CASA ::

I restarted, tried to make not only a map, but also a walkthough, and am now at the point where I have collected everything I remember finding before - except the ram since I am in no hurry to move past the gravel pit just yet.

I have also avoided using the sandals and the dove and have instead focused on dispatching all the pesky gods n monsters leaving just the turtle, which for some reason I haven't come across, and Zeus (following your thinking that he should be saved for later).

I am now pondering whether I should spend more time trying to figure out what, if anything, is to be done about the forest fire, or in the vineyard, or at the tar pits (which I frankly had forgotten all about), or to try to find the necklace the maiden is so interested in, or just hitch a ride to Mt Olympus and poke around there a bit more there.

I would be very interested in anything you might learn from the author, or from your own futher adventuring.

I found the turtle two locations east of the starting point. Though the gods and monsters move around randomly.

Frankly, I am stuck and don't know what else to do. Unless Alastair, and others join us, or we are supremely lucky, we still won't know what to do at these intriguing locations.

Doing some more searching about the myths, I found some references to tar pits and storm gods/giants, so tried to use the trident in various other locations (like the tar pits and raging sea) but have gotten nowhere.

Let me know how you make out up the mountain.

Let's hope Mark writes back, even if he's the wrong Mark.

Any luck finding the necklace? I'm thinking that the information from the tablet means we need the shield (have it), the thunderbolt (have it) and information from the rabbit which I am assuming can be gotten by giving him the carrot that presumably the maiden will hand over for the necklace.

Have you tried typing "get bowl"? It keeps telling me I already have it - I'm not sure if the game is confused, has bowl as a synonym for something I have (like the hat) or had and dropped, or if this means that somewhere there really is a bowl... since it seems to think I am carrying a bowl I went around and tried to get water everwhere I could think of (except the river Styx) in my neverending quest to douse the forest fire, but the game keeps telling me "that's impossible to do here". Not sure if this is meaningful or not.

I'm back at the mountain top but so far nothing much happening there - I did discover something written on the ceiling in the huge palace - but it didnt reveal anything earthshattering.

No, I have not found a bowl. I think the game only recognizes the first three letters of a word. When you get the message "you already have it" it is probably referring to the bow (and arrow). Your inventory does not list a bow, but I think you have both the bow and arrow.

The only place that may seem likely is the secret room where there is something that looks like a bowl. But you can't get it.

I'll check out palace again.

How did you "read the ceiling" in the palace? Which room?

You can "look up" and "look down" just about everywhere. When I "look(ed) up" in the palace (northern most location on mt olympus) I found a message. Haven't had a chance to test this out but I'm guessing that same message might be found in other indoor locations.

You are probably right about the game recognizing bowl for bow (as in bow and arrow) - I hadn't thought of that....

Haven't had a chance to play in the past couple of days, should be able to try again tomorrow.

No reply from Mark?

Nothing from Mark.

Now I did this through Skopes, which I have never used before. I tried looking up his place of employment but there are no contact names there.

Further looking, got me an address. So maybe I will write to him (regular letter).

The snail mail letter to MN in NH is off tomorrow in the post. I thought a phone call would maybe be too intrusive.

I followed your suggestion in the palace. This is an entirely new message which I have not received before. While it does not really say anything new, it does do one thing - the dove is now off the mountain and into the "real" world. I suppose one should have done this earlier on.

I have tried to give it the herbs, but not the other objects yet. I can't get it or catch it, so don't know if it is a red herring or not. Or just to give hints about the gods.

Since I did not give Zeus the arrow (and now cannot find him again), I presume that may have been a mistake, and I shouold have dispatched him, since one can get past the shades by going around them.

The only thing I know about doves is that Noah sent one off and it brought back a twig, which said that land was nearby. Hardly in the Greek myths.

Patience is a virtue which I lack, not to mention lateral thinking, etc.

I'm stumped and stuck. Resorted to pulling the following nouns out of the program. Looks like we have seen everything except the elusive necklace and the Black Hole in Time which I assume is at the end of the game:

Shade Magic Pair Of Winged Sandals Stone Tablet Peaceful Dove Beautiful Maiden Dusty Book God Of The Sea (Poseidon) Rusty Knife Statue Of Athena- Cyclops Singing Siren Chunk Of Beeswax Sharpened Tree God Who Calls Himself Zeus Arrow Of Eros Girdle Of Hippolytus Lion Skin Sphinx God Called Hephaestus Iron Hammer Group Of Stymphalian Birds
Glowing Rock Obnoxious Harpy Group Of Giant Rats Group Of Mysterious Herbs Small Plank Black Hole In Tim Bunny Rabbit Three Headed Dog (Cerebus) Monstrous Hydra Fire Breathing Chimaera Armed Monster (Briareus) Terrifying Giant Monstrous Turtle Warrior Snorting Bull Disgusting Old Corpse Huge Boulder Trident Hissing Gorgon Woman Mirror Blinding Thunderbolt Magic Golden Shield Small Gold Coin
Rotten Pomegranate Cake Of Flour And Honey Burning Torch
Piece Of Lead Black Magic Wand Razor Sharp Sword Piece Of Fish Beautiful Winged Horse Indestructible Golden Rope Large Carrot
Golden Necklace Small Bag Of Herbs

Hmmm, I don't see the hat on the list above. Perhaps I missed some...

Still nothing happening at the tar pits, the forest fire, vineyard, or anywhere on Olympus.

Anyone else still playing?

Small Plank

I don't recall finding a plank. The black hole, I suppose, is the timber.

Maybe the game is not really finishable?

Hmmm, I'm thinking the Small Plank is actually the Plant...

I've had a look at this game but like you am unable to find the necklace. Some things I have found, some more useful than others, are:

Asking the rabbit tells us something we already worked out.

Pulling (or closing) the book gives a message which is little more helpful than the rabbit's reply.

After visiting Mt. Olympus the dove moves to another location, so it is possible to go back to those locations, it's just a pity that I cannot find anything to do there.

Dropping the bag of herbs, and smoking the herbs may just be a 'funny' response.

You can break windows, but again I have yet to find a location where this gives anything.

Swimming in the River Styx may be of importance later on, though again, I know not where.

Thanks for joining in Alastair. Much appreciated. I managed to get a hold of the author who said he would replay his own game from many years ago He was quite happy that people were playing it. So we will wait and see if his memory from many years ago is accessible (mine certainly isn't). I will post news, if and when I get a reply.

Any word back from the author of Elysian Fields on the necklace?

I am currently recharging my laptop and once that is done, will install an Apple emu and this game, along with the others from GUE, in the hopes that I can play some while on vacation/holiday beginning next Thursday....

No, no word yet from Mark.

Have a good time on your holiday.