A R T H U R
                         (Infocom)

You start in the Churchyard as you attempt to pull the sword from
the stone.  Merlin appears and explains your heritage, saying you
must prove yourself wise and chivalrous, strong and courageous and
demonstrate this before you can claim the sword. He also tells you
to seek him at his cave beyond the meadow.  A torque falls to the
ground. GET TORQUE, EXAMINE IT; you see a Crystal.  EXAMINING the
CRYSTAL will access the hints menu, as will EXAMINING the CRYSTAL
BALL in Merlin's Cave.

During the game, you will score EXPERIENCE points (E), WISDOM
points (W), CHIVALRY points (C) and QUEST points (Q).  When you
get tired, SLEEP somewhere safe, eg: the village.  When you hear
the soldiers approaching, HIDE BEHIND GRAVESTONE so you don't get
found.

King Lot takes the STONE and SWORD. WAIT until daybreak. You wake
to see Lot brandishing a sword that looks like the one from the
stone!  He says he will be crowned at noon in three days time and
if anyone wants to challenge him, they must do so in his hall
(+5E, +2Q). Enter the Church and PRAY (+10C).  Enter the Tavern
and LISTEN to the Farmers' conversation to learn how Lot chooses
the password for the Castle and that he loves gold.

When you get hungry, go into the Kitchen of the Tavern and GET
CHEESE, EAT CHEESE (+1E, +1Q) when the Innkeeper isn't there. Go
to Merlin's Cave, but don't carry anything when you cross the
Meadow for the moment as the Invisible Knight will steal them
(though you can get them back later).  Merlin says he will give
you a spell to turn you into a salamander, owl, turtle, eel and
badger. SAY CYR <animal name> to change.  You mustn't do it while
people are about and you must become human before you can change
into another animal. As you leave, he says there is a prisoner in
Lot's dungeon who needs to be freed.

Go to the Smithy and CYR BADGER (+3E, +1Q) and go IN to the hole.
In the Den, you see a loose stone. PULL STONE; it falls into the
room beyond. Go into the Cell, CYR ARTHUR (you scare the prisoner,
he's the Smith who made the false sword). ASK PRISONER ABOUT DOOR;
he tells you the Guard checks on him when the bells ring and also
if he shouts. GET STONE, HIDE BEHIND DOOR, SHOUT; the Guard enters
with his back to you. HIT GUARD WITH STONE; you bash him on his
helmet, he falls. You see a key hanging from his belt (+3W, +3E,
+2Q). GET KEY, UNLOCK PADLOCK (+10C), GET HELMET; the prisoner
follows you when you leave. GIVE HELMET TO SMITH; a disguise.

Go to the Small Chamber and MOVE TAPESTRY to find an exit (+2W,
+1Q). CYR SALAMANDER to pass the wall of fire (+3W, +3E, +1Q).
CYR ARTHUR in the Kitchen.  Go to the Armoury, GET ARMOUR0 (+1Q),
WEAR ARMOUR, GET SHIELD (+1Q). Return to the Kitchen, GET PUMICE
(+1Q), PUSH BARREL (+2W, +1Q); the water in it puts out the fire
so the Smith can pass. Return to Behind the Throne and WAIT till
the bells ring and Lot gives the new password (+2W, +1Q); use the
Book of Hours in the packaging to work it out - verse and line
number.

Go to the Guard at the entrance and SAY whichever line it is.
(Note, you lose the game if you leave without the Smith and he
refuses to leave the Kitchen without the helmet) You leave with
the Smith and he tells you he has hidden another sword under the
roots of the oak tree.  Then he leaves (+10C, +2W, +3E, +4Q). Go
to the Village Green, CYR BADGER, DIG GROUND; you find the sword,
CYR ARTHUR, GET SWORD (+2W, +1Q).  Go to the Edge of the Woods and
BLOW HORN; the Blue Knight says to knock on the door! KNOCK ON
DOOR; he is pleased to see you have armour and a shield
(previously he refuses to joust unless you are properly attired)
but says your shield is tarnished.  RUB SHIELD WITH STONE; that
cleans it. He gives you the choice of two lances and says to mount
up. MOUNT HORSE, GET RED LANCE. He rides towards you. Shield
whichever part of your body he aims for and aim at his body.  You
clash, both of you fall off but he falls first so you've won! He
gives you an Ivory Key (+10C, +5W, +7E, +4Q).

Go to the Ivory Tower and UNLOCK DOOR. Meet the old man upstairs,
he says you have to guess his name. Go down to the bottom of the
stairs and CYR OWL so you can see in the dark.  You see two lines
of writing:  SAYMOTHER RIOTHAMUS (+4W, +1Q). Go back up to the
crack. If you put something small in it, it falls through to the
other side. "CYR SALAMANDER, ENTER CRACK (+2W, +1Q).  You see the
words Amhtir amu Smotus. Use the code from the Cellar to translate
this. Return to the old man as Arthur and SAY THOMAS THE RHYMER".
He gives you a magic ring and says 'When unseen forces you
surprise, just rub this ring to clear your eyes.' (+7W, +3Q).

Now to deal with that Invisible Knight!! Return to the Meadow and
when he steals your things, you see something glittering on the
ground to the east.  Go east; it's the ring! (+3W, +2Q). GET RING,
RUB RING to see a Knight's Pavilion.  Inside, he returns your
things and offers you a giant brass raven's egg if you answer a
riddle. YES. He asks the next letters in the series ST ND RD TH so
SAY TH. (It's the sequence first, second, third etc).  He gives
you the egg (+7W, +3Q).

Go to the tree in the Grove. CYR OWL (+3E, +1Q) UP; you're near a
giant raven's nest which contains a huge gold egg. The raven is
circling and sees the glint of the brass egg below - where you
dropped it when you changed into the owl. LAND IN NEST, CYR
ARTHUR, PUSH EGG OUT OF NEST, CYR OWL; the raven reappears and
chases you out. LAND IN GROVE, CYR ARTHUR, GET ALL (including the
gold egg, +4W, +5E, +2Q). Go to the End of the Causeway and the
Red Knight will tell you that you must bring him four things
before you can pass; the egg of a giant raven, the hair that grows
between the eyes of a dragon, the tusk of the wild boar of the
enchanted forest and the golden fleece of the evil demon Nudd.
GIVE EGG TO KNIGHT (+1Q).

Return to the Badger's Den as a Badger and map the tunnels. Do
this by noting the earth there is soft. If you DIG you make a claw
mark. In the next new location DIG, DIG to make two and so on.
Make your way to the Thorny Island (+2Q) and GET SPRIG (it catches
on your fur).  Go back through the tunnels to the Smithy, CYR
ARTHUR, (the sprig drops off your fur) GET SPRIG (+1Q).  Go into
the Tavern and enter the Kitchen.  WAIT till the Innkeeper leaves.
CYR OWL; the canary says if you'll release him, he'll give you the
key which is hidden in the thatch and fits the cupboard there.
CYR ARTHUR, OPEN CAGE (the bird drops the key, +10C), GET KEY
(+1Q).

About now, the Innkeeper will return so leave before he gets
there. WAIT till he leaves the Kitchen again, go back in, UNLOCK
CUPBOARD, LOOK IN IT, GET BOTTLE; spices (+1Q). Go to the Track
with the horse chestnut trees.  Try to go North and they pelt you
with enchanted conkers which really hurt!  CYR TURTLE (+3E, +1Q),
PULL IN LEGS, PULL IN HEAD to protect yourself and WAIT till the
conkers stop (+3W, +7E, +3Q). CYR ARTHUR, GET ALL, N. In the
Glade, you see footprints crossing the ground and a large rock. A
leprechaun will arrive after a few moves but will dash off when he
sees you.  DROP BOTTLE, HIDE BEHIND ROCK and you'll hear a
murmuring from under the rock.  LISTEN; the voice says the food is
tasteless.  WAIT and the leprechaun appears and gets the bottle
and starts reading the label. GET LEPRECHAUN; you catch him before
he can move and he gives you a jug of whiskey in return for his
freedom (+3W, +1Q).

Go to the Cottage and you'll find an injured peasant who is
freezing cold, the fire is almost out. OPEN DOOR to leave, GET
SLEAN, GET CRUTCH. Go to the Edge of the Bog and DIG GROUND to get
some peat - the slean breaks (+1Q).  SW, OPEN DOOR, PUT PEAT ON
FIRE; the room heats, the peasant recovers (+10C).  ASK PEASANT
ABOUT BOG; he gives you the directions through, this is random (eg
NE, SE, NE, SE, NE, E).  PEASANT, THANK YOU (+10C), GIVE CRUTCH TO
PEASANT (+10C).

Go to the Shallows and CYR EEL (+3E, +1Q). Swim through to the
Ford and CYR ARTHUR. Go to East of Ford and GET APPLE, EXAMINE IT;
shrivelled and black.  Return to Ford and CYR EEL; the apple
floats away. Go back to the shallows, the apple is there. CYR
ARTHUR, GET APPLE. Go to South of Chasm and THROW SWORD ACROSS
CHASM, THROW APPLE ACROSS CHASM; the boar eats the apple and dies.
CYR OWL, N to cross. CYR ARTHUR, GET SWORD, CUT TUSK (+1Q). Throw
the sword and tusk back over (+2W) and change and fly back.
Change to Arthur.  GET ALL, go to Red Knight and GIVE TUSK TO
KNIGHT (+1Q).

In the Shallows, change into an eel again, swim to the rowboat and
kraken.  The rowboat has the sword and stone in it, the kraken is
wearing a gold bracelet but won't let you take it. ZAP KRAKEN; you
give him a shock, he'll now chase you. Swim back to the Shallows,
CYR ARTHUR, GET SWORD (the kraken is squeezing you with a
tentacle), CUT TENTACLE WITH SWORD; the bracelet lands in the
water (+5W, +7E, +4Q). CYR TURTLE, S, SWIM THROUGH BRACELET (it
catches on your neck, +3W, +1Q) N, pull in head (the bracelet
falls off) CYR ARTHUR, GET ALL (+2Q for bracelet). WEAR BRACELET.
Cross the bog as instructed to the Black Knight who stops you
passing him unless you fight him.  He won't fight until you have a
decent weapon.  He's wearing a medallion.  FIGHT KNIGHT. If your
experience is high enough, you'll disarm him eventually.  Then HIT
MEDALLION WITH SWORD; he vanishes (+4W, +7E, +4Q).

When you get hungry on the second day, go to the idiot and SWAP
<something> FOR MOUSE. Then change locations, CYR OWL, EAT MOUSE
(+1W, +1E). Go to the Ledge and EXAMINE DRAGON; a heavy drinker.
GIVE JUG TO DRAGON; he drains it.  WAIT till he collapses.  CUT
HAIR WITH SWORD (+3E, +1Q). IN (+2Q); you'll see apparitions but
ignore them. There is an Ice Room NE where your breath freezes
into blocks of ice which fall and shatter and you will freeze to
death if you stay here too long. Go NW; a basilisk wakes and
starts to look for you.  SHOW SHIELD TO BASILISK and it turns
itself to stone (+2W, +5E, +2Q).

Go NE and the door there will say that if you say the password,
you can go through.  It even tells you the password - Nudd - but
the room is so hot, you can't speak.  You'll die if you stay here
too. Return to the Ice Room and SAY NUDD; the words form into a
block of ice which starts to fall, GET BLOCK and go to the Hot
Room. When you get there, the block melts and the word 'Nudd'
comes out. You go through the door. Inside is a girl manacled to a
throne and sitting on the fleece. She begs for freedom and the key
to the manacles is round her neck (+5W, +3Q). GET GOLD KEY,
EXAMINE GIRL; she shimmers slightly. KILL GIRL WITH SWORD; she
changes - to Nudd! He says you may have the fleece if you promise
to unlock his manacles.  YES. You have to trick him as freeing him
or just leaving with the fleece will end the game.  GET FLEECE,
(+2W, +1Q) UNLOCK LEFT MANACLE WITH GOLD KEY, LOCK LEFT MANACLE
WITH GOLD KEY, UNLOCK RIGHT MANACLE WITH GOLD KEY; the demon
realises he's been tricked, tosses you out and the entrance to the
cave collapses (+7W, +10E, +5Q).

Go back through the bog, reversing the directions. Collect the
hawthorn and silver key from Merlin's bag. Go to the End of the
Causeway and GIVE HAIR TO KNIGHT (+1Q), GIVE FLEECE TO KNIGHT
(+1Q); he says you can cross. Pass him, UNLOCK DOOR WITH SILVER
KEY (+1Q). Inside is a woman on a bier. You will have to wait till
the last day to free her (from a hint in the packaging you must
use a hawthorn flower and that blooms on Christmas Day) so go back
outside, wait until night, and sleep.

WAIT till the hawthorn bud flowers. Go back to the woman and TOUCH
WOMAN WITH HAWTHORN; she wakes. She is Nimue and leaves you a
gauntlet. She says you must challenge Lot and fight him on the
Field of Honour.  If you keep your wits about you, you'll defeat
him and then you must call her name.  Then will Excalibur be yours
(+10C, +2Q). GET GAUNTLET (+1Q). For some extra points, go to the
Shallows, change into an eel and go and eat the tasty minnow in
the river (+1W, +1E).

Go to the Castle. The Guard sees the gauntlet and lets you pass.
Enter the Hall and CHALLENGE LOT WITH GAUNTLET; they take all your
possessions except your sword and take you to the Field of Honour.
FIGHT LOT WITH SWORD and during the fight, SHOW BRACELET TO LOT;
you drop it, he goes to pick it up.  FIGHT LOT WITH SWORD again
and you have your sword against his throat (+7W, +7E, +4Q).  SPARE
LOT; he swears loyalty (+10C). CALL NIMUE; the waters of the lake
part revealing a path (+1E, +1Q). S, GET SWORD; you pull it free!!
NB If your chivalry/wisdom aren't high enough, you won't be able
to pull the sword free.  Final score, 110C, 103W, 101E, 100Q.











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