HOW TO PLAY DUN DARACH

The main objective of Dun Darach is to locate and release the charioteer, Loeg. But, as you walk the streets of the Secret City, you will encounter scores of secondary quests which will need to be completed before a final solution is reached. Each player will develop his or her own strategies as they progress through the game - there is no set route to solve the Quest - however, as a guide, we will describe the elements involved in Dun Darach and give a few hints on play.

THE CITY

The layout of Dun Darach is as complex as any normal large city, and the streets and buildings are continuously mapped by the program. You will notice the following logical sub-divisions:

* The city itself is divided into a series of Quarters, each of which possesses a distinctive character - for instance, one Quarter is involved with entertainment, another houses all the financial institutions.

* To aid the explorer further, each Quarter consists of several named districts.

* every street in Dun Darach bears a street name; every door that opens onto the street carries a house number.

* behind every door there is a room or set of rooms, which may be occupied or empty.

THE POPULATION

While some of the other characters in Dun Darach stick single-mindedly to their assigned tasks - for instance, shopkeepers - the streets are full of independent, fully-animated characters, each with their own personality. Most of them have something which you will need, like specific objects or information or the knowledge of a secret way and all of them are open to bribery, either directly, with money - normally a large amount - or by some object which they themselves desire or need. Note that you cannot be killed in Dun Darach (another city ordinance?) but you will be fair game for pickpockets, confidence tricks and other normal street activities. Note that the other game characters are represented by one basic female figure and one basic male figure; when a new character appears on screen, an identifying symbol appears beneath the figure and the full name is shown in the text display.

THE CURRENCY

The units of currency in common use in Dun Darach are Iridi (literally rainbows); these are small gold sequins, variously coloured in the minting process. Iridi can be gained in a variety of ways:

* by working! Opportunity to gain a steady job exists in several parts of the city.

* by gambling; a visit to the Gaming House can be lucrative - or disastrous...

* by selling at a profit; throughout the seven Universes, the Entrepreneur will always flourish.

* by stealing; highly profitable but very risky.* by banking: a wise move, and a reasonable interest rate.

Iridi can also be disposed of by many routes:* by buying an object from a shop - pick up the object and offer money to the shopkeeper who will deduct the appropriate amount. Of course, you could try not paying...

* by bribery, but, beware, the denizens of Dun Darach will never give you change...

* by being robbed - oh well.

EXTRACT FROM 'DINN NEMETON' - THE HISTORY OF THE SACRED GROVE, AN ANONYMOUS, ANCIENT AND SECRET WRITING, WHICH MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED IN FULL.From the void sprang forth Lightning, that split asunder the long Night to reveal the World to the sight of Men; and the Voice of Darkness torn was Thunder, which rolled in majesty from mountain to valley and from river to sea; and the shape of Thunder in the World was the Oak, whose roots bound together the fabric of the earth, on whose branches rested the canopy of the sky; and the site of the Sacred Grove wherein rested the Oak was called Dun Darach, the Hill of the Oak, and this was the most secret of knowledge and was entrusted only to the chosen of the Druidhan. But the Druidhan were also the race of Men, and needed food and clothing and shelter, and there were ever those on hand to supply their needs. In time, the knowledge of the Oak seeped abroad, and Druidhan surrounded the Grove with a Great Castle, to hide it from eager eyes, and the castle was also called Dun Darach, and for a while, the secret was contained.

But, alas, the Pendulum of History had been set into motion, and around the castle grew a great City, built and inhabited by many men, who also called their city Dun Darach, and knowledge of the Sacred Oak filled the city with strangle tales and the minds of Men with longing.

In desperation, the Druidhan called a great conclave of all the strongest of their Order and worked together on a mighty Magic. And in that instant, a cold white mist settled on Dun Darach, and the city, and all it contained, was freed from the bounds of the World and set to drift on the Tides of Time.

Like a floating log in a dark sea, the shrouded city still comes on rest on Mortal shores, and the black towers of the castle rear starkly from the white mist. It is said that, at such times, there is much furtive activity around the city gates and its streets are forever in Twilight. Alas, Dun Darach has become a melting pot for diverse cultures and a grim shield for the dregs of the race of Men.