Betrayal at Krondor
Developer(s)	Dynamix
Publisher(s)	Sierra Entertainment
License	Freeware
Release date(s)	1993
Genre(s)	Role-playing game
Mode(s)	Single Player
Rating(s)	USK: unrestricted
Platform(s)	MS-DOS
Media	3½" floppies (7); later released also on CD-ROM and as a download

Betrayal at Krondor is a DOS computer role-playing game developed by Dynamix and published by Sierra Entertainment in 1993. The game world of Betrayal at Krondor is derived directly from Midkemia, the fantasy world developed by Raymond E. Feist. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (640x785, 103 KB) Summary Scan of the package artwork of Betrayal at Krondor, the original 3. ... A video game developer is a software developer (a business or an individual) that creates video games. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... A software license is a legal agreement which may take the form of a proprietary or gratuitous license as well as a memorandum of contract between a producer and a user of computer software. ... The term Freeware refers to gratis proprietary software with closed source. ... Notable events of 1993 in computer and video games. ... Video games are categorized into genres based on their gameplay. ... This article is about games in which one plays the role of a character. ... In computer games and video games, single-player refers to the variant of a particular game where input from only one player is expected throughout the course of the gaming session. ... The USKs official logo. ... Microsofts disk operating system, MS-DOS, was Microsofts implementation of DOS, which was the first popular operating system for the IBM PC, and until recently, was widely used on the PC compatible platform. ... A floppy disk is a data storage device that is composed of a disk of thin, flexible (floppy) magnetic storage medium encased in a square or rectangular plastic shell. ... The CD-ROM (an abbreviation for Compact Disc Read-Only Memory (ROM)) is a non-volatile optical data storage medium using the same physical format as audio compact discs, readable by a computer with a CD-ROM drive. ... Instructions on how to use the directory command. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Notable events of 1993 in computer and video games. ... Midkemia is the fictional world on which most of the stories in Raymond E. Feists Riftwar series of fantasy novels are set, except for the three Empire novels set on Kelewan which were co-written with Janny Wurts. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Raymond Elias Feist (born 1945, Los Angeles, California) is an American author, mostly specialising in fantasy fiction. ...

Although neither the dialog nor narrative were written by Feist himself, the game is considered canon in that it has been novelized by Feist as Krondor: The Betrayal and events taking place in the game were subsequently written into later novels in the Riftwar series. PyroTechnix developed a sequel, Return to Krondor, that was released by Sierra in 1998. The Riftwar Saga is a series of fantasy novels by Raymond E. Feist. ... Return to Krondor Set in Raymond Feists Midkemia, Return to Krondor is a PC-based action fantasy roleplaying game that debuted in time for the Holidays in 1998. ...

Technical details and graphics style

The game uses 256-color 320x200 VGA mode. The graphics engine uses textured 3D graphics to draw the terrain and uses sprites for most of the detailed objects. The engine does not support multi-level terrain as such, but obstacles such as hills and mountains are supported. Most shops, inns, temples, special locations, and large cities are done as pictures usable through hotspots. Smaller towns have 3D buildings. VGA Port VGA plug Video Graphics Array (VGA) is an analog computer display standard first marketed in 1987 by IBM. It has been technologically outdated in the PC market for some time. ... Spherical texture mapping Texture mapping is a method, pioneered by Edwin Catmull, of adding detail, surface texture, or colour to a computer-generated graphic or 3D model. ... The rewrite of this article is being devised at Talk:3D computer graphics/Temp. ... In computer graphics, a sprite (also known by other names; see Synonyms below) is a two-dimensional image or animation that is integrated into a larger scene. ... An onscreen hotspot, in computing, provides a special area for hyperlinking or for other GUI-based activity (such as re-direction, pop-up display (of advertising or of non-advertising), macro execution, etc). ...

NPC, character and some monster art is based on photographs. Environments are a mix of captured images and hand-drawn. In combat and puzzle screens, all characters are animated, except for movement - characters do not appear to move their legs while walking. An NPC from the video game The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. ...

The game models illumination to certain extent: In the overworld, day and night are modeled, and in underground locations, the player needs to use a torch or a light spell to illuminate the surroundings.

Compatibility with modern systems

The game runs in protected mode, using Borland C++'s Ergo DPMI / RTM DOS extender.^[1] It remained quite compatible with Microsoft Windows up to the 9x series. The game also works quite well in DOSBox^[2] and VDMSound. Protected mode is an operational mode of x86-compatible CPUs of the 80286 series or later. ... Borland C++ is an C and C++ programming environment (used to be called an Integrated Development Environment) for DOS, Windows, and Windows NT. Although it can be used to program DOS applications, it does not include a stand alone DOS IDE. DOS applications must be edited, browsed, and compiled from... DPMI is the method which Microsoft prescribes for a DOS program to run in protected mode and to access extended memory under a multitasking operating system like Microsoft Windows 3. ... DOS extender is the name invented in the 1980s for a technology to allow programs started from MS-DOS, which ran in Real mode, to actually run in protected mode. ... Windows redirects here. ... DOS Version of Z running in DOSBox in Debian. ... VDMSound is a modern program that allows Windows XP to have Sound Blaster support. ...

xBaK is a game engine recreation which allows Betrayal at Krondor to be played natively under the X Window System, using the original data files.^[3] Game engine recreations are engine interpreters for video games that replace the original engine binary that came with the original game. ... GNOME 2. ...

Gameplay

The main interface of Betrayal at Krondor.

Most of the gameplay happens on the 3D view of the game world. Aside of the overworld, there are also various dungeons, caves and sewers to explore. Exploration occurs mainly from a first-person view but switches to a third-person view during combat. Image File history File links Betrayal_at_Krondor_-_main_interface. ... Image File history File links Betrayal_at_Krondor_-_main_interface. ...

The game has two possible views, the 3D view and the 2D top-down map view, where the player is represented with a triangular marker. In the original game, the map view rotated when the player turned, while the player was always facing north; in patch 1.02 and later, there's an option which allows the map view to stay put while the player direction marker turns around.^[4] The overworld is automatically mapped, but other locations are not; they are automatically mapped in the top-down view. The player can also view the full map of Midkemia and see their location. In Doom, the Automap is a pickup that looks like a flat-screen with green lines on it. ... Midkemia is the fictional world on which most of the stories in Raymond E. Feists Riftwar series of fantasy novels are set, except for the three Empire novels set on Kelewan which were co-written with Janny Wurts. ...

The player is generally allowed to explore the world how they wish, however, only certain locations are accessible in certain chapters. While travelling between towns, the party camps in the wilderness to rest and recover lost health/stamina.

Moredhel wordlock chests

Moredhel Wordlock Chest

One of the unique features of the game are the moredhel wordlock chests. These chests have combination locks with letters on each dial, and a riddle written upon them whose answer will open the chest if spelled out. The chests typically hold valuable items and equipment, and sometimes hints in the form of communiques between various NPCs. If no member of the player's party can read the moredhel language, the writing on the chest will appear untranslated, although it can still be opened by trying each possible combination. The moredhel alphabet is a character substitution of the A-Z alphabet. Gorath, as a moredhel, can read it. When Gorath is not in the party, Patrus can read the moredhel alphabet for short periods of time by casting his Union spell. Image File history File links Betrayal_at_Krondor-Moredhel_Wordlock_Chest. ... Image File history File links Betrayal_at_Krondor-Moredhel_Wordlock_Chest. ... Midkemia is a fictional world created by a fantasy role-playing group and popularized by Raymond E. Feist where most of the Riftwar books take place. ... A letter combination lock. ... A riddle is a statement or question having a double or veiled meaning, put forth as a puzzle to be solved. ...

Plot and dialogue

Example of a cutscene, from the introduction to Chapter 1.

Plot is usually advanced through literary cutscenes. Each chapter begins and ends with a cutscene, consisting of text and dialogue with animations, usually based on location and character artwork. Image File history File links Betrayal_at_Krondor_-_story. ... Image File history File links Betrayal_at_Krondor_-_story. ...

The player characters meet various NPCs during their travels. Dialogue is text-based (often with short voice clips as greetings), and some NPCs the player can talk to have their own pictures as well. Conversation is tree-based: in certain cases, the player can choose between various dialogue keywords. This is often used to get information, training, and items from NPCs, often for a price. A simple example unordered tree In computer science, a tree is a widely-used data structure that emulates a tree structure with a set of linked nodes. ...

RPG system and player character development

Character sheet. Two skills - melee and crossbow accuracy - are emphasized, as indicated by the red pommels of the swords

There are two or three characters in the adventuring party. While the player is able to meet various non-human characters over their journeys - dwarves, elves, and dragons - all but one of the available player characters are human (the exception being Gorath, a moredhel dark elf). There are two classes of characters: Fighters (Locklear, James, and Gorath) and Magicians (Pug, Owyn, and Patrus). The main difference is that Fighters are able to use swords and crossbows, while magicians can only use a staff as a weapon - the only long-range attacks magicians are capable of are from various spells. Image File history File links Betrayal_at_Krondor_-_character_sheet. ... Image File history File links Betrayal_at_Krondor_-_character_sheet. ... Swiss longsword, 15th or 16th century Look up Sword in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... 15th century French soldier wearing a helmet and a hauberk, carrying a crossbow/arbalest and a pavise. ... For other uses of the word staff, see staff. ...

The character system is unique. Character statistics are based on numeric attributes. The two key attributes in combat are Health and Stamina. Speed determines how many combat grid squares the character can move. Strength influences the amount of damage the character inflicts in mêlée combat. Spellcasting, swinging one's weapon, and combat damage first use up stamina. Once stamina is depleted, health is used and as it decreases, the character's skills (such as weapon accuracy) are negatively affected. Mêlée generally refers to disorganized hand-to-hand combat involving a group of fighters. ...

Characters can also acquire various status effects. Characters whose health drops to zero in combat are knocked out and acquire "Near Death" status, making them extremely ineffective in combat and heal very slowly; if the wounds are properly cared for (using herbal packs or restoratives), they will heal faster. If the entire party is near death, the game will end. Improved rate of healing is handled as a status effect as well, as are poisoning, drunkenness, and sickness.

In addition to attributes, each character has a set of skills, which are expressed as percentages. The skills can be emphasized, causing them to improve faster, while deemphasized skills improve slower. Skills are generally improved by using them. For example, fixing weapons will improve the Weaponcraft skill, which in turn will make the character more effective at fixing weapons in the future. The skills include defense, crossbow accuracy, mêlée weapon accuracy, spellcasting accuracy, assessing enemies during battle, weapon and armor repair, barding, haggling, lockpicking, scouting for enemy ambushes, and stealth. There are items which can improve skills both permanently (such as books or practice lutes) or temporarily (such as redweed brew for melee accuracy or truesight tea for crossbow accuracy). Lock picking is the art of unlocking a lock without its intended key. ...

Magic

Combat spell-casting menu

Spells are organized into six groups, grouped by a magic symbol. Four groups of spells are combat spells and two groups are non-combat spells. Image File history File links Betrayal_at_Krondor-Magic. ... Image File history File links Betrayal_at_Krondor-Magic. ...

Spells first drain the caster's stamina and then health. Some spells have variable strength; the player can choose how much energy the spell consumes. Some combat spells also require that the target being within line of sight of the caster.

Spells are learned from scrolls that are sold in shops or found in various locations throughout the world.

Items and inventory

Inventory screen.

The game features a wide variety of items, including equipment, food, treasure, and magical artifacts. Each item also has detailed background information available by right-clicking it. Image File history File links Betrayal_at_Krondor_-_inventory. ... Image File history File links Betrayal_at_Krondor_-_inventory. ...

The inventory management allows transferring items between the party characters. In case of stacks of multiple items, there's also an option to share them all evenly with the party. The game also manages money and keys independently.

Each weapon and type of armor has modifiers affecting its combat effectiveness, such as accuracy, damage, blessing, and racial modifiers. After combat, most weapons and armor must be kept in shape with a whetstone or armorer's hammer, respectively. There are also certain items that augment weapons and armor, such as Silverthorn, used to poison weapons or crossbow quarrels, or Silverthorn anti-venom, which neutralizes it.

Player characters have to carry and eat rations every day, or their health starts dropping. They are sold in taverns and can be found on enemies or in caches. Rations can also be poisoned or spoiled and will make characters poisoned or sick, respectively, if eaten.

Combat and traps

A battle scene showcasing the combat engine of Betrayal at Krondor.

Combat takes place on a grid, similar to tactical role-playing games such as Fire Emblem or Final Fantasy Tactics. Image File history File links Betrayal_at_Krondor. ... Image File history File links Betrayal_at_Krondor. ... A tactical role-playing game (usually simply called tactical RPG, sometimes referred to as strategy role-playing game or SRPG) is a type of computer role-playing game (CRPG) in which the focus of the gameplay is on making tactical decisions in battles. ... Wallpaper featuring Eliwood, Hector and Lyn from Fire Emblem (Game Boy Advance), the first Fire Emblem to be released internationally. ... Final Fantasy Tactics ) is a tactical role-playing game developed and published by Square (now Square Enix) for the Sony PlayStation video game console. ...

In combat there are several options. The player can move to a different location on the grid. If the player can reach an enemy, they can attack in the same move. There are two options for attacking: a thrust and a swing. The thrust is the default attack used when moving to attack an enemy. The swing usually does more damage but is less likely to hit and uses up one point of health/stamina. A fighter equipped with a crossbow or a magician can attack from a distance, but only if there are no enemy units in adjacent squares. In combat, the player can also choose to rest, which regains health and stamina, or defend against enemy mêlée attacks. Finally, it is possible to assess enemies to get information on them. 15th century French soldier wearing a helmet and a hauberk, carrying a crossbow/arbalest and a pavise. ...

Damaged enemies may try to run away, unless the player can kill them or freeze them with a spell beforehand. Killed enemies remain on the ground after the battle, and the player can loot their corpses.

The combat interface is also used in solving magical traps. Traps involve various kinds of hazards, such as fireball throwers and laser crystals, and the player either has to defuse them using the objects provided, or otherwise navigate through. The trap is solved if one character can make it through the trap alive to the top of the combat field.

Temples, Stores and Inns

Visiting a temple

Temples offer a variety of services, including healing and blessing weapons. They also sell a comparatively expensive teleportation service; the player is able to teleport between any two temples or shrines they have visited earlier, the price depending on the distance traveled. Image File history File links Betrayal_at_Krondor-Temple. ... Image File history File links Betrayal_at_Krondor-Temple. ... Teleportation is the movement of objects or elementary particles from one place to another, more or less instantaneously, without traveling through space. ...

Stores buy and sell various kinds of items; some also repair equipment. Inns and taverns allow characters to buy food and alcohol, get information, earn money by playing the lute, and sleep overnight (which allows full healing of wounds and fatigue, whereas resting in the wilderness only restores 80% of health and stamina).

Major Characters and NPCs

Playable Characters

Seigneur Locklear

(Chapters 1, 5, 7) Locklear is the youngest son of the Baron of Land's End, a Seigneur in Prince Arutha's service, and a skilled swordsman decorated for his service at Armengar and Sethanon during the Great Rising (A Darkness at Sethanon). Locklear recently entered the service of a northern Kingdom garrison in order to investigate reports of moredhel activity, where he encounters Gorath of the Ardanien shortly after his arrival.

Owyn Beleforte

(Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9) Owyn is a nineteen year old magician and the youngest son of the Count of Tiburn. Uninterested in politics and wanting to study magic all his life, he was a political embarrassment to his father. A resourceful and crafty boy, Owyn used his part of his father's wealth to travel and study magic in secret. His father eventually discovered what he was doing and recalled him home. Owyn is traveling home from Yabon, where he was visiting his aunt, when he meets Locklear and Gorath.

Gorath of the Ardanien

(Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9) Gorath is chieftain of the clan Ardanien and one of Delekhan's rival s to the throne in Sar-Sargoth. Gorath thinks Delekhan's plan to invade the Kingdom is madness and betrays the moredhel to warn Prince Arutha of the impending attack, believing it to be the only way to save his people from another disastrous war. Gorath also has another reason for leaving his people: he is one of the few moredhel who break away from the Dark Path and attempt to journey to Elvandar to return to the eledhel, assuming he isn't killed by his brethren first.

Seigneur James

(Chapters 2, 3, 5, 7) Once known as Jimmy the Hand. James is the son of the Upright Man, though he is unaware of his parentage. He was forced to give up his life as a thief in the Mockers when he saved Prince Arutha's life by foiling a Nighthawk assassination (Silverthorn). Arutha made him a squire in his court, where James became best friends with Locklear. James eventually rose to the rank of Seigneur, becoming one of Arutha's most trusted and loyal servants but he still sometimes wanders the Thieves' Highway in disguise, often on business for the Crown.

Patrus

(Chapters 5, 7) Patrus is the court magician and magical adviser to Baron Gabot in Northwarden. He is a spry and capable magician, despite his old age. Patrus' knowledge of the spell "Union" allows him to read moredhel, albeit temporarily.

Pug conDoin

(Chapters 8, 9) As an an orphan growing up in Crydee, Pug was apprenticed to Kulgan the magician but showed little magical ability until he was captured by the Tsurani during the Riftwar (Magician: Apprentice). Seeing potential in the boy, Tsurani Great Ones trained him in the magic of the Greater Path, which did not previously exist on Midkemia. When he returned, Pug helped the sorcerer Macros the Black end the Riftwar and was adopted into the royal family and given land to start his Academy of Magic at Stardock (Magician: Master). Pug is the most powerful magician in Midkemia, having inherited much of Macros' power in addition to his Tsurani training. He is married to Katala, whom he met on Kelewan, and has an adopted daughter Gamina, who has telepathic powers.

A Darkness at Sethanon is the third book of The Riftwar Saga. ... Silverthorn is the second book of the Riftwar trilogy of Raymond E. Feist. ... Pug, also known as Milamber, is a fictional character appearing in the novels of Raymond E. Feist. ...

Other Characters

Arutha conDoin

Prince Arutha of Krondor is ruler of the Western Realm, younger brother to King Lyam, and half-brother of Duke Martin of Crydee. Arutha proved himself one of the Kingdom's best field commanders during the Riftwar and became Prince after the unexpected deaths of King Rodric, Prince Erland, and Duke Borric. He is a well-loved and capable ruler, albeit a reluctant one.

Delekhan

Delekhan is the leader of the moredhel Nations the North. One of the Murmandamus' field generals during the Great Rising (A Darkness at Sethanon), Delekhan believes Murmandamus still lives, imprisoned by Prince Arutha at Sethanon. He unified his people with the help of magicians known only as "the Six" (later revealed to be Tsurani Great Ones helping Makala) in order to invade the Kingdom, free Murmandamus, and finish what was started a decade before.

Makala

Makala is a Great One, a magician from the Tsurani homeworld of Kelewan who is visiting Prince Arutha's court, ostensibly as a representative of the Emperor of Tsuranuanni. Believing that Pug hid some weapon of tremendous power which could be used against the Tsurani, Makala set out to investigate what really happened at the battle of Sethanon. He manipulates Delekhan and the moredhel, using their attack as a diversion so that he can enter Sethanon unhindered and destroy the Lifestone, which he believes was hidden by Pug to be used as a weapon against his homeland.

Martin conDoin

Once known as Martin Longbow, Duke Martin of Crydee is the elder half-brother of King Lyam and Prince Arutha. The illegitimate son of Duke Borric, he was raised and trained by the elves in Elvandar before becoming Huntmaster, and later Duke, of Crydee. One of the best archers in Midkemia, Martin dislikes court life and can often be found roaming the forests, longbow in hand.

The Oracle of Aal

The Aal are among the oldest races in the universe and one of the few to survive the Chaos Wars between the Valheru and the gods. The Oracle, last of its dying race, agreed to help Pug and Tomas during the Great Rising ('A Darkness at Sethanon') in exchange for salvation. After the battle of Sethanon, Pug brought the Oracle to Sethanon and had it placed in the body of the dragon Ryath, whose mind was drained during a fight with a Dreadlord. The Oracle of Aal now watches over the Lifestone and will send warning to the secret garrison near Sethanon if it is disturbed.

Squire Phillip

A squire Owyn met at a party in Yabon just prior to the start of the game, Phillip looks about the same age though he is thirty-seven years old. While he appears to be a young noble, Phillip is actually a captain in the army and serves as a courier for the secret garrison near Sethanon.

Tomas

Tomas is Prince Consort to Queen Agalaranna of Elvandar and childhood friend of Pug, whom his parents adopted into their home in Crydee. After marrying Aglaranna (Magician: Master) he considers Elvandar to be under his protection and only leaves under the most extreme of circumstances. Tomas is a strange blend of human and Valheru and possesses the powerful abilities and memories of Ashen-Shugar, the ancient Valheru whose armor he was given by the dying dragon Rhuagh (Magician: Apprentice).

Locations

Midkemia

Midkemia, the Kingdom of the Isles, the Northlands, and Elvandar – as shown on the paper map included with Betrayal at Krondor

Cavall Keep

(Accessible in Chapters 1, 2, 3, 6) Cavall Keep is a small eastern farming town in the Kenting hills, ruled by Count Geoffrey Corvalis, Owyn's uncle. The keep burned down mysteriously three years ago, preventing access to the caverns underneath, which runs south to the waterfall known as Cavall Run. Later it is discovered that the keep was destroyed by the Count's wife's illegitimate son, Neville, aka Navon du Sandau, leader of the Nighthawks, so that they could use the caverns as their hideout.

Elvandar

(Accessible in Chapter 6) The forest city of Elvandar lies to the northwest of the duchy of Yabon and and is home of the eledhel, the light elves, and is ruled by Queen Aglaranna and Prince Consort Tomas. Though isolated from humans and well-protected, Elvandar was attacked by the Tsurani during the Riftwar and there are still occasional skirmishes with the moredhel on its northern borders.

Highcastle

(Accessible in Chapters 1, 2, 3) The frontier fort town of Highcastle guards Cutter's Gap, one of the four passes between the Kingdom of the Isles and the Northlands. Overrun by the moredhel during the Great Rising, Prince Arutha had the fortifications reinforced in recent years. Highcastle is currently commanded by Baron Baldwin de la Troville and, in his absence, Baron Kevin of Zun.

Krondor

(Accessible in Chapters 1, 2, 3, 6) Krondor is the capital of the Western Realm of the Kingdom of the Isles and the traditional home of the heir apparent to the throne. It is currently ruled by Prince Arutha and Princess Anita. The sewers under the city are a maze of tunnels known as the Thieves' Highway and are controlled by the Mockers, the thieves' guild of Krondor, and their mysterious leader, the Upright Man.

LaMut

(Accessible in Chapters 1, 2, 3, 6) Located in the duchy of Yabon near the reopened rift to Kelewan, the city of LaMut is ruled by the Earl Kasumi and is home to the large Tsurani population who settled there after the Riftwar.

The in-game map of Midkemia

Malac's Cross

(Accessible in Chapters 1, 2, 3, 6) The city of Malac's Cross marks the eastern boundary of the Western Realm and is home to the Abbaye Ishap, an ancient temple currently run by the Abbot Graves. Outside of the city, where the old city once stood, is a statue of a dragon, built as a tribute to Malac himself, from which the Oracle of Aal can be contacted.

Northwarden

(Accessible in Chapters 1, 2, 3, 5) The fortress of Northwarden, lies on a narrow mountain path overlooks one of four passes between the Kingdom and the Northlands. It is currently commanded by Baron Gabot.

Romney

(Accessible in Chapters 1, 2, 3, 6) Located on the river Rom, the eastern city of Romney is known as the City of Guilds. Although ruled by Duke Romney, various merchants guilds vie for control over the city, leading to the occasional economic guild war.

Sarth

(Accessible in Chapters 1, 2, 3, 6) Located north of Krondor, Sarth is an ancient mountaintop fortress converted into an abbey and library by the Order of Ishap. The vaults have hundreds of thousands of books, containing a wealth of knowledge about the history and lore of Midkemia, tended to by Brother Anthony and Brother Marc. Beneath the vaults is an old abandoned dwarven emerald mine known as the Mac Bourgalan Dok.

Sar-Isbandia (Armengar)

(Accessible in Chapter 4) The fortress city of Sar-Isbandia was built atop miles of naphtha tunnels long ago by the glamredhel before they were obliterated by the moredhel. Located north of the Inclindel Gap, human exiles from Yabon settled in the city hundreds of years ago, renaming it Armengar, becoming lifelong enemies of the moredhel. During the battle of Armengar in the Great Rising, the Armengarians were among Murmandamus' first targets so Prince Arutha and Guy du Bas-Tyra, the city's Protector, evacuated the residents and attempted to destroy Murmandamus' army by incinerating the city (A Darkness at Sethanon). Recently, moredhel have moved into the ruins of Armengar and started to rebuild.

Sar-Sargoth

(Accessible in Chapter 4) Twin city of Sar-Isbandia, the fortress city of Sar-Sargoth to the north was also built by the glamredhel and taken by the moredhel as their capital. The tunnels beneath the city are home to Delekhan's dungeons.

Sethanon

(Surface ruins accessible in Chapters 1, 2, 3, 6, underground ruins only accessible in Chapter 9) Once a minor Barony located in the heart of the Kingdom, Sethanon was poorly defended and thus completely destroyed during the Great Rising. Built by coincidence above the ruins of the ancient Valheru city containing the Lifestone, King Lyam and Prince Arutha ordered the city abandoned after the Battle of Sethanon, ostensibly as a memorial to those who had died there, and stationed a secret garrison nearby to protect the city and the Lifestone underneath. Within a hidden chamber in the labyrinth beneath the city lies the Lifestone and its guardian, the dragon Ryath, whose mind contains the Oracle of Aal.

Silden

(Accessible in Chapters 1, 2, 3, 6) The eastern fishing town of Silden is a seaport on the Kingdom Sea. Located on a nearby island off the coast is the abandoned temple of Eortis, the dead god of the sea.

Image File history File links Size of this preview: 637 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1600 × 1505 pixel, file size: 602 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Map of Midkemia from Betrayal at Krondor This is a screenshot of a copyrighted video or computer game, and the copyright for it is most likely... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 637 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1600 × 1505 pixel, file size: 602 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Map of Midkemia from Betrayal at Krondor This is a screenshot of a copyrighted video or computer game, and the copyright for it is most likely... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... A Darkness at Sethanon is the third book of The Riftwar Saga. ...

Timirianya

(Accessible in Chapter 8) The desolate world of Timirianya was destroyed by the Valheru and is currently inhabited by Panath-Tiandn, humanoid serpents akin to Pantathians. During the war with the Valheru, the gods of Timirianya repelled the Valheru by crystallizing magic into manna, causing the Valheru to leave when they thought the world's energy was depleted. In order to cast magic on Timirianya, one must use a crystal staff and keep it recharged with raw manna.

The Temple of Karzeen Mauk

Located at the northern part of the island, all that remains of the high temple of the gods of Timirianya are nine pillars, within which the surviving gods have taken refuge. Only Dhatsavan, Lord of Gates, still has enough power left to communicate with visitors.

The Temple of Dhatsavan (Riftworld Mine)

Also known as the Riftworld Mine, the ruins of the temple are buried underground and are currently occupied by Panath-Tiandn. After Makala abducts her, Gamina is imprisoned in a crystal cage within the ruins.

Plot

Ten years after the events of A Darkness at Sethanon, Seigneur Locklear is serving at a northern Kingdom garrison when he saves Gorath of the Ardanien,^[5] a renegade moredhel chieftain, from an assassin. Gorath has brought a warning for Prince Arutha of an invasion planned by Delekhan, leader of the moredhel Nations of the North. Locklear agrees to escort him to see the Arutha in Krondor and they are joined by Owyn Beleforte, a young magician from Tiburn, whom they meet along the way. The game begins in north of LaMut, in the duchy of Yabon. A Darkness at Sethanon is the third book of The Riftwar Saga. ...

Chapter I: Into A Dark Night

The game begins in their camp near LaMut. Owyn is bandaging Gorath's and Locklear's injuries when they are attacked by a moredhel assassin. Gorath kills the assassin and the three of them set out south.^[6] Surviving multiple assassination attempts along the way, they eventually reach Krondor, where they find the palace gates jammed and are forced to enter through the sewers. Once inside, they meet Prince Arutha and Pug, but another moredhel assassin attempts to kill Gorath and is stopped by Pug.^[7]

Chapter II: Shadow Of The Nighthawks

Gorath informs Arutha that Delekhan is planning to invade the Kingdom, but Arutha does not trust him because he does not know where the attack will occur. Gorath thinks they can find out by intercepting a message from Delekhan's Nighthawk spies in Romney. Arutha arranges for James and Gorath to meet with a group of the king's soldiers in Romney investigating recent troubles in the east, while Arutha musters his army and awaits word of where the attack will occur.^[8] James and Gorath meet Owyn as they secretly leave Krondor through the sewers and travel to Romney. But upon reaching Romney, they find that someone has poisoned King Lyam's soldiers.

Chapter III: The Spyglass And The Spider

The Nighthawks responsible for killing the king's soldiers left two clues behind: an enchanted spyglass and a silver spider. Following the trail of the spyglass and the spider leads James, Owyn, and Gorath north to Cavall Keep. They discover that the enigmatic merchant known as Navon du Sandau is the leader of the Nighthawks, kill him, and use his keys to enter the Nighthawks' hideout in the caverns beneath Cavall Keep. Finding Delekhan's plans to attack Northwarden, they realize that Nighthawks may have infiltrated the fortress and decide to split up. James heads north to help defend Northwarden while Owyn and Gorath head south to warn Arutha. Before they can reach Arutha though, Owyn and Gorath are captured by Narab, one of Delekhan's chieftains.^[9]

Chapter IV: Marked For Death

Gorath and Owyn are taken north to Sar-Sargoth, where Narab presents them to Delekhan. Delekhan is enraged that Narab has ruined his plans, telling Narab his life is forfeit. Narab turns on his master and, unbeknownst to them, helps Owyn and Gorath escape the dungeons beneath Sar-Sargoth.^[10] Gorath and Owyn make their way south and eventually reach the Inclindel Gap, where they are escorted to Arutha's camp by a Kingdom patrol. Learning of the attack on Northwarden, Arutha is distrustful at first, but Owyn convinces him they are telling the truth and Arutha readies his army to head to Northwarden. He sends Owyn and Gorath back to Krondor to seek Pug's help in case magic is used during the attack.^[11]

Chapter V: When Rivers Run Blood

James and Locklear arrive at Northwarden and are sent by Baron Gabot to find his magical adviser Patrus. After meeting up with Patrus, the three of them help Duke Martin prepare for the attack by poisoning moredhel food caches, returning Tamney the Minstrel to Northwarden, infiltrating the moredhel headquarters in Raglam and stealing their battle plans, and killing six moredhel magicians who slipped behind Kingdom lines.^[12]

Having completed Martin's tasks, the party returns to Northwarden as the moredhel attack, but discover that Nighthawks infiltrated the castle and killed Baron and his commanders, leaving James in command. The battle goes badly and they are about to be overrun when Arutha arrives with his army in time to drive off the moredhel.^[13]

Chapter VI: Betrayal

In Krondor, Makala visits Pug and tells him that Gamina is considered an abomination by the Assembly of Magicians and that he has imprisoned her until her fate is decided. Pug is enraged and vows to find her, burning "The Book Of Macros" into the wall after Makala leaves. When Katala is unable to find him or their daughter, she discovers his message and informs Owyn and Gorath.^[14] Following clues about the Book of Macros from Sarth and Malac's Cross, Owyn and Gorath head west to Elvandar where Gorath pledges his allegiance to Queen Aglaranna and Prince Consort Tomas. Tomas shows them the Book of Macros, a gift from Pug used to find him if he ever left the message to do so. Recently injured by a poisoned arrow during a skirmish, Tomas cannot go and sends Owyn and Gorath in his stead. Owyn and Gorath read the book, which teleports them into the unknown.^[15]

Chapter VII: The Long Ride

In Northwarden, the moredhel raiding leader is captured and reveals that they have a rift machine that they plan to use to bypass Arutha's army, enter Sethanon, and free Murmandamus, whom the moredhel believe is alive and imprisoned there. Realizing that the attack was a diversion engineered by Makala, Arutha orders his troops to Sethanon and instructs James, Locklear, and Patrus find the rift machine in the Dimwood and destroy it.^[16] After learning that the machine can be disabled by a Tsurani device called a Waani, they are able to find the machine and destroy it. However, as the rift collapses, it pulls in everything nearby before exploding. Patrus is sucked into the collapsing rift and dies in the blast, though James and Locklear are able to grab onto trees and avoid a similar fate. The air flashes purple, signaling the arrival of Spellweavers...^[17]

Chapter VIII: Of Lands Afar

Owyn and Gorath are teleported to Timirianya, where Owyn realizes that his magical powers do not work and that Pug would also similarly be powerless.^[18] With the help of the Timirianyan god Dhatsavan, Owyn and Gorath find Pug, whom Dhatsavan sequestered in a protective barrier due to the loss of his powers. During his confinement, Pug has figured out that by manipulating Delekhan into attacking Arutha's army and abducting Gamina to lure Pug away from Midkemia, Makala is free to enter Sethanon unopposed and seek out the Lifestone.^[19] Using the Cup of Rlnn Skrr, Owyn is able to restore Pug's powers and together they find Gamina imprisoned in a crystal cage in the underground ruins of the Temple of Dhatsavan. Gorath smashes the cage with his sword and, using a special pattern stone Pug has brought, the four of them return to Midkemia.^[20]

Chapter IX: Mad Gods Rage

In a flash of purple light, Pug, Owyn, and Gorath appear before James and Locklear in the Dimwood. Pug instructs James and Locklear to tell Arutha that Makala poses no magical threat to his army. Makala will be waiting for Pug at Sethanon.^[21] Pug, Owyn, and Gorath travel to the underground caverns beneath Sethanon and kill the six Tsurani Great Ones protecting the Lifestone Chamber. Gorath remains behind to protect the Oracle of Aal, which is incapacitated by Makala's spells, while Pug and Owyn confront Makala. Makala believes that Pug was keeping the Lifestone hidden to use as a weapon and wants it destroyed, but Pug refuses because doing so would disturb the Valheru souls trapped inside. Engaging Makala in a magical battle, Pug and Owyn eventually defeat him.

Immediately afterwards, Gorath enters the chamber, locked in combat with Delekhan. When Delekhan reaches for the Lifestone and Gorath tries to stop him, they begin to transform, a sign the Valheru within are escaping. As Gorath and Delekhan struggle over the Lifestone, Pug and Owyn are forced to kill them both with a blast of magic in order to prevent the Valheru from being released. Returning above ground to the ruins of Sethanon, Pug creates illusions of Murmandamus and Delekhan, visible to the attacking moredhel, which are then destroyed by the Oracle of Aal in dragon form. Having seen both their leaders killed, the moredhel retreat, during which Narab kills Delekhan's son Moraeulf and fulfills his own plans of becoming leader of the moredhel. Owyn is left alone with Pug, who reveals that since Owyn now knows about the Lifestone, Pug must ensure that that the secret is safe and suggests that Owyn become one of his students at Stardock. Owyn laughs and replies that he's never wanted anything else.^[22]

Development

Neal Hallford and Feist's influence

Although the game was based on a license of Raymond E. Feist's Midkemian universe, a long held myth was that the text and the story of the game were actually created by Feist himself. In fact, Feist states in his afterword to Krondor: The Betrayal that he was busy writing The King's Buccaneer during the game's production and that the plot, text and new characters were created by designers Neal Hallford and John Cutter (Hallford is listed first in the story credits of the game followed by Cutter and Feist). Feist did have editorial final say on the game, but most of what Hallford and Cutter created was left as they created it. Krondors Sons are two novels by Raymond E. Feist set in Midkemia, a fictional world. ... // OVERVIEW William Neal Hallford (October 17, 1966 - ) is an American game designer, book author, and screenwriter. ...

Release history

Betrayal At Krondor was originally released on 3½" disks in 1993. A special CD-ROM edition was later released, which includes Redbook CD-audio versions of the original game's MIDI music tracks, a 5-minute AVI video interview with Raymond E. Feist, and a Windows hint program/package ("Multimedia Viewer" + Krondor hint file). Sierra then re-released the CD-ROM in its budget lineup in the mid-1990s. In the final chapter of the game's history, Sierra offered a free download of Betrayal at Krondor on its website in 1997 to promote the game Betrayal in Antara. Contrary to popular belief, Vivendi Universal Games has stated that the game is not free to be redistributed by others.^[23] Musical Instrument Digital Interface, or MIDI, is a system designed to transmit information between electronic musical instruments. ... AVI, an acronym for Audio Video Interleave, is a multimedia container format introduced by Microsoft in November 1992, as part of the Video for Windows technology. ... 1997 1997 in games 1996 in video gaming 1998 in video gaming Notable events of 1997 in video gaming. ... Betrayal in Antara is a computer role-playing game published by Sierra On-Line. ... Vivendi Universal (VU) is a French company active in media and communications with activities in music, television and film, publishing, telecommunications and the Internet. ...

(However, the webmaster of the site Sierra Music Central has pointed out that Vivendi's statement is patchy at best [it mentions 'contracts with partners' that 'precludes it from being able to authorize' the download] and doesn't really repudiate the freeware release, given that the game is not being sold, etc.)

Krondor: The Betrayal

Feist later wrote Krondor: The Betrayal, a novelization of the game and first in a series of new Midkemia books called The Riftwar Legacy. Feist credited Hallford and Cutter as co-authors of the original story for Krondor: the Betrayal, and dedicated the book to both of them. Raymond Elias Feist (born 1945, Los Angeles, California) is an American author, mostly specialising in fantasy fiction. ... Raymond Elias Feist (born 1945, Los Angeles, California) is an American author, mostly specialising in fantasy fiction. ...

In regards to the Midkemia canon timeline, the book is set approximately halfway between Darkness at Sethanon and Prince of the Blood. The novel, while adding some more twists of the plot, covers the main plot of the game accurately and ignores most of the sidequests. There are also some very minor differences, such as Owyn's last name being "Belefote" rather than "Beleforte" as in game, and the small towns of Tanneurs and Eggley in game are Tannerus and Eggly in the book. The hardcover edition of the book includes a CD-ROM version of the game, albeit stripped of the CD-audio soundtrack, but still containing the video interview with Feist on his thoughts about the game. The Riftwar Saga is a series of fantasy novels by Raymond E. Feist. ... Krondors Sons are two novels by Raymond E. Feist set in Midkemia, a fictional world. ...

The game is significant in the Midkemian canon in that it first introduced the existence of Lysle Rigger, Jimmy the Hand's long lost twin brother. It also introduced the characters of Abbot Graves and Kat (whose granddaughter was Katherine "Kitty" Graves in Feist's Serpentwar books.) Raymond Elias Feist (born 1945, Los Angeles, California) is an American author, mostly specialising in fantasy fiction. ...

Reception

The game was received well by both the players and the critics.

Finnish computer game magazine Pelit^[24] gave the game a 94% verdict, and said "Krondor is as big a revolution in turn-based role playing games as the Underworlds were in 3D role playing games." Pelit (meaning games) is a Finnish video games magazine published 11 times a year by Sanoma Magazines. ... Ultima Underworld is a series of two computer role playing games published by Origin Systems in the early 1990s. ...

PC Gamer listed Krondor as one of the top fifty computer games of all time in their 1997 survey. PC Gamer is a computer games magazine, founded in 1993. ...

Computer Gaming World (Now Games for Windows) ranked Betrayal at Krondor #43 on their list of the 150 best games of all time in their November 1996 Anniversary Edition.^[25] They have also added the game to their Hall of Fame. Computer Gaming World Computer Gaming World (CGW) is the oldest video game publication still in continuous circulation. ... Games for Windows is a marketing campaign by Microsoft that dates back at least to 2005, and has been revised in 2006, seemingly aimed at officially categorizing computer games that will work (possibly exclusively) with their Microsoft Windows products. ...

References

Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 331st day of the year (332nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 62nd day of the year (63rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Pelit (meaning games) is a Finnish video games magazine published 11 times a year by Sanoma Magazines. ... ISSN, or International Standard Serial Number, is the unique eight-digit number applied to a periodical publication including electronic serials. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 3rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

• Raymond E. Feist
• The Riftwar Saga
• Return to Krondor
• Betrayal in Antara
• Computer Gaming World list of the best games of all time

Raymond Elias Feist (born 1945, Los Angeles, California) is an American author, mostly specialising in fantasy fiction. ... The Riftwar Saga is a series of fantasy novels by Raymond E. Feist. ... Return to Krondor Set in Raymond Feists Midkemia, Return to Krondor is a PC-based action fantasy roleplaying game that debuted in time for the Holidays in 1998. ... Betrayal in Antara is a computer role-playing game published by Sierra On-Line. ... The CGW list of the best games of all time was published by Computer Gaming World as part of their 15th anniversary edition in 1996. ...

External links

• The Betrayal at Krondor Help Web, one of the most complete resources on the game
• Betrayal at Krondor at Mike's RPG Center - lots of information about the game.
• Betrayal at Krondor at MobyGames
• Betrayal at Krondor at Home of the Underdogs
• Homepage of Betrayal at Krondor's writer/designer, Neal Hallford
• XBAK project, native play under X Window using original files