Times of Lore/The Foretelling Stones

The Frothing Slosh Tavern


You start in the tavern of the city of Erialan.

Talk to the prior, and he'll set you on the first quest.

Talk to the innkeeper and learn the eight different rumors. Also, he tells you the first important keyword: orcs.

The old man at the counter gives some information about a medallion and the missing king, plus a keyword that will be useful later: high king.

Optional: the magic axe
One of the eight rumors is: "A man from Lankwell boasts of a magical axe".

If you're playing a version other than the NES port, the magic axe is a weapon that really makes the difference. Lankwell is to the south from the city of Erialan. If you follow the plot, you should go there only during the third quest.

The Dark Forest
The Dark Forest is just north of the city of Eralan.

A woodsman lives in the forest. Get the throwing dagger in his hut, then ask him about the orcs. He knows that a path starts north from a pond and leads to their camp.

The blue potion is vital: use it as often as need be. Shortly after, another enemy will drop it anew.

The orc holding the foretelling stones is of a peculiar color (grey in the DOS, blue in the NES). Defeat it, grab the stones and get away.

Side quest: the dragon
One of the eight rumors is: "I heard there's a dragon near the northern mountains."

In some ports of the game (e.g. MS-DOS), a dragon can be fought west from Rhyder. In the other ports, a giant lives east from the same town. The dragon is far tougher than any other enemy, and it would be better to fight it early during the game, when your score and enemy frequency are still low.

In order to find the dragon, leave Rhyder to the west and enter the Dark Forest. When the road turns south, go straight through the thicket and reach a clearing; go north and follow the mountan side. The dragon is immune not only to the red and blue scroll, but also to the dagger and the axe. Get near it and hit it a few times. As soon as it breaths its fire, retreat, quaff a potion and fight some regular enemies to restock it. Then repeat.

The prize for defeating the giant or the dragon is the same: a magic ring. It is completely optional, but it will be useful during the final quest.

Back to Eralan
After you obtained the urn with the Foretelling Stones, get back to the tavern in Erialan, and give them to the Prior. He will then recommend you to the Steward of the kingdom, so that the next quest can start.