The Gladiator

Spectrum version 

written by Alex Gough, converted to the Spectrum by Pegasus Software

Overview

"You are Gluteus, the gladiator, and your task is to rescue your sweetheart, the salve [sic] Zulan, from the Emperor's dungeons before she is thrown to the lions for refusing Nero's advances."

Quite witty in parts, this GAC-ed game generally just uses the verb-noun input. There is a time limit. Note that the "down" command cannot be abbreviated to "d"  which has been reserved for "drop". "Get" can be abbreviated to "g" and "examine" to "ex". 

Many of the objects are red herrings and several of the characters are only there to provide atmosphere. Make sure that you always salute the Roman patrol when it appears or you will end up in gaol. The walkthrough below does not involve visiting every location.

Walkthrough

You start on the fishing boat belonging to Zulana's father.

North, east x 2, north x 5, west x 2, get wine, east x 2.

Quadratus the crazed war veteran should appear. Follow him south. Look, get crystals, examine crystals ("some strange crystals labelled ellesdy" - LSD), north x 3, east x 3. Note that if Quadratus does not appear at this point, just follow him the next time you come across him and take the crystals when he drops them.

Give wine (to Octavia), kiss Octavia, up, north, open drawers, open cupboard, look, get trunks (leave the goat for the moment), south, down, east, get knife, west x 4, north, east, get encyclopaedia, get novel, examine encyclopaedia, examine novel.

West, south x 2, west, give encyclopaedia (to Straddus Varius), look, get fiddle, east, north, east x 2, south, give fiddle (to Nero), look, get money, north, west x 2.

South, east, buy mug, east, climb fence, east, south, get club, north,.west, climb fence, west (leave the mug for the moment), west, south x 2, hit Pectinea (with the club - charming!), drop club, look, get coffee, east, buy whistle, drop purse, get whistle.

West x 3, north, give novel (to madame), blow whistle, drop whistle, examine uniform, look, get small key, south, east, north, unlock door, drop small key, east, up, cut rope, drop knife, open cupboard, examine bed, look, get rope, get large key.

Down, west, north, drop trunks, drop large key, east x 3, up, north, tie rope, get goat, south, down, west x 3, south, east, get mug, west, south x 3, give goat (to goatherd, look, get jug of milk, east, north x 4, get trunks, get large key, north x 2, east.

Remove clothes, wear trunks, drop clothes, west, north, fill mug, south, east, remove trunks, get clothes, wear clothes, put coffee in mug, put crystals in mug, put milk in mug, examine mug (the author has forgotten to mix the drink, but no matter).

West, south, west, give mug, look (the jailer has begun his acid trip), west, down, unlock door, south (and meet the "grateful" Zulana who now follows you).

North, up, east x 2, south x 8, west x 2, south.

"Zulana is emotionally reunited with her father. 'At last we can be wed', you say. 'Marry you?' says Zulana, 'Fat chance!' The boat sails off into the sunset.'

Things to try:

•	not wearing any clothes when the Roman patrol is around;
•	examining all the other characters;
•	attempting to kill someone;
•	praying in the temple;
•	hitting Pectinea without the club (real misogynist, this author!);
•	eating the crystals.

Red herrings

Seemingly useless objects include: the herring; the dead rat; the jar of ale; the pack of cards; the whip; the pot of jam; the chain;  the sword; the vase; the brooch; and the carpet slippers.

A Wibble and Blim production for CASA

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