Galadriel In Distress

By Kev Ives
Originally published in EUG #74

I suppose we should not expect too much of these very, very early Acorn Electron adventures. However, because Galadriel In Distress, from Potter Programs, was released with no instructions whatsoever, it's extremely difficult to even get started.

In making sure we only publish fully working solutions on the web site, some text adventures nevertheless tempt me for several hours anyway... but not so here. Even playing through Galadriel with a full solution proved about as mesmerising as watching paint dry. However, my tastes may not be indicative of the norm - so for those of you who may wish to rescue the Princess Galadriel from her 'distress', here is a "bare bones" solution to the game:

Your Location Your Moves
in a copse N
on a gravelled path W
on a gravelled path N
on a path to the sea W
on a path through the woods W
by an anchient (sic) oak tree GET STICK, EXAM TREE ("I see a rope ladder just out of reach"), JUMP
in a treehouse EXAM MEAL ("I see some butter"), GET BUTTER, GO ON LADDER
by an anchient (sic) oak tree S
at the top of an embankment S
in a leafy glade E
in a sunny clearing EXAM BOULDERS ("I see a talisman"), GET TALISMAN ("It is out of reach"), USE STICK ("I have pulled the talisman out"), GET TALISMAN, RUB TALISMAN ("A Genie appears and tells you that the words of command are sesame and Hocus"), E
on a path through the woods N
on a gravelled path E
on a gravelled path E
on a gravelled path E
before the gates of a castle OPEN GATES ("The gates are open"), E
in a courtyard EXAM DOOR ("It has rusty hinges"), OIL HINGES, OPEN DOOR, E
in a disused storeroom GET KEY, W
in a courtyard EXAM ORCS ("There is a magnifying glass on the floor"), GET MAGNIFYING GLASS, W
before the gates of a castle CLOSE GATES, N
by the castle wall GET LAMP, EXAM BUSH ("There is a trapdoor underneath"), OPEN DOOR ("It reveals some steps"), DROP BUTTER, GO STEPS ("I am now in the castle")
at the bottom of some steps in the castle E
in a corridor S
in the dungeons GET PAPER, N
in a corridor W
at the bottom of some steps in the castle W
by the castle wall S
before the gates of a castle W
on a gravelled path W
on a gravelled path W
on a gravelled path S
on a path through the woods W
in a sunny clearing SAY SESAME ("The rock rolls away revealing a cave"), S
in a damp cave RUB LAMP ("A Genie appears from the lamp and lights it for you"), DROP STICK, DROP KEY, GET SPADE, GET PENCIL, N
in a sunny clearing E
on a path through the woods EXAM SIGNPOST ("It has runes on it"), COPY RUNES, W
in a sunny clearing W
in a leafy glade N
at the top of an embankment N
by an anchient (sic) oak tree E
on a path through the woods E
on a path to the sea E
on a rocky beach SAIL BOAT
on the lore-Master's island SHOW PAPER ("He says that the paper says 'Dig Here'"), DROP PAPER, DROP PENCIL, DROP MAGNIFYING GLASS, GET SHIELD, SAIL BOAT
on a rocky beach W
on a path to the sea W
on a path through the woods W
by an anchient (sic) oak tree S
at the top of an embankment E
at the bottom of an embankment DIG GROUND ("I found a sword in the earth"), GET SWORD, W
at the top of an embankment S
in a leafy glade E
in a sunny clearing E
on a path through the woods DIG GROUND, GET HALF-RING, N
on a gravelled path E
on a gravelled path E
on a gravelled path E
before the gates of a castle N
by the castle wall GO STEPS
at the bottom of some steps in the castle E
in a corridor S
in the dungeons S
at a warm turning HOLD SHIELD, W
in a very hot room HOLD SHIELD, SAY HOCUS ("The sword bursts into flame"), KILL GOBLIN, EXAM GOBLIN ("It is lying on a rug"), DROP SWORD, DROP SHIELD, GET RUG, EXAM RUG ("It has WHAM woven into it"), SAY WHAM ("The carpet takes off with you on it")
above the mainland. Land? NO
above the King's Palace. Land? NO
over the Sorceror's Secret Island. Land? YES ("The carpet landed safely. The carpet flew away.")
on a sandy beach DIG GROUND ("I fell through a tunnel")
in a dark tunnel DROP SPADE, W
by a tunnel in an enchanted garden W
crossing a well-tended lawn W
in a scented garden S
in a summer house GET CAKE, EXAM CAKE ("There is a juicy fly on top"), GET FLY, EAT CAKE ("Ouch! I hurt my tooth on something!"), GET HALF-RING, GET GOBLET, E
by a pond EXAM POND ("I can see a plug"), PULL PLUG, EXAM POND ("I see a bottle"), DROP LAMP, GET BOTTLE, FEED TOAD ("It hops towards me"), GET TOAD, MAKE RING ("There is a blinding flash"), DROP TALISMAN, GET RUG, SAY WHAM
above the mainland. Land? YES ("I landed safely. The carpet flew away." At this point you land somewhere randomly - find your way to the bottom of the embankment to continue)
at the bottom of an embankment W
at the top of an embankment S
in a leafy glade E
in a sunny clearing E
on a path through the woods N
on a gravelled path N
on a path to the sea E
on a rocky beach SAIL BOAT
on the lore-Master's island SHOW BOTTLE (Note this will either say 'Antidote' or 'Poison'), SHOW GOBLET (Note this will either say 'Antidote' or 'Poison'), DROP (BOTTLE or GOBLET [whichever one is the 'Poison']), KISS TOAD ("It turned into a beautiful princess. You have contracted toad poisoning"), DRINK (GOBLET or BOTTLE [whichever one is the 'Antidote']) ("I feel better"), MAKE RING ("The antidote cured your poisoning. There is a blinding flash"), MAKE RING, GET RUG, SAY WHAM
above the mainland. Land? NO
above the King's palace. Land? YES

"King Theodin rewards you beyond your wildest dreams. Unfortunately the Princess Galadriel will not marry anyone who goes round kissing toads. Well, who wants to marry someone who eats flies?"

Ahem. I'm not entirely sure if the comment "someone who eats flies" is even meant to refer to Galadriel during her 'toad' period or your earlier salivation over the 'juicy fly' you found on the cake. Frankly however, I've better things to do than to waste any more time thinking about this silly little adventure. I'm sure you're feeling something similar.