Introduction

The wizened little creature banged its empty tankard down hard on the surface of the table and rocked backwards in its chair. With a great smile across its shiny pock-marked face it gazed around it and then said "Ah but that was when the world was younger and unicorns roamed the forest. These days the beautiful forests are full of roguish Orcs and wicked Warlocks; it is not safe to wander alone beneath the green canopy." Then rising from his seat he yelled "Landlord, another tankard of ale if you please!" before turning to his companions and smiling broadly.

As the creature licked the foam from around his mouth and laid his tankard to rest on the table, a few of the more curious amongst them edged closer to it and peered at this strange little "story-teller". Sensing their interest, the creature rubbed his chin and smirked "Like to hear more would you?"

As one, the onlookers nodded their agreement and drew even closer still. A small fat man by the name of Jared waved in the direction of the bar and whispered "Another tankard of ale for our visitor, please."

Now in full control of the situation the creature beckoned for silence and then, rising to its full height, began its tale ......

It was a tale of dark foreboding castles, terrible tyrants and the gradual destruction of the land. Of hideous beings and dangerous Warlocks and of one person's quest to overcome all this and return the land to its rightful state. Tales were told, through the length and breadth of the land, of a prisoner held captive in a securely locked cell in the highest reaches of the castle's tower and of the forces that guarded the prisoner. With every word the assembled crowd drew nearer and nearer, enthralled with the tale and its intricacies. The creature smiled slyly to itself, for it knew of the effect it was having and of the enjoyment that man seemed to find in the words and gestures of the tale of ... Zachra and the Oppressed Land.

Notes

This game will accept most of the standard commands such as EXAMINE, SEARCH, GET and WEAR as well as some of the more unusual commands such as KNOCK, GIVE, BUY and CATCH.

This game also accepts RAM SAVE and RAM LOAD; use these to save a current game to memory. However, always use SAVE or LOAD to save a more permanent record to tape.

Hints

When you meet the old woman and you wish to take what she already has, just remember how to ask for them ... Try "Can I have the (object)" and you might be lucky. Also remember that you may sometimes have to wait for those you need to meet to actually turn up.