   Our story is of a time long ago, and a place far away.  A tale of kings and  knights and sorcerors and dragons, a    tale that is never repeated no matter   how often it is told.  A tale that you, my friend, shall determine how is to    unfold.                                    Your story begins in the kingdom of  Balema.  King Galt has granted an       audience to a young noblewoman from a   southwestern province.  The king is     seated upon the throne, his favorite    mistress by his side.  Gorn, the king's champion, lounges arrogantly by the     king's other side.  Being a mere        advisor (and a new one at that) you     take your place among the other court   nobles and listen with interest to the  discussion in progress.                 (King) Rise Lady Diana, you can speak   much better without the palace floor    marring your knees.  You were saying?   (Diana) Please forgive my people m'lord for 'tis not their fault they cannot    pay their taxes this season!  Our lands lay in ruin, our harvests burned, our   villages ravaged!                       (King) And just what is the cause of    all this calamity?                      (Diana) A dragon m'lord!  A demon-      spawned nightmare from the depths of    hell!  Please m'lord, my people can     hardly feed themselves!  I offer myself in exchange for mercy upon them.        (King) Begone with you Lady Diana, back to your people.  I need you not.  And   tell your people that Gorn, the king's  champion, will soon be on his way to    rid my kingdom of this hell-bred thorn! (After saying this King Galt turns and  hands Gorn a bag of gold.)              (King) Take this gold and outfit        yourself for the Quest.  And take yon   new advisor.  Heed his word closely, he comes with the highest recommendation.  Now be off!                                Gorn, glaring in your direction,     says "And your first suggestion, most   revered advisor?"                          Gorn turns quickly and leaves        through the heavy oak door in the north wall.  Hurrying behind him, you get     your first close-up view of the king's  champion: He's huge! (best stay on his  good side).  After a quick circuit      through the maze-like castle halls, you finally reach the provisioner's.  There is a list fastened to the counter top.  (Provisioner) Hail Gorn.  What can I do for ye today?                           A large, time worn castle, surrounded   by a stagnant, stench-ridden moat,      stands just to the south.  The road     continues north to the horizon.         The road continues endlessly (or so it  seems) to the north.  Far to the south  the hazy outline of castle spires rises above the landscape.                    Gorn halts before an intersection with  roads leading north, south, east and    west.                                   The deeply rutted road curves from the  north to the west.  A ridge of icy blue mountains rises skyward far to the      northeast.                              A very faint, but continuous, rumble    can be heard to the northeast.  To the  east are cold, rugged mountains.        The road splits to the north, south,    and west.  A few sparse trees can be    seen to the west.                       Pausing briefly, Gorn eyes the long     expanse of the road to the east and     the west.                               Gorn stops at a 3-way intersection.     The road stretches to the north and     south.  A few sparse trees are visible  to the west.                            The east-west road doesn't look well    travelled, something to the west is     reflecting sunlight (a body of water    perhaps).                               You find yourselves before a 3-way      intersection with north, east amd west  branches.  There are some small hills   to the east.                            Your progress halts at the shore of a   sparkling  blue lake.  An old, weather  beaten sign is lying by the water's     edge.                                   Some of the letters are worn off, but   you can still barely make out           "CA T ON AL I  TO S!"                   The road winds through gently rolling   hills.                                  Gorn turns and says, "What's the        matter, art thou blind?"                Gorn points to the deep impressions     left in the ground by his boots.  Water is slowly seeping up into them.         The road narrows to a path until it     ends abruptly at the mouth of a cave.   A small old man stops you at the cave   entrance.  "That's far enough.  What    business have ye 'ere?"                 Advice is worth what you pay for it.    Beware neighboring kingdoms.            Stick to the roads.                     Dragons can be caught if one approaches close enough to put salt on their tails.Treasure abounds on the southern        islands.                                A gleam appears in the old hermit's eye as he shakily places the gold on a      table.  Facing you again he says, "In   return I shall give you the speech of   dragons."                                                                       The next few days are spent in intense  effort as the old hermit pounds the     difficult language into you.  In the    meantime Gorn spends his waking time    impatiently pacing the cave interior.   Finally, the hermit is content that he  has repaid your generosity and          pronounces you fluent in dragonese.     You are at the edge of a swamp.  The    walking has become extremely difficult  as your feet sink in the mire with      every step.  There appears to be a      human skeleton hanging on a large tree  trunk to the south.                     Gorn scowls at the grinning skeleton.   He points warily at a large jeweled     ring on its bony finger.                Foul smelling gases swirl upwards from  the swamp.  A large snake lies          coiled around a tree overhead.          (Gorn) First we kill the dragon, then   I'll take you snake hunting.            Due west are some crumbled ruins        surrounded by dense vegetation.  The    remnants suggest a once great           civilization.                           Piles of crumpled stone lay heaped      about the floor.  Sunlight trickles in  from numerous holes in the roof.  Gorn  nervously eyes the impenetrable shadows around the ruin walls.                  A slow wind moans softly through the    tree tops.  The forest doesn't seem     quite so dense to the north.            This room seems to have been recently   occupied.  A flight of worn stairs that look centuries old lead down into utter darkness.                               The road curves from the north to the   west.  The forest grows right up to the edge of the road.                       Very little sunlight manages to filter  down.  The dense forest seems to        stretch endlessly in all directions.    The road runs north and south through   the trees.                              The trees don't seem quite as dense to  the north and the west.                 You are now deep within the forest.     Before you is a pit, definitely         man-made, and obviously very old.       A large vine grows downward into the    pit.                                    The pit is deep and dark.  Something    at the bottom is glinting from the      occasional sunlight.                    Suddenly, lizard men leap from the      shadows, blocking the only other way    out, and come charging towards you.     In a blur of speed, Gorn unsheathes his sword and prepares to meet the          challenge.                              (Gorn) What's it to be chief, run or    fight?                                  The bottom of the pit is filled with    treasure.  Gold in heaps, jeweled       swords, flasks of exotic musk and brass clad chests!                            Gorn suddenly snaps erect.  From the    holes along the base of the walls       slither forth hordes of great hooded    cobras, bearing down fast upon you.     (Gorn) You better make up your mind     fast, we don't have much time!          Gorn slashes madly at the cobras,       killing them by the dozens, but there   are just too many.  Within seconds they are coiled about your legs and waist,   striking repeatedly.  Your last         conscious sight is the writhing,        slithering heap that used to be Gorn,   the King's Champion...                  (Gorn) I have wealth enough.  It would  only slow us down.                      There is an old rug in the chest.       The label on the rug reads "Abdul's new and used rugs (another fly-by-night     company)".                              A few hundred feet from the shore the   water is still only up to Gorn's waist  and your chest.  Gorn cocks his head to one side as telltale splashes from up   and down the shoreline can be vaguely   heard.  Moving ahead more cautiously,   Gorn suddenly stiffens and then is      jerked quickly underwater.  Half-       heartedly expecting Gorn to resurface,  you see the water part as an alligator  many times your length comes up         instead..!                              (Balema Sports News) ..It's a sad day   for sports lovers in Balema today.  The remains found in the alligator ridden   Balema Bayou have been identified as    the great Gorn, and a companion.  Gorn  was the undefeated jousting champion of the kingdom, and holder of a world      record in swashbuckling.  Little is     known of the companion, who seems to    have been a new royal advisor on his    first (and last) Quest.  Gorn will be   sorely missed by the sports world.      The door swings inward silently.  A     beautiful red-headed woman appears at   the threshold wrapped in a long heavy   cloak.  Strange and enticing odors waft from the open doorway.                  After staring briefly at both yours and Gorn's hands she whirls abruptly        around, her long hair swirling about    her shoulders, retreats through the     doorway and slams the door shut.        After staring briefly at Gorn's hands,  she welcomes him into her home.  She    frowns as you follow Gorn through the   doorway (almost as if she only wants to see Gorn, not you).                     Silent as a cat, the woman moves to the other side of the room.  Slowly she     turns to face you and Gorn.             (Gorn) Who are you, woman?              (Woman) Some call me Lisa.  That is     what you may call me.                   (Lisa) I could be very useful to you at times and would be willing to accompany you, but...  it will cost you.          Without even a warning, Gorn turns and  grasps you by the shoulders, lifting    you clean off the floor, sets you       firmly down outside, and closes the     door in your face.                                            .                                       .                                       .                               And so you wait.          What seems like ages later (although it couldn't have been more than half an    hour) Gorn swings open the door.        Jerking his thumb towards the inside    Gorn says "She's coming with us.  I had to give her the ring we found, though." Looking a little guilty, Gorn continues "What could I do?  She wouldn't         accompany us without it!"               In less time than it takes to spell     platitudinarianism, you Gorn, and your  new companion, the beautiful Lisa, are  outside of Lisa's house and ready to    go.                                     The forest to the east is too dense for passage.  There must be some sort of    clearing to the south for the trees are less dense.                             The road through the forest branches to the south, east and west.  The forest   ends just a short distance to the west. The thick treetops form a canopy that   keeps most of the sunlight from         reaching the road.                      The road is swallowed by a dense forest to the west.                            The long dusty road runs east and west. The vague outline of trees to the west  indicates the beginning of a forest.    The rutted dirt road stretches on       through wide grass plains.              The dirt road continues east/west       through some remarkably green meadows.  Before you is a well kept frame house.  Muffled sounds are barely discernible   from within, yet the dark windows       reveal nothing.                         The lizard men halt their forward rush  as Lisa's ornate staff begins to glow   brightly.  The light thickens until it  becomes a horrendous fireball that      launches itself at the Lizard men,      obliterating them completely.           Gorn brandishes his sword in a mighty   swoop that renders a lizard man         completely harmless.                    A small pool of water lies motionless,  reflecting the sky above.  The water    doesn't seem stagnant, yet it is not    discernible where it is fed from.  A    haggard looking vulture with a patient, yet expectant look in his eyes is       perched atop a gnarled old tree.  A     rotten board lies at the base of the    tree, directly beneath the vulture.     A "T" in the well travelled road lies   southward.                              The dusty road stretches endlessly to   the north and south.                    Northward winds the road till it meets  the horizon.  Sunlight reflects         brightly from the south.                Ocean waves can be heard lapping        against a shore.  The fresh salt air is invigorating and does much to lift the  spirits.                                The ocean's crystal blue waters sparkle in the light.  A small island stands    just off the shore to the south.  There appears to be some artifact erected on  the island.                             (Gorn) You go ahead.  I hate salt       water.  It burns my eyes.               The water is excellent.  Its absorbed   warmth is spreading through your quest  worn muscles, relaxing them even as you swim.  It's still difficult to make out what the object is on the island,       though.                                 Dripping wet, yet extremely refreshed   from the swim, you make your way to the top of the island.  Why it's just a     sign with a key lying at its base...                                            (Gorn) HHHHEEEEEEYYYYYYY!!                                                      Gorn is shouting to you from the shore. Can't make out what he is saying, but   when you turn and look back you see...  Sharks!  There aren't too many of them  yet.  Might still be a chance.          This time you hardly notice the         relaxing warmth of the ocean water.     The sharks don't seem to have spotted   you yet.  But they're so close!        Suddenly, the water explodes directly   in front of you as a great shark        surfaces with excruciating force.  His  huge jaws, easily three feet across,    are wide agape in anticipation of       closing them on you.  Thrashing the     water wildly you still try to swim      towards the shore.  You can see Gorn    standing waist deep in water, sword     drawn, ready to help you as soon as     you're within reach.  If you can just   make it a little further......          (Balema Times) The famous Gorn,         champion of the King, was seriously     wounded yesterday while attempting to   rescue a yet to be identified companion from the shark-infested waters just off Balema Beach.                            The companion is rumored to have been  King Galt's newest advisor, sent by the king to accompany Gorn on a quest.  The remains, however, were too mutilated    for positive identification.  Services  for the unknown advisor will be held    Wednesday at the castle.                The road branches again.  Naught but    more road to the north.  There appears  be a small pool of water to the south.  The board is so rotten it's difficult   read, but it seems to say something     about 'poisonous'.                      The dirt road continues on to the north and south through more of the           beautifully green meadows.              The road branches to the north, south   and west.                               Border Station #1                       (Guard) A warning, pass not to the      north for only trouble lies with the    Red Dragoon.                            Shortly after crossing the border into  the neighboring kingdom you are         confronted by a huge red dragoon (and   of course, a whole company of guards).  (Dragoon) Well, well.  What have we     here?  More fodder for our dungeon      vermin!  Take them men!                 The dusty road runs east and west.      The vague outline of hills are visible  to the west.                            The road is well worn here at this      intersection.  Must be a major          crossroads.                             A small village lies before you.  Seems like a peaceful place to spend some     time...                                 Suddenly a terrifying shriek splits the air.  All heads turn to the west as a   large dragon comes flying towards the   village.  Amidst the chaotic turmoil of the horrified villagers, Gorn grasps    you about the waist, lifting you off    your feet, and madly dashes into the    closest storm cellar.                   What feels like an eternity afterwards, Gorn boldly peers outside.  Stating all is clear, you, and the few other        villagers that managed to get in the    cellar, emerge to find the village      burned to the ground.                   A crystal clear pond sparkles with      reflected light.                        The charred remnants of a village lay   about you.                              The dark tunnel bends to the left.      The cold tunnel walls curve to the      left.                                   The damp tunnel bends to the right.     The tunnel curves right.                The tunnel continues on straight.       The dark tunnel runs straight ahead.    The dark tunnel branches to the right.  The tunnel forks to the right.          The damp tunnel forks to the left.      The tunnel branches to the left.        Light shines in from the tunnel         entrance.                               A flight of stairs lead upward.  A dark tunnel stretches to the west.           The tunnel ends abruptly.  The wall is  smooth, obviously fabricated.           The tunnel makes a sharp turn to the    right.                                  The dark tunnel bends sharply to the    right.                                  The dark tunnel makes a sharp turn to   the left.                               The tunnel bends sharply to the left.   A cave-in blocks the tunnel passage.    You are at the top of a steep cliff     overlooking an endless desert.  A large tree grows just at the edge of the      cliff.                                  Gorn points at a cave about halfway up  the sheer cliff face.                   You are standing on a ledge halfway up  a cliff.  There are strange claw marks  on the ledge leading from a cave.       An endless desert stretches around you. To the east, a vertical cliff rises     skyward.                                A towering cliff blocks passage to the  east.                                   You are at the foot of an unclimbable   cliff.                                  Water!  A spring of life amidst this    interminable hell!                      The shimmering desert extends forever   in all directions.                      The blistering sun boils the sand       beneath your feet.                      The heat is almost unbearable with      the sun beating down from above and the sand reflecting upwards.                The intense sunlight reflecting from    the sand is nearly blinding.            The desert sands stretch endlessly in   all directions.                         The endless desert continues forever.   The desert stretches all about you as   far as you can see.                     The claw marks extend further on into   the cave.                               Some trinkets lie scattered about.      The dirt road is passing through some   hilly terrain.  A small mountain range  can be seen to the southwest.           The road curves to the south and east.  Several mountains can be seen to the    south.                                  The dust road leads north and south.    The mountains loom high to the south.   The road narrows into a path which      enters a dark cave at the base of some  mountains.                              The mountains are just to the south.    The dirt road continues on to the north.The road narrows into a path which      enters a dark cave at the base of some  mountains.  A large sphinx keeps you    from entering the cave.                 (Sphinx) First you must answer me this: Blue as the sky on a summer day,        Fresh as a field of just cut hay,       Deep as the pits beneath the fires of   hell,                                   Clear as a note from a pure silver      bell,                                   Still as a graveyard on a cold winter   night,                                  Ruthless as a hawk in its death-dealing flight,                                 As peaceful as a river that flows       gently by,                              The question to answer is "What am I?"                                          Correct.  You may pass.                                                         Wrong.  You may not enter.              (Dragon) Rawallmerfshnaughzrolwilf.     (Lisa) I know dragonese.  I'll          translate for you:                      According to your recently acquired     knowledge of dragonese, you translate   thusly:                                 (Dragon) Do naught to deepen my sorrow, foolish mortals.                        (Dragon) I bear thee of this kingdom no grudge.  This land was my home long     before the existence of Balema.  My     sorrow is for my cub that has been      separated from me.  Find my cub and I   will leave this kingdom in peace once   again.                                  Immediately upon entering the dragon's  lair, the mother detects that you have  her cub, alive and well.  The cub       struggles away from you and runs to its mother.  For a few sentimental moments  the mother and baby warmly bathe each   other in short bursts of flame (a       touching sight).  The joyous mother     dragon then scoops everyone up, places  them firmly on her back, and flies      east towards the castle.                The dragon's lair!  An enormous dragon  is lying in the middle of a small       cavern, amidst heaps of gold, jewels,   and assorted other wealth.              The dragon slowly turns its massive     head until its green slitted eyes come  to rest upon you.                       A dragon cub is asleep on the floor.    The dragon bellows deafeningly, rears   up onto its haunches, spreads its great wings, and incinerates the entire       party!                                  (Neighboring Kingdom Times)             Bulletin: Yesterday will go down in     history as the 'day of infamy'!  The    entire kingdom of Balema was totally    destroyed by a dragon known to inhabit  their southern provinces.  The reason   for the dragon's ravages is unknown at  this time.  It was reported that after  devestating Balema, the dragon flew     west, hopefully never to return this    way again.                              The baby dragon tears away from you and runs toward the big dragon.             (Dragon) Don't try my patience by       disturbing me with empty hands!         As the men close in, Lisa's ornate      staff begins to glow brightly.          Suddenly, Gorn and Lisa begin to        transform into mist.  Feeling uneasy    yourself, you look down only to find    your own body melting away into vapor.  Rising above the highwaymen's reach you and the two other misty objects are     blown by the whims of the wind.  In a   short time your vapors begin to         solidify and you settle back to the     ground..... elsewhere!                  Gorn, being faithful (although somewhat hesitant) to the king's command to      follow your directions, sweeps out his  sword and nobly leaps forward to do     battle with the many (and I do mean     many) highwaymen (tallyho!  and all     that).  Being extremely outnumbered,    Gorn is slowly overcome (slowly because he's the king's champion, ya know).  As soon as the ruffians finish off Gorn,   they turn and start moving towards you. Now, I think it's pretty obvious what   they have in mind, so do you want to    stick around and wait or do you want    to....                                  (Gorn) It is not within my nature to    slay the helpless!  Here, if you want   it killed then you do it.                 At this point, Gorn hands you the     young dragon.  Then you, being the      cruel orderer of helpless creatures'    deaths that you are, kill the poor,     innocent young dragon!                  Before Gorn has a chance to right his   sword the remaining lizard men rush him and bear him to the ground!  It seems   it is now Gorn's turn to be rendered    helpless!  After finishing Gorn off,    the lizardmen, saliva drooling from     their tooth filled jaws, begin moving   towards you.  Their hissing breath is   loud in your ears!  Raising their       swords high over their heads they...    An old, wheel-worn bridge stretches     across a wide, rapidly flowing stream.  The rumble heard earlier has become     louder and is now almost due east.      Lofty crags of a mountain range are     clearly visible to the southeast.       After careful inspection, Gorn declares the bridge fit to pass.                 At the base of the waterfall the        cascading water bursts into a fine      spray that drenches everything nearby   (including you).  The deafening roar of the falling water has a strange hollow  quality to it.                          Pausing beside the clear, white-water   stream, Gorn spots a waterfall to the   east as the source of the loud roar.    The waterfall and stream must be fed by the runoff from the mountain range that stretches to the south.                 You are in a dripping wet tunnel        passage directly behind a thunderous    waterfall.  The tunnel curves to the    left.                                   As you enter a small clearing in the    forest several men appear along the     perimeter of the clearing, surrounding  you completely.                         The dirt road extends east into a       wooded area, through a meadow to        the west.                               The dusty road curves to the north and  west.                                   The road branches to the north, south   and east.                               The road bends to the north and west.   The road seems well travelled here.     There appear to be tendrils of smoke    rising to the northwest.                Forks in the road lead north, south and west.  The horizon to the west is hazy  with smoke.                             The road abruptly ends at the edge of a vast desert.                            The road stretches north and south.     Tendrils of smoke drift lazily upward   on the northern horizon.                The charred and smoking remnants of a   once prosperous village lie scattered   about you.  Gorn slowly clenches his    fists as he looks about at the needless destruction.                            The road has traces of soot skittering  across its surface.  Smoke can be seen  to the east.                            The east/west road extends on through   lush green meadows.                     The salt sprinkles across the baby      dragon's tail, causing it to spring     into the air with an ear piercing       shriek and hastily fly out of sight!    Gorn stops at a 3-way intersection and  waits for directions.                   The dirt road extends to the north and  south.                                  Green meadows stretch all around the    north/south dirt road.                  Border Station #4.                      (Guard) Continue this way at thine own  risk, for to the north lies the red     dragoon!                                The dusty road bends to the north and   west.                                   Gorn stops before a 4-way intersection  in the dirt road and looks expectantly  in your direction.                      Border Station #3.                      (Guard) Greetings Gorn!  Keeping        strange company these days, aren't you? Wouldn't bother going north if I were   you.  Some dragoon up there's been      harassing people.                       You are on an east/west dirt road.      The road branches to the south, east    and west.                               Border Station #2.                      (Guard) Gorn!  Just the man we need!  A large Red dragoon has been causing much havoc hereabouts, and we could sure use some help.  The demon is just on to the west.                                   There is a general provisioner's to the west.                                   There is assorted merchandise within    the general provisioner's.  A sign on   the counter itemizes the prices.                                                (General Provisioner) Hail Champion!    Of what use can I be to you?            The road winds its way north and south. There's a small patch of woods to the   south.                                  The road passes through a small grove   of trees.                               A few scattered trees are visible to    the north.                              As soon as everyone gets on the carpet  it begins to rise.  Just as the carpet  gets level with the mouth of the cave,  Gorn shouts "Jump!" and you leap deftly to the ledge.  As the carpet begins to  move away, Gorn reaches out and grabs   it.                                     When all are aboard, the carpet rises   to the top of the cliff,                unceremoniously dumps everybody off,    and zooms out of sight to the southwest.The dirt road winds north and south     through the trees.                      The mountain range to the east appears  impassable.  There is a distinct        roaring sound to the north.             (Gorn) I'm not sure I understand you ful