Novella - Novella based on the game "LORD OF MIDNIGHT".

    * КОМПЬЮТЕРНАЯ НОВЕЛЛА *    
________________________________
                                
      LORD OF тНЕ mIDNIGHt      
*************************1996***
                                
днажды  ко мне в руки случай-
но попала игра со страшно ин-
тригующим названием "LORDS OF
тНЕ mIDNIGHt", что можно переве-
сти  на русский  язык как "ПОЛУ-
НОЧНЫЕ ЛОРДЫ". Не долго думая, я
загрузил  эту игру в свой компь-
ютер и стал ждать, что ж дальше-
то  будет? А  дальше было  очень
круто - кровавые схватки с сила-
ми злого ДУМДАРЛЕНА, захват зам-
ков   иwinning glory.    
   But I got carried away by something - because you
don’t know who Dumdarlen is and
his guys. Well, I'll make up for these
spaces.                        
   At the beginning of the game you have control
The role is played by four Lords:   
                                
 LUXOR - Luxor, Prince of the Moon.    
 mORHIN - his son, quite
cool guy.                   
 CARLEtH tNE FEY - leader
Fairy Lords. Suspicious, everyone
where he tries to protect himself from
possible danger.            
 ROtHRON mNE WISE - black sorcerer
noknischnik.  All obstacles are removed
directed by Dumdarlen, he
eliminates without difficulty.            
                                
   It was these four lords
it's up to you to manage.  Co
in time you will hire someone you know
a strong army of Lords, but for now -
and these are enough. Control keys
The keys in this game are:        
                                
 m - Lord's choice.  Every Lord
"attached" to a specific letter -
howl or number.                 
 T - different menus. Let's consider
them:1 - SEEK.Search for objects. If
the character finds something, then
he will tell you about it.  Find
you can do a lot of things - weapons, food and
other.  If the character is nothing
finds it, he will tell you:
"NOtHING".                      
 2 - HIDE. Hide from enemies.
Coming out of hiding - the same
key, but opposite it will be
label "DO NOT HIDE", that is
come out of hiding.               
 3 - FIGHt not... .  fight with
wolves, all sorts of dragons or
trolls around
Lord's.                          
 4 - RECRUIt. Recruit yourself
some prodigal Lord
along with his army.            
 5 - RECRUIt mAN.  Recruitment of troops
or fortresses. Single press
This allows you to recruit 100
warriors                         
 6 - StAND mAN AN GUARD. Distancenew security in fortresses. One-
pressing twice also mobilizes
100 warriors.                     
 7 - TO BAttLE! To battle!And yours
army with war cries
rushes towards the enemy.  Everything is clear -
pressing this key will cause
your troops attack troops
enemy.                     
   The key "R" will allow you to
information about the Lord's condition (data
about the results of the battle, about losses, about
positions of your soldiers and cre-
post about the troops of Dumdarlen, about
the state of the army of a given Lord and
about the condition of the troops of other Lore-
Dov).                           
 E - turn for site inspection -
ness.                          
 1...8 - change the viewing direction
ra. Here 1 is NORTH, and 8 is NORTH
RO-WEST.                       
 Q - moving forward one
location.                        
 U - transfer of progress to the computer.
Computermoves troops
Dumdarlena, carries out battles,
after which he passes the move to you. On
the question that appears on the screen
respond by pressing the G key
(GAmE).                         
   Time in the game flows normally
small playing time, i.e.
after several moves of the Lord
night comes and the Lord cannot
walk.                         
   So, the control is over -
but... It remains to tell about the plot
games.  But about him and about what
happened to the country subjected
in the face of Dumdarlen's attack, you
learn from the story written
based on the game "NOT LORDS OF
tNE mIDNIGHt".                  
                                
              * * *             
 THE LAST BATTLE.        
                                
********************************
Based on the game                 
tNE L O R D S OF tNE mIDNIGHt
********************************
                                
midnight... Before the fire,
which had almost gone out, they were sitting
Thirty people. One of them
stirred the smoldering coals with a branch and
sadly said:                
   - Luxor, the army will not-
foreseen problems. Dumdarlen
intimidated the entire local area, and
therefore, it is unlikely that we will support anyone
We are recruiting into our army. In the future-
living army, I want to say.      
   Tall, broad-shouldered man
century, which was Luxor,
prince of the moon and owner of the le-
Gendar Moon Ring, stood up
and looked around at those present.  All
here - Carlet, Maureen and Rotron
Weiss.  After thinking a little, Luxor
replied:                        
   - Yes, you're probably right, Kar-
years  But besides these three
There are also other villages
villages I haven't visited
Dumdarlen with his thugs
mi.  Maybe try there
hire an army?                     
   “Yes, yes,” answered with mockery.
til Rotron. - Find such oaks -
meme, what a horror! Last time you
I also hired a hillbilly - so what?
Your recruits have no idea
had how to fit into armor and surprise
jumped in, as cleverly as possible
to wield a sword and a shield, being
clad in the armor of a knight.    
   - Wait!  What happened, happened
and now we are talking about today-
“in the deep end,” said Luxor.  -
We need to decide who will go where
try your luck. Need to do
your choice.                     
   - I completely agree with you-
sen,” said Rotron, “but yes-
Wow, hurry up and get all this done!
yay, I wanted to eat something.   
   The lords smiled, and Maureen,
looking at his father, he said lightly
with a half smile:                
   - Indeed, father, come on
let's decide who will go where and
who will do what. Otherwise we
We've been sitting here for more than an hour.    
   Rotron as a sign of consent to leave-
shaft head.  Luxor suddenly
turned towards the forest and began
listen to something. I find-
placing his hand on the hilt of the sword, he said
hall just one word:          
   - Wolves...                   
   Rotron shrugged and sat down.
on the stump, muttering indistinctly
something under your breath.  Maureen and
Carlet looked at each other and sadly
grinned. Maureen pulled out of his no-
wives his sword, and Carlet took out
from his belt his combat staff.  
   Soon, however, Rotron also us-
heard the crack of breaking branches and
quiet squeals and whines
of approaching wolves. Pos-
looking at the edge of the forest, Rotron saw
there are vague shadows.  Definitely
it was a packwolves. And quite a lot.
 The horses, huddled together,
Gunno huddled together.  C
with a sniff Rotron pulled out from behind
sinuses a small box with
clever inscription in Latin, and,
taking a quick glance at the edge,
opened it.                      
   Inside the box was
white powder, which was
the most valuable magic potion
all warlocks. Wolves themes
over time they were getting closer and closer
and closer to the Lords, who,
the weapon is alive, they became a semicircle.
Everyone except Rotron, who muttered
some spells and the player
with white powder. Luxor is suitable
was preparing for an attack by wolves, and she did not
I made myself wait a long time.     
   A pack of wolves with a powerful rush
jumped on the Lords and it happened
something unusual... A bright flash
the shaft of light hit the very thick of it
packs of wolves, in all directions
shreds of wool flew, that's all
enveloped in blue smoke.  When there's smoke
dissipated, the Lords saw on
clearing instead of the expected heap
bones an even pile of ash. Maureen
sheathed his sword and turned to
Rotron.  This is true! Rotron ve-
the village winked and hid the box-
box with magic powder back
in your bosom.                      
   After a short skirmish with the vol-
kami Lords allowed themselves to
big break. Luxor stood up and
said:                         
   - I thought and decided that everything
we will go in different directions
ta.  I'll go north, Maureen
will go south, Carlet will go west and
Rotron to the east.  Objections
no?                            
   “Only one thing,” said a voice
Rotron. - In the east there is a tavern to-
darling, can I go to
south?                             
                                
              * * *             
                                
after a few hours you get tired
solidly riding your horse
Rotron was sitting in a tavern where
and sipped his beer, squinting at
pleasure.  His attention is
attracted by the red-haired guy in military uniform
armor, which for a glass of beer
told the most incredible things
history. With a mug in hand Rotron
sat down next to the redhead and affably
said:                         
   - How are you, buddy?        
   The redhead frowned at Roth-
Rona and muttered gloomily:          
   - Very, very bad... That's it
my lands, my most fertile
land... They are no more... I have
they were taken away!                    
   Rotron stared into his circle
and said carefully:          
   - Come on, man, don't be
stupid slave!  Tell me who
I offended you, I will help you. Maybemaybe I'll help...             
   Red, who by this time
I stopped thinking at all,
he hiccupped drunkenly and roared.  I'll tuck-
leaning into Rotron’s shoulder, he sobbed
he cried like a child and wailed:  
 - I... I, Lord Dreams, and where
me?!  I'm drinking in some tavern
disgusting beer, a...a... Where are my
earth, you say, where are they?! U
they took them away from me... And who-o-o!!!
Du.. DUMLAND... DOO... Dumdarlen!
In..Whoa..ik!..then... And you
who?..                          
   Rotron took a sip from his mug
Dreams, and yawned.               
   “I am Lord Rotron Weiss,” say-
hall he. - Me, I must say,
suffered the same fate as
you.  But you're luckier
my new friend (one more sip
from Dreams mug) - you have left-
There were warriors, but I... Alas...   
   Dreams stopped crying and drinking
said in a loud voice:             
   - What's the matter, Rotron? I will
always with you... And but..ik!..whose
and during the day, Rotron!  Consider me yours
the most faithful and the best
friend, Rotron!!! I will always be with
you!..                        
   Rotron, having already succumbed
shy, smiled and said drunkenly,
hall:                            
   - I agree, Dri...ik!...
ims!  Only at night...ik!.. notneed...                         
   In a few minutes the tavern
shuddered from thunderous snoring
Rotron and his new friend.     
                                
              * * *             
                                
umdarlen looked into the Mirror of the Su-
deb and saw all the Lords, these
disobedient rebels. Nothing
in the near future he will be with them
cum. With everyone. And no one else
won't be able to interfere with him. NO ONE...  
   Loud clatter of forged boots
interrupted his thoughts. Dumdar-
Len turned around and saw his
vassal, clearly agitated.
The vassal raised his hand in recognition
statements and said:              
   - My lord, one of the in-
the root Lords are sent directly
mime into our trap. Take life
you?                            
   - If you take him alive,
receive the amount ten times
great if you took it
dead,” said Dumdarlen, and
turned again to the Mirror of Judgement
would.                             
   The vassal smiled mysteriously
and quietly left the room.        
   Galloping down the stairs, he
rushed inbarracks. From a kick
the iron door of the barracks will open
las. From the threshold the vassal shouted: 
   - On the horses! Who will take the wrong
the root Lord alive - will receive
an amount three times larger if you
they took him dead! On the horses!!!  
                                
              * * *             
                                
yuksor dismounted from his horse and looked around
sya.  He couldn't understand
what bothers him here. Like
a quiet place, a forest... But
something was wrong here... Suddenly
he heard a horse neighing,
which immediately fell silent, as if
someone covered the horse's mouth.  On
just in case Luxor pulled out
sheathe the sword and carefully again
looked around.  Nobody and nothing...
Shrugging his shoulders, Luxor interjected
the sword returned to its scabbard and turned
with your back to the forest. With wild screams
and warlike cries from the thicket
soldiers and knights jumped out
mdarlena led by a vassal,
who shouted:                
   - Take it alive!               
   Luxor turned around, half
drawing the sword from its scabbard when
strong blow of an iron gauntlet
sent him into oblivion.         
   Vassalbent over the person lying down
Luxor and told the knight, get out
Former Luxor:                  
   - Good job, knight!..  
   The vassal touched Luxo's chest
ra - the heart did not beat. Getting up from
knees, the vassal roughly pushed
knight and muttered through his teeth:  
   - Too good job, no-
until then...                       
                                
              * * *             
                                
orina, unlike her
friends, I was a little lucky -
she.  As they say, at least he’s alive
remained.  They grabbed him, sleepy.
warriors of Dumdarlen and somewhere else
lockley.  He saw lying from-
tsa... or not?.. Who knows...
Morin's thoughts were confused,
but my head hurt, everything hurt
body. Under the right eye - fresh
bruise, damn it! Maureen sat on
a pile of straw carelessly lying around
in the corner, and looked around.           
   Dark room, small
some barred window, a couple
skeletons on the floor, rusty shackles
and chains. Everything is clear - there is a dungeon here
one of the castles of Dumdarlen.
Maureen scratched the back of his head, which
I was also very sick, andstood on
legs. After walking around for a while
dungeon from corner to corner, Maureen
walked up to the door. Strong oak
door covered with wrought iron.
You can't knock this one out with your shoulder... But
It’s not worth staying here for a long time - Mo-
Rin knew what was wrong with the “guests” here
mistreated. And... In general,
we need to get out of here as soon as possible
rather.  But how? There was no case
for someone to escape successfully
from Dumdarlen. Maureen stopped
in the middle of the dungeon and said
out loud:                          
   - What if...             
   But he doesn't finish his thought
managed, because the door opened and
the guard barked:               
   - Prisoner, stand up.       
   - I’m already standing...            
   - Prisoner, hands together,
step forward and follow me.           
   Maureen smiled weakly, but
obeyed the guard.  Coming out to
corridor, he saw a whole squad
their escorts. The vassal measured
Morina with a contemptuous look and
said casually:                
   - Follow us, Maureen...   
   A chill ran down my spine
Morina - the business tone of the vassal is not
promised nothing good. And vassal
added fuel to the fire:           
   - I wouldn't want to be on yours
place, Maureen...                 
   The procession moved along
corridor    Morin, surrounded
guards, walked with a downcast
appearance, but his mind did not work
ceasing.  How to escape from here?
How?    Eat,of course a couple
thoughts, but this is not the same.
Unreal... Although no...        
   Morin smiled and nodded himself
with your head - perhaps this one
the plan will do!                  
                                
              * * *             
                                
     To be continued...    
                                
  © 1996 Okatov Dmitry, ATEK