The Gaming Den

When you cast the Gold Piece into the well, the waters below seethe and boil, then all at once become placid again. The face of an old woman shines up at you, and the vision puts a thought into your mind: Beware the traitor-wizard Remstar, beyond the Heartfire. Then she is gone. Now will you explore the western side of the ruins if you haven't done so or make for the castle itself?

The stone-built mass of Castle Argent stands before you! Its great, iron-shod gates lie at the end of the road, which then angle down into the earth so that any going into the castle must first enter by subterranean chambers. Above ground the walls of the castle are far too high for you to climb. You see that the castle has a central keep, with east and west wings, and on the side of the castle furthest from where you are stands the northernmost Great Tower, rising to a spire among swooping seagulls. At its highest point is a throne room where scores of kings have undergone the Ritual of the Sword before ruling Amarillia from this mighty fortress. Surely, you feel, that is where the monster, Zagor, is growing in evil might. There is no time to lose; you stride forward to the seemingly unguarded citadel. The massive iron gates, their brass plaques now defaced by crude, Orcish scrawl, are closed. If you can, and wish to, use an Open spell to enter, turn to 103. If you cannot use this spell, your only option is to try to force the doors, turn to 6.

There is a tripwire trap behind the doors, but fortunately you see it and step over safely. You now stand in the great entrance hall of Castle Argent. Flanking the long walls here are pennants and shields of the provinces of Amarillia, but many have been defaced or broken and flung to the stony floor. Irregularly placed wall-torches burn dimly and provide a low light, enough to see by, but they also suggest there must be living creatures herein, and this spells danger. There is a door to either side of this entrance, and from behind one of them you can make out the grunts and guttural speech of Orcs! They will surely be simple guards, with no gold or items of value, so it's pointless wasting your strength on them. You edge forward as quietly as you can. Before you there is a small door to your left and one to your right, and a pair of larger doors directly ahead. Will you now open:

The right-hand door?
The left-hand door?
The large doors ahead?

Darth Rabbitt wrote:Right.

SGamerz wrote:

Darth Rabbitt wrote:Right.

I assume you want to go right and not that you agree it's right that left is always right.

You have entered a huge drill hall, a marching square with banners and replica weapons lining the walls - or such as remain after the rampagings of the servants of the Demon. A half-burned pile of smashed-up weaponry and tom pennants and banners lies at the foot of the far wall. Far above you, great oak-beams crisscross the ceiling. If you want to walk over and search through it, turn to 394, but beware, your footfalls echo loudly in this high-ceilinged chamber! Alternatively, you can leave and open the door opposite you or make for the double doors at the far end of the entrance hall.

You find yourself in a barracks complex, where many of Castle Argent's brave defenders were once stationed before they and King Kraal fell, victims of the terrifying Bone Demon and his War Dragons. The air here is musty, the floor is covered in dust, and the area appears long deserted. If you want to make a prolonged search, turn to 53. If you prefer to leave and open the door opposite, not having done so before, turn to 318. If you want to leave and open the double doors at the far end of the entrance hall, turn to 376.