The Lost Crystal

By Dave E

Originally published in EUG #71

THE HUNT Since emulation brought the ability to grab BBC and Electron screens with ease, EUG has managed to feature quite a number of fully illustrated walkthroughs (Exile, Twin Kingdom Valley and, most recently The Hunt: Search For Shauna). As you can imagine, they take a lot of putting together and testing - but the end result is well worth it, particularly when you end up with a few bonuses on top, which is what I realised was happening as I constructed this walkthrough to The Lost Crystal!

Firstly, The Lost Crystal is itself quite rare. It was Epic Adventure's fifth, and last, adventure. Consequently, not a lot of copies of it exist; and not a lot of people have probably seen it at all until now. Secondly, it was a tape-game only, and wrapped up with quite a lot of copy protection; so much so, in fact, that a deprotected version only made it to cyberspace in 2009. Thirdly, although it started off easy, it got harder; most people who did buy it probably didn't reach the later chapters. And fourthly, no solution in any shape or form actually existed until now...! (Don't get me started on how crap the 'solutions' presented by Electron User and The Impact Games Club actually are!!)

In The Lost Crystal you're on a quest to find seven individual crystals, all hidden inside the evil Morgs' temple, and to unite them to form the 'Rainbow Crystal', which protects you and your brethren from the Dark Forces. Enter the world with this walkthrough as your guide, and prepare to experience this epic four-part adventure...

PART ONE
THE LOST CRYSTAL You start in a small field. The first place you need to visit is the mill. So go N.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Go N again.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Go N again.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Go N, N then E. You will find yourself at the door to the mill.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Outside the windmill you will find a scribbled note and a coin. TAKE the COIN then TAKE the NOTE and READ the NOTE. It is intended for the milkman and gives you the clue to KNOCK at the door. The Miller will then answer and ask if you have come to help him shift some sacks. Offer to HELP. When the Miller accepts, go IN.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Head W to the flight of stairs.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Now go UP, listen to what the Miller says then continue UP, UP, UP and UP again. You will then reach the top of the mill staircase and should go E.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Go E again to the sack hoist.
THE LOST CRYSTAL The Miller will give you some instructions. GET the KEY to the door from him. Now return W, W, D, D, D, D, D, D, E then S to the main stone-room.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Go S to the small room.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Now OPEN TRAPDOOR. DROP EVERYTHING and TAKE a SACK of flour. TIE the SACK TO the ROPE and TAKE EVERYTHING. At this point there will be a knock at the door from the milkman.

Go N and N again back to the entrance where you will meet the milkman. Don't touch the keyboard for a few seconds and the Miller will shout he's coming down. Say something (anything) to the milkman to kill one move. The Miller will then tumble through the roof!

Go N and GET MILK then DRINK MILK. This will make you strong enough to open the jammed door. Head back S and W then UP, UP and UP again to reach the wooden door in the wall. OPEN DOOR then go W.
THE LOST CRYSTAL You will now be on the wooden galley halfway up the mill. Go S, E, E and N to discover a long sail pole. DROP the NOTE and TAKE the POLE. Retreat back S, W, W, N, E, D, D and D. Now DROP the KEY and GET the LAMP. Go E back to the inside entrance.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Go S and S again.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Now go D.
THE LOST CRYSTAL And D again.
THE LOST CRYSTAL And keep typing D (through the darkness) until the rope snapes and sends you crashing into the unknown. This completes the first part of The Lost Crystal.
PART TWO
THE LOST CRYSTAL In the darkness, you will meet the Miller again. GIVE him the LAMP. He will light it but promptly wander off carrying it! Wander randomly around S, E and S (or whatever!) until you find him again.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Now TAKE the LAMP back from him and LOOK. The location will be described.
THE LOST CRYSTAL You now need to get the Miller to the bag of flour. SAY "FOLLOW ME" and go W to the bottom of the shaft (You may have to wander around a bit more if the Miller had managed to get further away from you!).
THE LOST CRYSTAL SAY "STAY HERE" to the Miller. Then head back E and E again. Go S, S, S, S and E.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Go E again through the crack in the cave wall.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Then E again and, at the junction, go N. ROLL the BOULDER. Slightly curiously, you end up rolling it one location place north so you now need to go N again to catch up with it. Go U to stand on top of it. Then U again to reach the small cave.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Go N, E and N again.
THE LOST CRYSTAL At the entrance to the strange cave, go E.
THE LOST CRYSTAL THROW the COIN into the well. There will be an explosion of droplets. LOOK and you will discover a magic whistle has appeared. TAKE WHISTLE then retreat W, S, W, S, D and D again. ROLL the BOULDER back again away from the hole in the roof.

You now need to return to the Miller, so go S, S, W, W, W, N, N, N, N, W and W again to the bottom of the shaft.
THE LOST CRYSTAL You now want the Miller to carry the sack of flour. Firstly, DROP EVERYTHING (so you've got two free hands!) and TAKE FLOUR. GIVE FLOUR to Miller and then GET EVERYTHING again. SAY "FOLLOW ME" to the Miller.

Now head E, E, S, S, S, W, W, N, N, N and DROP the BOTTLE before going N again. (This is vital because otherwise, when you blow the magic whistle, the bottle will be broken - and you need it!)
THE LOST CRYSTAL You will come to a glass skeleton. BLOW the WHISTLE to take care of him then nip S, GET your BOTTLE again, and go back N. Go N again.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Go N, N and N until you reach a junction. Go E, E and E to reach a stone door.
THE LOST CRYSTAL READ the INSCRIPTION. PUSH the STONE door and you will enter the cave.
THE LOST CRYSTAL TAKE the wardrobe KEY then go E to the kitchen.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Now SAY "DROP FLOUR ON CHAIR". The heavy sack will trigger a secret exit to appear in the north wall. Go N to escape.
THE LOST CRYSTAL As you enter this location, you will hear the Miller screaming. He is always killed by the Bogle monster thing and you can't go back to help him even if you want to. Instead head E, E, S, S, S, W, W, S, S and S to a junction.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Go E and E to a cave entrance.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Go E again into Merlin's Cave.
THE LOST CRYSTAL DROP WHISTLE, GET SANDWICH and EAT SANDWICH. Go E into the library.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Now UNLOCK WARDROBE, OPEN WARDROBE and GET CLOAK. Go W again. DROP the wardrobe KEY and GET WHISTLE. Now go W then N to a bend in the passage.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Head W, N, E, E, E and E onto a ledge on the side of the mountain.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Go E five times.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Go N at the curve then N, N and N.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Now go W.
THE LOST CRYSTAL You are now on your way to the rickety bridge which will spell your escape from this second chapter. Go W and W again.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Go W again and READ the NOTICE. This informs you that the toll to cross the bridge is two gold coins - which you don't have. Instead, WEAR CLOAK then head N across the bridge.
THE LOST CRYSTAL As you might have suspected, the cloak makes you invisible! You have approximately six moves before it wears off. Now keep typing N to cross the rickety bridge. The bridge will start creaking and the troll will start to give chase but you will manage to dive to safety!
PART THREE
THE LOST CRYSTAL You are going to need to free up some inventory space at this point so DROP POLE and DROP BOTTLE. Now, from the mountain ledge, head N into the mountain.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Now go N, N, N, w, W, W, S, S and S to a junction. Head W, W, W, W, S and S.
THE LOST CRYSTAL In the small mountain cave, you will find a hammer. GET HAMMER. Then head N, N, N and N.
THE LOST CRYSTAL TAKE the MONOCLE that you find here.
Now you have to head to a house on the riverbank. The route is somewhat confusing, as the tunnels descend and wrap around on each other. You need to go S, S, E, E, E, E, E, E, N, N, N, N and N again.
THE LOST CRYSTAL You will now be on the bank of a small river. Head E, E, E, E and E again to a wooden door with a glass window.
THE LOST CRYSTAL BLOW the WHISTLE. This will break the window and you can now reach in to UNLOCK DOOR. OPEN DOOR to continue.

Now you have to head all the way back to the first cave entrance, so go W, W, W, W, W, S, S, S, S, S, W, W, W, N, N, N, E, E, E, S, S, S and S.
THE LOST CRYSTAL When you reach the entrance, go E.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Go E and E again.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Go N and N again.
THE LOST CRYSTAL You will now be at a rockfall. If you do not have the monocle, this is literally the end of the road but the monocle allows you to see an opening to the west. Go W into it.
THE LOST CRYSTAL In the secret passage, go W.
THE LOST CRYSTAL You will now encounter a priestess who will offer to exchange your magic whistle for a brass key. GIVE her the WHISTLE and you will receive the key. This key unlocks Barnacle Bill's hut. Go back E to the secret passage, then E again back to the rockfall.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Now go back S, S, W, W and W back to the entrance. DROP the MONOCLE and GET the BOTTLE before continuing.

You now have to run the gauntlet of twisting tunnels again. Head N, N, N, N, W, W, W, S, S, S, E, E, E, N, N, N, N and N to reach the riverbank again.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Go E and E again then FILL the BOTTLE with water. You will need this later. Continue E, E and E again back to the door. So S through the open door.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Go S, S, S and S again to the end of the passage.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Go S again.
THE LOST CRYSTAL You will now be on an islet. READ the NOTICE to discover this is Barnacle Bill's hut. You now have to do some inventory juggling to be able to carry what you need, so DROP the HAMMER. Then UNLOCK DOOR, OPEN DOOR and go IN.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Inside of the hut is a canoe. GET CANOE then go N.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Outside, make sure you CLOSE the DOOR. DROP the HAMMER, DROP the CANOE and DROP the BOTTLE.

Now you've got to get all the way back to the Priestess (Sigh!). Follow this route: N, N, N, N, N, N, W, W, W, W, W, S, S, S, S, S, W, W, W, N, N, N, E, E, E, S, S, S and S...
THE LOST CRYSTAL ...and stopping to GET the MONOCLE again, of course. Continue E, E, E, N, N, W and W.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Now the priestess wants the key back. GIVE KEY. In exchange she will give you a paddle. You are now able to cross the river that you've already visited.

Head E and E then DROP MONOCLE. Go S, S, W, W and W and GET the POLE.

Now run the gauntlet of tunnels yet again: N, N, N, N, W, W, W, S, S, S, E, E, E, N, N, N, N and N. Reach the riverbank and head E, E, E, E, E, S, S, S, S, S and S back to the islet.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Now GET the HAMMER, GET the BOTTLE and DRINK the WATER - this will refresh you! DROP the POLE and DROP the HAMMER then PADDLE CANOE.
THE LOST CRYSTAL You will cross the river to the east bank and step out of it. Go E.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Now go E, E, E to discover a red crystal. GET RED then go W. You are about to encounter a hydra so WEAR CLOAK before going N.
THE LOST CRYSTAL The hydra will not see you. Go N, N, N, N and N towards the temple.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Go N again.
THE LOST CRYSTAL The cloak will disappear at this point but don't worry, you don't need it any more. Go N, N, N, N and N to the central chamber.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Go W.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Go W, W and W again along the corridor. Then N and N into the white crystal room.
THE LOST CRYSTAL In here you will discover a necklace. GET NECKLACE (Because the cloak died, you will have an extra inventory space for it!). Now retreat S, S, E, E, E and E back to the central chamber.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Go N.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Go N again then E into the red crystal room.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Here DROP RED crystal to be transported back to the mountain caves.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Go N, N, E, E, E, N, N, N, E, E, E, S, S, S and S.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Go E, E, E, N and N then GET MONOCLE. Go W into the secret passage and W again back to the Priestess. Now she wants the empty milk bottle of all things. GIVE BOTTLE and you will be given the green crystal.

Head E and E then DROP MONOCLE. Go S, S, W, W and W back to the entrance.

Now run the gauntlet of tunnels yet another time: N, N, N, N, W, W, W, S, S, S, E, E, E, N, N, N, N and N. This time, when you reach the riverbank and head W, W and N.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Why, it's a rather butch looking mermaid! GIVE NECKLACE and in return you will be given an arquebus. This will kill the hydra on the approach to the temple now that your cloak of invisibility is gone.

Go S, E, E, E, E, E, E, E, S, S, S, S, S and S to get back to Barnacle Bill's hut.
THE LOST CRYSTAL The canoe is all the way on the other side of the river but if you now GET your POLE again and type GET CANOE, you will somehow manage to reach it and pull it back over to your side! (Wow, where on earth do they think up these puzzles?)

DROP the POLE and GET the HAMMER. Now PADDLE CANOE again.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Now go back to the temple: E, E, E and N. KILL the HYDRA (with the arquebus) then go N, N, N, N, N, N, N, N, N, N and N back to the Central Chamber.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Go W, N, N and W to the green crystal room.
THE LOST CRYSTAL DROP the GREEN crystal. You will be transported back to the caves yet again (Weary sigh!).

Thankfully, it's all now nearly over. Head S, S, E, E, E, N, N, N, E, E, E, S, S, S and S.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Go E, E, E, N and N then GET MONOCLE. Go W into the secret passage and W again back to the Priestess. Now she wants the arquebus in exchange for a white crystal. GIVE ARQUEBUS and you will get it.

Head E and E then DROP MONOCLE. Go S, S, W, W and W back to the entrance.

Now run the gauntlet of tunnels yet another time: N, N, N, N, W, W, W, S, S, S, E, E, E, N, N, N, N and N. You're going back to see the mermaid again, so go W, W and N.
THE LOST CRYSTAL GIVE the WHITE crystal to the mermaid, and in return you will be given a black crystal. Now go S, E and E. We now have to go back through the caves again.
THE LOST CRYSTAL The route is: S, S, S, S, S, W, W, W, N, N, N, E, E, E, S, S, S, S, E, E, E, N and N. At the rockfall GET MONOCLE then go W and W to meet the priestess again.
THE LOST CRYSTAL GIVE BLACK crystal and you will get a blue crystal. Now go E, E, S, S, W, W and W back to the entrance.

Now run the gauntlet of tunnels back to the mermaid one final time: N, N, N, N, W, W, W, S, S, S, E, E, E, N, N, N, N, N, W, W and N.
THE LOST CRYSTAL GIVE the MONOCLE to the mermaid and in exchange she will give you a wooden key.

Head S, E, E, E, E, E, E, E, S, S, S, S, S and S back to the islet.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Now DROP LAMP, GET POLE, GET CANOE, DROP POLE, GET LAMP, PADDLE CANOE, E, E, E and go N, N, N, N and N. Now go E to a narrow east-west path.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Go E and E again.
THE LOST CRYSTAL DROP the HAMMER here and it will fall through the grating. (You'll be able to retrieve it in Part 4!) Now retreat W, W and W and go N, N, N, N, N, N and N back to the Central Chamber.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Go E.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Go E, E, E and E.
THE LOST CRYSTAL At the purple door, use the wooden key you were given by the mermaid. UNLOCK DOOR and OPEN DOOR to continue then ENTER.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Go E, N, N and E.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Finally, DROP BLUE crystal to complete part three.
PART FOUR
THE LOST CRYSTAL You have been plunged into total darkness and this section of the game originally required furious mapping. You can actually traverse the whole of the level (some 60+ locations) in the dark. The correct and quickest route to the luminous gem though is: W, S, S, W, W, W, W, W, W, W, S, S, S, S, S, S, E, E, E, E, E, S, S and S.
THE LOST CRYSTAL You'll be able to hear a voice, which is Merlin's, coming from behind an iron door. Unfortunately, you can't release him yet. So GET GEM and go N, N, N, W, W, W, W, N, N, N, N, N and N.
THE LOST CRYSTAL You have now reached the centre of the gloomy corridors. Head E, E, E, N, N and E to discover a cell underneath the black crystal room.
THE LOST CRYSTAL GET the SWORD you find here. Then go W, S, S, W, W, W, S, S, S, S, S, S, W, W, W, W and W.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Here, after fighting your way through a spider's web with the sword, you will find a wooden stake. GET the STAKE then retrace your steps E, E, E, E, N, N, N, N, N and N back to the chamber.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Now OPEN the COFFIN here and KILL the VAMPIRE WITH STAKE. His body will crumble into dust leaving an iron key and a violet crystal. GET IRON KEY. DROP the SWORD then go N, N and E to a cell underneath the red crystal room.
THE LOST CRYSTAL GET the RED crystal here then return W, S, S, S, S, S, S, S, S, E, E, E, E, S, S and S again to the massive iron door.
THE LOST CRYSTAL UNLOCK the DOOR and OPEN DOOR to release Merlin. He will wander off past you. Go N, N and N again.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Go W, W, W, W, N, N, N, N, N and N again.
THE LOST CRYSTAL You will find Merlin at the dias chamber near the coffin. SAY "FOLLOW ME" then GIVE him the RED crystal you are carrying. GET the VIOLET one from the ground and GIVE him the VIOLET as well. Now retreat back S, S, S, S, S, S, W, W, W and go W to the junction in the gloomy corridor. Go S, S, S and S to a small dark room.
THE LOST CRYSTAL SAY "READ MESSAGE". Merlin will inform you that the writing tells you that the Rainbow Crystal can be assembled by dropping each individual crystal onto the raised dais . Now GET the ORANGE crystal and GIVE the ORANGE crystal to Merlin. He will now be carrying three crystals in total. Now we are going back up into the temple via the grating.

Head N, N, N, N, E, E, E, E, E, E, E, E, S, S, S, S and E.
THE LOST CRYSTAL GET HAMMER, HAMMER GRATING and OPEN GRATING. Now go U.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Go W, W, W, N, N, N, N, N, N and N again to the central chamber. DROP the GEM then, from Merlin, GET RED, DROP RED, GET VIOLET, DROP VIOLET, GET ORANGE and DROP ORANGE. Finally GET the GEM and go S, S and S.

Now go W, W and W to a small cupboard. UNLOCK the DOOR, DROP KEY then OPEN DOOR. LOOK. You will discover a boot and a bucket. GET BOOT and GET BUCKET and GET KEY (Again, Merlin will carry the last two of these!). Go E, E, E, S, S, S, S, E, E, E and D.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Continue W, N, N, N, N, W, W, W, W, W, W, W, W, S, S, S and S.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Now head W, W, W, N, W and W to a large pool of watery-looking liquid. (It's not water despite what the description says!)
THE LOST CRYSTAL WEAR the BOOT. GIVE the HAMMER to Merlin. Then go N using the boot for protection. Go N, E, N and N.
THE LOST CRYSTAL You will now find a room with the indigo crystal. GET the INDIGO crystal then go S, S, W, S and S. SAY "FOLLOW ME" to Merlin. Now DROP the BOOT then GET the BUCKET from Merlin. FILL the BUCKET with the 'water'.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Now go E, E, S, E, E, E, E, E, S, S and W. You'll encounter a fire-breathing dragon! THROW the BUCKET over the dragon and it will explode in a mass of smoke and flames! Now go W, W, W, S, S and W.

GET the YELLOW crystal then GIVE YELLOW TO MERLIN. GET the HAMMER off him and GIVE INDIGO TO MERLIN.

Now head back to where the vampire was: E, N, N, E, E, E, E, N, N, N, W, W, N, N, N, N, E, E, E, E, N, N, N, N, N and N.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Here GET the SWORD again and DROP the HAMMER. Go E, E, E, E, E, E, E, N, N and E.
THE LOST CRYSTAL GET the KEY (from Merlin) then GET BLUE and GIVE BLUE TO MERLIN. Now head W, S, S, W, W, W, W, W, W, W, W, N, N and W to yet another cell.
THE LOST CRYSTAL DROP KEY and GET GREEN. You now have all five crystals. Retreat E, S, S and E.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Now we need to head to the temple dias with the stones we have collected so far. The route is S, S, S, S, S, S, E, E, E, E, S, S, S, S, E, U, W, W, W, N, N, N, N, N, N and N.
THE LOST CRYSTAL DROP GREEN, GET BLUE, DROP BLUE, GET INDIGO, DROP INDIGO, GET YELLOW and DROP YELLOW. At this there will be a blinding flash of light as the Rainbow Crystal reforms!

GET RAINBOW crystal and now go all the way back S, S, S, S, S, S, E, E, E, D, W, N, N, N, N, W, W, W, W, N, N, N, N, N and N.
THE LOST CRYSTAL Now go W, W, W, W, N and N.
THE LOST CRYSTAL OPEN the COFFIN. Inside there is a dead body. DROP the RAINBOW CRYSTAL on top of it and - surprise, surprise! - it's your friend the Miller!! He comes back to life and offers you a job.
THE LOST CRYSTAL And that completes The Lost Crystal!