CURSE OF CALUTHA
Laurence Creighton
Zenobi Software
Spectrum 48
Another of Laurence's complex, difficult games. HELP is available at
certain locations, though it's minimal, and when you type HELP the
game tells you none is available. It's probably best to explore where
you can before using objects. The uses of some objects stretch the
imagination. In some locations there is no hint at all of what to do.
HINTS:
Part 1:
Listen to what the boy says about the whistle.
Before you go down the pit, you need to be carrying two things –
something to hook the ladder with and something to dig with. Don't
forget to LOWER LADDER.
There are no red herrings – all objects are needed. The torch and the
oars more than once.
You will only get hungry after you share your sandwich with a hungry
person.
In the kitchen, EXAMINE FLOOR, then LIFT FLOOR. You will need
something to throw on the steps, as well as something to carry it in.
The priest does not like small donations.
SEARCH and EXAMINE are not synonymous. Use the first in the kitchen
and the pantry.
GRAB TREE before you go down.
Fragile objects need to be PUT; don't DROP them.
You need to EXCHANGE your bent card.
You need to loosen the glue that holds the poster on the wall. PULL
POSTER.
Don't panic when you lose the ladder in the pit. You need something
else to fix the collapsed bridge. PUT and PUSH are the verbs to use.
Two hints to get into the cottage – the tombstone and turning the
page in the book.
There is a limited number of times you can use the boat before it
sinks – check out the kitchen for help.
Part 2:
PUT and DROP are the same as in Part 1. Same for EXAMINE and SEARCH.
This part is notably trickier because of one major problem (bug? or
deliberate?): after the wizard tells you that you can give him one
word, you must remove all the objects you will need from the island,
and perform all that you can do there before you return to tell the
wizard the word. Otherwise you can only carry one object which means,
in essence, that you are stuck. You need six objects (the limit to
what you can carry), not counting the cloak, and they should be at
the hole you saw at the beginning of the game.
Don't panic when you are booted out at the beginning. This is
supposed to happen.
There is only one unnecessary object (close to the end of the game) –
everything else is useful at least once. Swimming is also
unnecessary.
One puzzle is an anagram – rearrange the letters to spell out a
snack.
Peas are not useful, but the tin is.
Use an object that is sharp to fulfill the guard's request, but you
need to make it sharper first. Before you do that, LISTEN.
The spike will not emerge until you perform a particular action –
don't bother digging, pulling, or otherwise trying to get it out of
the ground.
Getting the ladder off the balcony should be no problem if you find a
particular object first. Type HELP for a clue.
While the bucket of sand is useless, a bucket full of something else
is needed (at the lake).
APPLY is a useful verb, needed more than once.
EXTINGUISH OIL, rather than EXTINGUISH CRUCIBLE.
Something that resembles a magnet is useful when there is iron
around. PUT it at the appropriate place.
Objects which are needed more than once: a light source (conserve
it), the boat, the spade, the fan, the tinderbox, the mask, the
ladder.
Round, rusty metal objects are good to SCRAPE things with.
WAVE is the verb to use with the fan. Use it where it's dusty and in
the small cave.
The object that needs to be "transported" to the caves by the wizard
is not something that you can put on the boat. But use it on the
island first.
How to get the chest to the island? Remember the chest has a rope,
and the boat has a ring.
You need to somehow reach the trash-can What can you climb on to do
so?
"Fullness of time" – just WAIT.
You need to have six items before you enter the cave, one of those
being a means to open the gate. After that you can drop that item.
You need something for your face, something for your feet, some
things to make light, and something to prop open a door.
Solution:
Part 1:
You are looking for Calutha's spoils. There is a pit nearby.
INVENTORY (loose change),EXAMINE CHANGE (sufficient for one round at
the local), W, TAKE POSTER (it's glued to the wall), TAKE MINTS, TAKE
PAPER, READ PAPER (some verbs), DROP PAPER, E, N, EXAMINE QUARRY,
TAKE ROCK (you think), TAKE ROCK (you have to drop something), DROP
MINTS, TAKE ROCK, S, DROP ROCK, N, TAKE TROWEL, TAKE PEG, EXAMINE PEG
(the 'stake' sort), TAKE MINTS, S, DROP PEG, E (you see a boat),
EXAMINE BOAT (there is a hole in its side), S, E, SE, TAKE LADDER
(it's hooked near the top of the tree), CLIMB LADDER, GRAB TREE,
UNHOOK LADDER (you unhook the ladder and climb down), TAKE LADDER, W,
W, W, SW, DROP LADDER, S, S, SE, W, EXAMINE MAN (he is thirsty), BUY
ALE (he tells you about Calutha but not much more than you already
know), E, SW, EXAMINE BOY, TALK BOY (he drops his sandwich), NE, TAKE
SANDWICH.
Go S, TAKE TORCH, N, SE, TAKE BOOK (you can't), EXAMINE BOOK (it's
locked), NW, E (you see bags of cement and a plank), TAKE CEMENT
(how?), TAKE PLANK (too heavy), W, NE (you see security cards), SW,
N, N, W, SW, DROP ALL, S, S, SE, E, TAKE PLANK, W, N, N, W, SW, DROP
PLANK, N (ignore the jar for now), N, TAKE POLE, EXAMINE PRIEST, TALK
TO PRIEST (he wants a donation for the loan of a book), S, S, TAKE
LADDER, W, DROP ALL, TAKE PEG, TAKE ROCK, HIT PEG, DROP ROCK, TAKE
POLE, TAKE LADDER, TIE LADDER, LOWER LADDER, E, TAKE TROWEL, W, DOWN
LADDER, TAKE WHISTLE, DIG, TAKE OARS, UP LADDER (you can't reach it),
HELP (lengthen it), HOOK LADDER, UP LADDER (the peg and ladder fall
in the pit), E, DROP ALL, N, TAKE JAR, EXAMINE JAR (can carry water),
S, FILL JAR, W, W, THROW WATER (the jar breaks), PULL POSTER, EXAMINE
POSTER (a picture of a cow), E, E, TAKE OARS, TAKE PLANK, IN BOAT,
ROW NE (the boat starts to fill with water), LEAVE BOAT.
Go E (you see a collapsed bridge), EXAMINE BRIDGE, HELP (replace what
is missing), PUT PLANK, PUSH PLANK, CROSS BRIDGE (you see a bull),
HELP (what do boys like?), THROW POSTER (the bull is preoccupied), UP
FENCE, TAKE NOTE, UP FENCE, NE, E, E (not yet), W, SW, CROSS BRIDGE,
W, IN BOAT, ROW SW, LEAVE BOAT, N, N, GIVE NOTE (you get the book),
EXAMINE BOOK, OPEN BOOK (donated by H. Koldazise), TURN PAGE
(laborare est orare), PRAY, LABORARE EST ORARE (the priest opens the
door), S, EXAMINE TOMBSTONE (in memory of my father K L IS from
his son Handsare), S, TAKE TORCH, TAKE WHISTLE, TAKE MINTS, IN BOAT,
ROW E, LEAVE BOAT (you are caught by the bobby; the boy says he uses
the whistle "corked"), GIVE MINTS, DROP OARS, E (type your name to
gain entry), HANDSARE KOLDAZISE (the door opens).
IN COTTAGE, EXAMINE COUCH, SEARCH COUCH, TAKE CARD, EXAMINE CARD
(bent and bucked), E, E, LIGHT TORCH (pantry seems to be empty),
SEARCH PANTRY, TAKE BOTTLE, W, OFF TORCH, DROP TORCH, EXAMINE BOTTLE
(full of wine), REMOVE CORK, DRINK WINE, PUT BOTTLE, TAKE CORK,
INSERT CORK, TAKE KNIFE, TAKE CUP, EXAMINE FLOOR (you see an
outline), LIFT FLOOR (you see slippery steps), HELP (cover the oil),
W, W, W, TAKE OARS, IN BOAT, ROW W, LEAVE BOAT, DROP WHISTLE, DROP
OARS, TAKE SANDWICH, S, S, SE, NE, EXAMINE ASSISTANT, TALK TO
ASSISTANT, GIVE CARD, EXCHANGE CARD, EXAMINE CARD (replacement), SW,
E, CUT BAG, FILL CUP, DROP KNIFE, W, N, N, SE, W, EXAMINE TRAMP (he's
hungry), HELP (not as hungry as he seems).
SHARE SANDWICH, TAKE RING, EXAMINE RING (Calutha), EAT SANDWICH, W,
W, SW, TAKE WHISTLE, TAKE OARS, IN BOAT, ROW E, LEAVE BOAT, E, IN
COTTAGE, E, THROW CEMENT, PUT CUP, TAKE TORCH, DOWN, LIGHT TORCH,
EXAMINE DOOR (there's a slot), INSERT CARD, E, EXAMINE BOX (there is
a key behind it), BLOW WHISTLE (the glass shatters), TAKE KEY, W, UP,
OFF TORCH, DROP TORCH, DROP WHISTLE, TAKE SAUCEPAN, W, W, W, IN BOAT,
ROW W, BAIL WATER, LEAVE BOAT, DROP OARS, S, S, SE, SE, UNLOCK BOOK
(it tells of a ring of gold and an idol of marble – IDLE IDOL), NW,
N, N, W, SW, TAKE OARS, IN BOAT, ROW NE, BAIL WATER, LEAVE BOAT, DROP
OARS, E, CROSS BRIDGE, NE, E, EXAMINE IDOL (it seems alive), WEAR
RING, IDLE IDOL, IN (you can't carry anything), DROP ALL, IN – the
password for Part 2 is RIGOR MORTIS.
Part 2:
You have entered the cavern with nothing. Go W (you see a hole),
EXAMINE HOLE (high up), IN HOLE (how?), E, N, EXAMINE ASHES (deep),
TAKE TINDERBOX, READ WRITING ('where cloak" – these are magic words),
N. You can't remain here without a cloak and are booted out to a
secret garden. EXAMINE GARDEN, EXAMINE GRASS (needs cutting), SEARCH
GRASS (you see a chest), EXAMINE CHEST (bound by a rope), EXAMINE
TREE (with the fullness of time this tree will save your life), CLIMB
TREE (too slippery), WAIT (the tree sprouts a leaf), PICK LEAF,
EXAMINE LEAF (could be soothing if properly applied), TAKE CHEST, W,
N (you see a grindstone beside the brazier, a spade, and some tar),
DROP ALL, TAKE SPADE, EXAMINE BRAZIER (a fire could be lit inside
it), EXAMINE TAR (stuck to the ground), TAKE TAR (how?), S, E, S, IN
CABIN, EXAMINE CABIN (unoccupied).
SEARCH CABIN, TAKE SWEETS, OUT, DIG, TAKE SPOON, N, W, N, DROP ALL,
S, HELP (but you're not wearing the cloak), E, UP (you see a beach
and an island to the east), EXAMINE HOLE (you see a spike), N,
EXAMINE TRASH, SEARCH TRASH (you can't), EXAMINE SWING (yellow and
red chains, blue seat, green poles), CLIMB POST (not advised), S,
DOWN, W, N, TAKE CHEST, S, E, UP, N, DROP CHEST, STAND ON CHEST,
SEARCH TRASH, TAKE TIN, JUMP, EMPTY TIN, REMOVE RED, REMOVE YELLOW,
TAKE RED, TAKE YELLOW, S, JOIN CHAIN (you hear "comee outee"), COMEE
OUTEE (the spike comes out), ATTACH CHAIN, DOWN CHAIN (you see a
boat), EXAMINE BOAT (has a hole in it), TAKE LID, EXAMINE LID (ragged
edge and sharp), UP CHAIN, DOWN, W, N, TAKE TINDERBOX, LIGHT BRAZIER,
DROP TINDERBOX.
SCRAPE TAR, TAKE TAR, PUT TAR ON BRAZIER (you heat it up), TAKE
SPOON, FILL TIN. Don't dawdle here. Go S, E, UP, DOWN CHAIN, APPLY
TAR, DROP ALL, EXAMINE BOAT (repaired, with oars and a ring at the
stern), UP CHAIN, N, TAKE CHEST, S, DOWN CHAIN, DROP CHEST, UP CHAIN,
DOWN, W, N, TAKE SWEETS, TAKE LEAF, TAKE SPADE, TAKE TINDERBOX, S, E,
UP, DOWN CHAIN, IN BOAT, TAKE SHELL, EXAMINE SHELL (hollow and sharp
at one end), LISTEN (you hear "onions"), E, EXAMINE BOY, TALK TO BOY,
GIVE SWEETS (he drops a mask), TAKE MASK, EXAMINE MASK (large –
covers nose, mouth and eyes), DIG (the sand is too hard), DROP SPADE,
W, DROP ALL, N, N, E, EXAMINE GUARD (he looks like a wizard), TALK TO
GUARD (he needs a screwdriver to open the drawbridge), W, S, S, TAKE
SHELL, IN BOAT, UP CHAIN, DOWN, W, N, GRIND SHELL, S, E, UP, DOWN
CHAIN.
IN BOAT, TAKE LEAF, TAKE TINDERBOX, N, N, E, GIVE SCREWDRIVER (the
drawbridge comes down), E, EXAMINE DOOR, EXAMINE COBBLES (loose),
LIFT COBBLES (you find an iron key), TAKE IRON KEY, UNLOCK DOOR
("tell me something that will bring tears to my eyes"), ONIONS (the
door opens), IN (a scorpion swings its tail at you), HELP (use
something medicinally), APPLY LEAF (you are cured), E, EXAMINE WIZARD
(he looks like the guard), TALK TO WIZARD (he wants his chest), S
(you see a bucket of sand and a trapdoor), EXAMINE TRAPDOOR (no way
to open it), TAKE BUCKET, NW, OUT, W, W, S, S, E, EMPTY BUCKET, FILL
BUCKET, EMPTY BUCKET (you soften the sand), DROP BUCKET, TAKE SPADE,
DIG (something is trying to get out), DIG (a hand comes out),
EXAMINE HAND (it holds a key), HELP (say the magic word).
Go W, DROP SPADE, DROP TINDERBOX, IN BOAT, DROP ALL, TIE ROPE TO
RING, IN BOAT, UNTIE ROPE, TAKE CHEST, N, N, E, E, IN, E, GIVE CHEST
(the wizard tells you to free a key from a hand say "porcupine"; he
adds that he has the power to transport an object to the caves, but
it must be one word), W, OUT, W, W, S, S, E, PORCUPINE, TAKE BRASS
KEY, W, N, N, E, E, IN, UP (you see an attic), UP (you can't), W (you
see a balcony), OUT, EXAMINE LADDER (good for high places in the cave
of light), HELP (absorb the shock), IN, E, E, TAKE FAN, EXAMINE BED,
EXAMINE MATRESS (still has some bounce), TAKE MATTRESS (it's heavy),
W, DROP ALL, E, TAKE MATTRESS, W, W, OUT, THROW MATTRESS, TAKE
LADDER, THROW LADDER (it lands in one piece), IN, E, DOWN, OUT, N,
TAKE LADDER, S, IN, UP, DROP LADDER, TAKE BRASS KEY, TAKE FAN.
UP LADDER (you are in an attic with dust and a trunk), EXAMINE TRUNK
(has a brass lock), UNLOCK TRUNK, LOOK IN TRUNK, TAKE BAR, EXAMINE
BAR ("n" at one end and "s" at the other), WAVE FAN (you see a
wheel), EXAMINE WHEEL (it can move), TURN WHEEL (you hear a rumble),
DOWN LADDER, DOWN, SE (the trapdoor is now open), DOWN, TAKE
CRUCIBLE, EXAMINE CRUCIBLE (has some oil in it), UP, NW, OUT, W, W,
S, S, TAKE TINDERBOX, N, N, E, E, IN, EXAMINE STAIRS (you see a
recess), IN RECESS, LIGHT OIL, TAKE CLOAK, EXAMINE CLOAK (use it in
the cave of light), OUT, EXTINGUISH OIL, OUT, W, W, S, S, IN BOAT,
PUT CRUCIBLE, IN BOAT, TAKE MASK, IN BOAT, UP CHAIN, DOWN, W, DROP
ALL, E, UP, DOWN CHAIN, TAKE CRUCIBLE, UP CHAIN, DOWN, W.
TAKE CLOAK, WEAR CLOAK (need magic words), WHERE CLOAK (the cloak
drapes itself around your shoulders), TAKE FAN, TAKE MASK, TAKE
TINDERBOX, UNLOCK GATE, DROP IRON KEY, TAKE BAR, S (you hear a
maniacal laugh), S, S, WAVE FAN (you create steps), DROP FAN, LIGHT
OIL, DOWN STEPS, TAKE BOOTS, EXAMINE BOOTS (they'll help you through
thick times), UP STEPS, EXTINGUISH OIL, S, W, PUT CRUCIBLE (don't
DROP ALL here or you'll lose the cloak), DROP TINDERBOX, DROP BOOTS,
E, N, N, N, N, DROP ALL, E, UP, DOWN CHAIN, IN BOAT, N, N, E, E, IN,
E, LADDER (the wizard transports the ladder and says he will meet you
in the caves), W, OUT, W, W, S, S, IN BOAT, UP CHAIN, DOWN, W (the
ladder is there), TAKE CLOAK, WHERE CLOAK, TAKE LADDER, S, S, S, S,
W, DROP LADDER, TAKE BOOTS, TAKE MASK, TAKE CRUCIBLE, TAKE TINDERBOX,
TAKE BAR.
UP LADDER (you see slime), HELP (you'll need something to help you
through), WEAR BOOTS, E (the boots disappear), DOWN, NE (you see an
iron door), EXAMINE DOOR (it's on a spring), OPEN DOOR, PUT BAR (this
wedges the door open), E, SE, E, EXAMINE ICE (you see a golden key,
but cannot stay here too long), W, LIGHT OIL, E, MELT ICE, TAKE
GOLDEN KEY, S (you smell gas), EXTINGUISH OIL, N, W, NW, NE, EXAMINE
CAVERN, PUSH BUTTON, N (ignore the ice-pick), E, EXAMINE SACK
(bulging), TAKE SACK, S, S, WEAR MASK, SE, TAKE HATPIN, E, DROP
TINDERBOX, REMOVE MASK, EXAMINE DOOR (locked), UNLOCK DOOR, TAKE
TINDERBOX, NE (the door slams shut but the wizard is here), EXAMINE
BOULDER (heavy), SW (you need to tell the voice his favourite snack),
EMPTY SACK (you see bones).
DROP MASK, TAKE BONES, EXAMINE BONES (there are letters on each bones
and a drawing of a golden door), READ LETTERS (F U N S M I F), DROP
BONES, MUFFINS (the door opens), GIVE HATPIN (the wizard creates a
giant hatpin and disappears), EXAMINE HATPIN (a metre long), LEVER
BOULDER (you create steps), TAKE MASK, DOWN STEPS, LIGHT OIL (you see
Calutha's treasure), FILL SACK, UP STEPS, EXTINGUISH OIL, SW, WEAR
MASK, W, NW, REMOVE MASK, N, W, NW, W, SW, UP, W, DOWN LADDER, E (the
portcullis rises), S. You are finished.
Terri Sheehan
2005-07-17
*****************************************************
Displayed on the Classic Adventures Solution Archive:
http://solutionarchive.com
