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.