Ishar 2

    Part 2 of an attempt to explore the various islands
                   of this sprawling game

     As played by Ron Rainbird on an Amiga 500 (1 meg)

@~Continued from Issue 34

After the initial roam around Irvan's Island, the majority of the
game requires considerable travelling to and fro between the
various islands once you have the relative maps, so that there are
many problems which cannot be solved without visiting another
island first. For example, just when you think that you have
finished with Irvan's Island, you discover that to get the Map of
Jon's Island, you have to obtain an Eagle and 10,000 pieces of
gold and visit a Magician who wanders rather haphazardly along the
Eastern Coast of Irvan's. To get the Eagle and the money you have
to roam around Zach's Island. Get the picture?  This also means
that there are several ways of completing this adventure. So from
here on, I intend to give all known details of each Island,
regardless of whether or not visits to other places are necessary,
although where they are, I shall try to indicate which place to
visit. Confused? You will be! So, on to the next Port of Call
after Irvan's.

ZACH'S ISLAND

This is the main shopping centre. A fairly large area, although
the auto-map facility comes in very handy. There is also a
Library, Town Hall, Bank and Temple spread out a long way from the
Harbour.  I visited this island so many times, I began to think of
it as home.  My first object was to roam about the town at night,
killing all who stood in my way, thereby collecting a substantial
amount of gold. This enabled me to get better armour and weapons.
Most essential this. I then visited the Library where I got the
map to Akeer's Island. A later visit to this Home of Learning will
give you a list of essential potions. When you think your party is
strong enough, go to the back entrance of the Bank and fight about
fifteen guards. Beat them, and the doors will open to let you take
100,000 gold pieces. If you go to the front entrance afterwards,
you can deposit some of this and earn some healthy interest, but
the most important thing is to find the Magic Armour shop and buy
your fighters some really expensive armour and magic swords.

Have some money in reserve though for the next purchases. Not far
from the harbour is a Clothes Shop. Here you must buy Monk's
Homespun Garb for each member. Then to the Eastern part of the
town to find a Pet Shop. Buy a Magpie, Parrot, a Monkey and an
Eagle.  Find an Apothecary's Shop, look at your list of potions
and buy the ingredients for the Humbolg and Jablou spells.

Now for some fun. In the Eastern part of the city there is a Night
Club - the Blue Velvet - which you should visit when dusk falls.
You will be immediately incarcerated (I've always wanted to use
that word, but I'll refrain from the obvious observation). Change
into your Monk's Habits, release the Magpie and it will bring you
back the key to the cell door. Open the door as soon as it is
midnight and walk out into a passage that only remains open until
4 a.m. You will soon encounter a Monk who tells you to "Hurry up
or you will miss the ceremony". Walk past him into a Sacrificial
Hall. One of the Monks has a key hanging from his belt. Get it and
then get out. You will need it for use on another island.

Leaving the Hall, wander along the passage until one of your
characters says that he can feel some fresh air. This means a
secret passage is nearby, so find it and walk out into a group of
city guards. You should by now be fully able to deal with them.
Head for the harbour but before you board your ship make sure that
you have 10,000 pieces of gold and an Iron Shield.  Next stop,
Irvan's Island, but we'll be returning to Zach's, never fear!

@~More next issue






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