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	Title: Newest Infocomic: ZorkQuest II
	Subtitle: ZQ II: The Crystal of Doom
	Author: Infcom Staff
	Source: The Status Line, v7(2)
	Date: Summer 1988
	Transcription by Steve Derby
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Are you sunburned and tender, blister-red from too long
at the beach? Or lethargic, stickier than Scotch tape in the
heavy-skied humidity that weather reports have the temerity
to call "dewpoint"? Bored with the long summer, the
ennui of work, the doldrums of those hot, endless afternoons
when you friends are away on vacation? Well, here’s
the answer to your prayers, the harbinger of those brisk and
busy, cool autumnal months: a new Infocomic —- *ZorkQuest
II: The Crystal of Doom*.

*ZQII* picks up shortly after *ZorkQuest I: Assault on
Egreth Castle*. Our caravan of intrepid adventurers is continuing
its journey to Accardi-By-The-Sea. The magician
Frobwit is on his way to the Convention of Enchanters and Sorcerers,
looking forward to telling his friends about his battle with the evil magician
(in *ZQI*). Acia, proud and beautiful, is traveling to visit her sickly
grandmother; while Gurthark the
merchant just wants to get his load of quilts to market.
These three and the cargo are guarded by the scout Ryker,
who is head-over-heels in love with Acia.

Ahead of them, in Accardi-By-The-Sea, two young
hoodlums have just stolen a powerful spellbook, the relic
of an ancient circle of wizards known as the Zizbits. Moog,
a recent graduate of the Frobozz Magic Magic Correspondence
School, ringleads her old pal, Slye, into helping her
break into the protected ruins of the old Zizbit city.

Using spells found in the magic book, Moog and Slye
fulfill two-thirds of a prophecy that foretells a dark and evil
force shadowing the land: a trio of powerful magicians
called the Triax. They discover a magic reflecting pool that
will answer any question, and though it, search out a third
to complete the Triax. The pool shows them Radnor, the
powerful and evil wizard of *ZQI*. Moog determines to bring
him to the Zizbit wins.

Meanwhile, the caravan from Egreth is beset by a series
of calamities. Giant corbies attack the wagon; Acia becomes
deathly ill; Gurthark is lost in a disastrous attempt to
cross a raging river; Ryker suddenly discovers his strength
is gone. Will they complete their journey? What horrors
await them in Accardi-By-The-Sea, where Moog and Slye
are cooking up an evil such as has never been seen in
Quendor?

*ZQII* was written by Elizabeth Langosy, in collaboration with
graphic artists at Tom Snyder Productions. Elizabeth, one of our in-house
product designers, and artists Peter Reynolds, Doug McCartney
and Bob Thibeault, also worked together to create *ZQI*.

Comic afficandos will recognize the fantastic cover artwork
of artist Howard Chaykin, author of American Flagg,
Shadow, and Blackhawk.

Three other Infocomics are already available. *ZQI* acquaints
us with the caravan of travellers: Gurthark, Acia,
Ryker and Frobwit. In this tale, the band of adventurers are
caught in the talons of a powerful wizard, Radnor, who
seeks control of the magic amulet they unknowingly possess.

Lane Mastodon, accountant turned superhero, appears a
spoof of a sci-fi space opera, battling his Jovian arch
enemies in *Lane Mastodon vs. The Blubbermen*.

*Gamma Force in Pit of a Thousand Screams*, tells how three disparate
people, saved from sure death by vastly superior beings, combine their
supernatural powers in order to defeat the evil overlord of their planet.

*ZorkQuest II: The Crystal of Doom* will be available in August for
Apple II series, Commodore 64/128, and IBM and 100% compatible computer
systems.

With hours of entertainment awaiting you in an air-conditioned
room, learning about the characters you came to know and love, and for
the low price of only $12, *ZQII* is a story not to be missed.
