r h y g a r   III:    k e e p e r   o f   t h e   f l a m e
by bongo with damage incorporated

(this file was created before the disaster spoken of below.)

(God damn it notice: Yes, this is the final version of Rhygar 3 for ZZT. Perhaps you are wondering why the game is incomplete and only playable through Serpentsway Tower. "Ha ha," laugh I, bitterly. I designed a new SCS RPG engine for the game so that I could actually let it continue, only to discover to my horror that replacing the old version 2.7 SCS fights with the new 3.0 system would add about 40K of space to the 335K file rhyg3-1.zzt. And with about 5K of music still needing to be added in, a Fred 2-like 380K computer-smashing monster would be created. So I had the option of not using the new system and basically leaving in all of the minor bugs from the 2.7 version and not being able to reprogram the old system to include Imoxal and Aisha in the later fights, thereby screwing up the game; using the new fights but drastically reducing the number of them which would basically make mincemeat of the final scene in 3-1.zzt, or doing what I have chosen to do... release what I've got and start anew in a creation system a bit less limit-intensive, good old Megazeux.

I'm not gonna release any plot details for the rest of the game because I do still want to keep the surprise ending a surprise. But this file will get you quite a ways into the plot, so enjoy it. The August release date is now of course a lie, but keep watching my Rhygar page at members.aol.com/bongo79/rhygar.html for information of that sort. This is my ZZT swan song, so enjoy it... I'm moving on up to bigger and better things, folk. Good to have been a ZZTer... wow, for almost two years now. Groovy. Anyway, enjoy the game!

							-bongo
							 5.19.98)

Thanks for downloading Rhygar 3: Keeper of the Flame, the final installement in the Rhygar Trilogy. It's also possibly the longest, with over x hours of playing time and 200+ boards. This file's here to help explain some of how to play.

Starting off:

The menu board is pretty self-explanatory. I'd reccomend going to the Flashback screen and watching the cinema on the storyline if you haven't already played the other Rhygar games, it'll help you figure out what the hell is going on in the game. After that, head into the flashing passage to start playing...

Game modes:

There are three game modes in Rhygar 3... walkabout, cinema, and RPG battle. Walkabout is what you'll be in for most of the game... it's your basic ZZT setup. Just touch things to interact with them, whether that means talking, opening a treasure chest, or stabbing a monster.

Cinema mode is what helps the story actually advance. You'll be stuck in a little box up in the corner, watching the story advance. There's nothing you really have to do here, although at some points in the story you may be called on to make a decision... this can affect later events in the game, or it may just be a minor happening. Be sure to watch the cinemas or you probably won't know what's going on...

RPG mode is the most distinctive part of the game. You'll take control of all the people currently traveling with you, and battle a large enemy or a group of enemies. For some more information about playing an RPG fight, check out the tutorial on the menu screen. Some basic info: there are several areas of the screen. The top left shows you the enemy's name and his life meter. The middle part of the screen shows you where the action's taking place. The bottom window is divided into three parts... the left window represents the health and magic of the party. Magic is shared between all members, so be conservative with the spells you cast! The next window is the Battle Gauge... be watching this. When the meter rises all the way, that character's battle options pop up. See the reference guide further down in the file for an explanation of what the attacks mean.

Characters:

Rhygar Borne. The main character. Rhygar started the trilogy as a brash, impetuous man, but he's grown a tad more mellow since then. He is deeply in love with Aisha McLanden and is best friends with Imoxal Cutter. Rhygar fights with a sword that he found somewhere on a five-year journey to the outer islands that he took just prior to the beginning of the trilogy.

Aisha McLanden. The female commander of Tree Top in northern Fabuliana. Aisha has taken the job of Captain of the Guard for Dock since beginning the journey, and is in love with Rhygar Borne. Aisha is gruff and military on the outside, but she does have a fairly sensitive soul. She also has a fairly cutting way with comebacks. Aisha fights with a pair of daggers and is the fastest of the party.

Imoxal Cutter. Rhygar's best friend and a member of the Silver Guild, a revived fighting organization from Axan. Imoxal is an eternal optomist and never seems to lower his spirits very much for anything. He owns a store in Axan, left to him by his father. He fights with a large golden sword, also an heirloom. Imoxal is the slowest in the party, but also the most powerful.

Orion Magus. A member of the Wizard's Council, currently in exile. She is cool, collected, and secretive, and is working against the Serpent Army in an attempt to discover the truth behind the death of her colleagues on the Council. Orion uses magic very well, but she tends to keep it in reserve until it is most necessary.

Euclid Cory. Another member of the Wizard's Council who left along with Orion. Cory is a tad clumsy and slightly scatterbrained, but he is loyal and can fight to the death for what he believes in. He can also handle large amounts of magical power and cast stronger spells than most wizards, although they don't always work. Cory also uses a long, oaken staff to fight with.

Algar Draco. Algar is the general of Serpentsway and wants to become Emperor of the World. He was a former Captain of the Guard in Dock, exiled because of Aisha McLanden. Algar came to power shortly after the death of the three Wizard's Council members in Serpentsway, and his troops are deathlessly loyal to him. Algar uses a dark form of magic and seemingly trusts no one except his aide Gules.

Gules Krynn. Gules is the Ambassador from Serpentsway and Algar's right hand man. Gules tends to handle most of the battle campaigns for the Serpent Army and is a fighter to be feared, a skillful magic user and fairly good with a mace. He's also something of an arrogant jerk.

Battle Commands:

There are five characters altogether that you can control in the SCS fights: Rhygar, Aisha, Imoxal, Cory and one other... here are the moves that each character can do.

Slash. Used by Rhygar. Slash is Rhygar's basic attack. It does a small amount of damage.

Swipe. Used by Rhygar. Swipe has a chance of failing, but if it works it does a moderate amount of damage to all enemies.

Light Sword. Used by Rhygar. At some point in the game, Rhygar will learn this attack spell. It takes three magic points, and it focuses a pure ray of force directly on the enemy for heavy damage.

Jab. Used by Aisha. Aisha simply jabs the enemy with one of her daggers. It does a small amount of damage.

Toss. Used by Aisha. Aisha throws one of her daggers at the enemy. It has a high chance of not working, but if it does it causes heavy damage.

Pep Up. Used by Aisha. Aisha encourages the party to keep fighting, raising all HP by about two points. It takes 1 MP to use and is handy in the middle of a tough fight.

Fight. Used by Imoxal. Imoxal uses his sword and attacks an enemy. Does medium damage.

Lunge. Imoxal puts his full weight into his attack and lunges at the enemy. Does heavy damage if it works.

Chop. Imoxal rapidly uses his sword to attack all enemies. Does light damage to everyone.

Staff Attack. Used by Cory. Cory hits the enemy with his staff for light damage.

Spells:

Fire. A wave of fire is launched at the enemy, causing a fair amount of damage to all enemies. 3 MP.

Ice. One enemy is frozen solid, causing heavy damage. 2 MP.

Cure. One ally is healed for about four health points. 3 MP.

Seal. One enemy is paralyzed for a while, rendering them unable to attack. 4 MP.

Burst. One ally gets a burst of strength for their next attack, doing heavy damage.

Walkthrough:

This part of this file will get you through the opening scenes of the game. Take heed to start your adventure.

After the cinema, you'll be standing by the riverside with Aisha, Imoxal, ex-Captain Rooke, Orion, and the Historian Rendalim. Talk to Orion, and then follow her south. Go across the bridge and talk to Lumber Jack, waiting there. Head for the western passage to enter Axan.

In Axan, talk to all the party members around the buildings. Follow Orion north into the castle and up to the throne room. Watch the cinemas until you again take control of Rhygar, out in the forests. Refer to r-forest.gif to find your way through, and be sure to grab the treasures along the way. Once you're ready to leave, head into the passage... you'll wind up captured by Lumber Jack. When you're thrown into the prison cell, talk to your cellmate Cory to get out. Once Cory is with you, have him melt the doorway outside. Rhygar will take on some of Lumber Jack's thugs alone, use the Swipe attack to succeed. Cory will rejoin you. Step outside and fight off the other thugs, and then head up to the tree to fight Lumber Jack and the X-1 Contingency Plan. This fight is fairly difficult... focus your attacks on the weapon systems of the tree, and don't use the Swipe attack. Once the weapon systems are destroyed, keep pouring on the attacks until the tree explodes and Rhygar and Cory escape.

From here on, you're on your own... good luck!

Credits:

Story-
John Thornton

Graphics-
John Thornton

Music-
Craig Zieminski
Cliff Hensley (Rhygar Theme, from Rhygar 2)

Programming-
John Thornton (thanks to Mwasson for the idea of the randomizer)

Original Concept-
John Thornton
Matt Badenhop

Special Thanks to-

Craig Zieminski for the awesome music
the damage inc. crowd for putting up with my procrastination on this
OtterJoe for some plot ideas and an awesome article on the game
Cliff Hensley for Rhygar Theme and for housing Rhygar 2 over at ESI
Chronos30 for the Shades Toolbox and the ZZT Encyclopedia
Matthew Darragh for the ZOP Color Box
Greg Janson for STK
Tim Sweeny for basically starting it all
And the requisite YOU!

Rhygar 3: Keeper of the Flame c. 1997/98 John Thornton and damage inc. Ripping it off means that you will die a terrible, terrible death.