DESCRIPTION

For a number of decades, the Caretaker worked at the Ancients' Tarmalon Galactic Museum, a place where their kind could learn interesting facts and be entertained. However, an ancient artifact was stolen, and he was called to retrieve it. The artifact is known as the Wizard's Compendium, a fierce leather scroll that contains 12 powerful spells.

It was created when a group of wizards entered the Keflor Forest and combined their spells into the scroll. All the wizards then became power mad and wanted to control the scroll. Battle ensued and some wizards were murdered. Since then, the Wizard's Compendium has become a vile scroll that leaves innocent people dead in its powerful wake. Wherever the scroll is, murder is around the corner, and the scroll has been rumored to drive people mad. You have become the recipient of the scroll and must seek out a master and the oddities surrounding it. This requires searching Tarmalon and various museums.

Legacy of the Ancients is a first-person adventure that involves exploration, interacting with certain characters and finding important items. In order to enter one of Tarmalon's museums, one must have access to the manual's code ring. This contains information pertaining to the planet's name, gem and ring number. When the code is entered, the museum can be explored.

The interface is menu-driven and contains features for wearing armor, climbing holes and ladders, ceasing the current action and holding an item from the inventory. You can also use various transportation devices. While around the town of Tarmalon, you can converse with townsfolk, steal cash and other forms of loot and examine the surroundings. The examine feature is handled with a character named Xamine, who makes references to terrain, food use and hidden traps.

The town of Tarmalon also features an abundance of stores including the Bank, the Lending Association, Training School and General Store. At the bank, one can deposit and withdraw their cash. For those who don't have cash, the Lending Association will offer loans. As in other RPGs of this nature, the Training School will improve the adventurer's statistics in endurance, intellect, charm, strength and dexterity. In addition to these stores, one can have their fortune read to access clues and hints.

When the town is exited, there is a fair chance of running into a monster. Monsters and enemies include human foes such as farmers and bandits. There are also all kinds of creatures such as rock beetles, killer fish, kobolds, orcs and enemies specific to the current location. There are 32 creatures in all. In order to battle one of these foes, select the Fight option in the menu. You can either use a blunt weapon, a bow or one of six spells to kill the monster. ~ Matthew House, All Game Guide