text: [Themes: Fantasy, Zorkian, spells, fantasy]
  
  > Go downward
  This is the base of the southeast tower of the castle. From atop a winding staircase comes a loud crashing and screeching noise. To the west is a corridor and the southern gate of the castle.
  
  > Go north
  Everything you see is grey and lifeless, as though covered with a veil of ash. Sound is muted and there is a faint acrid odor.
  This short piece of corridor continues to the north and south.
  
  > go north
  This desolate hall is nearly empty, save for a few long benches which are scattered throughout the room. The walls seem to be scorched, and everywhere are signs of decay. A sickening odor pervades the room, and wisps of acrid black smoke can be seen to the north. A wide passage leads south, and a small one opens to the east.
  To the north you can hear the sound of a group of low, guttural
  voices.
  The low, guttural voices seem to be coming in your direction.
  
  > Go east
  The kitchen has been freshly used. The oven, though empty, is still warm. Bones litter the floor, and the carving knives are bloody. The bones give all too clear an indication of the nature of the viands prepared here.
  
  > take all
  heap of garbage: That would be rather undignified.
  oven: It would take more magic than you've got!
  various and sundry items: You have no use for those things.
  
  > learn the vaxum
  Using your best study habits, you learn the vaxum spell.
  
  > Go west
  This desolate hall is nearly empty, save for a few long benches which are scattered throughout the room. The walls seem to be scorched, and everywhere are signs of decay. A sickening odor pervades the room, and wisps of acrid black smoke can be seen to the north. A wide passage leads south, and a small one opens to the east.
  To the north you can hear the sound of a group of low, guttural
  voices.
  
  > go north
  The corridor widens here to form a large hall. To the north and south are small passages, and to the east is what appears to be an enormous spiral staircase. A passage to the west leads into a courtyard. The walls here are scarred and black, and a strange heaviness hangs in the air.
  
  > open the door
  The door is locked from the outside. even if you could open it, the guards would undoubtedly return you with little difficulty.
  
  A host of hunched and hairy shapes appear through the window. The cell door opens and you are marched solemnly to the temple and, from there, up the steps to the altar. The large, black figure approaches menacingly. He reaches into his cloak and pulls out a great, glowing dagger. He pulls you onto the altar, and with a murmur of approval
  from the throng, he plunges the blade into your heart!
  
  ****  You have died  ****
  
  You awaken among the members of the Circle. Belboz the Necromancer looks tired, and scattered about are the remains of the components of
  a spell of great healing power. The other members of the Circle are pleased to see you revived, but worried by the setback. "I think Krill is too powerful," says one. "This inexperienced wizard will never defeat one so puissant as he." Quiet discussion ensues, with well-concealed acrimony beneath the surface.
  Debate ensues, with Belboz returning frequently to the contents of the ancient manuscript. His wishes prevail, and it is agreed to send you back....
  
  You are at a fork in the road where paths to the northwest and southwest girdle the base of the Lonely Mountain and a smaller path winds its way to the east.
  There is a loaf of bread here.
  There is a jug here.
  The jug contains:
  A very small quantity of water
  
  > go north
  This small room must have been a closet of some sort. To the north is
  a passage leading out into a courtyard. Another exit is to the south. In the exact center of the room is a large, jewelled box. It is
  wrapped in tight coils of thin rope. You try to follow the strands
  with your eye, but become hopelessly lost in the jumble of thousands
  of loops and knots.
  
  > learn the rezrov
  Using your best study habits, you learn the rezrov spell.
  
  > Rezrov box
  from working.
  
  > go north
  Everything you see is grey and lifeless, as though covered with a veil of ash. Sound is muted and there is a faint acrid odor.
  This is the westernmost point in a large open courtyard. The huge entrance gate to the castle looms ominously to the west. The courtyard widens as it proceeds to the east, where a large, ivy-covered temple stands. On either side of the temple are small towers. Far beyond the temple, high above, are two large towers marking the corners of the castle. A squat dark turret hunches between them, blackening the sky around it. A small path leads into the castle to the south.
  
  > go to the northeast
  The northern part of the interior courtyard is grey and lifeless. The vast lawns are withered and covered in black ash stretching from south to west. The temple stands to the southeast, and the courtyard continues east.
  
  > Go south
  You are in the center of a large courtyard, which surrounds you. Everything around you is ashen and grey, and the air seems miasmic and oppressive. The dead grass seems to grab at your feet as you stand gazing around. To the east is a temple flanked by two smaller towers. Behind it can be seen the two eastern towers of the castle, shrouded
  in blood-red fog. Between them is a dark turret, black and ominous as night. It sends dark streams of smoke curling around everything near it. From the temple can be heard a mournful chant.
  
  > go south
  This is the southern part of the courtyard, spreading north and west. The ground is ashen and grey, and the air heavy with death. The dead grass seems to grab at your feet. A narrow stretch of scorched earth continues to the east. To the northeast stands the temple, flanked by two small towers.
  
  > Go east
  Everything you see is grey and lifeless, as though covered with a veil of ash. Sound is muted and there is a faint acrid odor.
  You are south of a small tower which connects with the temple to the north. A large courtyard can be seen to the west and a smaller one to the northeast.
  The sun starts to set behind the Lonely Mountain in the west.
  The day is coming to an end earlier than you would have expected.
  
  > Go northeast
  to the west. The temple is flanked, north and south, by twin towers. Paths cross the scarred lawn to the northwest and southwest. Nothing now grows here, however, and a foul stench fills the air.
  
  > Go east
  The corridor widens here to form a large hall. To the north and south are small passages, and to the east is what appears to be an enormous spiral staircase. A passage to the west leads into a courtyard. The walls here are scarred and black, and a strange heaviness hangs in the air.
  
  > go east
  do anything and, seeing you, take you in their arms and escort you to the west into a huge temple.
  
  Everything you see is grey and lifeless, as though covered with a veil of ash. Sound is muted and there is a faint acrid odor.
  This is the interior of a huge temple of primitive construction. A few flickering torches cast a sallow illumination over the altar, which, atop a row of stairs, is still drenched with the blood of human sacrifice. Behind the altar is an enormous statue of a demon which seems to reach towards you with dripping fangs and razor-sharp talons. Two open doorways lead out of the temple to the east and west, while two wooden doors stand at the north and south. A mass of hunched figures in the temple are chanting a haunting tune. They don't seem interested in your presence.
  
  A low noise begins behind you, and you turn to see hundreds of hunched and hairy shapes. A guttural chant issues from their throats. Near you stands a figure draped in a robe of deepest black, brandishing a vicious dagger. The chant grows louder as the robed figure approaches the altar. As the shapes grab you, the figure in black speaks: "Take the victim to the tower. I shall prepare for the sacrifice!" The figures, whose form you can barely guess, take you from here through the northern door and into a prison cell. They take your possessions from you and close the door with a crash!
  
  Everything you see is grey and lifeless, as though covered with a veil of ash. Sound is muted and there is a faint acrid odor.
  This is a small prison cell in the north tower of the temple. Hideous shapes can be seen through the iron-barred window in the prison door. From the temple, a bloodcurdling chant can be heard.
  
  > learn the rezrov
  You don't have your spell book. How do you expect to memorize a spell without a spell book?
  
  > go east
  Everything you see is grey and lifeless, as though covered with a veil of ash. Sound is muted and there is a faint acrid odor.
  You are south of a small tower which connects with the temple to the north. A large courtyard can be seen to the west and a smaller one to the northeast.
  
  > Go northeast
  to the west. The temple is flanked, north and south, by twin towers. Paths cross the scarred lawn to the northwest and southwest. Nothing now grows here, however, and a foul stench fills the air.
  
  > go west
  Everything you see is grey and lifeless, as though covered with a veil of ash. Sound is muted and there is a faint acrid odor.
  This is the interior of a huge temple of primitive construction. A few flickering torches cast a sallow illumination over the altar, which, atop a row of stairs, is still drenched with the blood of human sacrifice. Behind the altar is an enormous statue of a demon which seems to reach towards you with dripping fangs and razor-sharp talons. Two open doorways lead out of the temple to the east and west, while two wooden doors stand at the north and south. A mass of hunched figures in the temple are chanting a haunting tune. They don't seem interested in your presence.
  
  A low noise begins behind you, and you turn to see hundreds of hunched and hairy shapes. A guttural chant issues from their throats. Near you stands a figure draped in a robe of deepest black, brandishing a vicious dagger. The chant grows louder as the robed figure approaches the altar. As the shapes grab you, the figure in black speaks: "Take the victim to the tower. I shall prepare for the sacrifice!" The figures, whose form you can barely guess, take you from here through the northern door and into a prison cell. They take your possessions from you and close the door with a crash!
  
  Everything you see is grey and lifeless, as though covered with a veil of ash. Sound is muted and there is a faint acrid odor.
  This is a small prison cell in the north tower of the temple. Hideous shapes can be seen through the iron-barred window in the prison door. From the temple, a bloodcurdling chant can be heard.
  The sun starts to set behind the Lonely Mountain in the west.
  The day is coming to an end earlier than you would have expected.
  
  > Rezrov door
  The locked cell door opens with a powerful snap! Unfortunately, the guards seem to have heard the snap and approach!
  
  A host of hunched and hairy shapes appear through the window. The cell door opens and you are marched solemnly to the temple and, from there, up the steps to the altar. The large, black figure approaches menacingly. He reaches into his cloak and pulls out a great, glowing dagger. He pulls you onto the altar, and with a murmur of approval
  from the throng, he plunges the blade into your heart!
  
  ****  You have died  ****
  
  You awaken among the members of the Circle. Belboz the Necromancer looks tired, and scattered about are the remains of the components of
  a spell of great healing power. The other members of the Circle are pleased to see you revived, but worried by the setback. "I think Krill is too powerful," says one. "This inexperienced wizard will never defeat one so puissant as he." Quiet discussion ensues, with well-concealed acrimony beneath the surface.
  Debate ensues, with Belboz returning frequently to the contents of the ancient manuscript. His wishes prevail, and it is agreed to send you back....
  
  You are at a fork in the road where paths to the northwest and southwest girdle the base of the Lonely Mountain and a smaller path winds its way to the east.
  There is a loaf of bread here.
  There is a jug here.
  The jug contains:
  A small quantity of water
  
  > Inventory
  You are carrying:
  A battered lantern (providing light)
  A worn silver spoon
  A beautiful, ornamented egg
  A jug
  The jug contains:
  A small quantity of water
  A partially eaten loaf of bread
  A spell book