.SEGMENT "LAVOS" .FUNCT ANONF-57:ANY:0:0 EQUAL? ACTION,BACKGROUND-COMMAND \?CCL3 PRINTI "Our story began nearly five years ago, at the time of our first crop failures. These things happen, of course, once in a while, but by the third year, we knew something was badly amiss. And then, in the fourth year of our despair, the water, too, failed us; not all at once, mind you, but by the fifth year, there were only a few folks whose water was not foul-tasting and disease-ridden. Many moved away, into the north country, but in fact neither had our neighbors been spared the spreading pestilence." CRLF CRLF PRINTI "Hope was fading as the summer of that fateful year approached, and, with no respite in sight, it was decided to seek aid beyond our borders, from a powerful Wizard who was said to live atop the distant Sunrise Mountain. And so a party of four departed, headed by the elder blacksmith, Garlimon; and they were never seen again." CRLF CRLF PRINTI "But as winter reached its icy hand toward us, another group was formed with the same slim hope of finding answers to our desperate situation. Bergon, the carpenter, was chosen to lead the party; and Bergon chose Praxix, the local Wizard, and Esher, a learned (but irritable) physician, to join him. And the group chose me, " ICALL1 WPRINTTAG PRINTI ", apprentice food merchant, to watch the supplies and to keep a diary of our journey, which, by the fortunes of the good earth, I recount for you now." RTRUE ?CCL3: EQUAL? ACTION,START-COMMAND \FALSE RANDOM 64 SUB STACK,1 ADD STACK,64 >ASTRIX-MAZE-PATH ICALL1 CLEAR-SUBGROUP PRINTI "Our journey started on a day bright and clear, and we made quick progress down the gently winding road that leads south, past the boundaries of our valley." CRLF CRLF PRINTI "The air was warm, but the cool north wind at our backs reminded us that winter was near. It seemed that we had only just started out when we arrived at the outpost town of Lavos, shortly past noon." CRLF CRLF ICALL2 GRAPHIC,G-LAVOS PRINTI "So this was Lavos! We stood in front of an old wooden storefront, that of a provisioner. Farther down the road, the Lands End tavern beckoned us with the promise of food and drink." CALL2 MOVE-TO,LAVOS RSTACK .FUNCT ANONF-58:ANY:0:0 EQUAL? ACTION,GET-ADVICE-COMMAND \?CCL3 ICALL UPDATE-FCLEAR,HERE,ADVISE PRINTI """I suppose,"" Bergon said with a smile, ""that we've come to our first decision. How are we set for supplies?""" CRLF CRLF PRINTI """I'm sure we're well enough supplied,"" I said meekly. ""But I wouldn't mind looking around the shop, if you wouldn't mind taking the time." CRLF CRLF PRINTI """Let's not disappoint " ICALL1 WPRINTTAG PRINTI ","" Praxix said kindly. ""And who knows - maybe we'll find something important there after all.""" RTRUE ?CCL3: EQUAL? ACTION,PROCEED-COMMAND \?CCL5 FSET? LANDS-END,SEEN /?CCL8 PRINTI "We walked down the dusty road, stopping at the door of the tavern. As we stood there, an unsavory looking man, approaching from the far end of town, brushed past us and entered." JUMP ?CND6 ?CCL8: FSET? LANDS-END-TAVERN,SEEN /?CCL10 PRINTI "Once again, we walked down that dusty road and stood at the door of the tavern. Loud conversation could be heard within, and we were sorely tempted to see what lay inside." ?CND6: CALL2 MOVE-TO,LANDS-END RSTACK ?CCL10: PRINTI "We had seen town, such as it was, and it was now time to move on. " ICALL2 GRAPHIC,G-FORK ICALL MOVE-TO,NEWHALL-PASS,LEAVE-LAVOS RTRUE ?CCL5: EQUAL? ACTION,ENTER-COMMAND \FALSE ICALL UPDATE-FCLEAR,HERE,ADVISE PRINTI "We entered the provisioner's shop, and introduced ourselves to the proprietor, a portly man named Webba. ""Look around, look around!"" he said, proudly, though (if the truth be told) there was not much to be proud of. Still, this would be our last chance to provision ourselves before moving south to whatever lay beyond." CRLF CRLF ICALL2 GRAPHIC,G-WEBBA CALL MOVE-TO,WEBBAS,STR?391 RSTACK .FUNCT ANONF-59:ANY:0:0 IN? WEBBA-MAP,INVENTORY \?CND1 FSET WEBBA-MAP,DONT-EXAMINE ?CND1: PUTP HERE,P?TEMP,0 RTRUE .FUNCT WEBBAS-F:ANY:0:0 EQUAL? ACTION,SELL-COMMAND \?CCL3 ICALL UPDATE-FSET,HERE,DONT-DROP EQUAL? ACTION-OBJECT,WEBBA-MAP \?CCL6 PRINTI """No, you just keep the map,"" Webba said, returning the money we had paid for it. ""If you're going on from here, you'll be needing whatever help you can get!""" RTRUE ?CCL6: PRINTI """Oh, dear me, no!"" was Webba's reply when we tried to sell him the " ICALL2 WPRINTD,ACTION-OBJECT PRINTI ". ""I'm sure I've got a whole shelf of them out back somewhere.""" RTRUE ?CCL3: EQUAL? ACTION,REPLY-COMMAND \?CCL8 ICALL2 WPRINTD,ACTOR PRINTI " started to tell of our quest, and Webba shook his head, resigned to having lost a good customer. ""This map will not help you. I sell this item to 'tourists' - those curious enough to visit, but not enough to go on!"" He laughed heartily, and told of the peculiar man who offered him the map in exchange for a few worthless trinkets. Of course, the map appeared equally worthless, though he thought it amusing, especially the faintly flickering, oddly shaped runes that appeared on it. He ran his finger across the map, as if to show us the originals, but none were even vaguely flickering, and he soon gave up." CRLF CRLF FSET WEBBA-MAP,USED-UP PRINTI """The old man looked harmless enough,"" the shopkeeper continued, ""so I bought it. But the map seemed awfully plain, if you know what I mean, so I added some runes of my own - thought it looked more official that way! But, if I were trying to find my way somewhere, I would sooner trust my brother's blind mule than this map!""" CALL1 END-OPTION RSTACK ?CCL8: EQUAL? ACTION,IGNORE-COMMAND \?CCL10 PRINTI "Fearing to expose our quest, " ICALL2 WPRINTD,ACTOR PRINTI " shrugged off the question. Webba didn't pursue the matter, but he now looked at us with grave concern." CALL1 END-OPTION RSTACK ?CCL10: EQUAL? ACTION,LOOK-AROUND-COMMAND \?CCL12 ICALL UPDATE-FSET,HERE,DONT-SCOUT FSET HERE,SCOUTED PRINTI """I think I'll just have a look around,"" " ICALL2 WPRINTD,ACTOR PRINTI " said, as he wandered off to explore the shop. ""Perhaps there's something more here than meets the eye.""" PUTP HERE,P?TEMP,ACTOR ICALL MAKE-BUSY,ACTOR,GONE-COMMAND RTRUE ?CCL12: EQUAL? ACTION,EXIT-COMMAND \FALSE ICALL TRAVEL-COMMANDS,LAVOS,PROCEED-COMMAND CALL MOVE-TO,LAVOS,STR?392 RSTACK .FUNCT ANONF-61:ANY:0:0 EQUAL? ACTION,EXAMINE-COMMAND \?CCL3 ICALL UPDATE-FSET,ACTION-OBJECT,DONT-EXAMINE ICALL2 WPRINTD,ACTOR PRINTI ", who was by no means an expert on fine foods, browsed through the food selection, though he could not find anything that he particularly liked." CRLF CRLF PRINTI """Perhaps we should buy some of these things,"" he said, turning in my general direction. I agreed to take a look around, though we were not short of supplies." RTRUE ?CCL3: EQUAL? ACTION,BUY-COMMAND \FALSE PRINTI "I selected the most appetizing of the dry foodstuffs and placed them in my pack; at least we wouldn't be worrying about food for a few weeks, which was longer than we hoped to be gone." CALL2 UPDATE-MOVE,WEBBA-FOOD RSTACK .FUNCT ANONF-62:ANY:0:0 FSET HERE,SEEN FSET? WEBBAS,SEEN \FALSE CALL REMOVE-TRAVEL-COMMAND,HERE,BACK-COMMAND RSTACK .FUNCT ANONF-63:ANY:0:0 EQUAL? ACTION,ENTER-COMMAND \?CCL3 ICALL1 REMOVE-TRAVEL-COMMAND CALL MOVE-TO,LANDS-END-TAVERN,STR?394 RSTACK ?CCL3: EQUAL? ACTION,PROCEED-COMMAND \?CCL5 CALL MOVE-TO,NEWHALL-PASS,LEAVE-LAVOS RSTACK ?CCL5: EQUAL? ACTION,BACK-COMMAND \FALSE PRINTI """So, this is all there is,"" Esher said, shaking his head scornfully. ""Perhaps we were hasty in passing over the provisioner's shop.""" CRLF CRLF PRINTI """It could not hurt to check it out,"" Bergon replied, and we were soon retracing our steps to the provisioner's door." ICALL1 REMOVE-TRAVEL-COMMAND CALL2 MOVE-TO,LAVOS RSTACK .FUNCT ANONF-64:ANY:0:0 EQUAL? ACTION,EXAMINE-COMMAND \FALSE ICALL UPDATE-FSET,ACTION-OBJECT,DONT-EXAMINE GETP HERE,P?TEMP ZERO? STACK /?CCL6 FSET ACTION-OBJECT,EXAMINED PRINTI "Praxix motioned toward a particularly dark corner of the tavern, where Esher was now conversing with someone whose face was obscured in shadow." CRLF CRLF PRINTI """Perhaps we shall learn something of value from our friend Esher,"" he said." RTRUE ?CCL6: FSET HERE,INCAPACITATED PRINTI "Praxix slowly scanned the faces of the customers, but none returned his gaze. Indeed, although everyone here appeared to know who we were, none would acknowledge our presence." CRLF CRLF PRINTI "The almost palpable tension inside the tavern made me ill at ease, and I believe Praxix felt this as well, though he was not nearly as alarmed as I. ""We have barely left home and already you see danger everywhere you turn,"" he said, reassuringly. ""Have a" FSET? LANDS-END-DRINKS,SEEN \?CND7 PRINTI "nother" ?CND7: PRINTI " drink! Do not despair!""" RTRUE .FUNCT ANONF-65:ANY:0:0 EQUAL? ACTION,BUY-COMMAND \FALSE FSET? LANDS-END-DRINKS,SEEN \?CCL6 REMOVE HYE-DRINKS PRINTI "I suggested that another drink might not hurt, but Bergon suggested that I had had quite enough." CRLF CRLF PRINTI """We wouldn't want you walking over any cliffs, or falling into chasms,"" he said." FSET? HERE,INCAPACITATED \?CND7 CRLF CRLF PRINTI "The Wizard looked over his shoulder toward me and shrugged, then emptied his tankard of ale in a single gulp." ?CND7: CALL2 UPDATE-MOVE,LANDS-END-DRINKS RSTACK ?CCL6: FSET LANDS-END-DRINKS,SEEN PRINTI "Stepping up to the bar, we ordered ourselves a few tankards of ale. Though bitter by our standards, it was nevertheless refreshing, and we passed some time there with idle talk about the journey that was to come." RTRUE .FUNCT ANONF-66:ANY:0:0 PUTP HERE,P?TEMP,0 RTRUE .FUNCT ANONF-67:ANY:0:0 EQUAL? ACTION,LOOK-AROUND-COMMAND \?CCL3 PRINTI "It took Esher just a few moments to become restless, and he soon slipped away from us to mingle with the crowd." CRLF CRLF PRINTI """Who knows?"" he said, all but disappearing into the tavern's smoke-filled air, ""I may even learn something useful.""" FSET? LANDS-END-PEOPLE,EXAMINED /?CND4 ICALL UPDATE-MOVE,LANDS-END-PEOPLE,HERE ?CND4: PUTP HERE,P?TEMP,ACTOR ICALL MAKE-BUSY,ACTOR,GONE-COMMAND RTRUE ?CCL3: EQUAL? ACTION,EXIT-COMMAND \?CCL7 GETP HERE,P?TEMP ZERO? STACK /?CCL10 CALL QSET?,MINAR,SEEN ZERO? STACK \?CCL10 ICALL2 GRAPHIC,G-MINAR PRINTI "On our way out, Esher rejoined us, telling of an intriguing conversation he had just had with one of the locals. Before he could go on, the unsavory man we had seen before stepped outside and pushed his way into our midst. Bergon, flushed with anger, grabbed his sword, but Esher held him back. ""This is the man I was telling you about,"" he said with no particular enthusiasm." CRLF CRLF ICALL1 CLEAR-BUSY PRINT MINAR-INTRO ICALL OPTION,LEADER,ACCEPT-COMMAND,DECLINE-COMMAND,GET-ADVICE-COMMAND FSET HERE,ADVISE SET 'UPDATE-FLAG,TRUE-VALUE RTRUE ?CCL10: PRINTI "It was Bergon's opinion that we had tarried here long enough, so we left the tavern, returning to the road" FSET? LANDS-END-DRINKS,SEEN \?CND13 PRINTI " refreshed, and, if I might say, with a good, warm feeling in our bellies" ?CND13: PRINTC 46 CALL2 MOVE-TO,LANDS-END RSTACK ?CCL7: EQUAL? ACTION,ACCEPT-COMMAND \?CCL16 ICALL2 WPRINTD,LEADER PRINTI " appeared troubled, but agreed to Minar's request. ""It is against the wishes of our Elders, yet we know little of the world that lies beyond Lavos. We shall take the stranger!""" ICALL2 PARTY-ADD,MINAR ICALL2 END-OPTION,FALSE-VALUE CALL2 MOVE-TO,LANDS-END RSTACK ?CCL16: EQUAL? ACTION,DECLINE-COMMAND \?CCL18 ICALL2 WPRINTD,LEADER PRINTI " thought for a moment, then spoke. ""Wiser men than ourselves have set our number at four. Though our perils be unknown to us, we must not lightly bend the wishes of those who have set us upon our way."" And with that, he dismissed Minar, who slinked back into the tavern." FSET MINAR,SEEN ICALL2 END-OPTION,FALSE-VALUE CALL2 MOVE-TO,LANDS-END RSTACK ?CCL18: EQUAL? ACTION,GET-ADVICE-COMMAND \FALSE EQUAL? PARTY-MODE,OPTION-MODE \FALSE FCLEAR HERE,ADVISE PRINTI "None spoke, yet all frowned, if only a little, at the prospect of bringing this stranger into our group." CALL OPTION,LEADER,ACCEPT-COMMAND,DECLINE-COMMAND RSTACK .FUNCT ANONF-68:ANY:0:0 FCLEAR WEBBA-MAP,DONT-EXAMINE CALL ADD-TRAVEL-COMMAND,PRAXIX,TELL-LEGEND-COMMAND RSTACK .FUNCT ANONF-69:ANY:0:0 FSET WEBBA-MAP,DONT-EXAMINE RTRUE .FUNCT ANONF-70:ANY:0:0 EQUAL? ACTION,GET-ADVICE-COMMAND \?CCL3 ICALL UPDATE-FCLEAR,HERE,ADVISE FSET? HERE,SCOUTED \?CCL6 PRINTI "Having considered Minar's report, Bergon asked each of us for our advice. Esher, Minar, and I favored taking the righthand path and avoiding the bandits altogether. Praxix, however, was intensely curious as to the meaning of the bloodstained clothing, feeling that it might relate to the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Garlimon's party. Bergon listened carefully, though he kept his thoughts to himself." RTRUE ?CCL6: FSET? MINAR,IN-PARTY \?CCL8 PRINTI "Bergon asked for our advice, but only Minar spoke. ""If our goal is the Sunrise Mountain,"" he said, ""we should have better luck keeping to the left.""" RTRUE ?CCL8: PRINTI "It felt like hours had passed while we stood at the fork, looking this way and that, not knowing which would lead more quickly to our destination. Perhaps it would not matter, yet we feared that time was critial and that our decision here would be crucial to our success." RTRUE ?CCL3: EQUAL? ACTION,SCOUT-COMMAND \?CCL10 ICALL UPDATE-FSET,HERE,DONT-SCOUT FSET HERE,SCOUTED EQUAL? ACTOR,ESHER \?CCL13 ICALL2 WPRINTD,ACTOR PRINTI " grudgingly agreed to run on ahead and check out both paths; when he arrived back, breathless, he was reticent." CRLF CRLF PRINTI """Well,"" Bergon prompted, expecting some sort of information to be forthcoming." CRLF CRLF PRINTI """How should I know?"" Esher replied, ""I've never been here before, and they just look like paths to me. If it's advice you're after, I say let's go left - there's less climbing that way.""" CALL UPDATE-FCLEAR,HERE,ADVISE RSTACK ?CCL13: PRINTI "Bergon asked Minar to scout out the paths before us, but Minar, sensing an insult, was initially disinclined to do so." CRLF CRLF RANDOM 2 >FORK-BANDITS PRINTI """I have no need to scout these paths,"" he said harshly, ""for I have travelled them many times. If we seek the Sunrise Mountain, our best path is to the left.""" CRLF CRLF PRINTI "But then, Minar's voice softened. ""However, these are dangerous times, and we may have been followed."" And with that, he quietly disappeared down the lefthand path. When he returned, he shook his head knowingly." CRLF CRLF SET 'FORK-BANDITS,1 PRINTI """It is as I feared. Not long after I left, I discovered this."" He held up a shredded piece of clothing, similar to our own, stained heavily with dried blood. ""There is more - there are fresh tracks in the ground - three or four, I would say. No doubt they are bandits, and they lie in wait for us. Also, sunset is near. We must hope to do better down the other path.""" FSET HERE,SCOUTED RTRUE ?CCL10: EQUAL? ACTION,LEFT-COMMAND \?CCL15 EQUAL? FORK-BANDITS,1 \?CCL18 FSET? HERE,SCOUTED \?CCL18 FSET? MINAR,IN-PARTY \?CCL18 PRINTI "Although Minar had cautioned us against taking this route, Bergon chose to " FSET? HERE,ADVISE /?CND22 PRINTI "take Praxix' advice and " ?CND22: PRINTI "proceed " JUMP ?CND16 ?CCL18: PRINTI "We chose to remain north of the mountains, following the path which led" ?CND16: CALL MOVE-TO,CANYON-COUNTRY,STR?398 RSTACK ?CCL15: EQUAL? ACTION,RIGHT-COMMAND \FALSE EQUAL? FORK-BANDITS,2 \?CCL28 PRINTI "Although Minar had cautioned us against taking this route, Bergon chose to proceed southward, following a steeply winding path that led down through a narrow canyon." JUMP ?CND26 ?CCL28: PRINTI "Choosing the southern route, we descended through a steeply winding canyon." ?CND26: CALL MOVE-TO,SYLMAR,STR?399 RSTACK .FUNCT ANONF-71:ANY:0:0 EQUAL? ACTION,SCENE-START-COMMAND \?CCL3 ICALL UPDATE-MOVE,BANDITS,HERE CRLF CRLF PRINTI "Not a minute after locating a campsite, we were suddenly attacked by a small gang of bandits." CRLF CRLF SET 'COMBAT-ROUND,-1 CALL1 SURPRISE-COMBAT RSTACK ?CCL3: EQUAL? ACTION,SCENE-END-COMMAND \?CCL5 ICALL2 UPDATE-REMOVE,BANDITS GETP HERE,P?GRAPHIC ICALL2 GRAPHIC,STACK ZERO? BANDITS-SPELL /?CND6 CRLF CRLF PRINTI "It was about this time that Praxix was ready to cast his """ ICALL2 WPRINTD,BANDITS-SPELL PRINTI """ spell. But looking around for the first time since he had started, he came to the belated realization that it was no longer necessary." FSET? ESHER,IN-PARTY \?CND8 CRLF CRLF PRINTI """Would that we had a medal for valor,"" Esher said, patting Praxix on the back and pouring on the sarcasm. ""I feel safer in battle just knowing that you are with us.""" ?CND8: ICALL1 CLEAR-BUSY ?CND6: FSET? ESHER,IN-PARTY /?CCL12 CRLF CRLF PRINTI "The battle was now over, and we would have to go on without the services of our physician. Praxix performed a brief ceremony, after which we laid our friend to rest in a deep grave in the shade of a sycamore tree, and marked the spot with a rock cairn." JUMP ?CND10 ?CCL12: ICALL2 MAKE-UNBUSY,MINAR ?CND10: CRLF CRLF PRINTI "It was now late, so we set up camp, taking turns on guard through the night. Later, I dreamed that we stood on a high precipice, far above the clouds; storms surrounded us, and violent gusts of wind nearly swept us off our feet and down into a dark abyss. And then, the wind changed, and a gentle breeze blew, and we were carried off that precipice. But we were not afraid as we glided and soared through the ocean of still, clear air." CRLF CRLF PRINTI "When morning came, misty and still, we packed silently and prepared to move onward. But the dream stayed with me, and in later days I would think of it often, sensing in it a foreshadowing of things to come - but when, or in what manner, I could not know." RTRUE ?CCL5: EQUAL? ACTION,COMBAT-RESULT-COMMAND \?CCL14 ZERO? COMBAT-ROUND \?CCL17 EQUAL? FORK-BANDITS,1,2 \?CCL20 PRINTI "Having been warned of our danger, we reacted quickly and surely. I had never been in battle before, but it was clear that Bergon was our strongest fighter, wielding a heavy broadsword. Esher, surprisingly, was also a good fighter, and he easily handled the sword thrusts of his opponent. Praxix and I, however, were new to this sort of thing, and were satisfied with merely staving off injury." RTRUE ?CCL20: PRINTI "Caught completely unawares, w" ICALL2 HINT,HINT-BANDITS ICALL1 BANDITS-KILL-ESHER RTRUE ?CCL17: FSET? ESHER,IN-PARTY \?CND21 PRINTI "Just then, a previously unseen attacker approached Esher from behind with a large club. Not a moment before he" FSET? HERE,TRIED \?CCL25 PRINTI " would have been hit, a sword ripped through the attacker's chest. Placing his foot on the attacker's back, Minar kicked the mortally wounded attacker to the ground and smiled. Clearly, Minar had done this sort of thing before, and what's more, he seemed to enjoy it. But the grotesque look on his victim's face filled me with dread and revulsion." JUMP ?CND23 ?CCL25: PRINTI " was hit, I screamed a warning, but it was too late. W" ICALL2 HINT,HINT-BANDITS-FLANK ICALL1 BANDITS-KILL-ESHER ?CND23: CRLF CRLF ?CND21: FSET? ESHER,IN-PARTY /?CCL28 PRINTI "Our fortunes were finally improving" JUMP ?CND26 ?CCL28: PRINTI "The battle was " ZERO? FORK-BANDITS \?CND29 PRINTI "finally " ?CND29: PRINTI "going well" ?CND26: PRINTI "; Bergon" FSET? ESHER,IN-PARTY \?CND31 PRINTI ", Esher," ?CND31: FSET? MINAR,IN-PARTY \?CND33 PRINTI " and Minar" ?CND33: FSET? MINAR,IN-PARTY /?CTR36 FSET? ESHER,IN-PARTY \?CCL37 ?CTR36: PRINTI " were" JUMP ?CND35 ?CCL37: PRINTI " was" ?CND35: PRINTI " making some deadly hits with " FSET? MINAR,IN-PARTY /?CTR41 FSET? ESHER,IN-PARTY \?CCL42 ?CTR41: PRINTI "their weapons" JUMP ?CND40 ?CCL42: PRINTI "his sword" ?CND40: PRINTI ", and the bandits appeared weaker in their resolve to fight, taking ever more to the defensive." RTRUE ?CCL14: EQUAL? ACTION,CAST-COMMAND \?CCL46 SET 'BANDITS-SPELL,ACTION-OBJECT PRINTI "In the midst of the fighting, Praxix started preparing a spell of some sort. It wasn't easy, though, and it appeared we would not be seeing the spell's effects for some time." ICALL2 MAKE-BUSY,PRAXIX ICALL1 NEW-DEFAULT RTRUE ?CCL46: EQUAL? ACTION,COMBAT-COMMAND \?CCL48 FSET? BANDITS-FIGHT,SEEN /?CCL48 FSET? MINAR,IN-PARTY /?CCL48 ZERO? COMBAT-ROUND \?CCL48 FSET BANDITS-FIGHT,SEEN PRINTI "As we prepared to continue the fight, it was clear that something was wrong in the ranks of the bandits; one dropped dead in his tracks before we had commenced." CRLF CRLF GETP BANDITS,P?STATUS MUL STACK,3 DIV STACK,4 PUTP BANDITS,P?STATUS,STACK RFALSE ?CCL48: EQUAL? ACTION,FLANK-COMMAND \?CCL54 EQUAL? ACTOR,MINAR \?CCL57 ICALL MAKE-BUSY,MINAR,GONE-COMMAND FSET HERE,TRIED PRINTI "We almost didn't notice that Minar had quietly slipped away, snaking his way through the brush to take up a position behind that of the bandits." JUMP ?CND55 ?CCL57: ICALL CHANGE-CIT,MINAR,1,NUL-COMMAND ICALL2 WPRINTD,ACTOR PRINTI " thought there would be some advantage to sneaking around the bandits' flank, but he was too large a man and too involved in the battle itself to do this without attracting notice." ?CND55: ICALL CHANGE-CIT,BERGON,1,NUL-COMMAND CALL1 NEW-DEFAULT RSTACK ?CCL54: EQUAL? ACTION,STRENGTH-COMMAND \?CCL59 FSET? BANDITS-FIGHT,SEEN \?CCL59 ICALL2 ADD-PARTY-OFFENSE,40 ICALL2 ADD-PARTY-DEFENSE,10 RFALSE ?CCL59: EQUAL? ACTION,ACCEPT-COMMAND \?CCL63 ICALL2 WPRINTD,LEADER PRINTI ", still troubled, agreed. " FSET? MINAR,SEEN \?CND64 PRINTI """It seems we cannot be rid of you, so you may as well join us."" " ?CND64: PRINTI "Praxix appeared uneasy with Bergon's decision, but, as for me, I was happy to take any help we were offered." ICALL TRAVEL-COMMANDS,ESHER,EXAMINE-COMMAND ICALL1 END-OPTION ICALL2 END-COMBAT,FALSE-VALUE ICALL2 PARTY-ADD,MINAR RTRUE ?CCL63: EQUAL? ACTION,RETREAT-COMMAND \?CCL67 ICALL2 REMOVE-PARTY-COMMAND,RETREAT-COMMAND PRINTI "Any thought of retreating from these bandits would soon be forgotten, as it became clear that we were far stronger than they." RTRUE ?CCL67: EQUAL? ACTION,PARLEY-COMMAND \?CCL69 ICALL2 REMOVE-PARTY-COMMAND,PARLEY-COMMAND ICALL CHANGE-CIT,BERGON,1,NUL-COMMAND FSET? MINAR,IN-PARTY \?CND70 ICALL CHANGE-CIT,MINAR,1,NUL-COMMAND ?CND70: PRINTI "Hoping to avoid a bloody battle, we attempted to parley with the bandits, but they declined with words hardly fit to print. The attempt, however, cost us precious time in battle and made it virtually impossible for us to make any surprise moves." RTRUE ?CCL69: EQUAL? ACTION,GET-ADVICE-COMMAND \?CCL73 ICALL UPDATE-FCLEAR,HERE,ADVISE PRINTI "The group, grateful for Minar's help, was quiet, yet none came out against taking in this inscrutable stranger." CALL OPTION,LEADER,ACCEPT-COMMAND,DECLINE-COMMAND RSTACK ?CCL73: EQUAL? ACTION,DECLINE-COMMAND \FALSE ICALL2 WPRINTD,LEADER PRINTI " was firm. ""We are thankful for your help, but we must " FSET? MINAR,SEEN \?CND76 PRINTI "again " ?CND76: PRINTI "refuse your offer. Good luck be with you!"" And, " FSET? MINAR,SEEN \?CCL80 PRINTI "as before" JUMP ?CND78 ?CCL80: PRINTI "without further ado" ?CND78: PRINTI ", Minar left, disappearing into the shadows." ICALL2 HINT,HINT-MINAR ICALL1 END-OPTION ICALL2 END-COMBAT,FALSE-VALUE RTRUE .FUNCT BANDITS-KILL-ESHER:ANY:0:0 ICALL2 PARTY-REMOVE,ESHER PRINTI "e watched in horror as Esher was felled by a single blow of his attacker's club. The rest of our group, weapons drawn, began to take the initiative and scored some deadly hits of our own." RTRUE .FUNCT ANONF-72:ANY:0:0 CRLF PRINTI "The bandits, finding the fight more than they had bargained for, retreated out of sight." FSET? BANDITS-FIGHT,SEEN \?CCL3 ZERO? BANDITS-SPELL /?CND4 ICALL2 UNUSE-ESSENCES,BANDITS-SPELL SET 'BANDITS-SPELL,FALSE-VALUE PRINTI " Praxix, seeing that there was no need for his magic, put away his pouch." ?CND4: ICALL1 CLEAR-BUSY PRINTI " A moment later, " FSET? MINAR,SEEN \?CCL8 PRINTI "Minar" JUMP ?CND6 ?CCL8: PRINTI "the man we had seen entering the tavern" ?CND6: PRINTI " appeared, bow in hand. ""I thought you might be needing some help,"" he said, grinning." CRLF CRLF FSET? MINAR,SEEN \?CCL11 PRINTI """My previous offer stands, and this time I would advise you to accept it."" He stood there, grinning all the time, waiting for our answer." JUMP ?CND9 ?CCL11: PRINT MINAR-INTRO ?CND9: ICALL OPTION,LEADER,ACCEPT-COMMAND,DECLINE-COMMAND,GET-ADVICE-COMMAND RTRUE ?CCL3: ICALL2 END-COMBAT,FALSE-VALUE RTRUE .FUNCT ANONF-73:ANY:0:0 EQUAL? FORK-BANDITS,2,0 \FALSE SET 'OPPONENT,BANDITS CALL SCENE,BANDITS-FIGHT,FIGHT-MODE RSTACK .FUNCT ANONF-74:ANY:0:0 EQUAL? ACTION,PROCEED-COMMAND \?CCL3 PRINTI "The path curved toward the east along the foothills of the mountains, and we were soon forced to choose between climbing higher or veering off and into the southern valley. But there was no choice, really, since our goal was to the east; it would be impossible to avoid the mountains, so we started our ascent." CRLF CRLF PRINTI "The climb was long and arduous, and it was not until late in the second day that we reached a plateau high in the mountains. But it was dark, and little could be seen. And so we camped there under a starry sky." CRLF CRLF IN? ESSENCE-FIRE,ESSENCES /?CND4 FSET? NEWHALL-PASS,SCOUTED \?CND4 IN? HINT-MINAR,HINTS /?CND4 ICALL2 HINT,HINT-NO-FIRE ?CND4: ICALL2 NEXT-DAY,2 CALL1 GATE-TO-HIGH-PLAIN RSTACK ?CCL3: EQUAL? ACTION,SCOUT-COMMAND \?CCL10 ICALL UPDATE-FSET,HERE,DONT-SCOUT FSET HERE,SCOUTED ICALL1 CAIRN-SCOUT RTRUE ?CCL10: EQUAL? ACTION,BACK-COMMAND \FALSE ICALL1 REMOVE-TRAVEL-COMMAND PRINTI "I suggested returning to Lavos, but the idea was immediately quashed by the group." CRLF CRLF PRINTI """Our destiny lies ahead, not behind,"" Praxix said. ""Try to remember that.""" RTRUE .FUNCT ANONF-75:ANY:0:0 EQUAL? FORK-BANDITS,1,0 \FALSE SET 'OPPONENT,BANDITS CALL SCENE,BANDITS-FIGHT,FIGHT-MODE RSTACK .FUNCT ANONF-76:ANY:0:0 EQUAL? ACTION,PROCEED-COMMAND \?CCL3 IN? ESSENCE-FIRE,ESSENCES /?CND4 FSET? NEWHALL-PASS,SCOUTED \?CND4 IN? HINT-MINAR,HINTS /?CND4 ICALL2 HINT,HINT-NO-FIRE ?CND4: CALL MOVE-TO,TUJUNGA-PATH,STR?402 RSTACK ?CCL3: EQUAL? ACTION,SCOUT-COMMAND \?CCL10 ICALL UPDATE-FSET,HERE,DONT-SCOUT FSET HERE,SCOUTED ICALL1 CAIRN-SCOUT RTRUE ?CCL10: EQUAL? ACTION,BACK-COMMAND \FALSE ICALL1 REMOVE-TRAVEL-COMMAND FSET? ESHER,IN-PARTY \?CCL15 PRINTI "Esher, dismayed by our confrontation with the bandits," JUMP ?CND13 ?CCL15: PRINTI "Disheartened by the loss of Esher, I" ?CND13: PRINTI " suggested backtracking toward Lavos, but the idea was quickly quashed by the others who felt that we would make good progress along the path we had chosen." RTRUE .FUNCT ANONF-77:ANY:0:0 EQUAL? ACTION,EXAMINE-COMMAND \FALSE ICALL1 CLEAR-EXBIT ICALL2 WPRINTD,ACTOR PRINTI " examined the bodies" EQUAL? ACTOR,ESHER \?CCL6 PRINTI " carefully. ""They were killed with sharp objects of some kind - swords and knives, I would guess. Whatever weapons they may have carried are gone - in fact, only their cloaks remain. I'd be willing to bet that they were waylaid and robbed.""" RTRUE ?CCL6: ICALL FIND-ESSENCE,ESSENCE-FIRE,2 ICALL FIND-ESSENCE,ESSENCE-WATER,1 PRINTI ", discovering two small pouches of powders hidden within a seam of one of the cloaks that had been used as a burial shroud. ""Fire essence,"" he beamed, opening the first and holding it up for my inspection. ""Or I'm an apprentice food merchant!"" And then, examining the second pouch, he found a far smaller amount of a different powder. He dipped a finger into the powder, and touched it to his lips. ""And this would be water essence, though barely enough for a single spell. And yet, all such powders are nigh impossible to obtain these days, and much can be done with them.""" RTRUE .FUNCT ANONF-78:ANY:0:0 EQUAL? ACTION,EXAMINE-COMMAND \FALSE ICALL1 UPDATE-MOVE EQUAL? ACTOR,PRAXIX \?CCL6 PRINTI "At Bergon's request, Praxix looked over the cairn. ""The cairn was made by our people and not by the locals from Lavos,"" he said." RTRUE ?CCL6: PRINTI """This cairn looks like one of ours,"" " ICALL2 WPRINTD,ACTOR PRINTI " said, looking over the mound of carefully piled rocks. ""Not at all like those we passed on the outskirts of Lavos.""" RTRUE .FUNCT ANONF-79:ANY:0:0 FCLEAR WEBBA-MAP,DONT-EXAMINE RTRUE .FUNCT ANONF-80:ANY:0:0 FSET WEBBA-MAP,DONT-EXAMINE RTRUE .FUNCT ANONF-81:ANY:0:0 EQUAL? ACTION,SCOUT-COMMAND \?CCL3 ICALL UPDATE-FSET,HERE,DONT-SCOUT FSET HERE,SCOUTED ICALL2 WPRINTD,ACTOR PRINTI " scouted out the climbing path, and reported that it wound its way out of sight, high in the mountains." CRLF CRLF PRINTI """The shortest path to the Sunrise Mountain lies ahead, unless, of course, you feel the urge to explore the high country,"" he said." RTRUE ?CCL3: EQUAL? ACTION,PROCEED-COMMAND \?CCL5 ICALL1 NEXT-DAY CALL MOVE-TO,CANYON-GATE,STR?405 RSTACK ?CCL5: EQUAL? ACTION,CLIMB-COMMAND \FALSE PRINTI "Opting for the high road, we started to climb into the southern mountains. The path was narrow, and frequently choked with low brush, making progress slow. By midday however, we had climbed more than half of the distance to the ridge which hung above us. It took the rest of the afternoon, but we finally arrived at the ridge. We were all tired after our day of climbing, and so we camped there for the night." CRLF CRLF ICALL2 GRAPHIC,G-HIGH-PLAIN ICALL1 NEXT-DAY CALL MOVE-TO,HIGH-PLAIN,STR?406 RSTACK .FUNCT CAIRN-SCOUT:ANY:0:0 EQUAL? ACTOR,MINAR \?CCL3 ICALL UPDATE-MOVE,CANYON-CAIRN,HERE MOVE CANYON-BODIES,HERE ICALL2 WPRINTD,ACTOR PRINTI " was sent out to explore the area around us. What he found brought little cheer." CRLF CRLF PRINTI """A rock cairn,"" he said, leading us to a shaded spot beneath a grove of stately oaks, ""I am certain this was not here last summer, when I camped in this same spot.""" CRLF CRLF PRINTI "Minar's words were ominous - whatever was buried here had not lain long in the earth. Fearful over what we might find, we decided to dig up whatever remains lay there. It was not long before we found what we were after - three sets of human remains, their bodies mangled and bloodied, yet covered with their own cloaks." CRLF CRLF PRINTI """Garlimon's party!"" cried Bergon. ""But there are only three, not four....""" CRLF CRLF PRINTI """And that is but part of the mystery,"" replied Praxix, ""Who, I wonder, took the time to bury them? Surely not the assassins that tortured and killed them.""" RTRUE ?CCL3: PRINTI "Esher took a few moments to scout out the immediate area, but nothing of interest caught his eye, excepting the few rabbits he suggested might make a nice dinner." RTRUE .FUNCT ANONF-82:ANY:0:0 ZERO? 2ND-PASS /FALSE FSET? MINAR,IN-PARTY /FALSE FSET? ESHER,IN-PARTY /FALSE FSET? DWARF-MEETING,TRIED /FALSE CALL2 ADD-PARTY-COMMAND,COMB-AREA-COMMAND RSTACK .FUNCT ANONF-83:ANY:0:0 ?FCN: EQUAL? ACTION,PROCEED-COMMAND \?CCL3 CALL MOVE-TO,ANGELES-PATH,STR?407 RSTACK ?CCL3: EQUAL? ACTION,COMB-AREA-COMMAND \?CCL5 ICALL1 REMOVE-TRAVEL-COMMAND PRINTI "We split up into two groups in search of the Dwarves' gate; Praxix and I went toward the hills, and " EQUAL? PARTY-MAX,3 \?CCL8 PRINTI "Bergon" JUMP ?CND6 ?CCL8: PRINTI "the others" ?CND6: PRINTI " followed the canyon floor. Before long, I found that I had wandered out of sight of Praxix." CALL OPTION,TAG,LOOK-AROUND-COMMAND,GET-HELP-COMMAND RSTACK ?CCL5: EQUAL? ACTION,SCOUT-COMMAND \?CCL10 ICALL UPDATE-FSET,HERE,DONT-SCOUT FSET HERE,SCOUTED FSET HERE,SCOUTED SET 'KIDNAPPED,ACTOR ICALL2 PARTY-REMOVE,ACTOR FSET? ESHER,IN-PARTY /?CND11 FSET? MINAR,IN-PARTY /?CND11 ICALL REMOVE-TRAVEL-COMMAND,HERE,PROCEED-COMMAND ?CND11: ICALL2 WPRINTD,LEADER PRINTI " sent " ICALL2 WPRINTD,ACTOR PRINTI " off to scout around the area, which he did. After an hour, though, he had not returned and " ICALL2 WPRINTD,LEADER PRINTI " was alarmed enough to set us out searching for him. We split up into two groups; Praxix and I went toward the hills, and " EQUAL? PARTY-MAX,3 \?CCL17 PRINTI "Bergon" JUMP ?CND15 ?CCL17: PRINTI "the others" ?CND15: PRINTI " followed the canyon floor. Before long, I found that I had wandered out of sight of Praxix." ICALL2 MAKE-SUBGROUP,TAG CALL OPTION,TAG,LOOK-AROUND-COMMAND,GET-HELP-COMMAND RSTACK ?CCL10: EQUAL? ACTION,LOOK-AROUND-COMMAND \?CCL19 CALL QSET?,HERE,SEEN ZERO? STACK /?CCL22 ICALL OPTION,TAG,GET-HELP-COMMAND,RETURN-COMMAND PRINTI "Having found these peculiar runes, I explored further in hopes of discovering more artifacts. But my search was fruitless, and I had soon wandered back to where I had started my explorations." RTRUE ?CCL22: ICALL2 GRAPHIC,G-GATE-RUNES PRINTI "Ambling aimlessly along the base of a rock cliff, something scurried by in the tall brush. When I looked, nothing was there, but my eye caught some strange lettering chiselled in the stone." CALL OPTION,TAG,LOOK-AROUND-COMMAND,GET-HELP-COMMAND,RETURN-COMMAND RSTACK ?CCL19: EQUAL? ACTION,GET-HELP-COMMAND \?CCL24 FSET? HERE,SEEN /?CCL27 ZERO? 2ND-PASS \?CCL27 PRINTI "Unhappy at exploring alone, I called out for Praxix, who soon appeared. ""What is it?"" he asked." CRLF CRLF PRINTI "When I told him of my uneasiness in exploring alone, he acted annoyed. ""Return to our camp, then,"" he said, indicating the direction. ""I shall continue to look for " ICALL2 WPRINTD,KIDNAPPED PRINTI ".""" CRLF CRLF SET 'ACTION,RETURN-COMMAND JUMP ?FCN ?CCL27: ZERO? 2ND-PASS /?CCL32 PRINTI "Unhappy at exploring alone" JUMP ?CND30 ?CCL32: PRINTI "Eager to share my discovery with the others" ?CND30: PRINTI ", I called out, and Praxix, following the sound of my voice, appeared within moments. ""Well, what now?"" he began, but as if by instinct, his eyes slowly wandered to " FSET? HERE,SEEN \?CCL35 PRINTI "the runes that I had discovered." JUMP ?CND33 ?CCL35: ICALL2 GRAPHIC,G-GATE-RUNES PRINTI "some runes that I hadn't noticed before, chiselled into the stone." ?CND33: CRLF CRLF PRINTI "Praxix then called for " EQUAL? PARTY-MAX,3 \?CCL38 PRINTI "Bergon" JUMP ?CND36 ?CCL38: PRINTI "the others" ?CND36: PRINTI ", who hurried to our side." CRLF CRLF CALL1 CANYON-GATE-OPENS RSTACK ?CCL24: EQUAL? ACTION,ENTER-COMMAND \?CCL40 PRINTI "Slowly and cautiously, we passed through the gate and into the darkness. As if on some malicious cue, the gate crashed shut behind us." CRLF CRLF FSET? PRAXIX,LIT \?CCL43 PRINTI "We were fortunate indeed that Praxix had magically caused his staff to glow, for the cavern itself was black as pitch." JUMP ?CND41 ?CCL43: FSET? ESHER,IN-PARTY \?CND44 PRINTI """I don't suppose we have a torch anywhere,"" said Esher, knowing fully well that we didn't. " ?CND44: PRINTI "It was dark as pitch, the outline of the gate as invisible now as it had been earlier." ?CND41: CALL2 MOVE-TO,BERN-I-LAV RSTACK ?CCL40: EQUAL? ACTION,RETURN-COMMAND \FALSE PRINTI "Filled with apprehension, I returned to our camp. Before long the others had also returned; there was no trace of " ZERO? KIDNAPPED /?CCL50 ICALL2 WPRINTD,KIDNAPPED PRINTC 33 JUMP ?CND48 ?CCL50: PRINTI "a gate." ?CND48: FSET? HERE,SEEN /?CND51 CRLF CRLF PRINTI """We must face the fact that " ICALL2 WPRINTD,KIDNAPPED PRINTI " is gone,"" Praxix said. ""Let us continue on our way.""" ICALL1 END-OPTION ICALL1 CLEAR-SUBGROUP ICALL FORCE-TRAVEL-COMMAND,HERE,PROCEED-COMMAND RTRUE ?CND51: CRLF CRLF PRINTI "Later, questioned by Praxix, I told of my explorations. He listened without interest until I came to the part about finding the runes, when he startled me by jumping to his feet. ""Take me!"" he commanded, and I did." CRLF CRLF PRINTI "The old Wizard studied the runes, then called for the others. " CALL1 CANYON-GATE-OPENS RSTACK .FUNCT CANYON-GATE-OPENS:ANY:0:0 ICALL UPDATE-MOVE,TALE-DWARF-GATES,PRAXIX-TALES MOVE TALE-DWARVES,PRAXIX-TALES PRINTI """The runes here are very old, and ancient languages are not my specialty. But the runes are Dwarvish, and long ago I learned some of their words. This first rune, 'Bern,' means a 'gate', and this second one, 'Lav,' refers to 'the plains'.""" CRLF CRLF PRINTI """The gate to the plains,"" I said, putting two and two together. ""But from where?""" CRLF CRLF PRINTI """That is a simple question,"" Praxix replied, ""A more interesting one would be 'How shall we get it to open?'""" FSET? ESHER,IN-PARTY \?CCL3 CRLF CRLF PRINTI """Or better still, 'What do we do now?'"" snarled Esher as, to everyone's surprise, a round gate appeared, yawning wide before us." JUMP ?CND1 ?CCL3: CRLF CRLF PRINTI "This was not to be a problem, for a round gate then appeared from nowhere and opened." ?CND1: ZERO? 2ND-PASS \?CND4 CRLF CRLF PRINTI "Of the group, only Praxix was genuinely pleased by our discovery, though he was mystified as to just how it had happened. ""Perhaps it was something I said,"" he offered, shrugging." ?CND4: PUTP CANYON-GATE,P?GRAPHIC,G-GATE-RUNES ICALL GRAPHIC,FALSE-VALUE,G-GATE-OPENS,BOTTOM-RIGHT ICALL1 END-OPTION ICALL1 CLEAR-SUBGROUP ICALL ADD-TRAVEL-COMMAND,HERE,ENTER-COMMAND ICALL UPDATE-FSET,HERE,NEAR-DARK RTRUE .FUNCT CAVERN-GRAPHIC:ANY:0:0 FSET? PRAXIX,LIT \?CCL3 CALL2 GRAPHIC,G-DARK-CAVERN RSTACK ?CCL3: ZERO? BLACK-PICTURE-BORDER /?CCL6 CLEAR GRAPHICS-WINDOW JUMP ?CND4 ?CCL6: ICALL2 GRAPHIC,G-BLACK ?CND4: SET 'CURRENT-GRAPHIC,-1 RETURN CURRENT-GRAPHIC .FUNCT ANONF-84:ANY:0:0 EQUAL? ACTION,EXIT-COMMAND \?CCL3 ICALL1 REMOVE-TRAVEL-COMMAND PRINTI "We groped for the gate itself, or for some device that would open it, but to no avail." RTRUE ?CCL3: EQUAL? ACTION,PROCEED-COMMAND \?CCL5 FSET? PRAXIX,LIT /?CND6 PRINTI "I meekly suggested trying to feel our way through what ever passage we were in, and Bergon reluctantly agreed. ""We seem to have no other choice,"" he said." CRLF CRLF ?CND6: CALL MOVE-TO,DWARF-MEETING-LOC,STR?408 RSTACK ?CCL5: EQUAL? ACTION,CAST-COMMAND \FALSE EQUAL? ACTION-OBJECT,LIGHT-SPELL \FALSE ICALL1 CAVERN-GRAPHIC CALL1 CAST-LIGHT RSTACK .FUNCT ANONF-85:ANY:0:0 EQUAL? ACTION,PROCEED-COMMAND \?CCL3 PRINTI "The sun peeked behind some high clouds as we wound our way along the floor of the canyon. Ahead, the path climbed up a tall ridge, and we arrived there as dusk approached and stood in awe of the world that surrounded us." CRLF CRLF CALL1 MOVE-TO-FOREST-RIDGE RSTACK ?CCL3: EQUAL? ACTION,SCOUT-COMMAND \?CCL5 ICALL UPDATE-FSET,HERE,DONT-SCOUT FSET HERE,SCOUTED EQUAL? ACTOR,MINAR \?CCL8 ICALL2 WPRINTD,ACTOR PRINTI " went ahead, paying close attention to the trail that climbed into the mountains. ""It is a good trail,"" he said. ""As I recall, we can follow it to a high ridge no more than a day's climb from here.""" RTRUE ?CCL8: ICALL2 WPRINTD,ACTOR PRINTI " went ahead, reporting back that the trail appeared to be passable as far as he could see, though it might well be more than a day's climb to the top of the ridge.""" RTRUE ?CCL5: EQUAL? ACTION,CLIMB-COMMAND \FALSE PRINTI "The trail was steep, winding its way high into the hills. At times, the trail disappeared completely, and it was necessary to scout ahead to find the proper path. But we pressed on, ever climbing, until we reached a spot about halfway toward the top of the ridge." CRLF CRLF ICALL1 NEXT-DAY CALL MOVE-TO,HIGH-PLAIN,STR?409 RSTACK .ENDSEG .ENDI