TALISMAN on SynTax PD 585
         (Public Domain Illustrated Text Adventure,
                 requires 2 meg. of memory)
                 Written by Paul Jenkinson
           Solution by Barbara Gibb on an Amiga A600

See also the notes that appeared in last issue's Hints section.

The following solution ignores any random FIGHTing but includes it
in locations that were consistent.

You start in a small comfortable cave. Your rating is Cave Sweeper
and your inventory is empty. Status informs you that your strength
is 10 (I never got higher than this) and your hit power is 2 (I
never got higher than 8). Go S to exit the cave and explore the
area to find the short sword and then the flute - their position
is random. Now go to the location which is S, E, E and E from
outside the Wizard's Cottage. You are now in a tree. Examine to
find and take a golden ring from the nest. Return to outside the
cottage and go E to enter it. Talk to the Wizard who, if you have
his golden ring, gives you a silver key and tells you about a
secret passage.

Go W, S and W to the shore of a lake. If the boatman is already
present, go N to enter the boat. If not, operate the bell to
summon him and redescribe until he appears.  Leave the boat by
going N then W to the swamp. You should see a trunk. Examine it
then use the silver key to open it and get the round rod that is
inside. Go E six times, then S and E to see a steel door. Examine
the door to see it has a round hole. Use the round rod to open the
door. Go N into a N/S tunnel and get the rusty key. Retreat S, W,
S, W, W, S and W to a shack.  Examine to see a padlocked cellar
door. Use the rusty key to open it and then go S into the cellar.
Get the rope then go N, E, N, E, E and S to a clearing with a pit.
Examine to see a post leaning away from the pit. Use the rope on
the post and go S into the pit.

There is always an Orc here. Fight him and save your position
before going E into a cave where there is always a vicious dwarf.
After spending hours fighting him, I discovered that he was there
to prevent me from going north.  You should be able to see a gold
rod behind a grating. Once I knew what to do, I found it possible
to use the flute and get the gold rod and retreat W without
sustaining too much damage. Now go N, N, E, N, and E back to the
now open steel door. N and N takes you to another steel door,
examine it and use the gold rod to open it.

N takes you to a junction. Save your position. E to the entrance
to a maze.  Examine the etching to confirm / allay your worst
fears. Go E to enter the maze then S, E to a fountain which is
important. N, N and E brings you to a dead end.  Get the empty
bottle and examine the hole to see a woman pleading for your help.
Talk to her for a clue. Go S back to the fountain and operate it
so that you can use the empty bottle to fill it.

Now go N, N and W to where a slug is usually barring your way.
Fight the slug and continue W to another dead end. Use the bottle
of water and get the orb.  Return to the fountain then go W, W, W
and W to exit the maze back to the T-junction. W, W and S to
another dead end where you see a round hole in the southern wall.
Use the orb to hear a noise to the north. N and N to an opening to
a secret passage, and N to the end of the passage. Get the broken
chain and then operate the lever to hear a faraway rumble. Now
return to the dead end where you saw the imprisoned woman. The
false wall has moved to reveal the cell. Use the sword on the
ropes to release her. She thanks you and says she is Princess
Karina.  She leaves, asking you to meet her at the exit. When you
arrive and talk to her, she will present you with a long sword, a
more effective weapon. Return to the wizard and talk to him. He
says you must enter the Dwarven Cave System which contains traps
and lots of vicious dwarves. Save your position.

Now go W, S, E, S, S (Pit), fight orc, E, fight dwarf, N (southern
side of outer cavern), save, W, N, N, W (northern side of inner
cavern), N, N (mighty staircase), N (see 12" round hole). A voice
asks why you have come here. Talk to ask if someone can mend the
broken chain. You are told to return with something in payment for
their work. S, S, E, S, S to a crypt. Get the string and hook,
then examine the coffin to discover it has a very heavy lid.

Emerge from the cave system by going N, N, W, W, W (narrow ledge),
S (small oasis), E (tree) and S to a small water hole. Use the
string and hook to snag some slimy weed, so get slimy weed and go
N to see a tree with a hole in the trunk.  Examine the tree to see
a handle. Operate the handle to be transported to the crypt. Use
the slimy weed, then operate to move the lid of the coffin to
reveal a silver urn. Get the silver urn and go N, N, N, E to a
shrine where an onyx idol (idle?) stands on an altar. Use the
silver urn to get the onyx idol. (If you try to take the idol when
not carrying the urn, some boulders will block the exit and you
are trapped.) Now go W, S, W, N, N back to the hole and
disembodied voice. Talk and providing you have the onyx idol, you
will be given a repaired golden chain.

S, S, W, W and W brings you to where the ledge bends northwards. N
(okay if carrying the golden chain), N (southern edge of town), N,
W (near church - wolf usually here), N (inside church), E
(weed-ridden path), get rock. Now return to the shrine - you can
use the oak tree to teleport to the crypt again.

At the shrine, use rock to swap it for the silver urn. Return to
the southern end of town, go E into the alleyway and talk to Luap
who will give you a gold coin in exchange for the silver urn. Now
go inside the church and W to the top of the stairs. Examine the
tapestry to get a piece of tapestry. E down the stairs to where I
always found a wolf waiting so fight the wolf and then use the
gold coin on the box to hear a thud. Now go N, E and E to descend
into a crypt. Examine gargoyle to see a dull stone. Get stone (you
break your sword), use the tapestry on the dull stone to discover
it is a huge diamond.

Now return through the cave system to the wizard who will assemble
the chain and diamond to make the Talisman. He also says you now
have to find the bronze coin to pay the toll through the northern
gate. Drink and save your position.

The location of the bronze coin seems random. I have found it at
the small oasis, the crypt of the church, the balcony of the
church and I know someone else has found it in the shrine. Note
all these locations are all either in or beyond the Dwarven Cave
System and ensures you plenty of opposition.

When you have the bronze coin, return through the caves, then go
along the N/S path (where you found the secret passage leading to
the maze), continue N until you come to the northern gate. Use
bronze coin and you are allowed to pass through the gate.

The End











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