THE ABBEY OF CRIME ------------------ "Do not follow false doctrines that spread pestilent seeds", wrote His Holiness Clement VI in the year 1346, to teachers and pupils of the university of Paris. The Pontiff was referring in that letter to the doctrines of a Franciscan monk of English origin called Guillermo of Occam, who had escaped from the prison of Avignon some years previously accused of heresy. For four years he was held until he had the chance to flee, asking for asylum in the court of the Emperor Louis of Bavaria, who was by then feuding with Pope John XXIII. Once the Emperor died, Guillermo wanted to reunite with his church and his Franciscan order. For this reason he then travelled to Italy, accompanied by his young Novice, to meet Bernardo Gui, who was by then in charge of the Inquisition in that area, and in effect, a representative of the Pope. But it is not quite clear if Guillermo actually achieved his goal. All that remains is the testimony left by his Novice years later, in a collection of scrolls which relate the amazing and terrible events that took place during the week they spent in the abbey. The testimony of the story that you are now about to re-live... USE OF THE JOYPAD ----------------- You control Guillermo of Baskerville: J1LT = Turn anticlockwise J1RT = Turn clockwise, choose to sleep at night in the cell J1UP = Move Forward, pick up (walking on it) J1DN = Drop object J1B1 = Call novice, activate mirror door mechanism, choose not to sleep at night in the cell J1B2 = Open load/save system Pause button = Pause game. You can also slowdown or accelerate parchment writing pressing J1LT/RT on joypad. While you press one of these keys, the novice will go in the same direction Guillermo is facing, unless there is an obstacle in his path. Guillermo's novice can be moved only on the same screens that Guillermo is in. To grab objects, stand in front of them. Guillermo can hold up to 6 objects, and his Novice 2 more. The object you wish to drop should be the item on the left of the display. Please note that only Guillermo's objects are on display. Therefore only his items can be dropped. SAVE GAME --------- It is possible to save your position at any part of the game. You can save your position in RAM. But saved positions in RAM will disappear when the system is reset or turned off. You can save on tape or floppy disk, it's the only way to sustainably keep your position. After opening the load/save system, game freezes and you can use the following buttons on joypad: J1LT = Exit from load/save system and return to game J1RT = Select slot (indicated in upper left corner) J1UP = Load game from tape/disk and return to game J1DN = Save game on tape/disk and return to game J1B1 = Load game from RAM J1B2 = Save game in RAM There are 2 slots available to save the game in RAM, 0 and 1. If you play on GX4000, only these slots will be available and it's your only way to save game. Remember, your saves will be definitly lost if you turn off your console. Save on floppy disk: On CPC or PLUS systems equipped with a floppy disk unit, use slots 3 to 9 to save and load game on a blank floppy disk. You can also use slots 0 and 1 with fire buttons to save in RAM as quick saves (lost when computer is turned off) Save on tape: On CPC or PLUS systems equipped with a tape unit, game will be recorded and loaded on tape regardless of the selected slot. Take care of writing the number on counter to be able to load game after saving. You can also use slots 0 and 1 with fire buttons to save in RAM as quick saves (lost when computer is turned off) ADDITIONNAL INFORMATIONS ------------------------ > TIME The monks of Saint Benedict observe seven periods of prayer throughout the day: the liturgical hours. These are as follows: MATINS: Between 2:30am and 3:00am; PRIME: Around 7:30, shortly before daybreak; TERCE: Around 9:00; SEXT: Noon (midday meal); NONE: (rhymes with 'cone') Between 2:00pm and 3:00pm; VESPERS: Around 4:30; COMPLINE: Around 6:00 (the monks go to bed before 7:00). (Aside: sometimes, an extra service 'Lauds' is observed, between Matins and Prime, and this falls at around 5:00am or 6:00am. However, this service is optional, and will not be seen in the game) The time (day + current service) is indicated at the bottom left of the screen. When you first arrive, the clock starts at "Day 1, Nones". You have seven days to complete your investigation. > OBSEQUIUM One of the first comments that the abbot makes after welcoming you is that you must obey his orders, and the rules of the abbey. This includes attending the meals and the offices of prayer (see above), following him when he asks you to, etc. Your novice will remind you when you have to attend offices and meals, and you can just follow him if you forget the way to the church or the refectory. If you disobey any orders, or are late for services, etc., then your 'obsequium' level, indicated on the bottom right-hand-side of the screen, will drop ('obsequium' is Latin for 'subservience' or 'obedience'). Once this obsequium level drops to zero, the abbot will not tolerate your disrespect any longer, and you will have to leave the abbey and the game is over. Some actions, such as missing a prayer office altogether or being caught wandering around at night, result in immediate expulsion. ABOUT THE CARTRIDGE VERSION --------------------------- The cartridge version is a based on a 80's cracked 64k version from "Dal-ro mi" to ensure compatibility with Nocart. The graphics of the rooms have been moved to the cartridge and the tiles have been replaced by the 128k version. With the space freed up in ram the height map has also been updated to 128k as well as the plants, all the code from disk recordings and the 2 snapshots in RAM been incorporated too, making sure that the game can be played as 128k on only 64k computers/consoles that in their original versions have cropped graphics and fewer rooms in the map. This version offers new ingame colours and a new title screen taking part of the 4096 colour capabilities of the Amstrad 464/6128Plus and GX4000. Also minor bugs have been fixed to improve the game experience. ABOUT THE UNOFFICIAL ENGLISH TRANSLATION ---------------------------------------- These instructions have been put together to go with the English translation of The Abbey of Crime ("La Abadia del Crimen"), which is being released to celebrate the game's 15th anniversary, and as a tribute to the late Paco Menéndez. Having heard that the Spanish-speaking gaming community regards this game as one of the best ever, I decided to have a crack at producing an English version. Apparently, one had already been done, many years back, but we were unable to recover this version. The game was originally conceived as a version of Umberto Eco's book "The Name of the Rose". However, Paco and Opera Soft were unable to contact Eco to secure the rights for the name, so the game was released as "La Abadia del Crimen". CREDITS ------- Author: Paco Menéndez Graphics and Artwork: Juan Delcan Copyright Opera Soft 1987 UNOFFICIAL ENGLISH TRANSLATION ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ----------------------------------------------- Patched English version: Eddie Duffy, with additional graphics by Amigo. Translators: Javier Alcaniz, Sard. Ecclesiastical advice: Philip Bee. Proof-reading/general advice: Arjun. Encouragement/Northern wisdom/fruitless loft-searching: BadBeard. NOTE: This game is not in any way an 'official' release, and I hope that our little tribute version is not stepping on anyone's toes. Copyright of the game is, and remains with, OperaSoft. And, if you enjoy the game, then the credit goes to Paco & Juan. If it's a botch job now, the fault is all mine. UNOFFICIAL CARTRIDGE VERSION ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --------------------------------------------- Patched cartridge version: dragon Plus gaphics and technical advice: iXien (providing the Plus gfx of an anonymous benefactor)