbard of Bostwin and he sports a cape which is only reserved for high officers and nobility! Looking around the room he suddenly looks distressed and exclaims "My castle.  What the hell happened to my castle?!" Galin immediately pauses as his eyes lock on the corpse of his ancient nemesis.  "Damn it, I wanted the privilege. He killed all my servants, all my men...",he chokes with this and continues somberly,"and he would've killed me if he didn't need me alive to ply me for my knowledge of the Empirical Emerald.", with that he gives the platinum box an affectionate pat. "I imagine I have alot of catching up to do.  I get the impression quite a bit of time has passed since my departure to that astral limbo I was trapped in.  Not a bad place, really. I learned a hell of alot, saw alot, experienced alot.  It's somehow different than here, yet similar.  I thought for sure I was escaping to Bostwin itself but I guess I miscalculated." With that Morden chuckles and nods his head knowingly.

"I wonder if I could have my old job back.  I'm sure as hell to shake up the status quo with my peers of this age.  But let me not forget you..." pausing to look at the rank on your uniform, "Captain.  Should my peers of this age find it agreeable I will resume my noble office as befits my rank and appoint you the Captain of my personal guard! My many thanks to you for freeing me from the hell of that limbo I was stuck in. And you, wizard, you must've had a hand in this.  I shall reward you as well!

"More pressing business, though, is to restore my castle...", Galin glances around and sighs "It seems I have my work cut out for me here.  Care to lend a hand?"

Grinning, Lord Galin pats you on the back as Morden conjures a broom and tosses it to you...

You can also see  here.

    *** You have won ***

In that game you scored 70 out of a possible 70, in 49 turns.

Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, UNDO your last move or QUIT

north
north
in
city
east
covert
south
smash seal
north
north
north
south
east
get in floor
up
north
open towel
north
south
south
west
west
put sword down
take dagger
north
take chest
south
east
put all down
south
south
north
north
take chest
put all down
north
enter
take scroll
get up
south
fwoosh
take emerald
put dagger in chest
west
take sword
hit elf
take emerald
put all on box
l
QUIT