The Hacker's Encyclopedia 1998/hackers_encyclopedia.iso/pc/softdox/king3.txt

Text File | 2003-06-11 | 11.8 KB | 488 lines

     A long,long time ago, when magic was the only science known to man, there
dwelt in the land of Llewdor a wizard named Manannan. He was very learnded in
all matters of the heavens and earth.
Of great age, Manannan presented a frail appearance, as though his skin were
made of bleached and the weathered parchment.
Manannan's impression of fragility lasted only until one looked into his
coal-black eyes, which burned with a strange fire.
This was, indeed, a powerful wizard.
 Although he was powerful, and capable of conjuring up vast armies of spirit
servants to sweep his hearth, prepare his meals,and other menial tasks with
which he would not soil his hands, this solution to his everyday needs was not
satisfactory to him.
For he liked his solitude, and didn't want a lot of spirits (who besides all
else, are quite inquisitive and mischievous)cluttering up his house. Istead, he
impressed a very young boy to do his bidding, taking the lad when he was only a
year old,so he would have no memories to tug at him in the years to come.
Unfortunately for Manannan, boys grow up and become adventure some young men.
As his slave grew in stature and in strengh,Manannan was irritated to find him
poking around in areas of the house where he didn't belong. Or he would climb
down the narrow path leading to Manannan's mountain top retreat to explore the
surrounding countryside. Even punishment did not stop him for long.
   One day, when his slave was 18 years of age, the wizard found him practicing
magic spells.  This was the last straw!!! "YOU!" Manannan screamed. "You read
my books of spells and plundered my supplies of powders and potions. You have
even ventured into Llewdor again, against my expressed command, for nowhere
else could you have gathered some of these ingredients!
 "You think you will win your freedom with these tricks?" the wizard sneered.
 "You shall see your mistake! You have earned only your own demise!" And with
that, Manannan raised his hands menacingly.
 Suddenly the earth began to shake. And his slave was no more. Only a smal pile
of ashes remained where he had stood.
 "Next time, I won't make the same mistake,"Manannan snarled. "I'll never let
any of my slaves reach manhood. I'll have no more accidents."
     And so the years passed. Manannan went out and found another small boy to
be his slave. He stole him from a country some distance from Llewdor, to direct
suspicion away from himself. Manannan was more careful with this child, and
watched him closely. The wizard punished the boy severely when he caught him
away from the house. And he made sure the boy didn't get his hands on even any
ordinary items that might be transformed into magic charms or potions. On the
whole, Manannan didn't have much trouble with him, but still on the lad's 18th
birthday, the wizard zapped him out of existence.
 "It's a nuisance, having to train a slave all over again," He mumbled
complainingly. "But it's better than having trouble like the last time."
 And so he went on, every 17 years kidnapping a small boy from his loving
parents, then slaying him on the 18th anniversary of his birth. (Occasionally
the cycle was shortened slightly, when he unfortunately chose a precocious
child that learned too much before his 18th year.)
  And time went on...


    To perform any of the following spells, OPEN "the sorcery of Old" to the
appropriate page and follow the directions.   PRECISELY !!
 ANY deviation from the correct procedure, including the EXACT recitation of
the empowering verse, can cause fatal (if sometimes humorous) results.

NOTE: parentheses indicate descriptive text, not instructions you need to type
into the computer.







                  UNDERSTANDING THE LANGUAGE OF CREATURES

    INGREDIENTS:

    one small feather from a bird
    one tuft of fur from any animal
    one dried reptile skin
    one rounded spoonful of powdered fish bone
    one thimbleful of dew
    one magic wand

    DIRECTIONS:

    I    Put the small feather in a bowl
    II   Put the fur in the bowl
    III  Put the reptile skin in the bowl
    IV   Add a spoonful of powdered fish bone
    V    Put a thimbleful of dew in the bowl
    VI   Mix with hands (mixture will now be doughy)
    VII  Separate mixture into two pieces
    VIII Put dough pieces into your ears
    IX         (Recite this verse)
            Feather of fowl and bone of fish,
            Molded together in this dish
            Give me wisdom to understand
            Creatures of air,sea and land
    X    Wave the magic wand

You will now be able to understand the speech of animals,birds and fish.
You will not,however,be able to speak to them. The spell will last as long
as the dough is in your ears.

                                 II
































                     FLYING LIKE AN EAGLE OR A FLY

    INGREDIENTS:

    one tail feather from any eagle (to become an eagle)
    one pair of fly wings (to become a fly)
    one pinch of saffron
    rose petal essence
    one magic wand

    DIRECTIONS:

    I     Put a pinch of saffron in essence
    II    (recite this verse)
             Oh winged spirits,set me free
             Of earthly bindings,just like thee
             In this essence,behold the might
             To grant the precious gift of flight
    III   Wave the magic wand
  You now have a potion which will allow you to cast the transformation spell.
To cast the spell any time later:
   Dip the eagle feather in the essence (if you want to become an eagle).
   Dip the fly wings in the essence(if you want to become a fly).
You will turn into an eagle or a fly. If you do not transform  back into
yourself, the spell will wear off after some time has passed. You can use this
spell until your rose petal/saffron is gone.
     To return to your own form before the spell wears off, recite this verse:
                         eagle begone myself,return!
                       or
                         fly,begone myself,return!

                                  IV

































                        TELEPORTATION AT RANDOM

     INGREDIENTS:

    one spoonful of salt grains
    one sprig of dried mistletoe
    one smooth rounded stone of unusual color
    one magic wand

    DIRECTIONS:

    I     Grind a spoon of salt in a mortar (with a pestle)
    II    Grind the mistletoe in the mortar
    III   Rub the stone in the mixture
    IV    Kiss the stone
    V     (recite this verse)
             With this kiss,I thee impart,
             Power most dear to my heart
             Take me now from this place hither,
             To another place far thither
    VI    Wave the magic wand

You now own a charm which will allow you to cast the random teleportation
spell. To cast the spell, rub the stone. It will instantly wisk you away from
where you are. Remain alert,however--even though you can use the spell to run
away from danger, nothing guarantees that you will not arrive in a more
precarious situation than the one you left. The power of the charm remains for
as long as you retain the stone.


                                   VII


































                          CAUSING A DEEP SLEEP

     INGREDIENTS:

    three dried acorns
    one cup nightshade juice
    one magic wand
    one empty pouch

    DIRECTIONS:

    I     Grind the acorns in a mortar(with a pestle)
    II    Put the acorn powder in a bowl
    III   Put the nightshade juice in the bowl
    IV    Stir the mixture with a spoon
    V     light a charcoal brazier
    VI    Heat the mixture on the brazier  (boil the mixture until
          the nightshade juice is almost gone, then remove from heat)
    VII   Spread the mixture on a table (wait until dry)
    VIII  (recite this vese)
          Acorn powder ground so fine
          Nightshade juice,like bitter wine
          Silently in darkness you creep
          To bring a soporific sleep
    IX    Wave the magic wand
    X     Put the sleep powder in the pouch (for safekeeping)

You have now mixed a powder for casting a sleep spell over whoever is nearby.
To cast the spell,pour the sleep powder on the ground (or floor) in a dank,dark
place. Then recite:

                        Slumber,henceforth!

                                  XIV































                   TRANSFORMING ANOTHER INTO A CAT

    INGREDIENTS:

    one-half cup mandrake root powder
    one small ball of cat hair
    two spoonfuls of fish oil
    one magic wand

    DIRECTIONS:

    I     Put mandrake root powder in a bowl
    II    Put the cat hair in the bowl
    III   Put two spoons of fish oil in bowl
    IV    Stir the mixture with a spoon (dough will be oily)
    V     Put the dough on the table
    VI    Pat the dough into a cookie (let harden on table)
    VII    (recite this verse)
               Mandrake root and hair of cat
               Mix oil of fish and give a pat
               A feline from the one who eats
               This appetizing magic treat
    VIII  Wave magic wand
You have just created a cookie that, when eaten,will turn the victim into
a cat. Forever!

                                   XXV






































                              BREWING A STORM

    INGREDIENTS:

    one cup of ocean water
    one spoonful of mud
    one pinch of toadstool powder
    one magic wand
    one empty jar

    DIRECTIONS:

    I     Put a cup of ocean water in bowl
    II    light a charcoal brazier
    III   Heat the bowl on the brazier(heat slowly,but not to boiling,then
          remove from heat)
    IV    Put a spoon of mud in the bowl
    V     Add a pinch of toadstool powder
    VI    Blow into the hot brew
    VII    (recite this verse)
             Elements from the earth and sea,
             Combine to set the heavens free
             When I stir this magic brew,
             Great god Thor, I call on you
    VIII  Wave the magic wand
    IX    Pour the storm brew into the jar (to store)

You have mixed a potion that you can use to brew a storm. To activate the
spell, stir the storm brew with your finger and recite:

                              Brew of storms,Churn it up!

Outdoors, a rainstorm complete with thunder and lighting will occur. It will
last for some time, but will eventually rain itself out. If you wish it to
subside earlier, recite:

                               Brew of storms, clear it up!


                                  LXXXIV

























                              BECOMEING INVISIBLE

    INGREDIENTS:

    one jar of lard
    one cactus
    one spoonful of cactus juice
    two drops of toad spittle
    one magic wand

    DIRECTIONS:

    I     Cut the cactus with a knife
    II    Squeeze the cactus juice on spoon
    III   Put the cactus juice in a bowl
    IV    Put the lard in the bowl
    V     Add two drops of toad spittle
    VI    Stir the mixture with a spoon
    VII    (recite this verse)
             Cactus plant and horny toad
             I now start down a dangerous road
             Combine with fire and mist to make
             Me disappear without a trace
    VIII  Wave magic wand
    IX    Put ointment in the empty lard jar

You now have a magic ointment that will allow you to turn invisible(but beware,
the ointment only works in a place where there is both fire and mist).
To cast the invisiblility spell, rub the ointment on your body. You will be
invisible for a short while. You have enough for one application.


                                   CLXIX