Educational Software Cooperative 4

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T H E K I N G D O M O F S Y R E E I I B L A C K M A G I C Based on the novels by Lord Steven Copyright 1993 Everlasting Software "Black Magic" Copyright 1987 Everlasting Films and Dragon's Breath Productions I N T R O D U C T I O N SONGS ARE STILL sung regarding thy great victory over the evil wizard. Never since the time of Rancit had Syree seen such a terrible threat. But thou dost shy away from such accolade. Thou dost instead return to thy humble village, cast aside thy battle gear, and take up once again the simple, quite life of a humble farmer, content with the knowledge that the Great Evil had been done away with, not concerned with who did the doing- away. Time passes and thy mind doth find the peace that thou hast been seeking, refreshing thy soul and spirit. But one day, a very frightening rumour doth come to thy village, borne on the lips of someone from Barren Sheol. It seems that the Keeper of the Power hath died, and a race was on to find the new Keeper. Thy blood doth turn cold. Thou dost remember from thy teachings that all the mystic power is held by a single person called the Keeper. If this person be Good, then all have access to this power. But if this person be Evil, then the Dark Forces would reign supreme. When a Keeper dies, the Power is immediately transferred to a newborn child who will grow up to be the new Keeper. It is imparitive that this child be found by the forces of Good so that he or she may be raised in the virtues of Truth and Justice. But Evil is also looking for this child, and whoever finds him first will seal the Fate of Good and Evil for the life of the Keeper. Horrible memories flood thy mind. Thou hast heard stories about the last time the Keeper fell into the clutches of the Dark Forces. Humanity barely survived. But thou dost know thy duty. Thou art still the Lord Champion, sworn to protect and defend the realm. Thou dost arise from thy bed and light a fire, but its warmth scarcely penetrates thee. Thy destiny is again decided. Thou dost dawn thy armour and sheath thy weapon. Meager they art, for thou hast sold thy weapons of war long ago in the hopes of never needing them again, but thou art filled with fortitude. Truth shall be thy weapon and Righteousness thy armour. Thou art ready ... for whatever may come -- Once upon a time ... Long, long ago... L O A D I N G T H E G A M E The Kingdom of Syree II: Black Magic requires an IBM or 100 percent compatible with a VGA/MCGA (screen 13) capable monitor and DOS 3.1 or later. T H E L A N D S O F S H E O L When the evil wizard was finally dispatched, the very world was shaken to its foundations. Tides rose and mountains fell. The cancer was removed, but a terrible price was paid. Some townes and villages were never heard from again, and we can only hope that they still survive somewhere, cut off from the rest of the world. The wise traveller would do well to learn the different types of terrain, for they can serve as useful landmarks when one is lost, and can also keep one away from danger as well. GRASS - The rolling plains of Sheol are truly breathtaking to behold. Grass is easy to travel over and affords good sustenance for thine equine companion. WEEDS - The dried up remains of a dead river. Yellow in colour, they serve as good landmarks for those trying to find rivers which no longer exist. SWAMPS - These areas emit poisonous gasses which could severely harm the unwary traveller. Care should be taken to watch thy step, for many a reckless wayfarer has been overcome by the swamps of Sheol, never to have been heard from again. BRUSH - The presence of brush usually heralds a forest nearby. TREES - For those who like the outdoor life, the forests of Sheol, especially those in the land of Garrett, provide a unique experience. However, thy vision is extremely limited, and thou couldst easily be surprised by a band of wandering Orcs. Care should therefore be taken in the forests. HILLS - The hills provide a splendid view of the sunset. They also indicate the presence of mountainous terrain nearby. MOUNTAINS - Large and extremely unscalable, mountain travel is closed to the normal wayfarer. WATER - The oceans of Sheol are deep and treacherous. Swiming is not recommended, especially with the unpredictable tides and even more unpredictable seamonsters. Water travel should be restricted to ship. T H E P E O P L E O F S H E O L Sheol is not a conglomerate of lands and landmarks, but rather it is the people that make her unique. From towne to village to castle, thou shalt find such a variety of peoples and professions that it would take a foreigner years to see and appreciate all that Sheol has to offer. Herein, however, we have attempted to separate some of the peoples and professions that thou art likely to come across in thy travels for thy ease of reference. ARCHER - One who specializes in archery, they can usually be identified by their green attire. CHILDREN - With the search for the new Keeper taking a more desperate tone, children are not allowed to travel from towne to towne anymore for fear of their abduction by Evil. It is only a matter of time now, and rumours have come that orphanages are being ransacked and babies stolen away from their murdered mothers. CLERICS - They make their home in Yew, but can usually be found travelling amoung the populace, comforting the sick and helping the poor. One can always refresh his or her spirit talking with a cleric. Clerics also have been known to dabble in the magical arts. FARMERS - Farmers till the soil in their village homes and sell their produce in the townes. Of course, those long nights amoung tight-knit families and friends breed some of the wildest tales. Whether one believes in them or not, they make for good listening. GUARDS - These people protect and defend the townes and castles. Hired or appointed because they are big and strong, though some not necessarily bright, they are looked upon with the honour they deserve. JESTERS - More of a pest than an entertainer, they keep the kings happy, though on occasion thou couldst find them harassing ordinary folk. KINGS AND QUEENS - The rulars of the various kingdoms of Sheol and surrounding lands. They reside in the castles, Telbor in Syree, and Ashad and Mirlan in Zoar. There is currently no King of Garrett. KNIGHTS - Those who have dedicated their lives to the service of their king. They art known for their bravery and chivalry. One can gain a true appreciation for gallantry when thou dost sup with a knight. MERCHANTS - They keep the shops and run the local economies. Merchants are the mainstay of Sheol. PALADIN - A shining example to virtue, paladins are the elite of the knights and are fearsome foes in combat. TRAVELLER - These people go from towne to towne, village to village, land to land, learning and sampling the various cultures that Sheol has to offer. Much can be learned from their experiences. WIZARD - The true practitioners of the magic arts, wizards are the teachers of the powers to those who are so endowed. Learn well from these, for one of them may have found a way to tap the Power. As thou dost travel from place to place, thou wouldst be wise to converse with as many people as thou canst. Who knows what information thou mayest gleen from such conversations. Thou mayest learn a new spell, or come across a new fighting technique, or even discover a clue as to who the new Keeper is. When thou dost transact with the people of Sheol, some may just give thee a salutation. Others a quick comment. Then there art those who will engage thee in a whole conversation. When this happens, it is customary, as a way of polite inquiry, to ask people of their NAME and JOB. The information thou dost gain from this, and from the initial salutation or description thou dost receive, will directly lead thee to other inquires that thou might wish to make. For example, if thou dost meet a man carrying a flashing sword who's job is to hunt orcs, thou mayest wish to ask him of FLASHING, SWORD, or ORCS. Generally speaking, inquires are single words. Therefore, "orange orcs" would be two different queries: ORANGE and ORCS. Proper names, however, should be given completely. PHANTEO EIFCON instead of PHANTEO or EIFCON. "Lord Helmsby", however, would be just HELMSBY. When thou art asked a question, thou art generally expected to respond. When a response is necessary, thou shalt see the prompt "YOU ANSWER". To review the initial description or salutation given to thee, use the command "LOOK". Finally, to end a conversation, simply say GOOD BYE, or just BYE. M E R C A N R I L E Located throughout the townes and villages of Sheol are many shops and markets in which thou couldst transact thy business, buying necessary equipment for thy travels and selling the spoils from thy conquests for profit. But not all shops are the same from towne to towne. One merchant may offer thee a good deal on a bow but charge extravagant prices for a quiver of arrows. Another may not offer certain items at all, depending upon the skill of the craftmaker. The wise bargain-hunter would do well to take note of who offers the best prices and stock up while thou art in his company. No telling where thou mayest be when thy need for a certain item might come up again. FOOD MERCHANT - Thou wouldst not forget to stock up on these necessary supplies, would thee? Starvation, after all, is such a terrible thing to behold. Food is sold by the pack, the price of which and the amount of food per pack varies from place to place. Food, however, is generally cheaper in villages where it is grown. WEAPONS - Journeying without a stout weapon in thy hand invites a quick death. Fortunately, there are a goodly variety of smithcrafters willing to meet thy need ... for a price. Of course, the skill of these artisans vary, and each shop may only offer a few selections from amoung the many different types of weapons available overall. Shop wisely, though. Each has in mind his own margin of profit. Weapons are usually more plentiful and cheaper in the townes, though the odd bargain might be had elsewhere. Used weapons can be sold back, though rarely for profit. ARMOUR - If thou dost intend to go hunting, thou shouldst provide some protection for thy fragile skin. Like weapon merchants, each shop offers different prices and variety. And each will buy back used armour, though the buy-back price is oft not too generous. INNS - For the weary traveller, several townes and villages will provide thee a comfortable night's stay where thy energies can recharge for the coming morning's trial. Each inn is different, some impressive and some more humble. However, looks can be deceiving. Some of the best inns are some of the poorest looking. PUBS - To those who like a draught after a hard day's battle, thou couldst indulge thyself in one of several pubs located throughout Sheol. Sometimes, some good gossip can be heard from the publican. Remember, though, that strong drink can rob thee of precious hit points. And public drunkenness is prohibited throughout the three kingdoms. HEALERS - Sometimes, even for the most experienced, battle-hardened knight, evil will overcome, and the need for a healer is called for. Healers, depending on their individual skill, offer curing from poison or healing of wounds. The wise traveller will also stock up on the elixirs and salves which can be purchased for thy need on the road. Exlixers will cure the poison running through thy blood, while salve will take some of the sting from out of thy wounds. Prices, of course, vary. SHIP MASTERS - If thou dost intend to navigate upon the oceans of Sheol, thou shalt need a stout ship. Ship masters will provide for thee one of their finest frigates for rent or sale, depending on thy need and purse. Rented vessels are a one way trip. Don't disembark unless thou dost have a way back home, or thou shalt be stranded for the rest of thy days. Know also that, due to the difficult times, thou art allowed but a single vessel to thy name. If thou dost already have a boat and thou dost rent or buy another, thou shalt be required to forfeit thy previous possession. GUILDS - Holdovers from the days of anarchy, these shops are still outlawed by the kings of Sheol, for they cater to thieves and pirates. However, those who intend to stray off the beaten path may be well advised to seek out these specialty shops, for they can provide for thee items which may prove invaluable. Torches to explore the dark dungeons are commonly found in these markets as well as some of the more exotic goods that could make thy travels a little bit safer. Remember, though, that thou shalt be dealing with people who operate outside the law, so tread gently and always keep thy sword in the ready. I N T O T H E D U N G E O N S Deep beneath the surface of Sheol lie the treacherous dungeons. Home of every foul denizen both man and beast, natural and unnatural, most people stay far away from these hellholes. But there are those who will not heed such sound advice, and it is from these brave -- or foolhardy -- souls that we have gained what information we have as to what one may find in these catacombs of death. There are those who say that the dregs of humanity have made their homes in these caves, choosing to take their chances with whatever else may dwell in them than pay for their crimes in prison. There are others who say that, in the deepest dungeons, creatures of frightening powers live which can sap the life from the most hardiest adventurer with but a single glance from their evil eyes. To those who are willing to brave the dangerous, however, rich rewards are said to await them. Chests full of gold can be found scattered throughout the dungeon levels. The deeper one goes, the richer the booty. Or so go the tales. Then there are the strange fountains -- one sip of their refreshing waters is said to heal even the fiercest wounds. One never knows what one mayest find in the dungeons. Best take an allotment of torches and have thy best weapon at hand. Many who have dared brave the deeps have never been heard from again. And it is also said that their corpses can still be found down there ... feeding who knows what. M A G I C A L A R T S Beyond the physical is the spiritual. To those who can tap this realm, the possibilities are endless. Healing, travel, attack, and defense are at thy beck and call. Using magic is easy for those who have the ability. One must only know the name of the spell to cast and possess the necessary magic points to cast it. Magic points are regulated by the amount of wisdom one possesses. The names of spells are known by those schooled in this arcane practice. Seek ye out the wizards and clerics, for they possess great knowledge in this field. Be warned, though, that with the death of the Keeper, the spiritual world is in chaos. Many of the old spells no longer work. A new order is being established. To date, we know of only these spells which continue to be accessible: EIDO (15 magic points) - Used to see thy surroundings unimpaired by forests or mountains. Can only be used on the surface of Sheol. HAELAN (50 magic points) - Will heal thy wounds. This is not a particularly powerful spell, so it should not be depended upon to restore too great an amount of thy health. If thy wounds are severe, it is probably for the better to visit a healer. SHALAB THANATOS (55 magic points) - Strike thy foe from a distance. Amount of damage delivered is in proportion to thy wisdom. Alas, the list is small. Perhaps there are those who have discovered new spells to tap. One can only hope. A B E A S T A L I T Y Would it be that all of God's creatures walked along the path of Light. But alas, at least for now, such is not the case. There are those -- both man and beast, natural and unnatural -- who travel across the land in search of victims for their unspeakable evil. Herein we have attempted to catalog those whom thou mayest be unfortunate enough to come across so thou mayest be more prepared to defend against them. Let us honour those brave souls who gave their lives to bring this information to us. BALERON - These marshals of hate can fly and pass through walls, chasing thee to thy end. Capable to casting horrible spells, Balerons can be found dwelling in the deepest parts of the dungeons. However, there are reports from several reliable sources of sightings of large, leather-winged beasts around the surface entrances to the caverns of the underworld. It could be that they are about to bring their terror to the peaceful inhabitants of Sheol. CLERIC - These backslidden men of the cloth have given themselves over to the Dark Side and now use their powers for evil. As well as being adept at hand-to-hand combat, clerics sometimes arm themselves with slings to attack their enemies from a distance. CYCLOPS - These one-eyed monsters carry huge clubs in their hands and can crush thy skull with but a single blow. Care should be taken when approaching one of these beasts. DEAMON - Lieutenants of evil, these beings from hell do their master's bidding by dragging as many souls as they can down to the fiery depths. Avoid conflict with them as much as possible! Of those who have encountered a deamon and survived, very few remain. Unfortunately, there were very few to begin with. DEVIL - Could be considered a colonel if hell-dwellers had any rank, these creatures are more frightening than their weaker deamon counterparts. Using their pitchforks to skewer their victims, devils are extremely hard to defeat and should be avoided. If thou dost encounter a devil and must fight for thy life, a quick prayer would not be out of order. DRAGON - Winged beasts, these cousins of the sea serpents can spit fire at thee from a distance as well as rake thee with their razor-sharp claws. Hardy and hard to kill, only the most seasoned warriors should attempt to challenge a dragon. GARGOYLE - The hardiest of all the creatures known, these evil monsters seem to be made out of stone, for only once has one been killed -- but not before seven brave men lost their lives protecting their king. No one has seen a gargoyle use any magic, yet it would be premature to say that such terrible monsters have no arcane ability to speak of. If thou dost happen across one of these horrors, it would be prudent to make as quick a departure as possible. OBE - No one knows much about these creatures, for no one has seen one. The only time thou shalt know when an obe is nearby is when thou dost feel a powerful strike against thy person. Many an adventurer has gone down trying to engage a creature that he could not see. Obes are much to be feared. ORC - Creatures whose sole reason for existence seems to be to attack travellers, orcs are surprisingly agile for their size. They can deliver blow after blow and take a fair amount of punishment before succumbing. Such creatures can usually be found, if one is actually looking for them, three or four levels below the surface in the dungeons. PHANTOM - Spirits possessed by evil and forced to do their bidding, phantoms attack and kill without cause or provocation. Thou shalt be doing a mercy by killing these poor souls and freeing them from their evil bonds. RAT - About three to five feet long, not including the tail, with razor-sharp teeth, these creatures can easily tear through flimsy armour. They ferociousness should not be underestimated. SEA SERPENT - Ocean travel was once the safest route to take since most monsters could not navigate the seas. That is, until the sea serpents arose from the depths to attack ships and those who travelled too close to the water's edge. Not only could they strike their foes with their sharp claws, but these water dwelling nightmares can spit fire at thee from a distance, bringing thee down before thou hast had a chance to engage the monster in honourable combat. SKELETON - Animated bones from long dead evil creatures, they have come back to complete the tasks they did not finish in life. SNAKE - Fortunately, the snakes that have been appearing with more and more frequency appear to be the non-venomous kind, but this should not lull one into a false sense of security. Their bite is still very painful and can do quite a bit of damage. SPIDER - These creatures of the night are large and frightening. Their bite is something the wise would avoid. It should also be noted that spider venom is poisonous, and can be deadly if left untreated. THIEF - The dregs of society, they make their living as highwaymen or pirates. Their favourite haunt is a village called Dyrone in the middle of the ocean. Watch thy pockets when dueling with a thief, for they have been known to pick peoples' purses clean while masterfully dodging their foe's sword. TROLL - The war-clubs these evil beings carry can cause a considerable amount of damage, so it is best if thou dost avoid conflict with them if thou art low on hit points or have only meager armour. WIZARD - Not all magic users follow the side of Light, and these in particular have given themselves over to the Dark Forces, selling their souls for temporary power. Be wary of these beings of Black, for not only can they attack thee with sword and spear, but also cast devastating magical spells to strike thee from a distance.