{introduction} Ashekva Alyedin
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Ashekva Alyedin                                      Version 1.00 (01-Oct-94)
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Text Adventure Game
===================
Ashekva Alyedin is a text adventure game, containing 360 rooms and over 260k
of descriptive text, coupled with over 150k of game code. It has a parser
that can cope with sentences composed from a vocabulary of over 200 words,
load and save facilities, including loading and saving to and from memory,
an optional desktop interface, and extensive data compression.

Ashekva Alyedin is [SHAREWARE]. You are asked to read the Terms and Conditions
listed below, before you attempt to run this program.

The Plot
========
As Ashekva Alyedin, an ordinary country peasant, you awake to find yourself
in imminent danger of death, mysteriously trapped in a strange monastery,
populated by evil shadow-monks, and surrounded by magic. Using all of your
intelligence, logic and cunning, you must discover how to escape from the
monastery, by overcome the magical traps and devices that are present,
before ultimately destroying the evil shadow-master. 

Game Play
=========
Once selected, Ashekva Alyedin will greet you, displaying information about
its official distributor (see below), before loading the bulk of the game.
It is possible to skip this greeting by keeping a mouse button held down for
a few seconds during the loading. There will then be a short pause as the
many kilobytes of data are decompressed, after which the Ashekva Alyedin
icon will install on the icon bar. Should you be running the game for the
first time, you will be presented with a registration screen. If this is the
case, you should make sure that the disc on which !Ashekva is stored is
write enabled.

Clicking on the Ashekva Alyedin icon will open the main game window in the
desktop, or enter a special single-tasking mode, depending on the status of
the multitask option (see below). Commands are entered at the prompt ("[>]"),
and executed by pressing [RETURN]. To escape from the single-tasking mode back
to the desktop, press [ESCAPE].

The parser is reasonably intelligent, understanding a wide variety of
commands formed from its vocabulary of over 200 words. Should you use a word
that is not present in the vocabulary, you will be informed that you are
speaking nonsense. You should then select an alternative phrasing or word.

The [HELP] command allows access to the integral help system. Used on its own,
it gives a list of additional subjects on which help is available, but when
used with a command, information on the syntax and use of that command is
available. A list of all the commands understood may be produced using [HELP]
[COMMANDS], and a list of all the words in the vocabulary may be produced
using [HELP VOCABULARY]. These lists should be consulted should you have
problems in making yourself understood.

To move about the landscape, you can use commands of the form [GO NORTH], or,
more conveniently, an abbreviated form, such as [N]. Objects may be picked up
using the [GET] command, and dropped using the [DROP] command. A full list of
objects being carried is produced using the [INVENTORY] command, with
additional information being provided by using the [STATUS] command.

The current position may be saved to disc by using the [SAVE "FileName"]
command, and reloaded with the [LOAD "FileName"] command. Alternatively, by
pressing menu on the main Ashekva Alyedin window, it is possible to save the
current position by using the [Save] option. A position may also be reloaded
simply by dragging it back onto the main Ashekva Alyedin window.

The current position may be temporarily saved in the memory by using the
[RAMSAVE] command, with the [RAMLOAD] command being used to retrieve such a
saved position. Any position saved in such a manner will be lost when the
Ashekva Alyedin application is quit.

It is possible to terminate the current position using the [QUIT] command,
causing Ashekva Alyedin to enter a state of limbo, between life and death.
To retrieve Ashekva Alyedin from this state, use the [REINCARNATE] command.

The [Spool] option from the main window menu allows any text produced in the
main desktop window to be saved to a file. This may prove useful for later
reference, as it allows a hard copy to be made. To start spooling the text,
use the Spool window as normal. This will open a data file of the required
name, but this data file will not be immediately accessible. To finish
spooling, select the [End Spooling] icon. This will convert the data file into
a text file, which may be read in the usual manner. Please note that the
spooling will only save text produced in the desktop window - it will not
save any text produced in the single tasking mode.

By pressing menu on the Ashekva Alyedin icon, and selecting [Preferences], it
is possible to open the Preferences window. From here, it is possible to set
the colours used in the desktop window, and whether the game uses single or
multitasking mode. The preferences may be set temporarily using the [OK] icon,
saved permanently using the [Save] icon, and forgotten using the [Cancel] icon.

Hints
=====
Much that is hidden may be found by examining all that there is to examine,
and as with all adventure games, mapping often proves useful. Large amounts
of information are stored in the room descriptions, which should be studied
careful, together with any additional messages. It is wise to save your
position regularly (if only in memory), and to give consideration as to what
is to be achieved. Remember - Ashekva Alyedin [can] be solved. 

Terms and Conditions
====================
The following terms and conditions apply to the status, use, distribution
and copyright of Ashekva Alyedin. The terms "[Ashekva Alyedin]" and "[the]
[program]" refer to the entirety of the !Ashekva application, unless otherwise
stated. Should you be unable to comply with any of the terms or conditions
laid out below, you are obliged to destroy all copies of Ashekva Alyedin.
Continued use or possession of this program will be taken as an acceptance
of these terms and conditions. Action will be taken against those who are
found to have infringed these terms and conditions.

The copyright ([]) of Ashekva Alyedin is retained by the author, AMF the
Doomwatcher, who reserves the right to modify any part of this program, or
these conditions, without prior notice, as he sees fit. No part of this
program may be used in any other program, whether commercial, shareware,
public domain, or of any other form, without the prior written consent of
the author. No part of this program may be distributed separately from the
rest of the program, although any files produced by this program may be
freely distributed, subject to any conditions listed in those files. No part
of this program may be modified or removed, nor may any additional files be
added within the program, although additional files may be supplied outside
the program, so long as it is made clear that they do not form any part of
the program.

Ashekva Alyedin is supplied as is. No warranty, expressed or implied, of the
merchantability of this program or its fitness for any particular purpose is
given. Under no circumstances shall the author, or the official distributor
of this program, be liable for any damages, direct or consequential, which
may arise from the use of this program.

Ashekva Alyedin is [SHAREWARE], subject to limitations listed in these terms
and conditions. It is [not] public domain, and it is [not] free. An unregistered
copy of the program may be used, for the purposes of evaluation only, for a
trial period of one month from the date of purchase. If, after this time,
you decide that you wish to continue using the program, you are required to
register. Should you fail to register, you are obliged to destroy all your
copies of the program.

Should you continue to use an unregistered copy of Ashekva Alyedin, you will
notice strange things happening, with windows mysteriously closing, and dark
messages popping up, urging you to register. The frequency of these strange
events increases significantly as you go deeper into the game. Consequently,
registration has several distinct advantages. Firstly, you will be rewarded
with a legitimate copy of the program, clearing your conscience, and leaving
you with a pleasantly warm glow. Secondly, you will be spared the irritating
messages, which become really irritating after a while.

Registration is simple - you send a cheque for 10 sterling to APDL, who are
handling the distribution and registration of Ashekva Alyedin. In return,
you will be sent a registered version of the program, free from irritating
messages. On loading this for the first time, you will be prompted for your
name and address. It is important that these details are entered correctly,
for they will be displayed [every] time the program is subsequently run.

An unregistered copy of Ashekva Alyedin may be freely copied, so long as [no]
charge is made for the duplication. However, unregistered copies may [not] be
distributed by any public domain or shareware library, or any other company
or individual who makes a charge for distribution, unless prior written
permission is obtained from the author. At present, [only] APDL are authorised
to distribute unregistered copies of Ashekva Alyedin.

A registered copy of Ashekva Alyedin must [not] be copied, other than for the
purpose of making a single personal backup copy, nor may it be distributed.
Owners of registered copies of the program are reminded that their name is
present in all duplicates of their copy. Action will be taken against those
who are found to be illegally distributing this program.

Addresses
=========
APDL are handling the registration and handling of Ashekva Alyedin. Should
you wish to register your version, you should write to APDL, enclosing a
cheque for 10 sterling, made payable to APDL, at the following address:

APDL,
  39 Knighton Park Road,
    Sydenham,
      London,
        SE26 5RN.

The author of Ashekva Alyedin is AMF the Doomwatcher. Should you wish to
make any constructive comments or suggestions about this program, report any
errors or bugs, or make any donations (donations being made payable to
A.M.Flintham), use the following address:

AMF the Doomwatcher,
  The Monastery of Doomwatcher Monks,
    50 Burlington Way,
      Mickleover,
        Derby,
          DE3 5BD

Please be aware that replies from the Monastery are subject due to severe
delays (upto 9 weeks) due to fixed educational commitments. Please do [not]
write asking for solutions or help with the game. [No] telephone calls will be
accepted. Should you wish to register your copy of Ashekva Alyedin, please
do [not] use this address, but write to APDL, whose address is given above.

[Please be sure that you use the correct address for your letter. Thank you.]

{Ashekva Alyedin} Ashekva Alyedin
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Ashekva Alyedin                                      Version 1.00 (01-Oct-94)
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