The Prologue (to Return to Colossal Cave) Author: Thomas Penner On SynTax disk PD 767 Solution by Bev Truter The Prologue has relatively few locations, but they are crammed with problems to solve and puzzles to figure out; so, we are transported to the Conference Chamber, where all the ageing adventurers who battled their way through the Colossal Cave have been summoned to a gathering, 15 years later....... Conference Chamber Read the letter, then X the Butler (he's a snooty-looking individual who won't permit you to touch anything). X punch, drink punch, X table. Drop the letter you are holding, this distracts the Butler, then push the table to upset the whole banquet. While the Butler is busy clearing up the mess, X flags, then move the flag to reveal the Royal Adventure Crest, and a fine sword of Elfish design attached to it. Get sword, and wait till the Dark One appears in a cloud of smoke. He activates an old suit of armour - the Black Knight - who stalks around the room, hacking away at everyone in sight. Kill Knight with sword, get axe. The Keeper of the Cave arrives and examines you. After a while he vanishes, telling you to search for him in.... The Cemetery E,N, get lantern (it's battery-powered and self-activating in the dark). S,W,N to The Foyer Here you see a coat rack and a grandfather clock. X the rack, get cloak, (you automatically wear it), X cloak. X clock - this starts up the mechanism, and the old clock begins ticking. Save yourself here, as you have a limited time now to do the next few locations. Go E. Study X desk to find a book, read book and you find it's a diary, and the last entry seems pretty disturbing.....X globe, X library - you notice the shelves are mostly empty and there's no backing to it. Put book in library, which makes the globe spring open, revealing a strange metal gauntlet hidden inside. The door to the West simultaneously slams shut, locking you inside the Study. Get gauntlet, X rug, move rug to reveal a trap-door. X chandelier - the chain holding it to the wall appears loose; X mirror - you can see a set of keys reflected in the mirror, although they don't appear in the Study. Get keys while wearing the gauntlet (you can stick your hand through the surface of the mirror) and unlock trap-door. You can't open it as it's stuck, so pull chain, which causes the chandelier to fall and smash through the trap-door and fall to the Cellar below. Cellar The lantern automatically turns on, and you see a shovel and straw covering the floor. Get shovel and straw, go S,N,U to The Great Hall An annoying giggling ghost here carries a burned torch. X ghost, X torch, X holder on the wall. The North door to the turret is blocked, so you'll have to work out a way to open it. Attack ghost with shovel, get the torch and put it in the holder. Move torch - you hear a click and the turret door slides down, opening the passage North. Turret and Crypt You are prevented from taking the Ram's horn by a hooded figure, who demands you first answer his riddle. Say "NOTHING". Get horn, X horn, S,D,S to the Cemetery. Blow horn to open the Crypt, enter Crypt. Here the Keeper tells you about the Quest that lies ahead in the Colossal Cave, and gives you a book to guide you on your journey. Outside Building E to enter the Well House, get the sword, lantern, cloak and keys. W,N to an open part of the Forest, where you see an elderly gentleman. Talk to him - you hear a sad story and get a massive dose of nostalgia and sadness wandering around the old dying Forest. Return to the end of the road, then S,S,S to the grate. Unlock grate, open grate, D,W,W, where the floor suddenly collapses, and you fall down to a huge chamber and see two massive doors guarding the entrance to Colossal Cave ahead of you ....... Congratulations! You have completed the Prologue. - o -