Pieces of Eight --------------- Story solution -------------- The story begins with the pirate at the camp site. No objects are in the pirate's possession. No clues have been given as to where the treasure might be found. The island must be explored and mapped, and objects collected and used. The salt can be found by opening the chest at the camp site. It is needed only if the pirate travels south. Travelling northward initially is the easiest route to solving the story. The rope in the landing place should be collected before heading north. The wood in the ferny glade can be left until later on or moved to the lookout if you wish. It is not required until the end of the story. The piece of flint at the camp outskirts performs a similar function. At the plateau base a large boulder can be seen. Examine the boulder and then the door outlined on it. The letters PMLXP are a code derived from simply reversing the alphabet, so that the code can be deciphered as follows: KNOCK PMLXP Knock on the door and move west into the grotto. Take the scroll and read it. It tells you to sing a song at the altar. Carry the scroll with you. Climb up the mossy steps to reach the plateau top and travel north to the cliff face. Tie the rope to the iron ring that is fastened to the ground and climb down the cliff. If you try and move east from the jagged rocks towards the wreck, waves wash you back. You must go or run east quickly to overcome this. Open the hatch on the shipwreck and go down. Below deck you see a brooch; however, each time you try and pick it up, water pours through the hatch and washes the brooch out of your hands. Close the hatch. You will now be able to take the brooch. Open the hatch and leave, climbing back up the rope that is now permanently attached to the ring. The stone tower cannot be reached from the plateau by any obvious means. Go to the altar. Make sure you are in possession of the scroll and sing the song. The altar stone moves aside. Go down and take the rock which is visible. This rock is phosphorescent and allows you to travel around below ground. In the pit you will see an inscription: “Earth, Water, Fire, Air - the keys to all things”. This is a rather cryptic clue to the importance of the four jewelled keys that will be found. The elements relate to the keys' colours: earth / green / emerald, water / blue / sapphire, fire / red / ruby, and air / white / diamond. Negotiate the maze of tunnels by drawing a map (graph paper is handy for this type of room mapping). Go upwards from the dungeon, collecting the ruby key on the way in the circular chamber. In the kiosk examine the hole in the mosaic wall. You will find it is triangular in shape, the same as the brooch you are carrying. Fit the brooch into the hole. This will reveal a secret compartment in which there is the emerald key. This completes your task in the northern part of the island. When you return to the dark chamber you will find that the altar stone has closed. Examine the steps. You will find a hidden lever. Pull the lever and go up. Return to the camp site, taking with you the keys and the rock. Move south to the dry creek bed. Here a path leads west to a boulder. Examine the boulder. A cutlass is wedged in a crack. Take the cutlass, it is needed later on. Continue south from the dry creek bed. From the mountain top go south to the narrow ledge. Moving west from this ledge will cause you to fall to the foot of the rockslide unless you move with caution. GO WEST CAREFULLY will allow you to find the cave entrance. Go west into the two-level maze of caves. Once again keep detailed maps. The exit to the limestone cavern is on the bottom level of the maze. Go down to the dark stream. Examine the river. In it you will find the sapphire key. Return to the surface and continue south. When you reach the hollow you will see an exit to the west through a gap in the bushes. If you go this way you will fall into the leech pool and become covered in leeches. They must be removed with the salt. If you have not brought the salt with you, you will have enough time to return to the camp site and collect it. Continue east to the tidal mudflats. Collect the ugly pottery figurine that is half-buried in the mud. It will be useful later. Return to the clearing and head west into the forest. At the river gorge east, a bridge will be visible. The bridge must be crossed carefully, otherwise you will plunge into the river below and be swept into the leech pool. GO WEST CAREFULLY to the river gorge west and continue west. At the sharp bend your way west will be blocked by tangled vines. These vines can be cut with the cutlass. It is best at this point to go northward rather than continuing west. Climb the tree when you arrive at the tree base. In the treehouse collect the stone hammer. Go down and head west. On the sandy beach you will find a bottle. Open or break the bottle to reveal a note. Read the note. It says: “To unlock all treasures grasp the hand of fear”. This gives a clue to the later operation of the idol. Remember the message or keep the note. Go back to the tangled vines. Moving west will take you to the temple entrance. Go north to the deep pool. You cannot go down into the pool yet. Return to the temple entrance. Go west to the centre of ruins and down to the dank cell. Read the clay tablet: “Look for beauty in that which Is ugly”. This gives a clue that there is something inside the ugly figurine. Break the figurine using the hammer. The diamond key is uncovered. Go west to the idol. You will see four keyholes under its outstretched hand corresponding to the colours of the four keys. Fit the keys into the correct holes. Remember the note. Grasp the hand of the idol. You will hear vast machinery working and a deep gurgling sound in the distance. Return to the deep pool. The water will have drained away revealing the treasure. Go down and take a sample of treasure before returning to the lookout. Light the wood using the flint. The pirate ship will see the signal fire and return. The crew will help you collect the rest of the treasure. You have successfully completed your task.