The Missing Princess By Martin Page --------- Solution by Paul "equinox" Collins --------- === General Tips... === This game has various random elements that may lead to unavoidable failure, such as dying in combat, or spilling your oil when filling the lantern. There are also various counters (hunger, thirst, lantern oil) that should not be allowed to fall too low. Lantern: needed to traverse dark areas without dying; refill it with oil when it dims. Mat: use it to cover the quicksand. Mongoose: found in a cage; will kill the snake when dropped near it. Bread: found in the larder; eat it to reduce your hunger for a while. Bottle of mead: drink it to reduce your thirst for a while. Silver key: found in the chest; use it to open the locked gate. Elixir: drink it for increased agility, allowing you to jump over the river. Gunpowder: light it to blow up the wall. Pile of rubble: examine the pile to find a giant rat. Bag: it's a parachute; wear it, jump into the chasm, and pull the ripcord at the right moment. Strange symbols: read them to be teleported elsewhere. Map: found by swimming in the pool; tells you there is a mansion to the east. Ancient tome: read it to learn the thunderbolt spell. Gold piece: used to buy the lantern, oil, and tinderbox. Doorbell: ring the doorbell to open the door to the hallway. Wand: wave it to kill the wizard (hopefully!). Gunpowder: can be made if you have saltpetre, sulphur, charcoal, and a fuse. Jewel: give it to the hill giant for a wand and a new exit from the room. Sleeping princess: can be woken with a kiss. === Solution === There are a few random events in this game, and some can be fatal; so your walkthrough may vary a little. A few objects are unnecessary (e.g. axe, mushrooms) and several rooms can be left unvisited. e get gold e s buy lantern [this also gets you the oil and the tinderbox] n e e fill lantern light lantern [you must always keep it filled and lit in dark regions] e e open larder get bread [you must periodically eat it when hungry] e s s e e s open chest get key w w n n w get jewel w n n n n w n get bag exam bag [it's a parachute] s s n open cage get mongoose s s w get sword e n e get mead [you must periodically drink it when thirsty; don't drop it anywhere because it will smash] w s s wear parachute jump down look [still falling] pull ripcord [you land safely] e drop mongoose [this kills the snake without risking a random death in combat; an exit east is revealed] n get mat s e exam rubble [you find a giant rat] kill rat [revealing an exit north] s get elixir n drop sword n n e fill lantern get fuse drink mead w s s e e unlock gate drop key open gate w w get sword e e e e extinguish lantern s drink elixir [now you are strong enough to jump the river] s jump river drop elixir eat bread e e e e give jewel [the hill giant drops a wand and reveals an exit east] get wand e e e e drop mat [covering the quicksand so you can go east] n n get charcoal s s e e ring bell [the door opens] e e get tome e e drop tome e n w get sulphur w s s e e s e [we are now in a region where the wizard may appear; when he does, WAVE WAND repeatedly until you kill him] light lantern s s s e e drop sword get saltpetre make gunpowder [using the various ingredients you have collected] get sword drink mead w w n n n w extinguish lantern w w n e e get tome drop gunpowder light gunpowder [destroying the wall and revealing an exit west] w n n read tome [you learn a thunderbolt spell] cast spell [killing the old hag; you must be carrying the tome] drop tome n kiss princess [she wakes] get princess Now you just have to retrace your steps and take the princess back to the start location. However, there are now some random hazards in certain regions, such as orcs appearing (try to KILL ORC, but you might be killed yourself), plus the wizard if you haven't already killed him. There is also a time warp that will occasionally drag you back a few rooms. Remember to drink the elixir again before jumping over the river!