                          __________________________
                       -= BLADE WARRIOR (PC VERSION) =-
                          --------------------------

__________________
SYSTEM REQIREMENTS =-
------------------

There are none. Runs on anything.

CGA, EGA, VGA supported.

If you run on a fast machine make sure you choose SLOW SPEED from the
options menu.

NOTE: Blade Warrior only supports PC speaker sound on the PC.

________
GAMEPLAY =-
--------

You are Blade Warrior. Your mission is to kill Murk, the evil demon who
intends to destroy you before you have the opportunity to complete your
quest. Explore the World, slaying monsters, collecting artifacts and
spell ingredients to trade with the Wizards for a set of Seven Tablet
Fragments.

The Seven Tablet Fragments allows the Sorcerer to enchant your sword so
that Murk can be eliminated.

You begin your quest outside your own Tower on the South Edge of the
World. Foes can be eliminated, and spell ingredients, shown as colored
objects in the foreground, can be collected.

The moon shows your current health level as you fight.

Once enough spell ingredients have been collected, these can be mixed
by returning to your laboratory. A selection screen allows you to
choose your entrance route to the tower.

_______________________
MIXING AND USING SPELLS =-
-----------------------

Heal and Water Bolt are the two intial spells available to the Blade
Warrior at the start of the game. Spells are mixed as follows:

1.) Click on the box to select the required spell.
2.) Click on the storage jars to select the ingredients you wish to
    mix.
3.) Spells are mixed by clicking on the mixing flask.
4.) If the right ingredients have been chosen for that spell, the
    cursor will change to the symbol for that spell, which can be put
    into one of the ten Spell Slots shown on the right of the screen.
    These correspond to the 10 Function Keys when you are in combat.

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CONTROLS =-
--------

MOVE LEFT                  CURSOR LEFT
MOVE RIGHT                 CURSOR RIGHT
CATCH                      CURSOR UP
PICK UP                    CURSOR DOWN
OVERHEAD SLASH             CTRL + CURSOR UP
LOW SLASH                  CTRL + CURSOR LEFT
HIGH THRUST                CTRL + CURSOR RIGHT
LOW THRUST                 CTRL + CURSOR DOWN
ENTER GATE/TOWER           PG UP

ESC                        RETURN TO MAIN MENU
M                          GO TO MAP SCREEN
I                          GO TO INVENTORY

Screen Game positions can be loaded and saved from the Main Menu.

______________________
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION =-
----------------------

The following information will aid you in your quest:

_______
THE MAP =-
-------

Paths cover the land, with ancient stone archways marking where they
cross. Frequently refer to the map, where your position is shown as a
sword.

You are weak at the start of the quest, but gather strength as your
experience and power of magic grows.

The World is inhabitated by Seven Wizards and a Master Sorcerer, as
well as Murk the powerful Demon. Murk roams the land searching for the
Blade Warrior, and will drag him to hell where he must be defeated to
allow escape. Even if you defeat him, he will return unless you are in
possession of the Enchanted Sword.

Each Wizard has their own set of desires which must be satisfied before
they will hand over their Fragment of the Tablet.

_____________
SEVEN WIZARDS =-
-------------

Wizards are located in the Towers which are scattered about the map.
Entering a Wizard's Tower gives you a selection screen with Three
options:

1.) UP - Roof
    ---------
    You can borrow the Wizard's Dragon to take you back to
    your Tower and return. Spells and rest can be obtained
    here.

2.) RIGHT - The Wizard's Lair
    -------------------------
    Converse or Trade with the Wizard. His speech is given at the top
    of the screen with your replies at the bottom. Clicking on the Up
    and Down arrows (PG UP on the PC) allows you to select a suitable
    reply. Clicking (ENTER on the PC) on text allows you to make your
    reply. If a spell or Artifact is offered, a specific screen allows
    you to select from what you have to offer.

3.) DOWN - The Forest
    -----------------
    Allows you to leave the Tower.

____
MURK =-
----

The current position of Murk is shown as a moving icon on the map. His
approach alters the weather - Red is the color of Hell.

Murk can be defeated without an enchanted sword, but this is a painful
process and best avoided.

______________
MURK'S MINIONS =-
--------------

The monsters that roam the land are there to kill, and be killed.
Minions can inflict damage on you, but each time you kill a monster
its life essence is transferred through the sword to the Blade Warrior.

The monsters you will encounter have different levels of power, and
killing some will yield vital spell ingredients.

_____________
THE ARTIFACTS =-
-------------

There are fourteen artifacts in the game, each with their own slot in
the inventory screen. The inventory screen also shows which of the
tablet fragments you possess (bottom left), and your strength and
defense (top left).

Strength is shown by the number of stars around the Blade Warrior
picture. Possession of spells and artifacts affects your strength, and
the amount of damage you inflict on opponents.

Your defense capabilities are shown by coruscating bands of color which
surround you. The faster the color changes the better your defense,
which is also affected by spells and artifacts.

______________________
SPELLS AND INGREDIENTS =-
----------------------

All magic is based on the four elements - Earth, Air, Fire, and Water.
To create a spell you need:

1.) KNOWLEDGE
    ---------
    You already have some knowledge, but other information for spells
    is traded for with wizards.

2.) INGREDIENTS
    -----------
    These can all be found in the World. Basic "bolt" spells only
    require one ingredient, but all other spells require a mixture of
    two elements.

On the spell screen you can tell which elements are required for a
particular spell by selecting the required spell in the spell book and
looking at the activity above the four columns over the mixing flask.
By selecting an ingredient it is added to the mixing flask, and the
level of each element present in the mix is shown in the four columns.

When you click on the mixing flask, if you have correctly matched the
elemental content of the ingredients the spell can be created and put
into a spell slot. Quantity is important, too little and the mix does
not work, too much and multiple spells are created, up to a maximum of
four at a time.

Up to 16 spells can be held in each spell slot (function keys), but
they must all be of the same type. Once outside the laboratory, it is
up to the Blade Warrior to remember how many of each type were made.

_________________________
PLAY TEST RECOMMENDATIONS =-
-------------------------

1.) Run away from monsters if they are killing you - they are too
    strong for your present capabilities.

2.) Scrolls give clues.

3.) Save spell ingredients for trading with wizards.

4.) Artifacts that boost strength and defense should be held for as
    long as possible.

5.) Troublesome Harpies can be eliminated by a sturdy blow, or by a
    foaming potion bottle spell. Press the Space Bar to unleash the
    spell.

6.) East Wizard and Palace Wizard both live in rough neighborhoods, so
    visit them later in the game.

7.) Each monster has a particular blow weakness.

8.) The best spell ingredients re-occur in the same area.

9.) How to satisfy all seven wizards at once is a difficult puzzle
    - keep a record of all clues.

10.) Save the game at regular intervals.

11.) One of the Wizards is mad!
