THE SPECTRUM GAME DATABASE



THE PAWN



PUBLISHER

Rainbird



AUTHORS

Magnetic Scrolls

(Scenario and Design by Rob Steggles; Programming by Ken Gordon

and Hugh Steers; Development System and Parser Design by Ken

Gordon, Anita Sinclair and Hugh Steers; Spectrum Conversion by

Richard Huddy and Bob Coles)



YEAR

1986



DESCRIPTION

Text adventure with a very advanced parser and world modelling.



CONTROLS

Commands are entered using the keyboard.



INSTRUCTIONS

Set in the mythical world of Kerovnia, this amusing and complex

tale is subtle enough to appeal to the beginner and hardened

adventurer alike. A revolutionary text-handling system allows

input of complicated sentences and complete interaction with

characters (including some very intelligent animals!). The Pawn

represents all its characters and objects as if they existed in

a real world, storing complex information about their attributes

and properties linked to their particular position or context

in the game.



Your objectives are manyfold: The simplest is to escape from

Kerovnia, but you will find others as you wander about the land

and communicate with the characters you meet. The Pawn combines

a rich text adventure, with stunning colour graphics [not in the

Spectrum version], and a language parser that will set the

standards for years to come.



Introduction:



The Pawn is an adventure game set in the magical world of

Kerovnia during a period of tremendous social upheaval.



Recently, King Erik, the present ruler of the land, has started

to lose his hold on the Kerovnian peoples and can no longer rely

on their loyalty and supreme devotion to support him through

times of war, famine and personal bankruptcy.



Many political commentators have attributed this decline in

popularity to Erik's steadfast refusal to reinstate the

citizenship of the Roobikyoub dwarfs who were banished en masse

soon after the assassination of the beloved Queen Jendah II and

have never since returned.



The dwarfs were thought to be the sole instigators of the

assassination plot but the real facts were kept well behind

closed (and locked) doors.



Needless to say the dwarfs were of immense economic importance

to Kerovnia with their relentless efforts to produce the

smoothest, strongest malt whisky this side of the Obakanga

valley and they are sorely missed in these days of economic

gloom (not least for the quality of their whisky).



In the absence of the dwarfs, the drinks market has been

dominated by the Farthington Real Ale Company (which has had

some rather dodgy dealings with Boris Grunchkev O.K.B.) and by

the Romni gnomes who produce a refreshing spring water. Neither

of these two influential groups wish to see the dwarfs come back

on the scene to take a large slice of the market but the people

of Kerovnia, many of whom are beginning to suspect that the

dwarfs were completely innocent of the assassination, vehemently

disagree.



Standing in the middle of all this is King Erik who becomes more

and more unpopular the longer he leaves his decision, and, to

top it all, there is a general election on the horizon.



At this point, you arrive on the scene. You will be the

principal player in the game and the story unfolds according to

your decisions and actions.



The program will describe where you are, who (or what) is there

with you and what they are doing. It is then up to you to choose

what you wish to do and tell the program in plain English (well

almost!).



You'll have to discover the goal of the game and the best way to

achieve it by utilizing the items you find on your travels,

conversing with characters and exercising your imagination.



Some example sentences from the manual:



 EXIT NORTH

 QUIETLY WALK NORTH

 ENTER THE FURNITURE SHOP

 SIT ON THE COMFORTABLE LEATHER COUCH

 GET UP OFF THE COUCH

 ENTER DOOR

 PICK UP PAPER, PEN AND INK BOTTLE

 GET ALL FROM THE SCHOOL BAG EXCEPT THE ERASER

 GET ALL EXCEPT THE CASES BUT NOT THE VIOLIN CASE THEN KILL THE

   MAN EATING SHREW WITH THE CONTENTS OF THE VIOLIN CASE. REMOVE

   THE SHREW'S TAIL AND USE IT TO TIE THE POLE AND THE NOOSE

   TOGETHER.

 GET THE KEYS EXCEPT THE SHINY ONE

 LOOK AT THE KEY THAT IS IN MY POCKET

 PUT THE KEY IN THE BAG IN MY POCKET



Abbreviations:



 DROP        DR

 GET         G

 INVENTORY   IN

 NORTH       N

 SOUTH       S

 EAST        E

 WEST        W

 NORTHEAST   NE

 NORTHWEST   NW

 SOUTHEAST   SE

 SOUTHWEST   SW

 UP          U

 DOWN        D

 OUT         O

 LOOK        L

 PRONOUNS    PN

 WITH        WI

 FROM        F



Conversation:



I)   ASK someone ABOUT something

     e.g. ASK THE ALIEN ABOUT THE SPACESHIP

II)  ASK someone "something"

     e.g. ASK THE ALIEN "WHO AM I?"

III) SAY TO someone "something"

     e.g. SAY TO ALIEN "HELLO"

IV)  SAY "something"

     e.g. SAY "HOW CAN I WIN THIS GAME?"

V)   someone, something

     e.g. ALIEN, PHONE HOME



Special Commands:



 INVENTORY

 AGAIN

 EXITS

 SCORE

 BRIEF

 VERBOSE

 NORMAL

 QUIT

 RESTART





PASSWORDS

The Pawn is password-protected (although the game manual forgets

to mention it). After 100 turns in the game (or after restoring

a saved game, whichever comes first), the player is asked to

type in a word from the novel "A Tale of Kerovnia" (written by

G. Sinclair, edited by C. Gale) which is included in the game

box. If the password is wrong, the game quits.



The following is a list of 475 tried and tested passwords (there

are probably more, so make a snapshot before your 100th turn!).

They work with version 2.3 of the game, on all platforms (IBM,

Amiga, Spectrum, C-64).



page line word

----------------------

 1    2    6  coin

 1    3    4  erik

 1    4   10  kerovnia

 1    8   10  kerovnia

 1    9    2  close

 1    9    8  gnomes

 2    1   11  red

 2    4    2  erik

 2    5   12  gnomes

 2    8    7  maze

 2   10    5  run

 2   16    6  kerovnia

 2   17   11  wilderness

 2   21    1  cross

 2   21    4  rabbit

 2   23   11  rabbit

 2   26   13  burn

 2   28    9  erik

 3    2   10  light

 3    4    3  gnomes

 3    5    8  erik

 3    6    2  gringo

 3    9    6  kerovnia

 3   13    7  take

 3   23    8  high

 3   27    9  throne

 4    1    6  hit

 4    2    8  run

 4    2   10  gringo

 4    4    1  princess

 4    5    4  kerovnia

 4    7    1  erik

 4    8   10  take

 4    9    8  gringo

 4   16    3  kerovnia

 4   18    5  eyes

 4   21   12  palace

 4   22    5  rose

 4   23    6  eyes

 4   26   10  princess

 4   27   12  erik

 5    1    3  erik

 5    2    4  room

 5    3    2  green

 5    6    1  erik

 5    6    4  head

 5    9    0  kerovnia  [actually 5-8-16; 5-9-0 doesn't exist]

 5   11   11  erik

 5   13    4  room

 5   13    6  empty

 5   13    7  erik

 5   18    6  white

 6    7    3  erik

 6    7    8  use

 6    8    3  palace

 6    9    5  magician

 6   11    6  magician

 6   14    8  green

 6   14   10  hat

 7    8    1  turn

 7    9   12  erik

 7   10   10  palace

 7   11    8  heads

 7   12    9  damage

 7   12   13  life

 7   13    3  palace

 7   13   12  palace

 7   14    9  gardens

 7   15   14  box

 7   16    9  horse

 7   22    7  fight

 7   24   12  fill

 8    2    6  gardens

 8    8    5  kerovnia

 8   11   11  gringo

 8   12    2  gringo

 8   12    9  kerovnia

 8   14   12  gringo

 8   17    5  throw

 8   26    1  gringo

 9    4    7  gringo

 9    5    2  head

 9    7    8  gringo

 9   14    2  fight

 9   15    4  read

 9   15    9  palace

10    2   12  princess

10    4    5  room

10    5    6  palace

10    6    6  stone

10    7    1  windows

10    8   10  window

10   11    4  eyes

10   20    4  palace

11    1    1  erik

11   11    3  erik

11   12    2  princess

11   17    4  eyes

11   18    1  room

11   20    4  windows

11   21   12  room

11   22    9  blue

11   23    6  arms

11   27   11  blue

11   28   13  table

11   29    1  erik

11   30    2  guards

12    3    8  symbols

12    4   12  table

12    7   12  gold

12    7   14  dress

12   12    4  arms

12   13    6  eyes

12   13   10  take

12   16    5  hide

12   20    3  kerovnia

12   27   11  kerovnia

12   29    7  gold

13    2    6  chest

13    2   11  good

13    6    4  eyes

13    6   12  princess

13    7    5  room

13   11    3  green

13   15    6  take

13   17    7  eyes

13   18   11  eyes

13   20    8  hand

13   23   10  voice

13   24    8  kerovnia

14    2   10  red

14    9    7  voice

14   13    1  kerovnia

14   18    1  eyes

15    2    6  rose

15    7    1  kerovnia

16    2    7  take

16    2    9  leave

16    2   15  eyes

16    5    6  head

16    6    2  chest

16   11    4  dragon

16   12   14  dragon

16   14   11  cave

16   16    9  green

16   17    3  red

16   20    4  look

16   22    1  jump

16   23    4  dragon

17    7    8  take

17    7   14  potion

17    8    9  fire

17   10    3  take

17   10    8  potion

17   11    4  fog

17   11    9  kerovnia

17   12    4  hand

17   15   10  gold

17   16    2  fog

17   18   12  potion

17   19   11  blue

17   22    2  palace

17   22   10  foothills

17   23    1  potion

17   24    3  table

17   24    9  room

17   28    6  gringo

17   29    2  dragon

18    2   10  gringo  [actually 18-2-9; 18-2-10 is "and"]

18    5    8  take

18    5   10  kerovnia

18    8    9  gringo

18    8   10  person

18   10    1  kerovnia

18   13    4  run

18   15   11  hills

18   18    9  potion

18   21    2  high

18   21   10  potion

18   26    8  gringo

18   28    8  dragon

19    1   12  stone

19    2    5  blue

19    2    7  gold

19    4    3  entrance

19    4   12  hat

19    6    4  go

19    6   10  go

19    7    6  go

19   14    8  cave

19   17    8  feet

19   18   10  staircase

19   19    1  use

19   19    7  dragon

19   21    2  slope

19   22    5  gringo

19   27    6  hills

20    3   11  gringo

20    4    2  stone

20    9    7  gold

20   20    1  green

20   21    4  steal

20   22   10  wand

20   23    5  pocket

20   23   13  hand

20   24    8  use

20   25    3  windows

20   26    7  desk

21    1    1  dragon

21    1    8  window

21    2    1  gringo

21    3    3  eyes

21    5    9  wand

21    6    1  hand

21    7   11  magician

21    8    2  go

21    9    1  put

21   10    4  get

21   11    7  gringo

21   14    1  gold

21   15    3  gringo

21   15    7  room

21   16    8  room

21   17    3  dragon

21   20    3  whisky

21   24    5  white

21   24   12  pour

21   27   11  room

21   27   12  gringo

22    2    3  feet

22    4    6  potion

22    4    8  mix

22    4   12  dragon

22    6    1  gringo

22    6    6  dragon

22    8    2  fog

22    9    1  palace

22   13    9  red

22   17    4  ???  [22-17-4 is "say"]

22   17    7  magician

22   24    1  gringo

22   24   11  wand

22   25    1  pocket

23    1    2  get

23    2    6  kerovnia

23    6   10  room

23    8    3  gringo

23    9    2  empty

23   10    2  get

23   10   14  hell

23   13   12  dragon

24    4   13  erik

24    6    8  palace

24   12    3  use

24   22    6  trees

25    1   12  white

25    2   10  palace  [actually 25-2-9; 25-2-10 is "where"]

25    4    8  tower  [actually 25-4-7; 25-4-8 doesn't exist]

25    6   12  arms

25    7    9  fit

25    8    3  white

25    9    7  person

25   13    4  palace

25   15    1  lift

25   16    2  gardens

25   18    3  white

26    6    8  kerovnia

26   12    1  hand

26   14   11  take

26   17    2  erik

26   20   13  pot

26   20   14  erik

26   20   15  gringo

26   23    7  water

26   23   11  pool

26   26    8  life

27    5   10  water

27    6    6  pool

27    8    7  put

27    8    9  hand

27   14    2  pool

27   15    9  princess

27   19    4  rose

27   23    4  pool

27   24    3  water

27   25    1  high

27   26    4  ???  [27-26-4 is "say"]

28    1    3  read

28    4   11  get

28    6   12  hit

28    8    2  blow

28    8   11  water

28   10    7  water

28   13    9  pool

28   13   12  room

28   16    9  bushes

28   20   12  erik

28   26    1  high

28   27    2  use

29    2    7  palace

29    4    7  princess

29    5    4  palace

29   12    5  green

30    4    4  gringo

30    4    7  trees

30    9    4  person

30   10    9  empty

30   13   10  life

30   14   13  kerovnia

30   15    5  feet

30   19    5  hand

30   20    7  erik

30   21   10  office

30   22    4  potion

31    4    6  potion

31    4   14  room

31    7    7  read

31    8    3  gringo

31   10    5  water

31   12   13  fit

31   15    5  hand

31   19   10  gringo

31   23    8  blue

31   28    2  person

31   28    7  gringo

32    2   12  gringo

32    4   11  kerovnia

32   11    6  palace

32   12    7  gringo

32   14    6  take

32   24    6  erik

32   24   12  kerovnia

32   29   12  kerovnia

33    2    5  remove

33    2   10  office

33    8    9  put

33    9    2  chest

33    9    7  bed

33   11   10  chest

33   14    1  princess

33   16   10  eyes

33   17   13  use

33   19    4  look

33   23    8  princess

33   26    9  take

33   29   14  head

34    4   11  gringo

34    5    2  feet

34    5    5  hand

34    6   11  kerovnia

34   12    1  chamber

34   13    1  erik

34   15   12  voice

34   20    5  feet

34   21    3  take

34   23    3  gringo

34   25   12  throne

34   26    2  gringo

35    1   11  palace

35    5    8  magician

35    7    6  princess

35    8    1  kerovnia

35   10    4  gringo

35   15    5  doors

35   15   11  fire

35   19   12  room

35   20   12  fire

35   22    1  gringo

35   22   11  light

35   23   12  go

35   24    1  gringo

35   27    2  red

35   27    3  fire

36    1    4  fire

36    1   10  gringo

36    3    4  hat

36    8    6  erik

36    8    8  put

36    8   10  bed

36    9    3  gringo

37    2    1  gringo

37    9    9  princess

37   13   11  boxes

37   15    9  kerovnia

37   15   11  boxes

37   18   10  turn

37   21    1  erik

37   21    7  attack

37   22   13  horse

37   23   12  gold

38    5    1  erik

38    6    4  wear

38    8   10  head

38    9    8  join

38   10    9  leave

38   10   11  palace

38   12    9  join

38   15    7  red

38   15    9  gold

38   17    6  red

38   17   13  head

38   24    6  rose

38   26   13  green

38   27    5  high

38   28    4  eyes

38   29    9  head

39    1    2  guards

39    3    6  blue

39    3    9  stone

39    8    4  kerovnia

39   10    2  head

39   14    4  take

39   18    2  take

39   18   13  green

39   19    6  erik

39   19   10  kerovnia

39   21    9  person

39   26    3  princess

40    1    1  pool

40    3    5  palace

40    4    7  blue

40    4    9  light

40    4   11  rose

40    9    5  blue

40    9    8  voice

40    9   12  water

40   12    2  rose

40   12    5  feet

40   14    1  princess

40   14   13  life

40   15    8  red

40   17    3  leave

40   23    3  leave

40   25   10  go

40   27    8  erik

41    2    5  kerovnia

41    5    3  cry

41    7    6  erik

41    9    3  kerovnia

41   16    1  erik

41   16    7  leave

41   16    9  room

41   18   11  rose

41   18   14  feet

41   19    4  cloak

42    3   11  leave

42    4    7  go

42    5    1  scrape

42    6    3  gringo

42   13    4  princess

42   13    9  palace

42   14    1  erik

42   16    2  princess

42   17   10  ???  [42-17-10 is "cloud"]

42   17   12  dust

42   19    2  run

43    4    2  princess

43    9    7  life

43    9   11  take

43   10    7  head

43   12    4  princess

43   13    3  bed

43   13    8  kerovnia

43   20    6  life

43   20    7  tree

43   21    4  trees

43   23    8  princess

43   24    5  erik

44    3    4  snow

44    7   12  foothills

44   10    5  snowman

44   10    8  feet

44   12    3  look

44   13    4  eyes

44   20    4  snowman





HINTS

Version II of the game manual came with a number of encoded

hints ("cypheric help section") which could be decoded from

within the game using the HINT command. Here are the hints

(already decoded):



How do I cross the Red Line?

> Drop the Lot

> Sure you're not carrying something?

> And what about the wristband?



Why is the guru laughing?

> Ask him, not me

> Pity you can't drop that wristband yet

> Try stopping him from seeing it



How do I drop the wristband?

> Hard, isn't it?

> Damn, I'd forgotten just how hard this one was...

> Try asking someone to do it for you



How do I get into the shed?

> This one's really obvious

> Where do you normally leave your key

> Try your pocket. Really!



What does the guru want?

> No, it's not a Keema Nan

> The answer is elementary, my dear Adventurer

> Not the bubbly sort



How do I get past the guards?

> Give them something

> Perhaps if they knew what you wanted...

> What else would you do with a demand for ransom?



What do I do with the note?

> Try reading it?

> On second thoughts, don't try reading it!

> Better do as Kronos asked



How do I buy things?

> You'll need something of value

> People round here are pretty careless with money

> Search the dwarves' furniture carefully



How do I get the lead?

> It's embedded in the rock

> Use any sharp tool



How do I read the tomes?

> Cast a spell - Like it says

> This game is a parody, after all. Try 'Cast Spell'

> There is no third clue - bet you're sorry you typed it in now



How do I use the aerosoul?

> No, it's not a spelling mistake, smart-arse!

> You need to kill someone first

> ... And they must be freshly dead

> Press nozzle



How do I kill Kronos?

> Whole list of tedious clues coming up

> You'll need help from another source

> You must kill him in his lair

> Throw the potion bottle at him

> You don't get long to do it

> You could try the thermonuclear device



Where's the thermonuclear device?

> Try a completely different adventure. 'Lord of the Reagans',

  perhaps..



How do I use the platform?

> Pretend you're Kronos

> The platform has only one way of telling if you're Kronos

> Think of it as a large weighing machine



What can I do with the devil?

> Try doing what he asks



How do I get past the cream doors?

> Knock (Are you sure you're into adventures?)

> Check you haven't got the wristband



How do I work the lift?

> Summon it

> Wait for it...

> It's just like a real lift

> And it has sliding doors



How do I vote?

> You need a ballot paper - Are you an anarchist or something?

> Try looking under the rug

> The safe is not as empty as it first appears

> Being ideologically unsound will cost you points



How do I kill the adventurer?

> I'm not sure I can condone this kind of thing..

> Well, if you must... Only Kronos can help



How do I get past the dragon?

> The dragon is very short-sighted

> He is also very hungry

> Try showing him something else to eat

> He needs to have them illuminated as well



How do I move the wheelbarrow?

> The wheelbarrow is very heavy

> The wheelbarrow is not designed to be moved - bet you're

  sorry you asked now...



How do I get through the double doors?

> Be polite

> Many times

> And tip the porter

> Otherwise you'll scotch your chances



How do I get past the paper wall room?

> Paper can be torn

> You look in the cupboard

> You need a rope



I've won but not with a full score. Why?

> I'm 25, but I haven't got a proper job, why? I don't know,

  these things just happen, that's all...

> Did you cheat?

> You need to buy drinks for 2 people

> Whether you enjoyed his music or not - buy him one

> Have you found the Pot Plant?

> Try potting it properly

> Use the right sort of implement

> Oh well, who wants perfection... Make do with the score

  you've got!



What about the alchemists?

> I don't know, what about them?

> Their idea of food isn't quite haute cuisine

> The guru had some food, remember...?

> You'll never get the gold. Lead into gold can't be done!



Where do I find some light?

> You need to give the guru what he wants. Then listen to him

> Now search the clearing

> Elementary Physics - Red+Green+Blue=?

> Mix them



How do I get into the tree?

> Unlock the door - Must I tell you everything?

> Try the wooden one

> The cat sat on the mat



Floorboards - How do I move them?

> They move very easily

> Were you born in a barn?

> Then shut the door, OK?



How do I get past the boulders?

> Find a lever?

> ... Or two

> Now fix them together





URL

ftp://akira.uc3m.es/pub/sinclair/games/p/pawn.zip



NOTES

Originally released as a text-only game for the Sinclair QL (in

1985). Later versions (Atari ST, Commodore 64, Commodore Amiga,

IBM PC) had excellent bitmap graphics. The Spectrum version,

although requiring 128k, doesn't have any graphics due to space

limitations.















































