Introduction

You never thought that your Ph.D project would send you to a remote corner of the world, but the research grant came through! You and your team of anthropologists began in India, sailing up the River Ghaghra where it departs from the Ganges. Last night, you entered Nepal on the river, but were forced to come aground when navigation was made impossible by the twisting, narrow stream.

For years now, there have been rumours of a civilisation still existing somewhere on the fringe of the Himalayas, living as people lived thousands of years ago. Several expeditions have searched for the tribe of Khazhadim without success. Reports have filtered back of terrible tragedies - members of expeditions who disappeared without a trace, others who were found later, either dead or unable to recount what they had suffered at the hands of - what?

This morning looks like a good one to start exploring the area. After breakfast, you're planning to set out on foot, perhaps talk to a few natives for any information they might give you, and hire a guide. As you sip your coffee and scan a map of the region, one of your crew approaches, holding by the arm a wrinkled old native, dressed in long robes and wearing a headdress.

"Beware! Beware the temple of Raaka-Tu!" the old woman crises. "Do not go into the jungle - you will never get out!"

"We found her snuffing around outside the camp. She keeps yelling something about temples and gods and 'Beware, beware!'" your photographer says. "She won't talk to anyone but you. Says she has to talk to the leader."

The old woman is seated beside you, where she unfolds an unbelievable story about the god Raaka-Tu and his temple of sacrifice. The woman tells of the treasure kept in the temple, the hideous monsters Raaka-Tu employs, and the Khazhadim who serve Raaka-Tu and guard his temple.

Though the woman will not consent to be your guide, she points a bony finger to the west, pleading with you one more time to turn back. Seeing that her efforts are useless, she rises, tracing a sign on your forehead for luck, and disappears into the undergrowth surrounding the camp.

At last... you have the key to finding the Khazhadim tribe, and much more. You don't want to alarm the group with the story the woman told you, yet you are anxious to begin the search. Extinguishing the fire with your coffee, you set off alone in the direction the woman pointed, and you are soon surrounded by the impenetrable jungle.

It's up to you... good luck, and may the gods of the jungle smile upon you and grant you a safe journey.

The Game

Raaka-Tu is a challenging new adventure. It is a trip which can lead you to treasures and wealth, or to death. What you find depends on your skill in manoeuvring and using the tools you can acquire.

Your computer will help you do what you need to survive your exploration of the realm of Raaka-Tu and get out alive. It recognises a command you might give, like GO WEST or PULL THE LEVER. You don't have to limit yourself to two-word commands. You can PUT THE ***** UNDER THE *****, or LOOK IN something. Don't forget to press ENTER after you give the computer a command.

You earn points for each treasure you are able to find and return to your starting point in the jungle. If you fail to get the treasures back to your starting place, you'll receive less points that if you had been successful. To find out how many points you have at any time, type SCORE and press ENTER.

Since Raaka-Tu's domain is highly adventurous, you might occasionally forget where you are. If you become lost, just type LOOK and press ENTER to find out where you are. You can keep track of your progress by drawing a map of the temple as you play, showing directions to different locations, etc. To find out exactly what you're holding at the moment, type INVENT (short for INVENTORY) and press ENTER.

A word of warning: Raaka-Tu guards his possessions jealously. You could make a few monsters very angry and end up fighting fierce battles for rights to the treasures. Don't worry, though, you can always ATTACK THE ***** WITH *****!

Hints And Tips

The following are a few hints for you if you're a beginning explorer. Use them only if you are in an absolutely hopeless situation (For example, you've been killed 15 times before you even get inside the temple). Otherwise, depend on your own intuition and logic to help you through the hazards you encounter.

1. When you approach the temple, there is one thing that could give you real trouble - the squadron of guards who march constantly around the temple. When you see the guards, you should go back in the direction from which you came and WAIT for them to get out of your sight before you continue exploring. If you don't pay attention to them, you could end up in a very painful situation.
2. At another point before you enter the temple, there will be an object to find. If you do not carefully look at your surroundings, you'll never find it - once inside, you'll need the object to stay alive. Use your excellent climbing abilities (and a little help from nature's greenery) to scale the wall and get inside the temple.
3. Inside the temple, you see that one of the treasure is a bit difficult to get easily - the magic ring. Every time you pick it up, you will be transported to another room. When you get the ring, drop it. Pick it up again and you will be transported back to the room from whence you came in the first place! After this, never drop the ring again.
4. A word of warning about the poisonous candle is in order here - use it with caution! Be aware that, when you LIGHT it, it will have the same effect on *you* as it does on any other occupant of the room (for a good example, a gargoyle!). Speed is very important - once the candle is lit, you must hurry out of the room, or else you won't live long enough to see daylight again. Once you have sufficiently recovered from the candle's immediate effects, you can return to the room and *quickly* put out the candle.

These tips should help you overcome some difficult spots in the exploration. If you think in a logical manner, you shouldn't have any trouble getting out of the temple alive and wealthier than when you entered.

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CLOADM (ENTER)
EXEC (ENTER)