In this odd fantasy game, you play as young man who lives alone in a forest cabin. Your beloved brother, who saw himself as a Warrior, died nearly a year ago. You define yourself by your Faith in your Lord. Today, you discover five of your chess pieces are missing. And who was that outside your window? It can't be him!
This solution is by David Welbourn, and is based on Release 1 of the story.
SPOILERS AHEAD. Reading a walkthrough prematurely can sometimes diminish one's enjoyment of an interactive fiction story. Please make an honest effort to play the story before reading this walkthrough.
Note: When wearing the amulet, the Wizard's Study occupies the same place on the map where The Cave was.
Walkthrough
Cabin
> x me.(You're smaller than your brother was and you like to PRAY.)
> x chest. open it.(locked)
> x chess set.(something's wrong)
> x pieces.(+2; a figure is outside the window)
> g. g. g.(+2)g.
> x window.(The figure has vanished.)
> x table.(has Faith Carving on right leg, Warrior's Carving on left, chess set on top, and a drawer.)
> x faith.(+1; your carving is a lion)
> x warrior.(+1; your brother's carving is Chinese symbol for warrior)
> open drawer.(birdcall and silver key)
> x birdcall.("use the birdcall" to produce bird songs)
> x key. take key and birdcall.
> x bookcase.(Untold Story and a Bible)
> x Story. take it. read it.(+1)
> x Bible. take it. read it.
> unlock chest with key. open chest.
> x bow.("shoot something with bow")
> x quiver. take bow.(+1)take quiver.
> x arrows.(unlimited)
> out.
The Heart of the Forest
> x lantern. take it.(already lit)
> x dirt. take coin.(+1)
> x coin.(One side is a beer keg; the other, a Dwarf!)
> listen.(You can hear the beast but can't identify it.)
> climb tree.
Upper Branches
> x caterpillar. x nest. x rook. x egg.
> take rook.(A falcon grabs it first and flies north.)
> take egg.(+2)
> x leaves. x red leaf. take it.(+1; you fall; you don't have it)
The Heart of the Forest
> u.
Upper Branches
> take leaf.(+1; you fall again; laughter this time)
The Heart of the Forest
> u.
Upper Branches
> take leaf.(taken!)
> x vine. u.
Treetop
> x flower. take flower.(+2)
> x tower.(It's to the north and west.)
> listen.(You again hear the beast.)
> d. d. n.
You fall into a hole to...
Under the Forest (east end)
> x dwarf. x beard. x chess piece.(It's the pawn.)
> x green eye. x blue eye.
> ask dwarf about beard.(+2; he hits you!)
> ask dwarf about the Dwarven City.(New topics: sights, purposes.)
> ask dwarf about pawn.(New topic: treasures.)
He'll trade it for a way into his secret room. Agree?
> yes.(+2)
> ask dwarf about sights.(New topics: tavern, bar, keg.)
> ask dwarf about tavern.
> ask dwarf about bar.(New topics: pipe, mugs.)
> ask dwarf about keg.
> ask dwarf about pipe. ask dwarf about mugs.
> ask dwarf about treasures.(+2. New topic: secret room.)
> ask dwarf about secret room.(New topics: wall, way.)
> ask dwarf about wall. ask dwarf about way.
> ask dwarf about purposes.(New topics: Dwarven cave rocks, special doors.)
> ask dwarf about Dwarven cave rock.(Shine it on things. New topic: things)
> ask dwarf about things.
> ask dwarf about secret doors.(New topics: house, fall of the City.)
> ask dwarf about house.
> ask dwarf about fall of the city.(New topic: giant.)
> ask dwarf about giant.(New tell topic: my brother.)
> tell dwarf about my brother.
> pray.(+2)
> w.(The dwarf follows you.)
Under the Forest (west end)
> x stone. x image.(+3)
The image is of you and your brother playing chess. He has symbol for strength; you have "John 3:16" : For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
> x image.(Re-examining the image shows that your brother doesn't have a king but something else. It's dark.)
> x crack. x crescent key. take it.(+2)
> w.
The House of the Dwarf
> x wall.(treasure behind it)
> x cave rock. x table. x beef jerky.
> take rock. shine rock on wall.(+2. New topic/item: indentation.)
> x indentation.(Symbol of keg with circle aroudnd it.)
> ask dwarf about indentation. ask dwarf about coin.
> put coin in indentation.(+2)
The dwarf enters his secret room, dropping your pawn, and closes the door behind him.
> take pawn.(+5)
> take jerky. eat jerky.(+2)
> u. e. n.
The Mysterious Forest (north of Heart)
This time, you don't fall into the hole.
> x hole. x note.(from Bobbit the Badger)
> take note.(It's now raining.)
> x chest. open it.
> x flute. take it.(Play it near a bear.)
> x bear trap. take it.(To use it, set it.)
> look. x tracks.(They lead south.)
> s.
The Heart of the Forest
> x tracks.(They continue east.)
> e.
The Mysterious Forest (east of Heart)
> x fireflies. x tracks.(They go in.)
> in.
Bear's Den
> x bear. x Babbit. x chains.
> pray.(+2)
> break chains. g. g. g. g.(+3)
Babbit runs. The bear is awake!
> z.(repeat until the Bear is charging.)
> set trap.(+2. The Bear falls.)
You have a choice:
> shoot bear with bow.(+2. The Bear dies, thanking you.)
> play flute.(+2. The Bear's madness is cured.)
> x bear.
> look. x boulder.
> out.
The Mysterious Forest (east of Heart)
During the rescue quest, the bottle wasn't mentioned.
> x bottle. x water. take bottle.(+2)
> w. n.
The Mysterious Forest (north of Heart)
> look in chest. x blue note. x bishop.
> take blue note. take bishop.(+5)
> n.
Meadow
Awkwardly, you can't examine the rose or lily while the flower from the treetop is nearby.
> x grave.(Your brother was killed by the bear.)
> pray.(+2)
> x flowers. x tulip. take tulip.
> x spot.(plant something in the golden dirt spot)
> plant flower in spot.(+2)
> water flower with pure water.
It grows into a tree, then opens into a hut to your west. And now you can examine the rose and lily:
> x rose.(+1; wisdom.)
> x lily.(+1; patience.)
> w.
Nature's Hut
> x flora.
> x branch.(Offers king for something to cure this disease.)
> x heart.(Need to pour something on it.)
> x chest. open it. x amulet. take it.(+2)
> wear amulet.
> e. n.
Field
> x feather. take it. x shield. take it.
Assume that the falcon you saw earlier is nearby and use her egg to attract it.
> drop egg.(+2. Falcon with red eyes comes at you.)
> pray.(+2)
You have a choice:
> shoot falcon with bow.(+5. The falcon dies and her egg is smashed.)
> use birdcall.(+5. The falcon is cured and flies away with her egg.)
Regardless, the falcon drops the rook which you automatically take.
> s. s. s. w.
The amulet reveals that the cave is actually a wizard's study!
Wizard's Study
> x desk. x tablecloth.
> x symbol.
> take book. i. x tome.
> read tome. g.(Chapter 2 tells you how to brew a potion.)
Learn to brew a potion from Feather, leaf, tulip in Wizard's Studies. It's a healing potion for humans and beings of nature. Poured on a weapon makes it potent for vanishing a wizard.
> x chest.(locked, transparent; has knight and magical bottle)
> x knight. x magical bottle.(Weaken a wizard, then trap the wizard.)
> unlock chest with crescent key.
> open chest. take knight.(+5)take bottle.
> brew.(+5; using leaf, feather, and tulip)
> x potion.
> read tome.
Chapter 3 tells you about the Orbs of Power spell. If your enemy destroys the blue orb, it disappears. If your enemy destroys the red orb, lightning kills him. If your enemy destroys the green orb, the caster is weakened.
> put tome on desk.
> d. e.
Under the Forest (west end)
While wearing the amulet:
> x image.(The dark chess piece is a Wizard.)
> w. u. e. n. n. w.
Nature's Hut
> pour potion on heart.(The hut is cured.)
> x chest. take king.(+5)
> x heart. x branch.
> e. n. w.
Cliff
> x mountains. x river. x tower. x symbol.
> x door. x bullseye.
> shoot bullseye with bow.(Need a magic weapon.)
> pour potion on bow.(+2)
> pour potion on shield.(+2)
> shoot bullseye with bow.(Now the iron door is unlocked.)
> in.
Entrance room
> x stairs. u.
Watcher's Room
Unfortunately, the wizard doesn't want to talk.
> pray.(+2)
> shoot green orb with bow.(+2)
> trap wizard.(with the magical bottle)
Your brother gives a final goodbye, and you leave the forest.
*** You've won the game! ***
Extras
Characters
Note that in this game, when a creature's eyes turn red, they are being possessed by an evil influence and are likely about to attack and kill you. While it is permissable to kill evil creatures, it is much better to banish the evilness and restore them to goodness instead.
Your brother thought of himself as a warrior. Although he's dead, you still seem to see and hear him sometimes.
A falcon has its nest in the upper branches of the tallest tree.
A caterpillar is minding its own business in the upper branches.
A Dwarf needs your help getting into his secret room.
Babbit the Badger was captured by the Great Bear and is now chained to rhe wall of his den.
The Great Bear is a beast with red eyes. He killed your brother, and now he's captured Babbit.
A wizard is the Big Bad behind all your troubles. You'll need to defeat him to avenge your brother. We're never told what the wizard's goals or motivations were.
Mentioned:
Your parents gave you the Bible a year before they died.
Bobbit the Badger, via a note, asks for your help in rescuing his wife, Babbit.
Endings
The bear attacked. You have died.
if the bear kills you.
You have died.
if you shoot the red orb with your bow, or
if you bash the red orb with your shield.
You've won the game!
if you trap the weakened wizard in the magical bottle,
if you bash the weakened wizard with your shield, or
if you shoot the weakened wizard with your bow.
Inventory
Chess pieces
Take each chess piece for 5 points. You do not have to do anything else with them.
a pawn. The dwarf is carrying it.
The dwarf drops the pawn when you open the secret door in his house (see Dwarven cave rock and gold coin).
a bishop. After the bear has been killed or cured, this chess piece is in the chest in the mysterious forest north of the heart of the forest.
Rook. It's originally in the nest in the upper branches of the enormous tree.
Try to take the rook from the nest. A falcon will grab it first and fly north.
In the field, drop the egg then either use the birdcall or a weapon (bow or shield) to deal with the falcon. The falcon will drop the rook.
a knight. It's in the locked chest in the wizard's study (see Amulet, crescent key).
a king. It's in the chest in Nature's Hut after you pour the magic potion on the hut's heart.
Keys
a silver key. It's in the table's drawer in your cabin.
It unlocks the chest in your cabin. The chest contains your brother's bow and quiver.
a gold coin. It's in the dirt in the heart of the forest.
In the house of the dwarf, after the indentation appears (see Dwarven cave rock), put the coin in the indentation. This briefly opens the door to the dwarf's secret room. The dwarf will immediately enter, dropping the pawn, and closing the door behind him.
a crescent key. It's in a crack, under the forest, just east of the house of the dwarf.
It unlocks the transparent chest in the wizard's study. The chest contains the knight and a magical bottle.
Magic items
a flower. It's on the treetop of the enormous tree.
In the meadow, plant the flower in the golden dirt spot, then water the flower with pure water. The flower will grow into a tree, then a hut you can enter.
Dwarven cave rock. It's in the house of the dwarf.
It provides light.
Ask the dwarf about the rock, and he'll tell you that dwarves shine these rocks on things.
Ask the dwarf about many more topics and it becomes clear that you should shine the rock on the wall in his house. Do that, and an indentation will appear. Next, put the gold coin into the indentation.
an Amulet of Sight. It's in the chest in Nature's hut.
Wear it. While you wear the amulet, the Wizard's Study replaces The Cave in the game's geography.
The amulet also lets you see what's hidden in the underground image: a Wizard chess piece.
a magical bottle. It's in the locked chest in the wizard's study (see Amulet, crescent key).
In the Watcher's room, after destroying the green orb with the bow or shield, the wizard will be weakened. Now you can trap with wizard with the magical bottle and win the game.
You learn about the potion by reading the tome and the brew command, said in the wizard's study, is all you need to do to make the potion if you have all the ingredients.
Pour the potion on either the bow or the sheild to make it magical. Now, at the cliff, you can use the magical weapon to shoot or bash the bullseye to unlock the iron door.
Magic-adjacent items
These items aren't magical themselves, but they are used for magical purposes.
a bottle containing pure water. It's on a boulder in the mysterious forest east of the heart of the forest.
In the meadow, after planting the flower in the golden dirt spot, water the flower with pure water. The flower will grow into a tree, then a hut you can enter.
a red leaf. It's in the leaves among the upper branches of the enormous tree.
It's one of three ingredients for a magical potion (which see).
a red tulip. It's one of the flowers growing near your brother's grave in the meadow.
It's one of three ingredients for a magical potion (which see).
a Falcon's Feather. It's in the field.
It's one of three ingredients for a magical potion (which see).
an Untold Story. It's in the bookcase in your cabin.
Read it and gain a point. Your brother only wrote one page.
a Bible. It's in the bookcase in your cabin.
Read it if you like. However, you only read your favorite verse and it is not used in any puzzles.
a white note. It's on a tree in the mysterious forest north of the heart of the forest.
Read the note to learn that Bobbit the Badger wants your help finding his wife.
Take the white note to begin this quest. You won't be able to find Bobbit's wife unless you take the note. You'll also be committed to this quest until it's over.
a blue note. After the bear has been vanquished, in one way or another, this note is in the chest in the mysterious forest north of the heart of the forest.
Read it. Bobbit thanks you and returns your bishop.
a Wizard's Tome. It's on the desk in the wizard's study (see Amulet).
Read the tome three times. You'll learn how to brew a magical potion and you'll also learn about the Orbs of Power, specifically, which orb you need to destroy.
Weapons
a bow and a quiver containing Arrows. They're inside the locked chest in your cabin.
They belonged to your brother. You cannot wear the quiver. If you have both the bow and the quiver, you can shoot something with the bow.
Although you can shoot any red-eyed creature that threatens you, there's always a better way to deal with them.
Pour the magic potion on the bow to make it magical. Now, at the cliff, you can shoot the bullseye with the bow to unlock the iron door.
In the Watcher's room, shoot the green orb with the bow to weaken the wizard. You know to do this if you read the tome in the wizard's study earlier.
a shield. It's in the field.
You can optionally use this as a weapon instead of using the bow. If you do want to use it, bash something with the shield. You only need it if you didn't take the bow and quiver.
Pour the magic potion on the shield to make it magical.
Weapon-adjacent items
These items aren't weapons, per se, but they are used either to begin a combat or during a combat.
a birdcall. It's in the table's drawer in your cabin.
In the field, when the falcon's eyes turn red and it is about to attack you, use the birdcall. The falcon's eyes will turn blue, it'll take the egg you dropped earlier and drop the rook.
a white egg. It's in the nest in the upper branches of the enormous tree.
In the field where you find the falcon's feather, drop the egg. This summons a falcon with red eyes to attack you! Immediately either use the birdcall or shoot the falcon with the bow to end the falcon's threat.
a musical flute. It's in a chest in the mysterious forest north of the heart of the forest.
In the bear's den, play the flute after the bear has fallen because of the bear trap. This cures the bear's madness and you no longer need to kill him.
a bear trap. It's in a chest in the mysterious forest north of the heart of the forest.
In the bear's den, when the bear is charging you, set the trap and the bear will fall.
Other useful items
a lantern. It's in the heart of the forest.
It's already lit. Although you don't need it underground, the mysterious forest to the east of the heart, leading to the bear's den, is dark enough that you need the lantern's light in that location.
some beef jerky. It's on the table in the house of the dwarf.
Eat the jerky for two more points.
Score
The response to SCORE is:
You have so far scored your-score out of a possible 100, in several turns, earning you the rank of ranking.
Points are awarded as follows:
2 points for examining the chess pieces.
2 points for examining the chess pieces four times.
1 point for examining the Faith Carving.
1 point for examining the Warrior Carving.
1 point for reading the Untold Story.
1 point for taking the bow.
1 point for acquiring a gold coin.
1 point for first attempt at taking the red leaf.
1 point for second attempt at taking the red leaf.
2 points for taking the white egg.
2 points for taking the flower.
2 points for asking the Dwarf about beard.
2 points for agreeing to the Dwarf's deal.
2 points for asking the Dwarf about treasures.
2 points for praying near the Dwarf.
3 points for examining the image under the forest.
2 points for taking the crescent key.
2 points for shining the cave rock on the wall.
2 points for putting the coin in the indentation.
2 points for eating the beef jerky.
5 points for acquiring the pawn.
2 points for praying near the bear during the rescue mission.
3 points for freeing Babbit.
2 points for successfully setting the bear trap.
2 points for either killing or curing the bear.
2 points for acquiring a bottle of pure water.
5 points for acquiring the bishop.
2 points for praying at your brother's grave.
2 points for planting the golden flower in the golden spot.
